How would you convert a non WWE/Wrestling fan?

[Chill]

You know those people who just refuse to accept wrestling because it "isn't real" or because the wrestlers are really landing on a bouncy trampoline? Well do you have any ideas how you could gradually convert these people's ignorance into a better understanding of the biz and possibly make them a fan?

Personally, I would probably show them something like the HIAC match from 1998 just to show that there is very much an element of risk to what happens in the ring. Maybe a few other gimmick matches to show that blood can be spewed in this so called "fake sport". Obviously it isn't all about blood and violence especially in the PG format today but a few doses of the more notorious 'violent' matches may help sway some naysayers perceptions. Now, I wouldn't try and act like it's real but I would try and show the doubters that something doesn't have to be real for it to be enjoyable.

So what would you do to convert non wwe/wrestling fans?

 

[nickbwfc]

I'd show them a wrestling match. Probably a fast paced, with some decent spots, near falls type match. Something like ROH, where you have fast paced action with some big spots.

However i probably wouldn't even try to "convert" someone, unless they asked to show them a good wrestling match for whatever reason.

 

[bxbigshow]

Never "converted" anyone...but:

My mother hated wrestling and couldn't stand the fact that I loved it. One day while visiting her I was watching Nitro and Goldberg's music hit...with the chants....and the pyro...and the 3 second squash. All of a sudden she was a Goldberg fan. I still don't know how that happened.

After that she'd watch Nitro and call me when I was at school and ask "Who's Chris Benoit? What's the deal with the spraypaint?" All of a sudden were watching Nitro cross country over the phone. So there's no textbook on how to do it...it just happens.

While on the reverse side...

Whenever my wife complains about me watching wrestling...."fake, guy soap opera, etc." I wait until she watches Desperate Housewives or the countless f'n Sex & the City dvds, and do the same shit..."do you actually believe this stuff? this can never happen"

Doesn't convert her but it shuts her up.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Id do the thing ive done for a ton of "on the fence" peoples, and just tell them to relax, and enjoy an outrageous, silly, TELEVISION SHOW. Once people get past the point of thinking of it as "fake" then it becomes so much more enjoyable. I try to break it down to them that its simply a soap opera for boys, and its not to be taken the leadt bit seriously, or no more seriously than their favorite movie or television show. Its the same thing. its just a show. Characters, confrontation, stories. Once people get over the simple "pro wrasslin" stigma, and enjoy it for what it is, they can usually at least tolerate it.

 

[The Todd]

I once told a female friend that it is basically a violent soap opera. I told her in her soap opera there is commonly two guys fighting over a girl, one who you like and want to get the girl, one who you don't like who you really don't want to get the girl, making you emotionally invested in it. Wrestling is exactly the same instead of fighting over a girl they do it over a belt (or sometimes a girl/respect/family matters), there is a guy you want to win and a guy you don't and they settle it by fighting. She never really liked the in ring stuff, but she got hooked on storylines.

With my girlfriend, she bought me The Rock DVD for Christmas after I hinted at it. She said she wanted to watch one match with me since she bought it, so I chose Rock vs Hogan, and after it she wanted to watch more AND later bought me the Edge DVD.

 

[Ushiku]

I once told a female friend that it is basically a violent soap opera. I told her in her soap opera there is commonly two guys fighting over a girl, one who you like and want to get the girl, one who you don't like who you really don't want to get the girl, making you emotionally invested in it. Wrestling is exactly the same instead of fighting over a girl they do it over a belt (or sometimes a girl/respect/family matters), there is a guy you want to win and a guy you don't and they settle it by fighting. She never really liked the in ring stuff, but she got hooked on storylines.

With my girlfriend, she bought me The Rock DVD for Christmas after I hinted at it. She said she wanted to watch one match with me since she bought it, so I chose Rock vs Hogan, and after it she wanted to watch more AND later bought me the Edge DVD.

