What next for the WWE, does it have a reason to exist?

[Colossal Spoons]

Males with homosexual desires, am I the only person that thinks it's gay to watch a couple of well muscled men grab each other as they wear speedos?

That argument is ridiculous. You dislike it and now you're trying to be funny about it.

 

[Spider-Bite]

It's pretty apparent where I disagreed with you at.
If you mean the feminist stuff, I dropped that because arguing about that gets us nowhere.

well I do think that Batman would be laughable in real life, but I suspend disbelief for the movie. With wrestling it's hard to suspend disbelief, which is why it comes off as brainless mash em television. It' just hard to watch because it seems so stupid.

As far as negative impact on people I think it's ridiculous to compare it to Batman or especially Spider-Man, seeing as they use violence only when they must and not for the sake of hurting people for no reason, and they don't act dumb. Despite the fact that they wear costumes, which wrestlers do, Batman fights his battles intelligently and Spider-Man is a science genius, who suffers because of his curse. That's why for kids they are better than wrestling, and from an intelligent adult's point of view there is more substance to those than wrestling. The story has a point. they have character development. An actual plot. Heroism. Romance. It's got it all. Spider-Man fights to save lives, while on wrestling they fight for nothing constructive at all. They sit there and growl at each other before the match. They look like animals.

I'm not saying it should be banned, or that every person who watches it is dumb, but the show does appear to be kind of dumb, like it was written by children, and I do think it is worse for children than their typical saturday morning hero cartoon, because of the message.

 

[Spider-Bite]

as a long time fan, i am considering not watching anymore after this whole ugly week. this is a form of entertainment that has been around since the turn of the century 1900...and it will prevail in some form or another, be it WWE, TNA or whatever else. as for UFC, i find that slightly more disturbing. Who wakes up and decides they want to beat people up for a career? seems a little more sick to me than prescripted wrestling

Yeah but it's an actual sport. they aren't beating up some guy because he talked crap about his mom. It's got rules which are obeyed. they often shake hands after the match. They act honorable about it. And it's not fiction, so the reason they fight is in the show. To be successful at the sport and the money. Wrestling is scripted, and in that show they fight for nothing other than to be mean or because some guy kissed some guy's girlfriend or some other stupid reason.

There is garbage in the UFC, and I only rarely watch the UFC but some of those guys are totally irresponsible with the way they act in front of the camera, setting a bad example for kids.

 

[Spade]

Okey-doke...so, some feel that this isn't worth watching. Anyone see my uncertified pseudo-medical cure for this?

 

[Spider-Bite]

That argument is ridiculous. You dislike it and now you're trying to be funny about it.

It's not an argument I would make.

 

[Warhammer]

well I do think that Batman would be laughable in real life, but I suspend disbelief for the movie. With wrestling it's hard to suspend disbelief, which is why it comes off as brainless mash em television. It' just hard to watch because it seems so stupid.

I see your point.
I find myself suspending belief big time when I watch wrestling, which is why I can defend it. Some people can, some people can't, I guess.

As far as negative impact on people I think it's ridiculous to compare it to Batman or especially Spider-Man, seeing as they use violence only when they must and not for the sake of hurting people for no reason, and they don't act dumb. Despite the fact that they wear costumes, which wrestlers do, Batman fights his battles intelligently and Spider-Man is a science genius, who suffers because of his curse. That's why for kids they are better than wrestling, and from an intelligent adult's point of view there is more substance to those than wrestling. The story has a point. they have character development. An actual plot. Heroism. Romance. It's got it all. Spider-Man fights to save lives, while on wrestling they fight for nothing constructive at all. They sit there and growl at each other before the match. They look like animals.

You must have me confused with another person. You said that wrestlers look ridiculous, and said that it'd be no different than seeing Batman or Spider-Man. I never compared them how you just did. I only compared how ridiculous they look.

I'm not saying it should be banned, or that every person who watches it is dumb, but the show does appear to be kind of dumb, like it was written by children, and I do think it is worse for children than their typical saturday morning hero cartoon, because of the message.

Alright, that's your opinion, but I can respect that.
What you said sounded very genuine, and I can't argue against that.

I'm glad that we aren't hostile, and I am sorry for seeming hostile to prove a point. Hopefully, we bury that hatchet between us?

 

[Spade]

That argument is ridiculous. You dislike it and now you're trying to be funny about it.

So says the man without an ounce of sense.

 

[BlackLantern]

i try to see it this way...imagine if it wasn't a wrestler. Imagine if Michael jordan killed his wife and son and then himself? would basketball be tarnished?? would his career be tarnished because of those tragic actions??

