Smart Marks

[Jay Jayerson]

I've lived most my life in multiple big wrestling cities in north america (Montreal, Toronto, Boston) and yet, of the wrestling fans who exist out there in the world, who love the product, Ive only ever made one actual non temporary friend in life who likes wrestling. Everyone else just doesn't like it , and half them go out of their way to try and make me feel stupid for liking it. So when I first heard the term, I was happy. Finally a group of people I could belong to!

But this was never meant to be. It didn't take very long before I learned the term smart mark was utter sarcasm. I actually called an acquaintance of mine (a promoter for a new england promotion) a smart mark on facebook and he got very pissed at me in a very public setting. Eventually the situation resolved itself amicably when they realized that I just wasnt aware the term was derogatory and that I was trying to issue a compliment.

So now here I am. A smart guy, who is smart enough to enjoy being a mark. But for some reason, you have to use the label that best fits me, in a sarcastic derogatory fashion to insult people who are the complete opposite of me. People with the complete lack of class it would take to chant Husky Harris. As people, and even fans of wrestling, they aren't in my league, and they probably never will be.

If I could redefine the term it would become the following

Smart Mark

A fan of wrestling who is very aware of its scripted nature and does not care. A smart mark is usually someone who has been following the product for many years. The smart mark watches wrestling not only to see if they can still be surprised by current stories, but to see how well the performers can tell a story in and out of the ring. A smart mark would never lower themselves to chanting the names of past gimmicks to ruin current ones. A smart mark's dislike of wrestlers has nothing to do with the perceived morality of the characters gimmick and more to do with how well the performer can execute a performance in the ring, or on the mic.

A smart mark realizes that new wrestlers are just that - new. And as such give newer performers room to grow before judging too harshly. For example: I hate the great khali because his performance is so terrible it completely ruins my ability to suspend my disbelief. On top of this Khali has had numerous years to hone his craft and its clear he has put little to no work into it. I am also not a big fan of Paige. I think her gimmick is all wrong. They need to make her look like Fairuza Balk in The Craft. I'm just not buying the punkish anti diva gimmick. Shes too clean. Too pretty. However she is a younger performer starting off. So I won't call for her to be fired like I would the great khali, because she has room to grow and improve. Paige has only just begun her journey as pro wrestler.

So. Anyone out there like me? Who wishes they could be called a smart mark without it meaning they were an idiot and a douche? And if the term smart mark must remain the insult that it is, then what the hell am I? A wise mark? Nope. Sounds too much like wiseass.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

A smart mark is a figment of your imagination. Just like you are of mine.

Wrestling is entertainment, it has heritage and legacy like only a few do, but its scripted. I don't get offended anymore for people calling it whatever they do. I personally think Baseball is shite, but that doesn't mean people won't jump on my throat for calling it such.


There are good fans and stupid fans. They all have opinions. Some fans choose to chant 'Husy Harris' when WWE pulls off an amazing debut, some chant WHAT when Micheals says he is putting his career on the line at WrestleMania 3 years back.


Don't be stupid and blind, and you'll be fine as a fan of anything.

 

[OneTooManyPunts]

While I agree with much of what you said, I've never been someone that really believed in the idea of 'smart marks'. It's a contradiction in and of itself.

You will always have fans that live and die reading dirt sheets, that crave knowing what is going on behind the scenes, and being able to voice their own interpretation of their 'knowledge' when at an event.

You've also got fans that, despite being either jaded or unhappy with a particular show, organization, or the state of pro wrestling in general, continue to watch, and simply air their frustrations out vocally, or on the internet. It's something that holds true for every entertainment media that exists.

There's been a lot of uproar over fans chanting 'Husky Harris' during the Wyatt Family debut last night. Was it necessary, no, but did it really harm the debut or segment, no. The segment still had an incredible impact, IMO, and it remains to be seen if the chant was a one off, or something that will continue. Any time you reintroduce a talent under a new name or gimmick, you are going to get people that want to point out there previous incarnation. It's on the talent themselves to erase that old identity, and to get fans to go 'all in', something I don't think Bray Wyatt is going to have any trouble doing judging from the reaction of the fans in attendance when they made their way out to the ring.

'Smart Marks' have as much of an impact on your viewing experience, or perception of your own fan experience as you allow them to.

In the end, in my opinion, there are marks, and there are smart fans, but there will never be 'Smart Marks'. Once you start chanting a talents previous gimmick, or try to circumvent what you are seeing for others, the lines been crossed in to strictly trying to entertain oneself.

