I'm not a columnist, but I do write stuff once in a while. I'm not a net pundit, but I do like the occasional rant. I'm not a Mark...well, I am but I hate to admit it...but I do like wrestling.

What I really am, though, is confused. Why are people dissing the NYSWF? Is it some kind of new sport? Is ther a prize for annoying Federation President Corey Collins? Or are we just seeing a monumental anti-Goth backlash (which can only mean that black clothing and purple nailvarnish are on the way back in)? It's not as if the NYSWF has changed much. It always was a storehouse of talent and a place to go to see entertaining matches and interesting angles. It was always a place where the title belts were fought over and sought after. And it was always a place where controvesry reigned. Corey Collins has always been the same too - he's a semi-evil president who has often made seemingly irrational decisions but never been afraid to try something new. The state of play at the moment reflects that. The Dark Messiah might not be a veteran wrestler with hundreds of matches under his belt but you have to admit that he earned his shot. And you also have to admit that he certainly has the intensity to carry the title forward and make it something to be worked for. I for one don't see him dropping the belt any time soon, leastways not without a fight. Yes, a controversial decision to throw the title out to rookies and unknowns. Yes, there are a lot of darker wrestlers in the Fed and yes, that makes for a pretty monochrome outlook. But since when is that a bad thing?

I don't think it does. And I also disagree with the assertions of other internet writers when they call the NYSWF "Goth Wrestling". Look at the roster, people. Loco Martinez is not a goth. Sigel Phoenix is not a goth. Jon Storm is not a Goth. Pop Perfection are not Goths. Sean Boden...how not Goth is he? Spiral - a little freaky (and right now, kinda sucky too) but NOT a Goth. Angel - goth? Not! So despite the public perception that the NYSWF might as well be renamed "All Your Goth Are Belong To Us Wrestling" it's simply not the case.

So what's the problem? Well, another charge levelled at the Federation is that it has consistently failed to manage it's talent base. What leads us to this accusation? There are no big names in the NYSWF at the moment. Matt Hoffman walked. Grady Smith walked. We haven't seen almost a dozen of the biggest names in the sport working under the NYSWF banner in quite a while. Why? I have to be honest... I don't care! All of these guys are still active and working in other feds (and working well too) so what's the problem? In the meantime, the NYSWF is producing another generation of names. Come on...who doesn't mark out for Loco Martinez? Yes, people leave. That's the nature of the business. And yes, people will always have issues with how they are being promoted or pushed but that too is the nature of the business. Some of the NYSWF's top guys have quit at the height of their game and moved on for no other reason than they had nowhere else to go. The NYSWF couldn't give them any more and couldn't challenge them any more. Fair enough. If the NYSWF feels that it's time to sideline some of their established names and push new wrestlers then that's a business decision for the Fed president.

I think that the current state of the Federation is being misrepresented by people who feel that the NYSWF somehow belongs to them. Former stars, current names...we all have our opinions. But instead of dissing the federation, wait and see what it does next. After all, constant criticism doesn't actually make the product any better and the suggestions we level at Corey Collins will only be listened to if we say something he's interested in hearing.

So...Fer Feck's Sake! Leave the NYSWF alone and let the damn thing live or die on it's own merits.

I'm Josh Norton. Don't you wish I wasn't?