At 6:22pm on Tuesday December 13, 2016, one third of the longest reigning World Tag Team Champions in history, the New Day, posted a photo on his Twitter account. With the hashtag #BlackExcellence, Big E posted this photo (it was also shared by Xavier Woods on his Instagram).
#BlackExcellence pic.twitter.com/YrnijaTfOY
— Ettore “Big E” Ewen (@WWEBigE) December 14, 2016
The black and white realness of the photo captures the absolute emotion of each person, as both a performer and who they are inside, contrasted with the bright colouration of each champion’s belt. And that’s when it hits you. Three of Monday Night Raw‘s five attainable championships are currently held by African-Americans. And while many people would just say “So?” you have to say it at least the WWE is trying hard to move away from the stigma that the wrestling industry (and the WWE in particular) is built on a racial hierarchy. African-Americans are generally held back, with lesser talented caucasian ones. But without getting too political, many of the assumptions are actually not as true as they are thought. While I’m not going to deny there is a reality that the industry went through some very racially motivated times – but so did everything about society. It was only the ones that never learned better that received forgiveness. But things have definitely been getting better.
Everyone knows of Ron Simmons being the first recognized African-American World Heavyweight Champion when he defeated Vader for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in 1992. Not to diminish his victory, but the first was actually wrestling’s own Jackie Robinson, Bobo Brazil, who actually beat NWA World Heavyweight Champion “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers in 1962 (Rogers faked an injury in the match and after Brazil won, he refused the title out of sportsmanship because his opponent was injured; but when Brazil found out he accepted the victory. The NWA refused to acknowledge that part of the story and the belt remained on Rogers). Bobo would actually go on to two more World Heavyweight Championships, in 1966 and 1968, wrestling for the infamous Los Angeles promotion Worldwide Wrestling Association (WWA) that spawned Freddie Blassie, Terry Funk, Chris Adams and Roddy Piper.
And there seems to be two boats of thinking on The Rock. He is of mixed heritage, his father African-Canadian and his mother Samoan. Most consider him to be the WWE’s first African-American champion, but there are some who insist that because Dwayne Johnson promotes his Samoan heritage predominantly, he doesn’t “count” as a true African-American role model.
And then there’s the people who don’t seem to count the runs as World Heavyweight Champions like Booker T or Mark Henry as being “valid” championships because it wasn’t the WWE Championship. Wrestling historians – whether it be journalists or internet fans – count in those titles when they mention John Cena‘s 15 world titles (3/15 are WHC), or Edge‘s 11 (7/11) or The Undertaker‘s seven (3/7). So if they count historically as being equally valid world titles for white performers, then they should count for African-Americans too.
But none of that is meant to discredit that African-American performers have not been showcased as often or with the gusto that other ethnicities have enjoyed. White America has it’s origins, the Latino has it’s dark mystery of Lucha Libre, the Japanese it’s stiff Strong Style. It’s like African Americans have never been allowed to create it’s own cultural wrestling identity because it’s been fighting for it’s life just to stay afloat in the other cultural influxes that were already so dominant.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BN-xI1ZlZeL/
But this picture is a photo of hope. The World Tag Team Champions, the New Day, just beat the longest reign record, a record that stood for 27 years, and set by the legendary Demolition. This after a year of Cena-esque merchandising sales as one of the WWE’s most popular acts, both young and old. The Woman’s champion has united women (and men) of all race, creed or colour to follow the women into the main event with the same fire as the men. The Cruiserweight Champion has brought a charisma to the seemingly stuttering Cruiserweight Division with his infectious positivity that he’s getting the biggest reactions of the whole division. And he’s managed to retain much of his indie appeal without being restricted – and he’s filled the new holes in his arsenal with more ring psychology than we saw in the indies. He’s become a good student of the Game.
Are there still some African-American characters not being utilized? Absolutely. Naomi is being wasted right now, but hopefully she gets something to sink into soon. She’s an untapped goldmine. Titus O’Neil is finding his footing as a heel and he’s fun when he works stiff with other big men. He’s not there yet, but he’s on the right path. Apollo Crews seems to be Smackdown‘s Neville. Super talented, smaller, physically built aerialist, but just can’t get the mic work to the level that they captivate the casual audience. I really hope both do because their physical work is off the charts. And Alicia Fox is in a feud with Bayley. This could do wonders in elevating Foxy to more viewers.
But this picture shows that African-Americans are no longer just sitting in the side lines. They are now seizing every opportunity given and that the New Day has been showing them the way the whole time. For all the faces in this photo have seen adversity in this industry and they’ve all pushed through, from indies to failed attempts in TNA to missteps in the WWE, but they’ve pushed through time and time again. The Power of Positivity is there, from the childlike gyrations of Big E to the very real tears of Sasha Banks.
This is the beginning of the fruits of garden first planted by Bobo Brazil, and Ron Simmons, and Dwayne Johnson, and Booker T, and Mark Henry. Society has changed. Looking at the world through hate coloured glasses just isn’t going to make it anymore. Well, unless you’re running for President, I guess.
This IS indeed a New Day. And while it doesn’t mean we’re going to suddenly see Big E as WWE Champion next week, I think it shows that the the ship has shifted its course. More than it’s done, well, ever, in this regards.
This is why this photo is so powerful. It represents the change that is underway. It shows what Positivity can bring, if you just be yourself no matter what.
