Pro wrestling stopped pretending to be "real" back in the 90s ... It's just like any other television show, there are performers/actors who have their scripted parts to play in the overall story, conflict occurs, rinse and repeat for the next week's episode.
Really, it amazes me that people STILL bad-mouth pro wrestling fans with cries of "IT'S FAKE IT'S FAKE" ... When Vader and Obi Wan are having their light saber duel, does anyone think that they're actually fighting to the death? When Jackie Chan performs a fight scene in one of his action movies, does anyone think that the people involved are really trying to hurt one another? It's ALL performance, it's ALL for show.
Bottom line - pro wrestling fans have more in common with comic book fans than they do with NFL fans ... In fact, the same incorrect stereotypes apply to both groups (i.e. non-fans think it's all terrible writing combined with musclebound guys hitting each other in their underwear).
I also like how wrestling fans aren't allowed to comment on wrestling storylines because OHMYGOD IT'S ALL FAKE HOW CAN YOU TALK ABOUT IT LIKE IT'S REAL YOU MUST BE STUPID ... but seriously, did you see what Carol did to that little girl on Walking Dead? How could she do that, what's wrong with her? I am so mad at her, she should be ashamed of herself!
Seriously, watch any episode of the Talking Dead, and the guests talk about the characters as if they're real people ... NOT because they believe there's an actual zombie apocalypse going on somewhere with real flesh-and-blood individuals named Rick and Carl, but because they're emotionally invested in these characters. It's like that with any good piece of fiction (including wrestling), you "lose" yourself in the illusion of the drama.
Once upon a time, he did have a valid point, though. When they still pretended to be real and their fans would very nearly get violent if you dared posit that it wasn't, it was utterly deserving of such scorn.
Now that they no longer pretend, they're just too bland. The writing is still mind-numbingly awful, but no worse than a million procedurals and blockbuster films. The acting is still terrible, but see above. There's the whole extreme steroid thing and the fact that most of the guys will be dead by 60, but, well, the NFL.
So the new fake, pretending to be real, horribly written, horribly acted crap that is truly worthy of everyone's scorn, that everyone needs to turn on, mock, shame, refuse to watch, and generally harass until it ceases to exist is: reality TV. Reality TV is the new wrestling.
I'd like to see this guy go into a ring and take a basic back bump. He'd learn a few things about how 'fake' it is when you get down to the nitty gritty of the performance they're putting on.
I still hate the phrase "fake" in relation to it just because of how physical it really is, but the fact that its scripted and predetermined oftentimes feels like more of a selling point than a deterrent.
A more appropriate analogy, in the 'old days' at least, might be stage magic. Most people are generally aware what they're watching is an illusion but they don't know how it is done and maybe some might wonder or believe it's real if it is presented in a certain way. But you just sort of stop questioning the details and enjoy the show. Nowadays most serious fans know the 'secrets' and even the insider language so that element is gone. For some it must be like watching David Blaine's street show while knowing how he does it.
While I can appreciate the athleticism required to perform pro wrestling (and have indeed done so while watching the guys in our local league), I think that the story telling in pro wrestling is painfully, painfully stupid and melodramatic. I guess I need to move in to a trailer and start fucking my cousin in order to fully understand.
I used to disparage pro wrestling until I realized that I have my own set of stories about impossibly muscular men and women in skin-tight costumes who beat the stuffing out of each other that I take very seriously. Even thought I'm not into it, I no longer begrudge anyone their enjoyment of WWE.
Before the 90's. It use to be hip, cool and kind of tough to make a joke about the fakeness of professional wrestling at a party or, large social function. Because, you never knew what violent knit-wit was a fan of the sport, and would defend its legitimacy to the death. Now, today, calling out Pro Wrestling for be totally fake, is like... "Okay, and who woke you up?".
To be fair, none of the various franchises this guy is wearing pretend to be real the way wrestling does.
ReplyDeleteWrestling hasn't pretended to be real since the 80s.
DeleteTo be fair, you are wholly incorrect. Wrestling does not try to be real at all; and hasn't for the better part of three decades.
DeleteThe fact that you even said that shows you have no idea what you're even talking about. Who's the retard now?
DeleteWrestling is like sport theatre ... athletes acting out storylines live in front of huge audiences.
