In the Name of TBS: Comparing Braves’ players to WCW Wrestlers
By Seth Carter
The Atlanta Braves and World Championship Wrestling were once sister companies under Turner Broadcasting. How do Ted Turner’s favorite toys still link up today?
Atlanta Braves Baseball and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) have always been closely related.
In the 90’s they were brother and sister on TBS Superstation. They were both owned by Turner Broadcasting and broadcast on Turner they were.
Many WCW fans are also Braves fans as a result of our Superstation indoctrination.
Baseball players and wrestlers are more similar than you may have thought.
In Major League Baseball, you have a bunch of grown men playing a game for a living. In professional wrestling, you have a bunch of grown men pretending to fight each other in their underwear — I’m jealous either way.
The Braves and WCW made up two of the highest rated programs across Turner broadcasting in the 90’s.
In honor of offseason fun, and to take a break from breaking down free agent signings, prognosticating on future roster moves, and projecting imaginary trades, we shall now take a look at ways the Braves’ roster is similar to WCW.
Brian Snitker/Jimmy Hart
Snit manages winners. He was the 2018 Manager of the Year and led the Braves to two consecutive division titles (and counting).
He manages big-time talent with big-time personalities such as Ronald Acuna Jr. and Josh Donaldson.
Jimmy Hart managed winners. Hart was named Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Manager of the year in 1987 and 1994. Hart managed the biggest names in wrestling, including “the Immortal” Hulk Hogan.
Jimmy Hart managed his guys to championship gold and I have a feeling that Snit is going to do the same for the Braves.
Tyler Flowers is like La Parka
La Parka came to WCW as a part of the Mexican influx, bringing lucha libre style wrestling to the American audience.
La Parka watched as his peers were catapulted past him to stardom, like Rey Mysterio, Konnan, and Eddie Guerrero.
And La Parka watched his peers fly right past him the same way Tyler Flowers watches baseballs fly past him when he’s catching.