Tommy Dreamer believes a 5-star rating should not exist in wrestling because entertainment is subjective and different people can like different things.
The 5-star rating system made famous by wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer has always been a controversial topic. On one hand, it provides a spotlight to young talents trying to make a name, but on the other side legends like Kurt Angle never earning a top rating makes people question the integrity of the whole thing.
The ratings system was the talk of the latest episode of Busted Open Radio. Discussing the topic, Tommy Dreamer explained that a 5-star rating does not exist in his world because the quality of a match is a subjective opinion:
“A five-star match to me is nonexistent. It doesn’t exist in my world and nor should it ever. I’ve never had a five-star match according to one person. But I will tell you this, you go by the crowd, right? Dave, I’ve been to a lot of wrestling shows as a fan.
I’ve watched so many wrestling shows. I would say Hulk Hogan had a five-star match every night. Once that leg hit, everybody went nuts. When he was a babyface and your WWE champion. Hulk Hogan had a five-star match every night because everybody went home excited.”
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Tommy Dreamer noted that Dave has always been respectful to him and he values Meltzer’s opinion as a historian. However, Dreamer explained that different people can like different things and a 5-star match is one that leaves fans satisfied:
“Again, I have nothing against Dave Meltzer. I do have everything against this, well, it’s a five-star match. Dave, I do a lot of Indies. I have seen matches that I watched and I’m like, ‘Oh my god, how are people reacting to this? And then at the end of the match, people are cheering for these two unknown guys to me that aren’t very very good, but yet the fans liked it. So then it was a five-star match.
Because, like you said, Dave, I’m not a fan of gore in movies or taking it from Rhyno. However, people love gore. Jerry Lynn listens to like that death metal, and I’m like, that doesn’t appeal to me. But it appeals, and then if you ever see go to those concerts, there’s people that, hey, they sell out freaking massive stadiums. I’m not a fan of soccer. Yet, there’s people who love soccer. It’s all like you said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I have never seen Ray Mysterio have a bad match, and I’ve watched Ray Mysterio since his United States debut. Ray Mysterio has had a five-star match every single time he went out because I’ve never seen him have a bad match. Can you dissect it? Can you do this? Yes, but at the end of the day, if you paid your ticket and the fans are happy for what they saw, that’s a five-star night.”