Wrestling Is Not Fake; How Do We Point That Out?

[President Evil]

I have been a wrestling fan for 26 years.

At 33 years old, I am not as religious as I used to be for either lack of time or for it or not being as good in the last several years. I still keep up with new dvd releases (Manias, dvds containing footage from the 1990's to early 2000's) And I still occasionally pop in an old wcw tape and remember the good old days.

At work, most people are a fan of sports, the other half fan of movies and popular tv shows. If I was to mention at work or in a circle of people that Im a wrestling fan, I would be looked at like I have a second head coming out of my shoulder. Still today, in 2013, people dont get or understand wrestling. Many look down on wrestling and those who watch it. Its not that I am ashamed that Im wrestling fan, the contrary, but people would start asking the age old questions "isnt that fake?" 'isnt that scripted?" I am tired of explaining these things to people.

I have given this some thought.

I think its because up until the early 1990's wrestling was sold and presented as something that was real. Not until mid 90's on, when shoot interviews and tv specials began, wrestlers and big name wrestlers started to admit the whole thing is staged and scripted. People felt lied to, society saw this as something that was sold to them as real, to just discover it was staged all along. People lost respect for it.

Its been known since day one that movies have been fake from the very beginning. This wasn't the case with wrestling.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

When wrestling started, it was termed real as real could be. And that helped it a lot. It was one of the highlights when TV came around and guys like Thesz and Rogers were superstars in their own right.

Over the years, after the overexposure by the media, it was impossible to keep kayfabe anymore. More and more people realized it was "fake" and now the mainstream media looks down upon it. Here, watch this:

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Kathie Lee's demeanour, cat calls from the general public...ye thats what it has become over the years.


Vince did one of the smartest things ever by coming out and calling it sports entertainment and essentially saying to the world: 'We're not real, we're not fake we're scripted'. He knew it was a losing battle trying to sell angles off as 'real', and the best way to go is by making it a TV show that people will follow for as long they are on.



P.S Respect to Taker for not strangling Lee.

 

[Mitch Henessey]

The people, who think pro wrestling is "fake" or "gay," you'll never convince them, ever. It's just that simple. I have had friends, family members, and co-workers toss around the usual jabs or complaints, but the "you know it's fake, right?" one still irritates me every now and then. Of course, I know Brock Lesnar didn't actually break Triple H's arm twice. Ugh, I actually got into argument with someone about that.

Anyway, the non-believers choose to mock pro wrestling and look down on wrestling and wrestling fans. They know it's scripted, they know the endings are predetermined. But like so many detractors, they stick to the belief that pro wrestling is a low-brow form of entertainment for nitwits, losers, rednecks, and outcast virgins with depressing and lonely lives.

 

[JoeyJoeJoe]

Wrestling has been stuck trying to find a way to break out beyond just its core fanbase. Certain wrestlers have been able to do so, and for a little while, they've been able to carry the industry with them. As they've moved on, or diminished, the industry diminished as well.

This used to be the case for the comic book industry. Let's take a look at comics for a second:

1) Typically associated with superheroes - Guys in spandex beating on other guys in spandex.
2) Typically stories of good versus evil.
3) The story does not typically end. An arc may conclude but the major story continues.
4) Frequently associated in the past with being just for children.
5) Not serious entertainment.

What broke that cycle for comic books was the creation and effective promotion of some real compelling and well-written content. Great stuff always came from comics but it took books like The Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen, Sandman, Maus, and others to drive it home.

Further, the movies finally caught on. The technology finally came about that you could actually have the X-Men up on the screen. Comic books and their stories made it into another medium that accentuated the part that had the broadest appeal: The action, the special effects. From there, the stories took hold and showcased that comics weren't just all about slambang action. The Walking Dead, Road to Perdition, V For Vendetta showed comics could be just downright great stories, compelling...thought provoking.

Wrestling has rarely ever been able to traverse its own medium, and it's been so infrequent in showcasing its best aspects, that all the casual fan is left over with is the dregs. It doesn't help that problems like steroid abuse, the Chris Benoit murder/suicide, and the failed attempts by the McMahon's to be relevant in movies and politics derail the business further. Finally, it's competing with an actual competition in the eyes of many: MMA. Fans of MMA can see the same sort of competition and action that wrestling provides with the benefit that it is also real.

I'm not sure how wrestling combats that.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Pro wrestling been viewed as mostly "low brow" entertainment for many a decade. What I mean by that is that it's not thought of as "sophisticated" like various other endeavors like critically acclaimed movies or television shows. Pro wrestling is something that a lot of people typically equate it as being on the same level as monster truck rallies, tractor pulls and even most types of reality television programs. Like those other forms of entertainment, the mainstream media acknowledges & accepts the popularity of pro wrestling. After all, with WWE having several decades under its belt of being a genuine cable television powerhouse, mainstream media has no choice. But that doesn't mean that the mainstream media will endorse pro wrestling as being "cool".