Smart fans can have a positive impact as well. Again take Bray Wyatt. Trending on Twitter before he ever had a glimpse on Raw last night, and word on his gimmick from NXT has been circulating and growing through the internet via the NXT fan base, which is decidedly smaller than the WWE fan base as a whole.

Enjoy the product in a way that is best for you. At the end of the day, the only thing you can control is how much you enjoy it, how you express it, and what you ultimately take way from it all.

 

[Blade]

I'm not a fan of labels like that. Sure, I use them on this site, but that's so people know what I'm talking about, it helps me get my point across, but I don't like it. I don't consider myself any kind of smark mark or anything like that. I don't think any of us should use those kinds of terms since we're not in the wrestling business.

So what am I? I'm a wrestling fan. I know what's going on, I understand it's not real. I like to cheer the guys I like and boo the guys I don't. But during great matches, promos and moments I'll get caught up in the moment and act stupid by shouting and jumping and such. But I'm okay with that, that's part of being a real wrestling fan.

Just like with every kind of entertainment medium, there's fans who are just assholes. Those know-it-all douchebags who show no respect for the performers. In music terms, they're ones who shout out their favourite song all the way through a band's gig, not caring or respecting the band chose a setlist to play for that gig. And in wrestling, those asshole fans are the ones who chant Husky Harris during Bray Wyatt's awesome debut.

There's always those douchebags who think they're smarter or better than the rest of the fans and think they need to prove it. But to label them anything other than douchebags or to label ourselves as anything other than wrestling fans means we're no better than those douchebags who think they're so much more clever than everyone else.

 

[Fire Marshall Bill]

This is practically the exact same thread that just popped up last night. So many of you people are all butt hurt because they "mocked" a character that you like. But you don't say a word, or even approve of it when they do it to people you don't like. Be just about things or shutup.

As for the term, Smart Mark, yes it's derogatory because they're the ones at the show who are too stupid to enjoy it. They'd rather be sarcastic idiots than have a good time. Oh well. They're everywhere. They're even all over this site. Get over it.

 

[King Patrick Star]

I agree. I understand the term Smart Mark is supposed to be an insult, but I think it’s the best way to describe us. I do prefer using the term SMark in regards to myself. I think some of the Smart Marks are just @$$holes, but just like actual @$$holes, they are everywhere, some just cleaner, some just full of $#!+.

I was a fan of John Cena’s up until around WWE Breaking Point. Then I started joining in on the “Cena Sucks” chants. It was till the ending of WrestleMania XXVIII where I started to become a member of the CeNation again. It was a combination of my son being a huge fan of the Champ and the yearlong redemption storyline that got me back. I’m at the point in my fandom where I know all I want to know and now I just sit back and enjoy my son enjoying the shows. Oh, and I also root for Cena in WWE Championship matches since this year’s Extreme Rules, because I don’t want to have to buy more SuperStar sideplates when they eventually have replicas versions of them for sale. HAHA!!

 

[byrnside]

I agree with the OP. I read a lot of editorials, watch a lot of video pieces, I check WrestleZone.com daily, etc. I've been a fan for a long time. Doing those things are part of what makes me a fan. I enjoy reading and watching about NXT just as a baseball fan keeps up with the minor leagues. I try not to put down the product the WWE puts out. Sometimes it's very hard. Sometimes it's impossible. I write my own blog and put out predictions for many of the pay per views via YouTube. I try to be objective and not complain. I try not to book, because, well who am I to book the product? I prefer to think of myself as a smart fan simply because I enjoy watching and learning as much as I can about the business I love. If Sean Waltman or Mark Madden wants to call me a smart mark in a negative light, then so be it. I certainly wouldn't have chanted Husky Harris during The Wyatt Family debut last night. It was an epic moment that I think will rival Y2J's debut in 1999. In the end, names are just names.

 

[#tamale]

This is practically the exact same thread that just popped up last night. So many of you people are all butt hurt because they "mocked" a character that you like. But you don't say a word, or even approve of it when they do it to people you don't like. Be just about things or shutup.

As far as smart mark goes, as far as I know (I could be wrong), it is used to describe people who understand the ins and outs the business of professional wrestling as well as other things.

If that's the case, then this term is used very loosely to describe about 95% of people all over the internet.

 

[Greggulator]

I look at "smart" fans as people who are educated and intelligent who also happen to like wrestling. I'd like to consider myself in that character.

