Do you like Professional Wrestling?

LighterGuy

and before anyone asks, I cant go into the pro wrestling forum and ask this :P thats like going to a car auction and saying does anyone like cars :pac:

So I am just wondering. Like, it was big in the 80s. Big in the late 90s. Does the average person like it? or does the average person hate it?

Buceph

I liked it when I was seven.

Couldn't give a feck now.

Although I do like wrestling games for consoles.

pragmatic1

Buceph wrote: »

I liked it when I was seven.

Couldn't give a feck now.

Although I do like wrestling games for consoles.

Liked it when I was a kid and thought it was real. Once I found out it was fake I stopped watching.

KeithM89_old

I like women wrestling naked in mud....

TeddyTedson

I used to like it a lot as a kid, but not anymore. I'd watch a few mins of it but not really in to it now. A few of the lads might put it on the tv for a few mins if we were having a few drinks.
If it was still like this I'd defo still watch it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i68fMyEQh28

ricero

I love it. It's like a really violent soap opera and I find the whole spectacle amazing how they learn there moves and don't injure one another. Also the effort that goes into them wrestlemania events are outstanding

LighterGuy

KeithM89 wrote: »

I like women wrestling naked in mud....

Oh yes .... *faps* :pac:

pragmatic1 wrote: »

Liked it when I was a kid and thought it was real. Once I found out it was fake I stopped watching.

So your realisation of it being fake just did it for you? (alot of people felt the same)

Buceph wrote: »

I liked it when I was seven. Couldn't give a feck now. Although I do like wrestling games for consoles.

Games are good but do you still casually watch it?

PARKHEAD67

NO.Its semi-retarded;)

tonycascarino

Yes, it can be entertaining.

LighterGuy

TeddyTedson wrote: »

I used to like it a lot as a kid, but not anymore. I'd watch a few mins of it but not really in to it now. A few of the lads might put it on the tv for a few mins if we were having a few drinks.
If it was still like this I'd defo still watch it!

if its ok to ask the question, teddy. what would you like to see now? I am just curious. The same in your face attiude? ... more realistic reactions? moer adult?

Xplor.er

wasnt much of a fan, but f**k there was some fine women in it.
the bra & panties matches wernt bad either:D

Saila

no the leatards dont suit me

Buceph

LighterGuy wrote: »

Games are good but do you still casually watch it?

No, I don't watch it. I don't have the channels to, and if I did I don't think I would. Although if they put some of the stuff on from the late 80's up to the Yokozuna years I might give it a go for nostalgia.

I'm not one of the "wrestling is for children" brigade either. I understand people like it for the pantomime. I think South Park really nailed it when they did the episode on how it was like a soap opera/musical for the proto-male.

Saila

Buceph wrote: »

No, I don't watch it. I don't have the channels to, and if I did I don't think I would. Although if they put some of the stuff on from the late 80's up to the Yokozuna years I might give it a go for nostalgia.

I'm not one of the "wrestling is for children" brigade either. I understand people like it for the pantomime. I think South Park really nailed it when they did the episode on how it was like a soap opera/musical for the proto-male.

I remember flicking around a few years ago and seeing the undertaker still in it :eek:

php-fox

A bunch of naked men slapping each others shaved chests. Thank you, but no.

LighterGuy

Buceph wrote: »

No, I don't watch it. I don't have the channels to, and if I did I don't think I would. Although if they put some of the stuff on from the late 80's up to the Yokozuna years I might give it a go for nostalgia.

I'm not one of the "wrestling is for children" brigade either. I understand people like it for the pantomime. I think South Park really nailed it when they did the episode on how it was like a soap opera/musical for the proto-male.

Interesting points. cant disagree but what would you change if you could?
just being curious, like what would make you watch it more? ... being 18+? .. more adult?

Buceph

Saila wrote: »

I remember flicking around a few years ago and seeing the undertaker still in it :eek:

Aye, I saw that. I thought they replaced him a few times.

His coffin fight with Yokozuna was brilliant. With the giant coffin for the sumo-wrestler. And his weird Adams Family type manager.

Doog tiems.

Buceph

LighterGuy wrote: »

Interesting points. cant disagree but what would you change if you could?
just being curious, like what would make you watch it more? ... being 18+? .. more adult?

I think if they got rid of the wrestling and acting and dramatics and bravado, and had Ravi Shankar play his stuff in the middle of the ring to a crowd of fans, I'd probably watch it.

Honestly, I don't think anything would attract me to it. It's just not my thing anymore. Although the best way of getting me to watch it would be having it on one of the Free-to-Air channels. I don't have Sky Sports or the like.

TeddyTedson

LighterGuy wrote: »

if its ok to ask the question, teddy. what would you like to see now? I am just curious. The same in your face attiude? ... more realistic reactions? moer adult?