 

[Spade]

i try to see it this way...imagine if it wasn't a wrestler. Imagine if Michael jordan killed his wife and son and then himself? would basketball be tarnished?? would his career be tarnished because of those tragic actions??

The scrunity is on a different order of magnitude, considering that wrestler deaths due to drug abuse are on the rise and that in this case it is the suspicions of some that he killed them on a "'roid rage" (not that I agree with that). Wrestling has enough of a violent rep. The dial of public scrutiny was just turned up further just a bit more by these recent events.

 

[Lantern Venom]

I have never been it's biggest fan. I don't enjoy it's "stories", I believe it promotesbullying and many morally questionable ideas. In the light of the steroid linked deaths and the Benoit murder/suicides is it time this "sport" is no longer seen as entertainment.

The UFC for instance provides real gladitorial spectacle, without the ludicrous soap opera. It has a far more wholesome image and promotes sportsman like behaviour for the most part, as does pro boxing which is also real. I ask you WWE, what is it's point?

On the first point, the comparison to competitive sports is irrelevant. While WWE features athletically trained performers, it is not a sport and has never pretended to be so in reality. They do so while they are on the air but that is a necessary illusion just as movies use. I find it quite perplexing that after decades of promoting itself as entertainment only, the anti-wrestling crowd still stubbornly holds it to sporting idealism. It's a performance art that combines physicality and threatre. If there are some people that cannot digest this simple fact, how is that pro wrestling's problem?
As far as wrestling "promoting questionable ideas", that is also a gross exaggeration of the anti-wrestling agenda. A person who goes to see super hero movies will see images that are far more violent than what is presented on wrestling programs. You'll see guns, stabbing weapons, explosions and deaths. The now defunct Vince McMahon storyline drew attention because it was the first time that WWE had ever featured a death storyline. Compare this to any of the movie franchises like Batman, Spiderman, X-Men and Blade. Death is common fare and the actions of the villains ( and sometimes heros ) are far worse than anything you'll see on wrestling. And don't even get me started on mainstream TV. I could write a book on all the things I've seen in primetime ON THE NETWORKS that wrestling either would not or could not do.
On the subject of steroid abuse and drugs in WWE, it's a problem to be sure but it's not an isolated one. MLB has a steriod problem. No one is asking if it should cease operations. Hollywood and the music industry are loaded with polysubstance problems and 300+ day a year grinding schedules but no one is calling for the demise of moviemaking or music output. All WWE can do is test and discipline their stars. It's true they have been severely lacking in this area in past years but even if they had do so, drug abuse will still continue. There are people ALWAYS willing to take unsafe risks and will take many steps to mask those risks. Ultimately, the responsibility falls on the individual to make good choices.
Lastly, even if WWE were to fold, which will never happen, pro wrestling will survive. There are dozens of companies on the indy wrestling scene as well as the major promotions on Japan and Mexico. As long as there are people who enjoy that manner of performance, wrestling will exist. For those who are somehow offended, I say turn the channel.

 

[BlackLantern]

I agree with that, and part of what i think will happen is that you will see this become less and less about the tragedy of those killed. What will happen is everyone who has an axe to grind against vince mcmahon and the wwe will start to rear their heads. it's already happening with steve austin's ex-wife popping up on Fox News of all places, along with Chyna.

 

[Lantern Venom]

Maybe I'm wrong but I tend to think that WWE and WWF and all that is for really stupid people. I mean seriously.

I agree with the thread starter. Wrestling is so fake, and they act like idiots the way they scream at each other. And I also think it promotes bullying, smashing beer cans with your forehead and other idiotic behavior.

So, by your definition, would Romeo and Juliet be entertainment for "really stupid people"? Actors pretend to be the Capulets and Montegues, dress in tights, scream at each other and engage in lengthy staged fights.
I've seen it before. Never once did that make me want to smash a beer can over my head or even drink a beer for that matter.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

So says the man without an ounce of sense.

Yup

 

[Henry Hill]

Kids do think they are wrestlers though. You see what I mean? They look up to these guys and get the idea that being tough, macho, mean, and violent is what they should do. Nobody looks up to and immitates evil spirits. A kid isn't going to try and possess somebody. Yes that movie is more than likely not meant for kids, but wrestling is aimed directly at kids, with action figures, and bright colored costumes. They do that intentionally to get kids to watch.

