Domestic Violence storylines

[CM Steel]

NOTE: I'M SORRY IF I OFFENDED ANYONE.

The Domestic Violence storyline has been used in the wrestling for years but was never been looked at as a big deal. Going back to the late 80's in the then-WWF. With the companies golden couple at the time with the Macho Man Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth. This is the first time in the promotions history when they introduced the Domestic Violence angle into wrestling. With the then-heel Macho Man looking like a woman beater to the WWF fans. May they both rest in peace.

And in the late 90's with Chaz (Headbanger Mosh) and his then girlfriend from New Jersey. She had a plot to try to set up Chaz to look like a woman beater during a angle where she wanted to leave Chaz. But Chaz's tag team partner Glen Ruth (Headbanger Thrasher) made his return to WWF TV he had revealed that it was him behind the whole "GTV" character backstage with spying on Chaz's evil girlfriend in the act putting on dark make-up in the dressing room to make it look like Chaz beat her.

Also in 2002-3 outside the WWE in real-life Stone Cold Steve Austin put his hands on his then-wife Debra McMichael. It was reported on media new as Domestic Violence incident between the two. During Stone Cold's failed heel run in 2001 Austin came off as a dictator to his wife Debra on TV. He treated her bad talked down to her and ever trashed her cooking skills. Did life imitated life here? Oh yeah and the whole Test calling the police on Triple H because he thought that Hunter had beat up Stephanie in their office.

Now I'm not saying that this angle or storyline should ever come back to wrestling. It shouldn't even be going on...but what do you think of Domestic Violence in the wrestling world?

 

[JoeyJoeJoe]

What could you possibly say other than it's a terrible thing?

Hey, no big shocker...the WWE has always been and remains a pretty misogynistic organization.

 

[The Butcher]

All I can say is watch this "At Home with Dr. D" segment. It insinuates not only spousal abuse but child abuse as well, yet manages to be funny as Schultz is continually left exasperated by his family. It's the lighter side of domestic violence.

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David Schultz was great.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

It's actually REALLY scary how close Shultz is to Austin in that segment, remove the hair and it's the same guy I swear it.

It's not something that should be used but they have used far, far worse including losing babies, date/drug marriage, implied rape (Batista and Melina) and necrophilia. The irony of course is Drew McIntyre's case, where his wife hit him, he got arrested too for defending himself and he was depushed as a result... WWE seems a little hypocritical at times.

 

[FlairFan2003]

Other than beating up kids, pro wrestling has used almost every societal ill as storyline fodder. Remember Marc Mero ? Savage & Liz was incredibly tame back in the day. Want an example of domestic violence in 80s wrestling watch Tully Blanchard slap down and berate Baby Doll circa 1985. Savage & Liz looked like a cartoon in comparison. Of course we've seen much violence against women over the years. Over time it's become acceptable if the women plays a villain character. Fans cheered when Ric Flair put Lita in a figure four during his famous TLC World Title Match vs Edge, they cheered when he threatened to beat Melina with a barbed wire bat in his I Quit Match vs Mick Foley, and they cheered when he assaulted Shelton Benjamin's mother, even taking away her oxygen tank (which he used as a weapon no less) during an IC Title match vs Benjamin. How many bumps has Stephanie taken as a heel through the years, fans cheering all the way ?

Heck, wrestling did at least flirt with beating a child when Eric Bischoff attempted to hurt Flair's son Reid on Nitro, only to be saved by Arn Anderson.

Domestic violence, drugged assault, rape (remember Lita & Kane), necrofillia (Katie Vick, the low point of HHH career), infidelity, its all been fodder for wrestling storylines and will continue to be so.

 

[FlairFan2003]

Other than beating up kids, pro wrestling has used almost every societal ill as storyline fodder. Remember Marc Mero ? Savage & Liz was incredibly tame back in the day. Want an example of domestic violence in 80s wrestling watch Tully Blanchard slap down and berate Baby Doll circa 1985. Savage & Liz looked like a cartoon in comparison. Of course we've seen much violence against women over the years. Over time it's become acceptable if the women plays a villain character. Fans cheered when Ric Flair put Lita in a figure four during his famous TLC World Title Match vs Edge, they cheered when he threatened to beat Melina with a barbed wire bat in his I Quit Match vs Mick Foley, and they cheered when he assaulted Shelton Benjamin's mother, even taking away her oxygen tank (which he used as a weapon no less) during an IC Title match vs Benjamin. How many bumps has Stephanie taken as a heel through the years, fans cheering all the way ?

Heck, wrestling did at least flirt with beating a child when Eric Bischoff attempted to hurt Flair's son Reid on Nitro, only to be saved by Arn Anderson.

Domestic violence, drugged assault, rape (remember Lita & Kane), necrofillia (Katie Vick, the low point of HHH career), infidelity, its all been fodder for wrestling storylines and will continue to be so.

 

[WBL]

Domestic violence is a horrible thing, nobody is going to dispute that. But as far as a storyline goes, if the WWE was going to try something along those lines, there's no way they're gonna touch it.after the whole Ray Rice fiasco.

 

[d_henderson1810]

I remember a mixed tag-team match one night where SCSA teamed with Stacy Keibler.

After the match, Austin threw a beer bash. He gave Stacy a beer, but she looked like she didn't like it. So, Austin gave her a Stunner.

Two very disturbing things about this. Firstly, this happened less than two months after he hit Debra in real life. Secondly, idiots in the crowd, who knew this (as it had been reported in the news) popped for Austin showing violence to a woman on-screen when Austin Stunnered Stacy.

 

[d_henderson1810]

Domestic violence is a horrible thing, nobody is going to dispute that. But as far as a storyline goes, if the WWE was going to try something along those lines, there's no way they're gonna touch it.after the whole Ray Rice fiasco.

The funny thing is, doing these storylines makes me question WWE's attitude to the whole Chris Benoit thing, and makes me wonder if their indignation about it is more a PR stunt than the fact that a wife and child were murdered.

 

[d_henderson1810]

What about when Edge & Mick Foley v Terry Funk & Tommy Dreamer Extreme Rules Match at ONS 2006, where Edge speared Belulah MacGuillicuddy and pinned her, with her legs in the air.

 

[Wrestlingaholic]

The funny thing is, doing these storylines makes me question WWE's attitude to the whole Chris Benoit thing, and makes me wonder if their indignation about it is more a PR stunt than the fact that a wife and child were murdered.

All of the examples on this thread were before the Benoit tragedy though. WWE has largely stayed away from man - on - woman violence since

 

[Makaveli31]

Oh my god people.....you all need to CALM DOWN! You sound like a bunch of MARKS!! It's FAKE, SCRIPTED, PRE-DETERMINED, whatever you want to call it. These are HIGHLY paid performers....nothing is done WITHOUT consent!

Everything is done within the context of a STORYLINE, there are faces (good guys) and heels (bad guys) what's one of the est ways to get heat on a heel, especially with a FEMALE valet? Have him treat her like S@!T so the good can save the day!!!!

Macho was a heel when he acted that way toward Liz...then he tuned FACE and "MARRIED" it's a storyline and BOTH played characters....same with Mero and Sable, if you remember Sable got the last laugh when she powerbombed Marc Mero!!!

Same with Tully and Babydoll

Everyone is highly trained, NO ONE is getting beaten into submission, people need to relax and calm down.