Botchamania | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Created by | TheOriginalMikey |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
No. of episodes | 482 (As of October 2023) |
Production | |
Editor | Matthew "Maffew" Gregg |
Running time | Typically 20 minutes |
Original release | |
Network |
|
Release | 2006 2007 (Maffew edit) | (KiKrusher99 edit)
Botchamania is a web series, primarily hosted on YouTube, that focuses on compiling and showcasing mistakes, blunders, and embarrassing moments from the world of professional wrestling, known as "botches". [1] [2] [3] The term "botch" in wrestling jargon refers to any unintentional or poorly executed manoeuvre or action during a match. These can include missed moves, awkward falls, audible communications, and other instances where the scripted nature of wrestling is momentarily broken, revealing the staged nature of the performance. [1] [2]
Although he did not create the series, it is most commonly associated with British video editor Matthew "Maffew" Gregg, who took control in 2007 and has continued it into the present day, despite several lengthy disputes with many wrestling promotions over copyright and fair use. The show typically features montages of various wrestling botches, set to a soundtrack of video game music and filled with humorous captions and commentary. While the primary focus is on showcasing these mistakes, Botchamania often incorporates other humorous content from behind-the-scenes of professional wrestling as well as offering its own commentary on various incidents within wrestling.
In the mid-2000s, a user named "TheOriginalMikey" uploaded a wrestling bloopers video (set to the album version of Black Eyed Peas' "Let's Get It Started") to a number of web forums. With the formation of YouTube in 2006, a user named "KiKrusher99" uploaded a re-edited version of the video, and renamed it, giving it its iconic name, Botchamania. Maffew has described this video as "more of a Botchamania Redux". A third video in the series was uploaded by a user named "JoeyNightHeat" in 2007. After watching the video, Maffew felt that he could do a better job, and uploaded his own, becoming the fourth in the series. When he realised he had some leftover clips, he uploaded another video and ended up continuing the series. Eventually, Maffew would remake the first three videos in his own distinct style. [4]
Botchamania focuses mainly on showcasing obvious mistakes and mishaps which take place during the course of professional wrestling shows, however, other forms of content on the show include matching "shoot" (out-of-character) commentary from professional wrestlers themselves and overlaying the audio over the incident they are discussing. [5] Content on Botchamania encompasses the entire industry, ranging from experienced veteran professional wrestlers performing for major international promotions such as WWE, AEW, NJPW and CMLL to rookie wrestlers performing for local independent circuit shows.
Examples of recurring segments in Botchamania include "You talk too much", which covers incidents of wrestlers audibly communicating instructions to one another ("calling spots") during the match, "I am the table", which centres on instances of wrestlers failing to break through tables, and "Insipid Taz commentary", focusing on the often unintentional comedic moments created by commentator Taz. [2]
Initial reactions to Botchamania by professional wrestling performers were generally negative, as many performers who were unfamiliar with the content of the show mistakenly assumed that it celebrated clips of the wrestlers being injured. However, as awareness of Botchamania and its light-hearted tone developed, many wrestlers have either publicly played along with jokes from the show or directly praised it. [1] As relations between Botchamania and professional wrestlers thawed, the show began to feature personalised introductions to the show by various wrestlers themselves, [1] while Maffew would occasionally share a stage with wrestling performers at fan conventions such as Starrcast. [6]
By 2015, Botchamania had developed a more positive image within wrestling, with stars such as Stone Cold Steve Austin and Dolph Ziggler making public reference to it. [1] In 2022, Shotzi Blackheart commented that after being involved in a botch at WWE's Money in the Bank event in 2022, she couldn't "wait to see that spot on Botchamania" and laugh at it, while Mace has favourably recalled a poorly reviewed match from Hell in a Cell "going viral" because of Botchamania. [7] During AEW's All In pay-per-view event in 2023, lead announcer Excalibur referenced a long-running joke from Botchamania during a botch in the Sting/Allin vs. Strickland/Cage match. [8]
Fans of Botchamania regularly bring signs to professional wrestling shows that reference back to the web show, [5] while a particularly egregious botch occurring on a show can prompt the fans in attendance to chant "Botch-a-mania!". [9] [10]
In December 2018, WWE created their own in-house version of Botchamania for their WWE Network, entitled The Botch Club, hosted by Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. However, the show was cancelled after just a handful of episodes had aired. [11]
Since its creation, Botchamania has faced issues with copyright infringement and content takedowns. By 2015, Botchamania had experienced at least nine YouTube accounts made for the show being banned by the platform, primarily due to content strikes generated by WWE material. [1]
In March 2021, All Elite Wrestling issued a number of copyright strikes against Botchamania after it featured content from Blood & Guts, in which cameras filming Chris Jericho performing a stunt in which he fell from the top of a cage showed him landing safely onto crash pads. Because there were multiple strikes, this automatically caused YouTube's system to suspend the Botchamania YouTube channel. As part of AEW's claim to YouTube, their legal team attempted to argue that AEW footage was not eligible for fair use as they had exclusive legal rights to AEW footage. However, following a backlash on social media, AEW withdrew the copyright strikes and the Botchamania channel was restored. [12]
Ronnie William Arneill is a Canadian professional wrestler and trainer. He makes appearances on the independent circuit and is best known for his time with WWE, where he performed as "The Perfect 10" Tye Dillinger and All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he performed as Shawn Spears.
Benjamin Satterley, better known by his ring name Pac, is an English professional wrestler. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of the Death Triangle alongside Penta El Zero M and Rey Fénix. He was the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Champion and one-time AEW World Trios Champion, at one point holding both titles simultaneously to become the first double champion in AEW history.