I know they try and market it to kids now and all but yea more Adult orientated I guess, although I loved it as a kid when it was aimed at an older audience, it was kind of gritty wasn't it back years ago.
Lots of the fights got really personal. I remember seeing it and I think it was DDP or something was filming Undertakers wife and putting footage of it on during his matchs, that's the kind of gritty stoylines they should get back.
Also I used to love all the stuff HBK would do as a bad guy. Super kick to the rock when he was a special ref and acting like a good guy.
Now when I see it, it seems quite dull, nothing happening, no gritty story lines.

Buceph

OP. Did you just start your market research essay after getting back from the pub?

I hope you don't have to hand it in tomorrow.

:P

LighterGuy

Buceph wrote: »

I think if they got rid of the wrestling and acting and dramatics and bravado, and had Ravi Shankar play his stuff in the middle of the ring to a crowd of fans, I'd probably watch it.

Honestly, I don't think anything would attract me to it. It's just not my thing anymore. Although the best way of getting me to watch it would be having it on one of the Free-to-Air channels. I don't have Sky Sports or the like.

lol...
but yeah, a free-to-air way of watching it would definitely help exposure and ratings I have to agree.

LighterGuy

Buceph wrote: »

OP. Did you just start your market research essay after getting back from the pub?

I hope you don't have to hand it in tomorrow.

:P

Not drunk, not back from the pub :P and no essay :P
but my hat tips off to your sir. you clearly are intelligent.

Chuck Stone

I hate it. What always... frightens me is that the audience is full of adults!

Tens of thousands of grown men watching a badly written soap opera about muscled men fighting.

How incredibly weird.

PARKHEAD67

php-fox wrote: »

A bunch of naked men slapping each others shaved chests. Thank you, but no.

You forgot that theyre injecting half a litre of roids into their veins every day too.

PARKHEAD67

Chuck Stone wrote: »

I hate it. What always... frightens me is that the audience is full of adults!

Tens of thousands of grown men watching a badly written soap opera about muscled men fighting.

How incredibly weird.

Fake muscle.Steroid muscle;)

Xplor.er

Chuck Stone wrote: »

I hate it. What always... frightens me is that the audience is full of adults!

Tens of thousands of grown men watching a badly written soap opera about muscled men fighting.

How incredibly weird.

the americans take is so f**king seriously, and its not even real

TeddyTedson

It's not too weird if you think about it though, many men are obsessed with all things sport. Right now I'm watching Spanish football for example. Also a lot of people are really fascinated with the character of these people. Joes Mourinho is an obvious troll if we're honest but people love him. During the Arsenal match today all they talked about after the game was Wengers off pitch reactions.
Wrestling fits this. It's not real but who cares.

Chuck Stone wrote: »

I hate it. What always... frightens me is that the audience is full of adults!

Tens of thousands of grown men watching a badly written soap opera about muscled men fighting.

How incredibly weird.

PARKHEAD67

Chuck Stone wrote: »

I hate it. What always... frightens me is that the audience is full of adults!

Tens of thousands of grown men watching a badly written soap opera about muscled men fighting.

How incredibly weird.

American men tend to frighten a lot of Irish people.They are a wierd race.You gotta love the wierdness though.

LighterGuy

Xplor.er wrote: »

the americans take is so f**king seriously, and its not even real

Can I ask a qesution?
I am just curious, like wrestling isnt real. even a 5 year old knows that, lol :pac:

but how is wrestling less real than watching a movie? ... is it because its a "sport" ?

PARKHEAD67

TeddyTedson wrote: »

It's not too weird if you think about it though, many men are obsessed with all things sport. Right now I'm watching Spanish football for example. Also a lot of people are really fascinated with the character of these people. Joes Mourinho is an obvious troll if we're honest but people love him. During the Arsenal match today all they talked about after the game was Wengers off pitch reactions.
Wrestling fits this. It's not real but who cares.

I fcuking hate mourinhio. Ba:Drca

PARKHEAD67

It's not real but who cares.[/QUOTE]
Damn man.I always tought it was real.Shoot:D

Pride Fighter

With the Rikishi running down Stone Cold Steve Austin storyline came up I stopped watching soon after that.

I enjoyed it for the lols, its turn your brain off, escapism. But its awful now. The period 90-2002 was the golden era IMO, been awful since.

TeddyTedson

When I was very young I remember thinking it was real:D

Yea barca! Loved that! Real were a bit unlucky though not to score. I hope we win all these games against them now, that'll really piss Jose off:P
He tried to pretend he doesn't care but he does. Remember after we won 5-0 he came out and said it's what he expected, like come on, stop trolling Jose.
The media are often going on about how he's missed in the Premiership, people love a troll.

