It is not uncommon for older generations to sit back and reflect on how times have changed. On how the old ways were the best. This is especially prevalent in the field of professional wrestling. An industry where times have very much changed. Talking in a recent interview with Wrestling Inc former NWA and WCW star Nikita Koloff spoke about how he feels the art of professional wrestling has died.

“[There is a reason] why the product looks like it does today versus what many, many, many of the fans of the ‘80s and early ‘90s have told me is the golden age of wrestling,” noted Koloff. “And what they’ve done, because of writers, who write matches and write interviews, they set [up]… what wasn’t so much a decline as it was a transition in the business, from taking creative control from the wrestler. Where I had the ability to go in the ring and tell a story spontaneously in the ring. If the fan wasn’t buying into it, I could change it up in a second in the ring and do something different. So, I learned that pretty quick.”

His comments are certainly understandable, when looking at WWE and the tight control they insist upon. However, there could be a counter argument made that times are changing, and the ‘old ways’ or wrestling are coming back.

AEW have already proven that you can be successful by giving the wrestlers creative freedom. Now, with the ‘forbidden door’ now open – or re-opened – the territorial days of yesteryear might just be upon us again.

Nikita Koloff continued to talk about how fan reaction and involvement was also not what it used to be. Citing the decline of the mystique of wrestling, and the death of kayfabe as a reason for the way modern professional wrestling is falling flat.

“Even when you watch fan reaction back then, that’s the difference of why the fans even reacted differently back then versus now. Because now [wrestling] is so exposed, right? Everybody knows the match is written out and they go in and perform it. And again, taking nothing away from their athletic ability, but if the fan is not buying into the match, you’re still gong through all the spots and the whole deal. Whether they’re buying into it or not.

“And that’s the main difference why the product looks like it does today versus the product back then. I think, personally, it mainly has to do with no more ring psychology. That art has died.”

There is undoubtedly some validity to Nikita Koloff’s claims. However, there are still enough moments of genuine shock in the world of wrestling to remove the certainty of his comments. There is still an emotional investment in matches. This proves that in certain circles at least, the art of professional wrestling is alive and well.