Knowing that Bray was Husky Harris -- a guy who was on Raw for about a month three years ago -- isn't smart. That's just knowing something. Chanting his name just to chant his name isn't smart. It's dumb. Having a minimum of abstract thought to cancel out that memory is smart. Those dudes last night went into the show wanting to chant that and got to do so and did it for laughs.

The post-Wrestlemania crowd was a smart crowd. They went nuts for Dolph who has been terrific. They popped for Ryback's heel turn. They made Fandango's career, which was great because the dude is fully committed to his ridiculous character, and there's always a place in rasslin' for ridiculousness. They pooped on Seamus/Orton because those two guys mailed in that feud and it showed. They popped for Big Show since Big Show brings it all the time and he got sandbagged by those two and their stale characters.

 

[sanefan_har]

This is practically the exact same thread that just popped up last night. So many of you people are all butt hurt because they "mocked" a character that you like. But you don't say a word, or even approve of it when they do it to people you don't like. Be just about things or shutup.

As for the term, Smart Mark, yes it's derogatory because they're the ones at the show who are too stupid to enjoy it. They'd rather be sarcastic idiots than have a good time. Oh well. They're everywhere. They're even all over this site. Get over it.

Couldn't have said it better. The "Albert" gimmick wasn't all that great, but the moment he returned as Tensai the fans gave him a dead reaction and chant "Albert" the whole bloody time. And like you said this uproar was caused because the Bray Wyatt gimmick was being abused.

Smart marks?? More like hypocrites. They want new stars to be pushed but don't like anyone they see. Eg. Curtis Axel. The moment he was the New Paul Heyman Guy, these fans went along the lines of "I was hoping it was RVD." WTF??? Or as these forums like to put it
.

 

[info62]

So. Anyone out there like me? Who wishes they could be called a smart mark without it meaning they were an idiot and a douche? And if the term smart mark must remain the insult that it is, then what the hell am I? A wise mark? Nope. Sounds too much like wiseass.

I just call myself a fan. If I want to distinguish myself as a fan who reads dirtsheets then I say an Online Fan. Smark will always have a negative connotation. I always took the word as meaning a mark who kids themself into thinking is more smart than any other fan.

This is practically the exact same thread that just popped up last night. So many of you people are all butt hurt because they "mocked" a character that you like. But you don't say a word, or even approve of it when they do it to people you don't like. Be just about things or shutup.

I don't see why this is some huge deal

Of course someone will care when the crowd craps on something he or she is interested in or a fan of. Of course he or she will care less (or will be entertained) when the crowd craps on somebody he or she doesn't care about or doesn't like.

This isn't some new thing and it isn't limited to internet fans. If they get mad that somebody they like is bashed rather than somebody they don't like, so what? Who cares? I do the same thing and if that makes me a ~hypocrite~ then well whatever. I'm not going to pretend to be upset when somebody I don't like gets jeered just so I look fair.

Smart marks?? More like hypocrites. They want new stars to be pushed but don't like anyone they see. Eg. Curtis Axel. The moment he was the New Paul Heyman Guy, these fans went along the lines of "I was hoping it was RVD." WTF??? Or as these forums like to put it
.

Don't agree with this either. You can't lump all fans together and say they all hate X and love Y.

I think a lot of wrestling fans are too quick to want to tear each other down online. It seems like there's so many people jumping out to point out how everybody (except those who agree with him or her of course) is a hypocrite or an idiot for not liking this or for liking that.

 

[H33LTurn]

Yeah, I do agree with you. I dont watch wrestling to look down at my nose at people who dont have my point of view about the business, I watch it because its entertaining. The scripted nature doesnt bother me because I'm capable of watching an actual non scripted sport when I'm in the mood for one. I guess the label became a negative one when people who thought they understood the business started calling themselves "smart marks". A storyline didnt go the way they wanted it to and all the sudden they know more than Vince McMahon.

 

[Jay Jayerson]

This is practically the exact same thread that just popped up last night. So many of you people are all butt hurt because they "mocked" a character that you like. But you don't say a word, or even approve of it when they do it to people you don't like. Be just about things or shutup.

Sorry that I wasn't more clear but Im also defending the likes of Tensai and Ryback here. I mentioned Husky Harris because it was the most recent incident.

 

[FlairFan2003]

Fans are what they are, sometimes they are @#$holes, just like in real life. As a Pittsburgh Steelers season ticket holder I remember fans shouting racial (and sexual orientation) slurs at Kordell Stewart when he was our starting quarterback (albeit during a season in which he was not playing well). Kordell wil never land in the NFL HOF but he was a Pro Bowler and lead the team to two Conf Title Games so his career was not horrible, fact is even if he was the world's worst NFL player being taunted because of his race was un called for (I was at one game, I believe it was in 1999, when fans dumped beer on him as he walked through the tunnel at half time towards the locker room).