Chuck Stone

TeddyTedson wrote: »

It's not too weird if you think about it though, many men are obsessed with all things sport.

That's if you consider it a sport which it clearly isn't.

Sport is about competition that wrestling is not a competition it's a farce.

TeddyTedson

Chuck Stone wrote: »

That's if you consider it a sport which it clearly isn't.

Sport is about competition that wrestling is not a competition it's a farce.

It captures the essence of a sport though. To be honest, i'd rather watch a wrestling match than a bowls game anyday.

AnalogueKid

I think it's hilarious.

The ridiculous plots, table and chair matches, the steroid-fueled rants, preposterous characters, incredible death-defying athleticism, the dopey referees, the wrestlers taunting the crowds (and vice-versa), the fact that adults can laugh at it and kids actually believe it and, number one for me - the commentators and interviewers playing it 'straight' juxtaposed to all of the above absurdity.

For years I thought it was total b&^*@x until I recently sat down and watched a tables match between Jon Cena (the top guy apparently) and Sheamus (from Dublin!). As I learned that night, a tables match is where you can only win by smashing your opponent through a table (How cool is that?!?!?) I was pissing myself laughing at the commentators talking about Sheamus 'basing his training on that of ancient Celtic warriors'. Sheamus won, kids in the audience were crying and the commentators were going on as if Malta had just beaten Brazil in the World Cup Final.

It's just like an ultra-violent cartoon - except with exceptionally skilled actors playing this out live on TV in front of millions of people. Saying you don't like it cos it's fake is pathetic, it's like saying you don't like Road Runner cos it's 'fake'. If you don't like it, then fair enough, but using the 'fake' argument shows you're not nearly as sophisticated as you think you are. Life is too short not to have a few belly laughs along the way.

chicken fingers

When people talk about watching pro wrestling* I feel so so SO embarrassed for them.
I grew out of that when I was about 9 years old.

*Otherwise known as greased up men in speedos pretending to fight.

AnalogueKid

Chuck Stone wrote: »

That's if you consider it a sport which it clearly isn't.

Sport is about competition that wrestling is not a competition it's a farce.

I agree 100% with this post. A farce is exactly what it is - (Here's wiki's definition of a farce)

In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims to entertain the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include sexual innuendo and word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases, culminating in an ending which often involves an elaborate chase scene. Farce is also characterized by physical humor, the use of deliberate absurdity or nonsense, and broadly stylized performances. Farces have been written for the stage and film. Many farces move at a frantic pace toward the climax, in which the initial problem is resolved one way or another, often through a deus ex machina twist of the plot. Generally, there is a happy ending. The convention ofpoetic justice is not always observed: The protagonist may get away with what he or she has been trying to hide at all costs, even if it is a criminal act.

Dismissing it on the grounds that it's not a sport or not real wrestling is even more laughable than 'Professional Wrestling' itself. It's a professionally choreographed and scripted circus freak show.

Sonics2k

Nowhere nearly as much as I used to as a kid, in fact I was pretty shocked to find out the Undertaker is still wrestling, and I have memories of him from when I was around 6-7 years old.

Technically, it's all fake, but by god those people (men and women) put themselves through incredible stuff for the sake of entertainment.

Otis Driftwood

php-fox wrote: »

A bunch of naked men slapping each others shaved chests. Thank you, but no.

Hate to break it to ya buddy but you've been watching gay S+M porn.

Sonics2k

I do laugh at the whole "It's so fake" argument, because it's just the worst possible way to disapprove of Wrestling.

Yes it's all scripted, the winner is pre-determined, but I don't care who you are, jumping or being thrown from the top of a 20ft cage and landing on a table WILL hurt you, being dropped on to the mat will still knock the wind out of you and so on.

Dr. Baltar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvTNyKIGXiI

Biggins

If its the American type - NO, don't like it.
It's the personification of all thats wrong with American media and mindless hype-over what is in the end, pure rubbish and useless fodder for the brain dead.

If it entertains eight year olds, normally I would say 'grand' but if one entertains the idea that dumb violence (false at that) is a good idea to which we should be allowing our young minds to view and become accustomed with, we also need to re-examine our parenting skills too and our values!

Riddle101

Judging from this thread I'm going to be one in a monority if even that, who says I still do watch wrestling. You can make any argument you want about pro wrestling because i've heard it all. "wrestling is fake", "bunch of half naked men fighting" and "just a soap opera" but did it ever occur to anyone that watching pro wrestling is no different to watching any other tv show. It's just a form of entertainment people like to watch, there's nothing wrong with that. No different then watching something like House or CSI or Lost. Course people will be quick to roll their eyes at this comment. But I don't care, cause i'm a proud pro wrestling fan.

