Poll: Pro Wrestling for Non-Fans

[LetalisK]

I just recently got into wrestling a few years ago and it's pretty much just WWE.

*gets chased out by hardcore wrestling fans*

What is the difference?

To put it in gamer terms, WWE is Call of Duty. It's very accessible, more popular than a swedish swimsuit model on a nude beach, relatively polished compared to its competitors, has a huge fanbase of children that get pandered to, likes to pull some of the stupidest shit, and the hardcore crowd fucking hates it.

 

[DugMachine]

I was into it as a kid. Sometime around The Rock era during the 90s. I remember it being much more graphic and sexualized than it is today for some reason... anywho. As I got older the staged fighting and silly frills just lost my appeal.

 

[Powereaver]

I haven't really watched it in years...I used to be quite the fan though, and the games were always really fun. I'm thinking of getting WWE 13 when it comes out. Tell me, is Triple H still around? What about Batista? They were always my favourites.

Batista went to MMA 2 years ago.. and Triple H works as more an Admin Role and on a reduced work schedule like the undertaker currently.

 

[Baron_Rouge]

I haven't really watched it in years...I used to be quite the fan though, and the games were always really fun. I'm thinking of getting WWE 13 when it comes out. Tell me, is Triple H still around? What about Batista? They were always my favourites.

Batista went to MMA 2 years ago.. and Triple H works as more an Admin Role and on a reduced work schedule like the undertaker currently.

Ah, OK so long as he still makes appearances from time to time to do something dastardly, it's all good.

 

[DudeistBelieve]

With the recent and unfortunate health problems of the well regarded Jerry Lawler (get well soon), it would seem that pro wrestling has yet again come into the mainstream's discussion. Well, mainstream for the escapist anyway.
Not to see like a profiteer, but, allow me to introduce myself.
I am the biggest wrestling nerd on the Escapist. You're welcome.
If you've see any of my prior pro wrestling threads, then you know that I am a ravenous fan with an unquenchable compulsion to debate, answer, and engage people I refer to as "Normals" about my favorite thing in the whole wide world.
So, come with questions. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and you will not be flamed for asking something that might seem obvious. If you don't know something about wrestling, then your question is perfectly valid to me and I will answer it to the best of my abilities.
To wrestling fans already ON the escapist, what experiences have you had discussing pro wrestling outside of fan circles?
I can do anything from historical trivia, match recommendations, and everything in between.

As an ice breaker, here's a highlight video:
(I have a millions of them)

LIES!!!! Then why aren't you apart of our Wrestling and MMA user group if your such a big fan huh? #Bullying (Nah seriously, come join us, bro.)

 

[DudeistBelieve]

Why is pro wrestling on the sci-fi SYFI (damn marking wankers) channel? I have never understood that and its the only question that comes to mind.

Because UPN died, CW didn't want it, and Sci-Fi really liked the idea of a lot of people watching their channel.

 

[piinyouri]

*raises hand*

Started with WCW back when I was.....13? Maybe 14?
Watched it as religiously as I ended up watching DBZ later on.
Then one day I realized I just hadn't watched it in a while. That 'while' grew into 'some time' then to "a very long while' and eventually to a 'can't remember the last time I watched it'.
I would turn the TV on occasionally and see WF, but could never seem to catch WCW anymore.


I've been with my boyfriend for 2 years now and he's a massive smark. Its pretty much thanks to him that my wrestling interest has reblossomed quite a bit.
He also taught me the language, the history, what happened to WCW and WF, all of it. It was quite surprising. Over time I started watching Raw with him, even though I had almost no idea who anyone was.(I only recognized Cena and Big Show)

With time I found myself feeling old feelings, but tempered by the knowledge of the business I had learned. (When I was a kid watching WCW, I thought it was all really really real. No works, no shoots, all of it was authentic.)

Watching it now knowing how the business works, I must say is a far more richer experience.

We haven't had TV for awhile so I've been out of the loop for sometime. He keeps up on Gerweck though.

 

[Saladfork]

The only thing I watched that was wrestling-related was Spoony's wrestling Vlogs on Wrestle! Wrestle! about how goddamn stupid TNA was.

He took a break from it because he hated it so much and now I am once again completely out of the loop.

 

[SadakoMoose]

The only thing I watched that was wrestling-related was Spoony's wrestling Vlogs on Wrestle! Wrestle! about how goddamn stupid TNA was.

He took a break from it because he hated it so much and now I am once again completely out of the loop.

Forget TNA! King of Trios, man!
Have you tried watching Botchamania?

 

[Saladfork]

The only thing I watched that was wrestling-related was Spoony's wrestling Vlogs on Wrestle! Wrestle! about how goddamn stupid TNA was.

He took a break from it because he hated it so much and now I am once again completely out of the loop.

Forget TNA! King of Trios, man!
Have you tried watching Botchamania?