ReplyDeleteThat's not what it is "like," that is exactly what it is.
DeletePro wrestling stopped pretending to be "real" back in the 90s ... It's just like any other television show, there are performers/actors who have their scripted parts to play in the overall story, conflict occurs, rinse and repeat for the next week's episode.
ReplyDeleteReally, it amazes me that people STILL bad-mouth pro wrestling fans with cries of "IT'S FAKE IT'S FAKE" ... When Vader and Obi Wan are having their light saber duel, does anyone think that they're actually fighting to the death? When Jackie Chan performs a fight scene in one of his action movies, does anyone think that the people involved are really trying to hurt one another? It's ALL performance, it's ALL for show.
Bottom line - pro wrestling fans have more in common with comic book fans than they do with NFL fans ... In fact, the same incorrect stereotypes apply to both groups (i.e. non-fans think it's all terrible writing combined with musclebound guys hitting each other in their underwear).
I also like how wrestling fans aren't allowed to comment on wrestling storylines because OHMYGOD IT'S ALL FAKE HOW CAN YOU TALK ABOUT IT LIKE IT'S REAL YOU MUST BE STUPID ... but seriously, did you see what Carol did to that little girl on Walking Dead? How could she do that, what's wrong with her? I am so mad at her, she should be ashamed of herself!
DeleteSeriously, watch any episode of the Talking Dead, and the guests talk about the characters as if they're real people ... NOT because they believe there's an actual zombie apocalypse going on somewhere with real flesh-and-blood individuals named Rick and Carl, but because they're emotionally invested in these characters. It's like that with any good piece of fiction (including wrestling), you "lose" yourself in the illusion of the drama.
Once upon a time, he did have a valid point, though. When they still pretended to be real and their fans would very nearly get violent if you dared posit that it wasn't, it was utterly deserving of such scorn.
DeleteNow that they no longer pretend, they're just too bland. The writing is still mind-numbingly awful, but no worse than a million procedurals and blockbuster films. The acting is still terrible, but see above. There's the whole extreme steroid thing and the fact that most of the guys will be dead by 60, but, well, the NFL.
So the new fake, pretending to be real, horribly written, horribly acted crap that is truly worthy of everyone's scorn, that everyone needs to turn on, mock, shame, refuse to watch, and generally harass until it ceases to exist is: reality TV. Reality TV is the new wrestling.
It's still real to me, dammit! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvTNyKIGXiI
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see this guy go into a ring and take a basic back bump. He'd learn a few things about how 'fake' it is when you get down to the nitty gritty of the performance they're putting on.
ReplyDeleteWrestling is full contact LARP turned into a show.
ReplyDeleteFirst to use the word "kayfabe."
ReplyDeleteI still hate the phrase "fake" in relation to it just because of how physical it really is, but the fact that its scripted and predetermined oftentimes feels like more of a selling point than a deterrent.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as someone who has been to a wrestling school and bumped, I can assure you there's nothing fake about how hurt I was sometimes.
ReplyDeleteA more appropriate analogy, in the 'old days' at least, might be stage magic. Most people are generally aware what they're watching is an illusion but they don't know how it is done and maybe some might wonder or believe it's real if it is presented in a certain way. But you just sort of stop questioning the details and enjoy the show. Nowadays most serious fans know the 'secrets' and even the insider language so that element is gone. For some it must be like watching David Blaine's street show while knowing how he does it.
ReplyDeleteWhile I can appreciate the athleticism required to perform pro wrestling (and have indeed done so while watching the guys in our local league), I think that the story telling in pro wrestling is painfully, painfully stupid and melodramatic. I guess I need to move in to a trailer and start fucking my cousin in order to fully understand.
ReplyDeleteI used to disparage pro wrestling until I realized that I have my own set of stories about impossibly muscular men and women in skin-tight costumes who beat the stuffing out of each other that I take very seriously. Even thought I'm not into it, I no longer begrudge anyone their enjoyment of WWE.
ReplyDeleteBefore the 90's. It use to be hip, cool and kind of tough to make a joke about the fakeness of professional wrestling at a party or, large social function. Because, you never knew what violent knit-wit was a fan of the sport, and would defend its legitimacy to the death. Now, today, calling out Pro Wrestling for be totally fake, is like... "Okay, and who woke you up?".
ReplyDelete