In all honesty, that's something that's gone back many, many decades to a time long before Vince McMahon & Ted Turner took control of WWE and WCW respectively. When it became common knowledge that pro wrestling wasn't 100% legitimate, namely with the outcomes of matches being staged, the image of the business changed. It went from being viewed as something of a competitive sport, which it honestly was back in its early days, into something that involved trickery and deception to fool viewers into thinking it was real. In essence, pro wrestling was the first example of reality television, at least in some ways. Because, in spite of the label of "reality television", quite a bit of the "reality" is every bit as staged & scripted as any traditional television show.

This was something that people eventually caught into. After all, you can watch pro wrestling and anyone with any degree of reasonable intelligence can figure out that it isn't real. The punches, kicks, various holds, bumps, etc. are all obviously staged. It can look real, especially if you suspend disbelief, but it's obvious that matches are generally choreographed like something you'd see in an action movie fight scene. To further that, all people would have to do is watch a boxing match and compare the fighting to what they saw in pro wrestling. After that, it would be totally obvious that the wrestling punches weren't real. In wrestling matches, the wrestlers throw haymaker punches like something you'd see in one of the Rocky films in which each punch looked like something that'd damn near kill a man. In an actual boxing match, it's simply not like that at all.

It's true that pro wrestling did stop portraying itself as being "real" during the 90s and onward because, frankly, what choice did it have? As I said, people knew that the secret of pro wrestling as something of a con you'd see in a carny was out. Add to that the emerging power of the internet that would change the world in the mid to late 90s and you're left with no mystique.

I've heard some try to argue that wrestling companies could stem the tide by simply not divulging information to dirtsheets and websites. That's all well and good, but it's pure fantasy. For instance, we've all heard in the news as of late as it pertains to a former NSA worker having leaked top secret documents & information regarding the government listening to the phone conversations of millions of people in an attempt to locate terrorist activity. Many years back, I forget the name of the reporter, but a female reporter gained knowledge that revealed the identities of a large number of undercover intelligence operatives around the world. She published the names, refused to name her source and was sent to jail for a time before ultimately being released due to press shield laws. What does that have to do with anything? Think about it. If reporters can gain access to information as major as the identity of spies working for the United States or clandestine government operations that allegedly violate the privacy of millions of Americans, then dirtsheet writers will always have sources working for wrestling companies who will inform them of such comparatively weak information as rumors on which wrestlers are going to be pushed, who is feuding with who, who is getting a title run, etc.

 

[President Evil]

Up until recent times, people used to baulk and literally laugh at wrestling. That number of people is much smaller now. Several events have happened in the last 15 years that have made those non-believers give it a different look, and almost give a touch of respect towards it. In 1999, Owen Hart fell to his death in a stunt gone wrong, later that year Droz is paralyzed, in 2005 Eddie Guerrero found dead due to heart disease, 2007 the Benoit muder-suicide. These things were all front page news, to the real world. It made all of those who ridiculed wrestling say "oh shit, some real serious things do happen there".

As of today people understand the concept of wrestling alot better. But it sure was a tough road to get there.

 

[ABMorales787]

Never had that problem in Puerto Rico. If someone came out saying stuff like
"it's fake" or of the sort, it was reason to think you're an idiot. Guys like Abdullah The Butcher, Carlos Colon, Chicky Starr, Ray Gonzalez and The Invader made wrestling a pop culture thing in the 80's and 90's. Not to mention people will always bring up the Bruiser Brody debacle. People suspended their beliefs to watch the very simple bloodshed. Wrestling around PR is most remembered by the fork Abdullah would use to fuck up Colon's head.

Maybe it's the smaller amount of people. Or maybe it's because it's stayed mainstream longer. But people think differently about wrestling in different places.

 

[Alastor]

I think Jack Hammer got it right. Pro-Wrestling is the grandfather of reality television. What works for 'popular' reality series is what works for popular pro-wrestling content. The same staged setting, the same drama, the same ego. The same voyeurism.

If you aren't a fan of reality television, what would be your opinion on the medium? That is what the majority of those who don't get wrestling will feel about wrestling. Fans don't get how WWE has allowed the medium of pro-wrestling to survive in this age. If it were up to the likes of Jim Cornette or Vince Russo who stood at the extreme sides of how wrestling should be, the medium would have disappeared long ago. Too much Cornette and not enough people watches it, too much Russo and wrestling becomes like Jersey Shore, hot for a year or two and trash forever after.

