(contined from part one)
But, donât tell me you are cheering me as a heel, because either a) you’re doing it for me or b) to honor me. because if you do something for a person, you’re doing essentially what they would like done, and that not something I want done, and if you are doing it to honor me, I donât think itâs an honor. This guy and his buddies in Hanover Germany kept cheering for me and all the heels, and made my and everyone else’s matches especially difficult, in fact mine was borderline shitty, and I donât do shitty. I talked to this guy later and he kept telling me he was doing it for me, to honor me, but you see, he wasnât, he really wasnât.
I know psychology, I know human psychology, I study it. I study it as much if not more than I study quantum physics. I didnât need to reference quantum physics. As an analogy, I can claim I said quantum physics to get my point over just like he said he and his mates were cheering me to put me over, but câmon, I name-checked quantum physics like he name-checked me because he like myself were putting ourselves over. Savvy? He may have absolutely thought I was the greatest, but that not why he was doing it. The proof was how and when they would scream and chant. He and his buddies would yell at such inopportune times as to be exceedingly obvious.
I hate when people cheer for heels to get themselves over. Itâs their right, and I would never even question taking that away, but it doesnât mean I have to like it.
Finally, and unquestionably most important, I truly love and cherish the fact that my fans are so loyal and think so highly of me. I truly do. You really donât know, because I never tell you, but your unwavering, diehard support for me, and your admiration for my talents means an enormous amount to me. It truly does. It makes all the pain worth it. Whether itâs the pain of talking to Disco in the locker room, or diving off a balcony, it makes it all worthwhile.
In fact, I try never to be a heel anymore on indies no matter how badly I want to, because itâs not fair to you. There arenât a lot of people on the indies I wonât be cheered against because of the length and breadth of my career and by forcing you to boo me, itâs kind of a dick move. Most times Iâm the main event so you are paying to see my match and since you are paying your money, and wanting to cheer me, why should I turn you against me. It seems rather selfish. Unless itâs a town where I have an opponent who’s a stronger babyface, or a bigger name, turning heel is as bullshit as the guy trying to get himself over in the audience. It is also sadly enough, why I donât usually put over the local guys on indies anymore. I used to always let the local guy, if I worked one, beat me with his finish, or my finish or what have you, to help the local promotion and put the guy over. Unfortunately, what I found, was that the locals would crap all over it, and go home disappointed that Raven didnât Evenflow someone for the happy ending.
There are always exceptions where the local promotion is strong, or where they run regular, or what have you, and I always make a point of reading the audience so I know what they’ll want and then I try to convey that to the promoter. If they want me to lose, no problem. My first loyalty is to my wife and therefore the paycheck. My next loyalty is to you the fans, and I try to give you what you need and deserve. In fact I have to convince Sandman most of the time that it isnât good for the promotion sometimes for him to lose. The people come to see him win, and then he loses, it puts a bad taste in their mouth and a lot of times they donât come back. Itâs why old school booking always has a babyface going over on spot shows.
Cheer me, boo me, do whatever you want because as Sheryl Crow said (and crow’s are in the raven family)if it makes you happy, it canât be that bad. But do me a favor; when you are at a show with heel fans who are just doing it strictly to get themselves over and ruin other people’s good times, ruin theirsâ in return. I donât mean violence, be clever, give them a taste of their own medicine. Or at least make them feel so guilty, they’ll think about someone else for a change and maybe reconsider their behavior. Hopefully I made that clear enough for everyone to understand. If not, let me know .
To all the people who have supported me over all the years, booing and cheering, loving and hating, donât think my career is over because I am no longer with Tna, or Wwe. I still got ten good years in me, indies or otherwise. Check out my schedule at my website www.theraveneffect.com , I am mad busy. And if you think the site looks good now, wait til you see it after the remodeling. In fact by the time you read this, it may already be completed. My webmaster Vic who is a genius is re-doing the entire thing. As one of my all time favorite groups the Spinners once said,
âIâll Be Aroundâ
Raven
