Why Kevin Steen is quickly becoming my favorite wrestler

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

I'm listening to the Kevin Steen shoot from last October, on Highspots. This is after I spent two hours listening to his shoot with Davey that just came out last week. Here's what he said about a guy on Twitter that was writing negative reviews about him, his style and his matches:

"I didn't actually get the chance to listen to his podcast, but he reviewed some of my PWG matches, and I know he wasn't crazy about me still. But he said something on Twitter about my match with Finlay. And then I opened a dialogue with him, I DM'd him myself to say 'I think you have a great point in this.' And then we had a decent conversation about wrestling, and his point of view on wrestling, and my point of view on wrestling."

"Some people might think I'm crazy that I'm a wrestler and I'm talking to a fan about it, but I don't think that's crazy at all. The guy has a different view on things. Most people like me - this guy doesn't like me. I want to know why! Not because I want him to like me, but because maybe he's got valid points and I should take this into consideration, so that I can be better."

"Which is why I read internet message boards, and stuff like that. SO many wrestlers will say 'fuck the internet' and 'fuck the message boards'. You're kidding yourself man. If you're saying 'fuck the message boards' it's because you read it, and maybe one guy said something bad about you. Open your fucking mind! Not everyone is gonna suck your dick. And I love getting my dick sucked on the message boards - it makes me feels great. Call me a fucking mark, I don't care. It's awesome. It's nice to know people appreciate your work. But it's also nice to know what people don't appreciate about your work."

 

[Hard Hit Prince]

So you like him, because he cares about the IWC? Ain't that sweet...

 

[Mr. Artistic guy]

I'd find that one of the most reproachable things a wrestler could do. I don't want him to care what I think, I want somebody so confident that they can tell me what I think.

 

[Papa Pillman]

So you like him, because he cares about the IWC? Ain't that sweet...

Maybe he's saying that he likes him because he's honest about caring how the "IWC" feels, instead of being full of shit like most wrestlers who read what is said about them in private, while publicly acting like they don't know or give a shit what the perception of them is.

Ever think of that?

Steen is always real and up front and should be admired for that. Also it's refreshing to hear a wrestler say that he isn't ashamed to be labeled as a "mark". It's ironic when internet marks want to give wrestlers shit for being marks themselves.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

So you like him, because he cares about the IWC? Ain't that sweet...

No, I like the guy because he interacts with his fans and takes feedback as more than just "IWC bitching". I respect anyone in life that can take opposition head on, and not only overcome it, but interact with it, respect it, and learn/grow from the experience.

Also, I spent about 5 hours watching Kevin Steen shoots today and last night. It's just hard NOT to respect the guy for his views on wrestling.

 

[Hard Hit Prince]

I respect every single guy that goes out the curtain and tries to give it best for my pure joy. That's a given for me as a fan, they are putting their bodies on the line for me, for you and for everybody. The only thing is that Kevin Steen is pretty much loved on the internet, that's the only reasons he likes it.

If we bitched about how fat he is, or how he buries some guys by giving more attention to the crowd than the opponent, he would call us freaking idiots. Man Kevin Steen is awesome, he's very honest and what you see, is what you get so I have no problem with him. He's fantastic and I hope he gets that big break but I don't want him to care for these guys, because IWC is made of 2% of people who criticize in a good way, not to destroy but to improve. The others 98% are people who just don't get the business, they don't know what draws nor what works, but since they like the guy (95% heels) they want to see them more and more and they just ignore the fact that just because the internet loves someone, doesn't mean he has it. Just look at Antonio Cesaro for instance, people in the internet absolutely love him, underrated, great worker and bla bla, but the truth is that: Antonio Cesaro can't get a single drop of heat from the crowd, and 10/15% of a crowd is made of smart fans and the other are actual people who just watch wrestling as an hobby, most likely families.

I think however that Kevin Steen is really smart by giving a damn about the internet and hardcore fans, because ROH's market isn't the mainstream audience, but that cult of fans who are very loyal and stuff like that. At least, that's what I think.

 

[shattered dreams]

I respect anyone in life that can take opposition head on, and not only overcome it, but interact with it, respect it, and learn/grow from the experience.

So I guess you don't respect yourself?

It is a damn shame Steen chooses to stay in ROH.

 

[The Crock]

I've been a big Kevin Steen fan for a while now, he's great.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

So I guess you don't respect yourself?

It is a damn shame Steen chooses to stay in ROH.

That was just uncalled for.

I'm not sure how much it has to do with him choosing to stay in ROH. He's pretty heavily involved with PWG, or at least the last time I checked he was. He's extremely vocal about calling them the best indie promotion to work on the planet. If you mean, you wished he would go someplace bigger like Japan, WWE, TNA, etc. than I can understand that.

He talked a lot in the shoots about taking the steps to do that. He's been to Japan, and has said he doesn't really want to go back. Davey said the same thing, but mostly because they screwed him over in New Japan. Steen talked about having to get in shape to go to WWE, and not being sure if he wants to doing it. He's already getting weary of being away from his family all the time with ROH. And who's to say if he went through all the life changes to get in ring shape for a WWE attempt, if they'd ever consider him?

 

[George Steele's Barber]

Maybe he's saying that he likes him because he's honest about caring how the "IWC" feels, instead of being full of shit like most wrestlers who read what is said about them in private, while publicly acting like they don't know or give a shit what the perception of them is.

Ever think of that?

Steen is always real and up front and should be admired for that. Also it's refreshing to hear a wrestler say that he isn't ashamed to be labeled as a "mark". It's ironic when internet marks want to give wrestlers shit for being marks themselves.

Or maybe Steen is pretending to suck the dicks of the people who read this type of shit.

I'm not going to claim to know. People have told bigger lies in the industry to get positive attention. Honest or not, it's a good strategy as long as the marks are biting.

And they clearly are.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

Steen's been my favorite for quite awhile.

Inside the ring hes innovative as a wrestler, hes entertaining to watch, hes different than others and stands out (pun intended), his promos are better than most of the guys who have national television exposure, his mind is set straight and having also watched both his shoot with Davey and his solo shoot last summer he knows what works and what doesn't, a rarity in professional wrestling and especially on the indies having no experience in the "major leagues."

ROH draws an average of 0.6 with its deal on Sinclair networks which is predominantly because of Kevin Steen. When ROH sucked in 2011 and was wildly mediocre exempting the final month of 2012, Steen helped steer ROH through Cornette's bullshit and keep people interested. All despite the fact Cornette believed what some fans try to typecast Steen as - an out of shape guy who has no reason being as good of a wrestler as he is, too bad he continues getting better.