Biggins

Riddle101 wrote: »

...No different then watching something like House or CSI or Lost.

LOL

There was me thinking that the above programmes were based around science, technology and the use of mans greatest muscle, the brain.

I must have missed all the bits in those programmes where they for hours run silly around a square box, hand slapping their shaved chests like a bunch of dumb Neanderthals - and even worse, cheered on by even more media and profit market induced hyped up Neanderthals outside the ring!

I think I need new glasses! I'm seeing a good difference!

upandcumming

No. Was always crap. Still is.

krudler

I do, and always have enjoyed watching it. I dont watch it so much anymore because its more aimed at kids , whereas in the years when Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock were the top stars it was more edgy and aimed at late teens/early 20's audience, it was a lot more violent than it is now.

Here's the thing about wrestling that people who dont watch/like wrestling dont seem to understand. ready?

fans KNOW its scripted, they know its rehearsed (to a point) they know its all predetermined, they know the wrestlers for the most part get along with each other backstage and its all a show. Its not a sport, its never pretended to be a sport since the 70s when they stopped assuming audiences thought it was real. Its a stage show that rivals most stadium sized concerts. I've been to two Wrestlemanias with attendence crowds of 80,000+ and 75,000+ respectively, thats a lot ot "idiots" dont ya think? Think of it as the combination of a rock concert meets a soap opera with a huge amount of athleticism as well.

Anyone who thinks wrestlers dont get legimtately injured, well you're wrong, plain as. Wrestling has a "show must go on" mentality where guys have been severly injured and the matches have continued, their travel schedule is 200+ days a year on the road with no off season for injury recovery, performing 3-4 nights a week in a different city every night. Its a gruelling schedule and it cuts lives short.

I have a huge amount of respect for the men and women who do it, think of them as athletes/stuntmen who use athletic ability to tell a story in a ring. Is it cheesy? of course, it it all a show? YES. is it entertaining? hell yeah, if you dont like it for legit reasons then fine, but if you're one of those people who scoff at the notion of it while being completely ignorant to how it all works then more fool you.

Pauleta

Its a bit of fun. I dont really watch it that much anymore but will always make the effort for Wrestlemania. In the late 90s/early 00s it was aimed at an older audience abd was fantastic. Now its aimed at small children.

Riddle101

Biggins wrote: »

LOL

There was me thinking that the above programmes were based around science, technology and the use of mans greatest muscle, the brain.

I must have missed all the bits in those programmes where they for hours run silly around a square box, hand slapping their shaved chests like a bunch of dumb Neanderthals - and even worse, cheered on by even more media and profit market induced hyped up Neanderthals outside the ring!

I think I need new glasses! I'm seeing a good difference!

You're not seeing my point. While the TVs might be different, they're still part of the same format, they're entertainment. It dosen't matter whether one's about science or one is about technology it's just a tv show at the end of the day.

Also Neanderthals? Couldn't you at least make an effort not to insult the wrestlers who in fairness are just trying to do their job and entertain people. That's just typical of a wrestling hater to make remarks like that.

bonerm

krudler wrote: »

I've been to two Wrestlemanias with attendence crowds of 80,000+ and 75,000+ respectively, thats a lot ot "idiots" dont ya think?

Yes it is.

I think I stopped following wrestling when I was about 11 and genuinely can't understand why any adult would continue following it. I've since listened to several shoot interviews (no point reading 'biogs' because they're usually kayfabe) so I've a good insight into the "reality" of the business but regardless you'd seriously have to bring into the question the tastes of any grown person who gets entertainment from watchin of two or more seminaked 250+lb men groping each other in a ring for 10minutes a night.

It's like football (or any economically viable sport with passionate supporters). You have to give credit to anyone who can make it to the top of the tree and become a top professional footballer. Same with wrestling. These guys are doing something very difficult and competitive. Still doesn't change the fact that the fans are the fools pouring their hearts and cash into a product and at the same time making the experience out to be more than it actually is.

Biggins

Riddle101 wrote: »

You're not seeing my point. While the TVs might be different, they're still part of the same format, they're entertainment. It dosen't matter whether one's about science or one is about technology it's just a tv show at the end of the day.

...Except that one is based upon a foundation of using brains, plots, and complex situations and often problem solving.
Meanwhile the others is just based solely around the idea of scripted bashing the brains out of each other.

Riddle101 wrote: »

...Also Neanderthals? Couldn't you at least make an effort not to insult the wrestlers who in fairness are just trying to do their job and entertain people. That's just typical of a wrestling hater to make remarks like that.

Just because something exists, doesn't mean it good!
If it struts like a Neanderthal, behaves llike a Neanderthal and is similarly cheered on by hyped-up Neanderthal behaving bodies ...I see Neanderthals!