Jonathan Huber was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for performing under the ring name Luke Harper in WWE from 2012 to 2019, and as Mr. Brodie Lee in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2020.
WWE NXT, also known simply as NXT, is an American professional wrestling television program. It is produced by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE, featuring performers from the promotion's NXT brand division. The show currently airs live on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the USA Network.
Ryan Nemeth is an American professional wrestler, writer, actor, and comedian who is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He also makes appearances for AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH) and also on the independent circuit. He is also known for his appearances under the ring name Briley Pierce in WWE, where he wrestled in their developmental territory NXT.
WWE Network is a subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and digital television network owned by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE, a division of TKO Group Holdings. It primarily distributes original professional wrestling events, films, television and documentary series, and a 24-hour linear channel produced by the eponymous professional wrestling promotion, alongside acquired programming from other wrestling promotions.
Matthew Michael Clement is a Canadian professional wrestler and professional wrestling trainer. He is currently signed to WWE under the ring name Tyler Breeze as a trainer at the Performance Center and as a member of the UpUpDownDown channel. He also wrestles on the independent circuit under the mononymous ring name Breeze.
Renee Jane Paquette is a Canadian-American television personality working as a backstage interviewer for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). She was previously known for her time in WWE between 2012 and 2020, where she served as a commentator, presenter, and interviewer under the ring name Renee Young. During her time in WWE, Young also appeared as a main cast member on the reality television series Total Divas. Prior to signing with WWE, she was a sports broadcaster for The Score Television Network.
William Morrissey is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under the ring name Big Bill. He is previously known for his tenures with WWE, and Impact Wrestling. He is a former one-time AEW World Tag Team Champion.
Matthew Adams is an Australian professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under the ring name Buddy Matthews as a member of the stable House of Black and is a former one-time AEW World Trios Champion. Adams also makes appearances on the independent circuit and is best known for his time with WWE where he performed under the ring names Buddy Murphy and Murphy.
Stephon Strickland is an American professional wrestler and rapper. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he performs under the ring name Swerve Strickland and is the leader of Mogul Embassy.
Adrienne Palmer is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under her ring name Athena. She also appears in AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), where she is the current ROH Women's World Champion in her first reign, which is the longest reign for the title. She is also known for her time in WWE, where she worked under the name Ember Moon, where she is a former NXT Women's Tag Team Champion and a former NXT Women's Champion.
David Michael Harwood is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under the ring name Dax Harwood or Dax The Axe. Teamed with Cash Wheeler as FTR, Harwood is a two-time AEW World Tag Team Champion. He also makes appearances in their sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), as well as partner promotions Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he and Wheeler have won those promotions' respective tag team championships once each.
Tom Büdgen is a Dutch professional wrestler. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he performs as leader of the House of Black stable under the ring name Malakai Black and is a former one-time AEW World Trios Champion. He is also known for his work in WWE, where he performed as Aleister Black from 2017 to 2021.
Toni Rossall, better known by the ring name Toni Storm, is a New Zealand-Australian professional wrestler. She is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where she currently performs with the epithet "Timeless" Toni Storm. She is the current AEW Women's World Champion in her record-tying third reign, and is a former member of The Outcasts. Rossall previously worked for WWE where she was a former one-time NXT UK Women's Champion.
Michael Cuellari, better known by the ring name Q. T. Marshall, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) from 2019 to 2023. He also makes appearances for AEW's partner promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, where he is a former one-time AAA Latin American Champion. He is a co-owner and trainer of The Nightmare Factory, a professional wrestling training facility, alongside Cody Rhodes and Glacier of Nightmare Family.
Keith Lee is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He is also known for his time in WWE from 2018 to 2021 and Ring of Honor (ROH), as well as on the independent circuit with promotions such as Evolve, All American Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla.
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Jacksonville, Florida. It is owned by Shahid Khan and his son Tony with the latter being the president and chief executive officer. Its headquarters is at EverBank Stadium, the home of the National Football League's Jacksonville Jaguars, a team also owned by Shahid Khan. Since its inception, AEW has since been viewed as being the second largest wrestling promotion in the world behind WWE.
AEW Dynamite, also known as Wednesday Night Dynamite or simply Dynamite, is an American professional wrestling television program produced by the American promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It airs every Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on TBS and, with some exceptions, episodes air live. The show was originally broadcast on TBS's sister channel, TNT, from October 2, 2019, to December 29, 2021, before moving to TBS beginning January 5, 2022. Before its time on TBS, major sporting events would cause some episodes to air at a later time or on other nights. It is considered AEW's flagship program, and is one of the company's three weekly programs, along with its second main program, Saturday Night Collision, and Friday Night Rampage, which focuses on younger wrestlers in the company. Dynamite is the first professional wrestling program to air on TBS since the final episode of WCW Thunder on March 21, 2001.
WWE NXT Level Up, also known as NXT Level Up, is an American professional wrestling streaming television program. It is produced by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE, featuring performers from the promotion's NXT brand division. Episodes are uploaded on Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network internationally. The program features matches taped either before or after the preceding episode of NXT. The show premiered on February 18, 2022, as a replacement for 205 Live, and it goes head-to-head with AEW Rampage.
In simple terms, Maffew's Botchamania compilations are blooper reels, collections of mistakes drawn from various professional wrestling events, edited into twelve- to fifteen-minute-long videos. The bloopers include botched moves, clips of wrestlers stumbling over their dialogue or breaking character onscreen, illogical or particularly ridiculous narrative events (which are all too common in professional wrestling), and excerpts of wrestlers audibly calling spots.
While being the most dedicated of fans, they can also be the harshest critics, looking for mistakes and "botches" (or glimpses into reality) at every opportunity. The appeal of this is evidenced by the widespread popularity of Botchamania, a Youtube series.