I'll have to try this one on my girlfriend, she's not a wrestling fan but she's fine with playing it on the PS3, and she gets used to me talking about it. Hmmn I wonder if she'd buy me the Rise and Fall of ECW DVD... *plots*

 

[Deexter Jorgan]

You know those people who just refuse to accept wrestling because it "isn't real" or because the wrestlers are really landing on a bouncy trampoline? Well do you have any ideas how you could gradually convert these people's ignorance into a better understanding of the biz and possibly make them a fan?

Personally, I would probably show them something like the HIAC match from 1998 just to show that there is very much an element of risk to what happens in the ring. Maybe a few other gimmick matches to show that blood can be spewed in this so called "fake sport". Obviously it isn't all about blood and violence especially in the PG format today but a few doses of the more notorious 'violent' matches may help sway some naysayers perceptions. Now, I wouldn't try and act like it's real but I would try and show the doubters that something doesn't have to be real for it to be enjoyable.

So what would you do to convert non wwe/wrestling fans?

Excellent thread by the way, the fact is I had many ways of converting people,

Firstly I used the same technique of the hell in the cell match between taker and Mandkind 1998, I have it on tape may convert it to DVD for the non believers i married into lol, but i would always show them that, show them mick floys tooth coming out of his nose and people start to cringe, then when they want to see more i bring more dvds and school them on the very essence that is WWE.

Others like my mother I usually get them into it by interpreting the things they like into it, my mother for example likes charmed and witch craft and undead stuff, so i show her undertakers matches, she loves him to bits and is still a taker fan till this day.

My sitster it was all about the mic work, she loved the promos so i showed her clips of cena and the rock.

Some dont stay on the bandwagon for long but for those who do, well it gives me a peaceful life, im still trying to convert my wife till this day , ive shown her everything from ROH, TNA to the WWE and the fact is the only thing that made her go WTF was shelton vs shawn michaels gold rush match where she saw shawn hit the sweet chin music as benjamin was leaping off the ropes, she saw his head snap back and was immediatly impressed, she hasnt budged still but is starting to get involved more in it, so we will see what happens.

 

[Greenlight13]

I don't really think you can. Some people just are inately more susceptable to wrestling than others. Like with most things you simply cannot sell to someone who doesn't want to buy.

When defending it from "it's not real" bashers, I point out of course that neither are the TV shows and movies, but you sit and watch them and don't say "that's not real, that's not real" you sit and enjoy it and allow it to be real for those 30 mins/2 hours. With the WWE you can sell it like that, it's a soap opera with a huge amount of fight scenes. With TNA you seel it as a soap opera with cheesier stories and lesser-known stars but with much better fight scenes. As for ROH... you have to sell that as physical theater/performance art to be honest.

On an interesting side-bar that might get me reported for spamming, when I was dating this girl I put some TNA on a few times and she watched it with me, because that's what you do, and she kind of enjoyed it, expressed interest in going to a show. Fast forward 9 months and we aren't together but I showed her the new ROH show and she was genuinely loving it, she marked out for it, without feeling a need to like it because I do. I have to say it was pretty cool and she's now totally into it, watches every week, appreciates the cool spots, has her favourites. This girl doesn't like any sports at all and ROH is nearly devoid of storylines, so it just goes to it takes all sorts.

 

[tha_icon85]

I was once one of those non wrestling people, my cousins use to make me watch and I hated it. But when I was like 12 or whteva my uncle ask me if I wanted to go watch this ppv and my aunts, and I said yeah cuz I just wanted to get out the house. That ended up being KOTR whn austin made his famous speech. I was hooked after that seeing someone who I connected to, entering onto junior high wanting to be that badass, austin captured that and I indentified with that. So if u want to convert someone into a wrestling fan find something in it they can connect with.

 

[MetaphoriK]

I think the best thing to do is to be secure enough about yourself and your personal interests to not care what someone who is a non-fan or hater thinks.

 

[Arrynboot]

I once got a mate of mine into ECW by making him sit through RVD vs Jerry Lynn and I also showed Masato Tanaka taking one of the most brutal chair shots I've ever seen. Hardcore seems to do the trick on the "its all fake" crowd.