Yeah, just like the poster in the vigalante thread that was created a few days ago was talking about going out onto the streets and fighting criminals without any training in law enforcement. That guy is planning on inventing a suit for protection against fully armed criminals. I got an idea, when he gets his head blown off, let's create a thread about whether or not comics books have a reason to exist.
Wrestling is aimed directly at kids? Please, watch an episode of Monday Night Raw and take a good look at the crowd. What do you see? Adults for the most part, not kids. If anything, comics are aimed at kids. Why'd they invent Ultimate Spiderman again? Oh wait, that's right! So kids growing up today could relate to Peter Parker.
Contray to what you believe, not all characters in the WWE are bad. There's a face and a heel in a storyline. A face is the so called good guy, while a heel is a bad guy. But I'm sure you knew that since you clearly know what you're talking about.

 

[Fading]

big dumb brute[/B].

I take it at most you've just skimmed over wrestling, in no way can I believe you've watched it for more than a minute at a time, because that's bogus.

Plenty, PLENTY of matches have had the wrestlers shake hands in good sportsmanship moments, and ended with the wrestlers hugging eachother and raising their opponents hand.

Don't speak down to a subject you know nothing about. You just site the generalized garbage that everyone that hates wrestling spews.

Plenty of wrestlers also show to use your brain above your muscles. Hence why guys who are 5'5 or smaller and like 160 pounds like Rey Mysterio beat 6'5 300 pound monsters. Or why older guys like Ric Flair beat the younger stronger guys. They are showed to use their brains in the match, target one body part, exploit the rules to their benefit, know the ring so they can put a foot on the ropes rather than expend the energy kicking out in a full body spasm deal.

In fact, the majority of wrestlers on the current WWE roster are portrayed as smart rule breakers. The minority of them are lumbering dumb monster brutes. I'd say everything you said is pretty much the opposite of how it goes down 85% of the time anymore.

Edit - Heck, what about Hulk Hogan? He's a oldie you should know, or atleast have heard of. His main saying next to all the Hulkster brother deals was, "Train, excersize, Say your prays, eat your vitamins, be true to your country" and all that jazz. CM Punk...a current wreslter, who is very popular, and his whole deal is straight edge. He promotes fair play, good competition, no drugs, no alcohol, no cheating, just letting good competition bring the best out in you. I could give a list a mile long like this. Kurt Angle, a real life Olympic Gold Medalist, 3 I's was his saying, "Integrity, Intelligence, Intensity". So how are they all mindless "Brutes" who promote bullying? Again you don't know anything on this subject it seems.

 

[Fading]

Males with homosexual desires, am I the only person that thinks it's gay to watch a couple of well muscled men grab each other as they wear speedos?

Football is guys tackling eachother chasing balls and slapping eachothers butts, but a lot of guys watch it...is nearly 60% of the male pop in the US gay? Some guys oil up in Basket ball too.

The truth is wrestling has been around for a long, long time, it's a very old sport. It's been in the Olympics for a long time too. Pro-wrestling is a jazzed up version with a pre-determined outcome.

I guess we should stop watching all sports that has any male touching another tho, you're right. BTW you do know WWE has Diva's for the guys right? They have hot women come out in bikini's and thongs and wrestle around. The guys fill the action part of the show, the Diva's are there for the sexual part. If you watch two wrestlers drop kicking eachother and torking one anothers ankle, and see blood coming out of their head and think "SEX", then that might just be a problem with you.

 

[Orko Is King]

If I want a soap opera clad in spandex, I'll go read Spider-Man.

 

[Majik1387]

WWE is ******ed, and from what I've met, so are the audience who watches it at home.

 

[ArmyDragon92A]

WWE is ******ed, and from what I've met, so are the audience who watches it at home.

Ignorance.

 

[Johnichi Chiba]

To me, wrestling used to be just like a cheesy cartoon or comic book. It was just a fun thing where I'd watch my favorite good guys take on my favorite bad guys. Now that I've grown up though, I tend to notice that they are nothing but a bunch of greasy, bulging men, and that troubles me greatly.

 

[Norman Bates]

I guess wrestling brings out the sexual insecurity of many men. Interesting.

 

[Johnichi Chiba]

Oh I'm very secure in my sexuality. Its just when I watch wrestling I tend to lose that security. Samething happens when I enter one of them public shower things...

 

[Colossal Spoons]

WWE is ******ed, and from what I've met, so are the audience who watches it at home.

Wow, what a blanket statement. :

 

[Norman Bates]

Its just when I watch wrestling I tend to lose that security.

 

[Majik1387]

Ignorance.

It's not ignorance it's an observation.