More recently fans dumped garbage on quarterback Tommy Maddox's lawn after he played poorly in an overtime loss to Jacksonville. No doubt yes he had a bad game, probably his worst as a Steeler despite the game being as close as it was, but it is a game folks, it's entertainment, and the idea of someone being upset enough to vandalize his home is appalling.

Many times on this very site you see comments and remarks so ignorant it makes you wonder why anyone would even want their identity associated with such garbage. Anyone remember the smart @#$ remarks site fans posted underneath the story a year or so ago when Ric Flair called 911 in a domestic dispute alleging his wife was intoxicated and physically abusive ? How about just a few weeks when Internet Fav CM Punk obtained a restraining order...FROM HIS MOTHER ! As odd as those stories might seem, I personally dont find humor in domestic violence or fractured families. Now I admitt I was a bit sensitive about the nasty remarks and cruel jokes posted underneath those stories because they are two of my fav wrestlers. I am not a Hulk Hogan fan by any means but I wouldnt make ignorant jokes about his son's arrest and incarceration for vehicular manslaughter.

The internet and spread of information being so much faster than it used to be makes things like "Husky Harris" easier. Live TV doesnt help either. I imagine these same fans, simply trying to draw attention to themselves and ruin the experience for the rest of us, would have filled arenas with "Mean Mark Callous" chants everytime Undertaker appeared early in his WWE run, or "Vinnie Vegas" chants when Kevin Nash appeared.

Many famous wrestlers had major character changes, often from not very popular characters into stars (like Taker & Nash), sometimes even from well known characters to another, sometimes even more well know personna (Stunning Steve vs Stone Cold for instance).

As for the chanters, there really isnt anything to say because they dont care what you think anyway, they just want to know they P@#$@d you off, which judging from the comments here in this thread and on Mark Madden's recent editorial shows they did,

 

[shitsngiggles]

I hope I'm posting in the thread I think this is meant to be, I wanted to make one myself about how bad the Wyatt family debut is/was and why I don't agree with Madden's and the other guy's (sorry!) articles on the main page.

I'd like to run through my thoughts on the whole thing last night, they're not very long.

I remember "Husky Harris", I still enjoyed the promos, up until they appeared. I admit to not taking much notice in the WWE recently, it's pretty pointless in life to do so. But anyway, I was quite enjoying the debut up until they appeared and attacked Kane.

Why they done that, I don't really care anymore to be honest. Why this is the way to debut anyone/a stable I don't know anymore, it's soo old it's older than me to be honest. Made no sense, and then! What happened? They picked up the steps, and I was thinking to myself, "Shit! How are they going to do this without taking his head off, or seriously injuring him", and then, they used the bit that was cut out and bounced straight off, without actually doing shit!

For me, it was ruined by the writers as per usual, and reminded me that the WWE can't produce anything even close to fresh to introduce new people.

I don't care if people chant "Husky Harris!, "Goldberg" etc. It's the WWE's fault it happens, not the "smarks" fault.

If WWE, really wanted to bring something new to the table, don't keep doing this re-branding stuff! It doesn't work today!

 

[newwaveknight]

I think there is a difference between "fans" and "marks". A "smart mark" is an oxymoron. In all honesty, I don't watch wrestling with other people because I know that my IWC-ness might come out a little. Just enjoy it for yourself and don't worry about what other people say.

And on a side note, I thought this was going to turn into a "bash the IWC" thread. I can breathe a LITTLE more easily now.

 

[Pedigree1]

I am not a Smark at all. What i am is a huge huge fan of wrestling always have been always will be. To be honest it beats in my chest everyday. I understand wrestling is Fake it is scripted and someone said it yrs ago its like a Male Soap Opera! I know Tensai used to be Albert but hes Tensai now or Sweet T!

Im not an asshole fan who chants past characters names. I actually hate fans who do that. There just that,assholes and Douchebags IMO. The Wyatt Family debut last night was just Incredible! I enjoyed it a lot and there gonna be a force. Your gonna have your hardcore fans the ones who stick with the product understands characters,go through change. Then your gonna have fans who do nothing dont cheer just sit like zombies. Then the ones who shit all over the product and think there funny by chanting past characters names and Chanting Goldberg when Ryback is in the ring.