Dave Meltzer courtesy of WrestlingTravel.org
Originally published on April 18, 2024.
The following content reflects my personal opinion and should be interpreted as such. Any views expressed here are solely mine and do not represent any official stance. This opinion piece is intended for entertainment and discussion purposes only, and should not be construed as factual information or professional advice. Reader discretion is advised.
Dave, Dave, Dave—I knew the day would come when you’d express an opinion that I’d have to challenge. I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon and on the topic of Trick Williams, of all things. But here we are. I am truly starting to think that your wrestling opinions are not only outdated but biased as fuck—just a tad. But of course, you’re not a biased journalist because you’ve been doing this since before I was born, sir. (I double-checked myself.) However, I must respectfully disagree with your assertion that Williams isn’t a skilled wrestler.
Now for those who are reading this, hopefully, that includes you too, Mr. Meltzer, I am going to share the quote in question and then get back to my commentary and opinion.
Trick isn’t that good, that’s the reality. He’s got incredible charisma, but you put him in a main-event match… Granted he did look really good against Ilja [Dragunov], but Ilja is one of those people that gives you a false perception of the ability of the other person, it’s like wrestling Ric Flair or a tag team wrestling the Young Bucks, you always look better…
Now Mr. Meltzer, did you think you could slip that comment into your commentary without stirring up some serious backlash from the IWC? “Trick isn’t that good…”? Whose standards are we talking about here? Yours? Let’s give credit where it’s due. At 29 years old with just three years of in-ring experience, Trick Williams has already demonstrated impressive strength and skill, earning him a spot in main-event matches. And let’s not ignore the fact that even Shawn Michaels, the Heartbreak Kid himself, saw something special in Williams and Carmelo Hayes’ rivalry, putting them in the main event of this year’s NXT Stand & Deliver. They were in the spotlight over the NXT Championship match featuring Dragunov, the very wrestler you claim makes Williams shine, and Tony D’Angelo. It was a special main event without a title on the line, the second of its kind, might I add.
Now, I’d bet Michaels holds a special place in your heart, given his knack for spotting talent, especially fresh faces. You’ve even hailed him as “one of the greatest ever” and praised those who learned from him and elevated the genre. So, why not consider that Williams learned from Michaels, “one of the greatest”? And why overlook the fact that, in his own way, Williams has contributed to improving the genre?
I can only assume that at some point, you believed Williams played a role in boosting the ratings, given your tweet on November 8, 2023. You mentioned NXT pulling in nearly 800k viewers compared to AEW Collision’s 366,000 viewers on the same night. So, I decided to dig into what might have caused the spike in viewership that night. As you might have guessed, the show concluded with Trick Melo Gang and their storyline of brothers gradually unraveling. You can watch the full segment of that here.
Now I am just a “wrestling fan without credentials,” so I get it if my opinion doesn’t carry much weight with you, and that’s okay. But there’s this notion floating around that fans are just some angry, misguided, ruthless (no aggression) nincompoops, endlessly typing away with the false pretension that our opinions mean shit. And sure, for some wrestling fans that might ring true. But when the fans speak, especially when there’s a large group of us, people do tend to listen. So, while doing my research, I stumbled upon some intriguing comments from NXT viewers who believe Williams is destined for stardom, and I thought I’d throw that into the mix as well.
One fan declared, “The fastest rise in NXT history.” Another admitted, “A year ago, I thought this guy was just a pale shadow of Carmelo. I was wrong. Now I see in him the potential of a world champion.” And one reader went as far as saying, “I can see Trick becoming the face of the company in a few years and definitely NXT champion.” No fluff, you can read all the comments here.
So, Mr. Meltzer, I can’t help but feel it’s a bit irresponsible of you to casually dismiss a young rising star like this. Whether my readers agree with me or not, I still believe you’re a significant figure in wrestling journalism, and your choice of words and opinions should reflect that importance in a more positive light. Trick has truly come a long way, and you can witness it every Tuesday as the fans chant his song during every entrance. That not only highlights his ability to capture the crowd’s attention but also suggests the longevity he has the potential to achieve. And you don’t achieve that by being a “isn’t that good” wrestler.
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