Why do veterans stick around just to be jobbers?

[Hammy]

Watching Nitro 96/97, guys like Bobby Eaton, Greg Valentine and Rock N' Roll Express are used as "Enhancement Talent" and NEVER win, were they that desperate for the paychecks?  Veterans should have classic passing the torch matches, not endless loss after endless loss on television, to the point where they are devalued and their losses stop helping the talent they are putting over.

Ric Flair in recent years we were told needed the paycheck, but he wrestled so regularly and lost too many bouts to the point his reputation was being damaged, someone like Hogan has made a point in recent years of restricting performances to a few times a year, keeping his stock going.

[James Lofton]

It's a good question, and its interesting you use former NWA/WCW guys as examples. Other than the big stars of that era, people were making chump change. Crockett destroyed that company, and Turner didn't do much better.

I remember years ago Ole Anderson mentioning how during one of their trips through the territories, he got a check for 40 bucks and he was supposed to split it with a few other wrestlers. During this same time frame, Magnum TA was making half a million a year and driving his Porsche he would soon crash, while Ole and other workhorses who played a big role were making chump change and car pooling in a used Datsun B210.

They didn't spread the wealth. This is why people like Windham, Arn, Kruschev, etc. were so willing to bail out and head to WWF, AWA,etc.

So when their glory days are over(early 80s-early 90s), they are left with nothing but scarred bodies and addictions to pain pills so they become forced into doing the only thing they know how to do to earn a living....... wrestle. Since there was no chance of becoming stars again, it was either be jobbers or stand in the unemployment line.


Say what you want about Mcmahon, but he does spread the wealth which creates loyalty in the company.


I do agree that it **** up their legacy, but when you have a family to feed and no money, legacy means nothing.


Still blows me away that Bobby Eaton was driving a forklift for a living. Dude was in some of the most classic matches in the 80s, yet has to drive a forklift for barely above minimum wage until he gets to be a jobber in WCW in the late 90s.


Another reason those guys have no money is drugs. The industry was drowning in drugs at the time and they made Al Pacino in Scarface look like Mother Teresa....

[Hammy]

I think what was so strange was they were treated like jobbers with little effort made to make it seem like beating them was good.

It was like, this is Bobby Eaton, he is a veteran, 2 minutes later, he has lost.  Thats probably why they stand out.  At least when Flair tarnished his legacy you still knew he was a 16 time champion, he still got the big entrances and was hyped up, Eaton and co. just got lumped in with anyone.  The funny thing watching these Nitros, ever jobber was either a former star or a star in the making, I mean I know virtually EVERYONE of them, barring the odd exception (Roadblock) they all amounted to something or had been a somebody.

I know with a lot they say its not just the money, they love the business too much, but it baffles me how they didn't use them as better, more notorious jobbers.  The funny thing was many were jobbed out to guys of a similiar age who were from their era, like a Nitro match between Flair/Anderson and Rock N' Roll Express.

[Izzy]

Think we've hit on it already - people dont save their money

Despite guys earning $1million + they dont invest it, they forget about their pension - and then one day their times has passed but they cant just walk away

[D]

Whose book was it, I think Jericho's where he talked about thinking cause guys were on TV they were rich.

Also, u figure, rich people for the most part are no better off than most of the poor cause they may  make 500k a year, but after taxes and the expensive houses and cars, they probably don't have much cash.

Factor in divorces *Flair* and just drugs and blowing it, it isn't hard to blow through cash.

I talked to Ricky Morton at my friend's promotion and he was talking about how much money the wrestler's made now etc. I reckon they only made about 2k a week or so.

Also, u factor on the road, they spend money, hotels, travel, partying and they are still having to pay bills at their home.