I watched one, and I didn't find Sean Fausz (or however his name is spelled) to be as entertaining as Spoony.

As for wrestleing itself, I really don't see the appeal of watching about 2 minutes of greased up, sweaty, 300lb slabs of beef crashing into each other and 58 minutes of explanation for why they're crashing into each other.

 

[SadakoMoose]

The only thing I watched that was wrestling-related was Spoony's wrestling Vlogs on Wrestle! Wrestle! about how goddamn stupid TNA was.

He took a break from it because he hated it so much and now I am once again completely out of the loop.

Forget TNA! King of Trios, man!
Have you tried watching Botchamania?

I watched one, and I didn't find Sean Fausz (or however his name is spelled) to be as entertaining as Spoony.

As for wrestleing itself, I really don't see the appeal of watching about 2 minutes of greased up, sweaty, 300lb slabs of beef crashing into each other and 58 minutes of explanation for why they're crashing into each other.

That's not most pro wrestling and Sean Fausz has nothing to do with http://botchamania.com/botchamania-212/
PLEASE, watch the examples I posted in the rest of the thread, I put them there for a reason.

 

[Kolby Jack]

I generally just watch WWE. I know, "boooooo."

I'm also a big fan of John Cena. I know, "BOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

And to top it all off, I'm in it more for the characters than I am for the wrestling! I know, "KILL THE HERETIC! BURN HIM! PLUCK OUT HIS EYES AND SHOVE THEM UP HIS ASS SO HE MIGHT SEE HIS HEAD IN THERE!!!"

What can I say?

... no, really, what can I say? Because nothing I can think of would justify my reasons to be wrestling fan to pretty much any other wrestling fan. Ah well. LET'S GO CENA! (I like Punk too, though).

 

[DEAD34345]

My only real experience with wrestling was my time playing Raw 2 on the Xbox many years ago, and I didn't even do all that much actual wrestling in it. Most of my time was spent dropping metal boxes on a guy called "Tommy Dreamer"'s head for some reason, and stealing stuff from his locker. That game was awesome...

Anyway, what exactly is it that you watch wrestling for?

Is it the technical execution of what they're doing, in the same way someone might watch a gymnast? Is it the story that apparently goes with it? Or something else altogether?

I've never really understood the appeal, not that I have anything against it.

 

[SadakoMoose]

My only real experience with wrestling was my time playing Raw 2 on the Xbox many years ago, and I didn't even do all that much actual wrestling in it. Most of my time was spent dropping metal boxes on a guy called "Tommy Dreamer"'s head for some reason, and stealing stuff from his locker. That game was awesome...

Anyway, what exactly is it that you watch wrestling for?

Is it the technical execution of what they're doing, in the same way someone might watch a gymnast? Is it the story that apparently goes with it? Or something else altogether?

I've never really understood the appeal, not that I have anything against it.

Personally, it's really both. I get really deep into the technical execution, and I've seen some really good stories done with pro wrestling as the medium.
Tommy is one of my fave brawling wrestlers. He might do a lot of holds, but he can do beatdowns better than most!
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2jepq_ecw-dreamer-v-cw-anderson-i-quit-ma_sport

 

[RedDeadFred]

Muscly, half-naked men groping and hugging each other is not my kind of show. Although I saw this on a TSN Countdown and despite my reservations against the sport, this is pretty fucking badass:

 

[OutcastBOS]

Hi! Big wrestling fan here. Mainly of the WWF/E and WCW/ECW stuff. I've been trying to get into TNA and other promotions too, seeing as I'm in an E-Fed.

 

[SadakoMoose]

Muscly, half-naked men groping and hugging each other is not my kind of show. Although I saw this on a TSN Countdown and despite my reservations against the sport, this is pretty fucking badass:

If you like badass things, you might like Steve Williams.

 

[RedDeadFred]

Muscly, half-naked men groping and hugging each other is not my kind of show. Although I saw this on a TSN Countdown and despite my reservations against the sport, this is pretty fucking badass:

If you like badass things, you might like Steve Williams.

Isn't that fake though. I mean they are just actors aren't they? I'll occasionally watch UFC and MMA because it's actually real. Still not very often though.

 

[SadakoMoose]

Muscly, half-naked men groping and hugging each other is not my kind of show. Although I saw this on a TSN Countdown and despite my reservations against the sport, this is pretty fucking badass:

If you like badass things, you might like Steve Williams.

Isn't that fake though. I mean they are just actors aren't they? I'll occasionally watch UFC and MMA because it's actually real. Still not very often though.

Well, I'm not sure I quite understand how you're using the word fake in this instance.
Was the match from the clip I posted pre-determined? Yes, but physically speaking we're still talking about a very stiff backdrop being taken in a very dangerous way. You were talking about something bad ass, so I gave you something that I felt fit that category. I'm not quite sure how you can fake gravity.

 

[4173]

I used to watch pretty regularly, but after the Benoit murder/suicide most of my interest vanished.