 

[President Evil]

I personally, rather stick to something that I like (wrestling) that is still in some circles not accepted, than to get into something thats accepted, that I dont like.

I could take a break from watching wrestling for whatever reason. But looking at things I will never quit being a wrestling fan.

Growing up as a child, then as a teenager. I didnt have much, poor, and one of the very few things that I had available to entertain me, and make me smile, was wrestling. I would say it even helped me stay out of trouble. Long days I spent watching tapes, renting tapes back then, that kept me from dabbling in bad stuff. And that kept me on the road to being a better person.

I remember back in the 90's, when internet still was far away from being a phenomenon. I couldnt wait for Monday nights to see both Raw and Nitro. Man I ate that up. I used to record it every single Monday night. And watch it during the week until the next Monday came up.

Still today wrestling has given me a kind of demeanor and focus, drive, determination that I use to be successful in every thing that I do.

 

[supernatural1981]

We have a TV show called Eastenders which is a soap opera here in the UK, it is my wifes fave show.

Whenever she says anything about wrestling being boring because it is fake i just simply fire back that she watches Eastenders even though it is scripted and suspends reality for 30 mins to watch the show even though it is all fake.

Thats all we do we suspend reality to enjoy watching our version of entertainment.

 

[HBsam31]

Like Jack Hammer said, wrestling has always been considered the lowest form of entertainment. I find that funny because shows like Jersey Show and Honey Boo Boo are socially acceptable and wrestling isn't. It is absolutely ridiculous because I find those shows much more trashy than wrestling. When I was younger I tried to defend wrestling to people and to tell you the truth there is no telling someone what wrestling really is if they don't understand it. I don't even try to explain why I like it anymore. I am a proud wrestling fan, and lately I have been finding more and more people that like it, but just don't like to admit it. I am not sure why people don't get it, but something tells me if they don't already then they never will. That is why I love these forums so much. I don't have to constantly defend my love for the sport and it brings together a lot of people that do get it.

 

[CrucifiedRaven]

Like Jack Hammer said, wrestling has always been considered the lowest form of entertainment. I find that funny because shows like Jersey Show and Honey Boo Boo are socially acceptable and wrestling isn't. It is absolutely ridiculous because I find those shows much more trashy than wrestling. When I was younger I tried to defend wrestling to people and to tell you the truth there is no telling someone what wrestling really is if they don't understand it. I don't even try to explain why I like it anymore. I am a proud wrestling fan, and lately I have been finding more and more people that like it, but just don't like to admit it. I am not sure why people don't get it, but something tells me if they don't already then they never will. That is why I love these forums so much. I don't have to constantly defend my love for the sport and it brings together a lot of people that do get it.

Those shows are watched because of its train wreck appeal. People watch it to make fun of it. And ultimately feel better about themselves. I know a lot of people who used to be wrestling fans when they were kids or teenagers, watched WrestleMania this year for the same reasons. To make fun of it. The Rock may bring the mainstream attention, but very few people over a certain age are taking it seriously.

 

[Mustang Sally]

At work, most people are a fan of sports, the other half fan of movies and popular tv shows. If I was to mention at work or in a circle of people that Im a wrestling fan, I would be looked at like I have a second head coming out of my shoulder. Still today, in 2013, people dont get or understand wrestling

It's the age-old problem. They look down on wrestling because it's "scripted" and "fake"......yet, why aren't they equally offended that the cop shows, westerns, soap operas and other types of programs they've loved for years are also scripted and fake? Even the so-called "reality" shows are scripted, as far as I'm concerned. Sure, there are elements of them that occur naturally, but that could be said of pro wrestling too.....certainly more than the weekly episodic shows in which the director yells "Cut!" when something goes wrong, and they film it again before the TV audience ever sees it. With wrestling, the performers get it right, or they don't. The unpredictability of it is what attracts me.

Pro wrestling has always had this problem of perception. In the late '90's, the producers of wrestling shows somehow convinced a large segment of the public that their product was "in." That's like catching lightning in a bottle, but if you're able to do it, you're going to capture a much larger segment of the TV-watching public than ever before.....and that's what WWE did. People who had no interest in wrestling still became "fans"....because they thought it was the "in" thing to do. After the phase passed, these good folks went on to whatever else they thought everyone was doing. Sheep.

So, we say that most folks don't "get" wrestling. I say it's because most of them never did in the first place; they simply hooked on for awhile because they wanted to follow the crowd. For that reason, it's hard to say they abandoned pro wrestling.....because they were never really a part of it in the first place.

As for the large segment of folks that never watched wrestling and never will, because it's "fake"..... there's no convincing them, and no real reason to try.