Dave Meltzer - The Wrestling Observer Yearbook 93: The Year of Major Beginnings and Major Endings (Wrestling Observer Newsletter 1)

JANUARY 10

Dear Readers,

A few weeks ago, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of this newsletter. I dont want to make a big deal about it, but do want to take this time to thank everyone involved especially in putting this together or in just being interested enough to spend time every week reading. Whatever impact or accomplishments, breakthroughs, or whatever else anyone wants to credit or not credit to the idea and existence of this publication is up to others to decide. All I want to say is to thank all of you for your interest in wrestling and this publication for the past ten years, particularly those of you who have been here from the start. I started publishing a wrestling newsletter when I was 12-years-old. I started this specific newsletter while in college, because it was an idea I felt whose time had come. The past ten years have more than proven that hunch to be correct. For those who still dont believe thats the case, then welcome to the 20th century. But youd better hurry up, because its almost over. This isnt the oldest newsletter in existence, but it was the first to cover wrestling in the manner it did. There are so many people who have been such a major part of this over the years that I dont want to mention any names, because Id forget someone important, because the most important ones still wouldnt want to be mentioned, but I want to thank you for teaching me, for helping me, for being friends and for offering encouragement.

The Wrestling Observer is a lot more than just a newsletter to me. Its the single most rewarding thing Ive been involved in my entire life. Looking back, whatever sacrifices Ive had to make for it have all been worth it. The experiences and pleasure Ive derived from it weigh a lot heavier on the scale than any sacrifices. There are many other people in this business who have sacrificed major portions of their lives for the betterment of the profession, and you all deserve a lot more credit than you have received. For those who have taken selfishly, and there are many, whatever may be able to be derived from it on one end is balanced out by the lack of respect on the other end. In 1985 I received a job offer, which, combined with a mistaken view of where the business was headed, caused me to not have enough time, and interest, I thought, to devote to this newsletter. I learned a valuable lesson from that. It was a mistake, and one which, in the succeeding years, I havent repeated nor have considered at any time repeating. This newsletter is not a stepping stone, or a means to an end. It is the end. All the fun, all the experiences, things Ive been fortunate enough to see and place Ive been fortunate enough to travel to and all the friendships which can be credited to this publication are things I feel lucky to have been a part of. Ive never regretted this path, not even for a moment. There are times I have to stop and think about how fortunate Ive been, and after ten years, this is one of them. Even the bad times and stress involved with dealing with unscrupulous people over the years have in the long run, always turned out to have been a positive. Theyve all turned into learning experiences that both myself, and hopefully others in the same field, have been able to benefit from. And for those who in the field who havent, Im really sorry they havent paid closer attention, because aside from being fun, these past ten years have been a wonderful education.

There really is a lot to learn from this business that relates to far more than just pro wrestling. The most important thing about wrestling, entertainment in general, and really life, that Ive learned, is that the minute you think you understand it completely, it means that time has already passed you by. Youre done. Its always changing. It has to always change, because the world always changes and time doesnt stand still. If you want to stop paying attention to the present and dont care to open yourself up to accept new concepts relating to both the present and the future, the door is there on the left. This business has changed completely over the past ten years. The next ten will bring changes probably just as significant. Dont decry these changes because you long for the way things were in the past. Not only does time, particularly in the entertainment world, not stand still, but it definitely doesnt go backwards. Decry the changes when you believe they arent for the better, and many of them wont be. But dont close your mind to them simply because they are new.

Were going to be here for another ten years, and hope as many of you as possible will stay along for the ride.

Your Friend (in most cases),

Dave Meltzer

PS: For the few of you who have come to the conclusion at this point that Daves sure trying to get himself over, I feel sorry for you. I think you should consider taking a week off and heading to the beach. Its not very healthy going through life and not being able to differentiate between a shoot and a work, especially when it should be obvious. That is meant very seriously, not sarcastically. Being unable to differentiate here means you are probably seriously misjudging many things far more important. Maybe Ill see you there, if you can wait until March or April.