Has the wrestling business stopped being "old school"?

[jettson80]

When do you think the wrestling business stopped being "old school"? What I mean is, back in the day, if someone had a problem with someone else, they may decide to take it out on them in the ring by working them extra stiff, throwing some "potatoes", etc. Or, if a promoter had a problem with someone, he had certain talent he could depend on to take care of it for him.
It just seems like if these things were still happening, you would probably hear about it online. So, when did things like this stop happening? Is this the natural evolution of the biz in a corporate environment? What are everyone's thoughts?

[theexample]

I would imagine it still goes on in smaller promotions etc. Just maybe not in family friendly, this isn't wrestling, WWE.

[Jeritron]

I'm not sure if this can be said about the whole business.

As far as the WWE is concerned, I'd say it's a combination of them becoming a publicly traded company and becoming a well known entertainment outlet in the media age. Anything and everything they do can (and has) land them under a media microscope.

There's a chance they'll have to answer to the norms of society for what they do, so a lot of the things that used to happen in the underground world of wrestling don't go on anymore. Pulling some of those old stunts are not acceptable in the work place in the 21st century, and wrestling or not it could land Vince on Good Morning America. That's not a place he goes when PR is good.

[Tyler Killer]

I would imagine it still goes on in smaller promotions etc. Just maybe not in family friendly, this isn't wrestling, WWE.

SMARK

[Jeritron]

I would imagine it still goes on in smaller promotions etc. Just maybe not in family friendly, this isn't wrestling, WWE.

http://i39.tinypic.com/517amr.jpg

[Vastardikai]

Bob Holly used to hold that role. Ken Shamrock held it, as well.

[Blue Demon]

APA also held the role

[Wishbone]

I'd say WWE stopped being 'old school' around the mid to late 80's mabe early 90's but as others have said this probably still goes on in small promotions

[VSG]

Lately if someone big has a problem with someone else, the latter person is either made a jobber or future endevoured. Sounds worse, and definitely not old-school!

[jskinnyg]

Lately if someone big has a problem with someone else, the latter person is either made a jobber or future endevoured. Sounds worse, and definitely not old-school!

Agreed...

[Emperor Smeat]

Probably more of it being part of the evolution of the business on the WWE side since it wouldn't make much business sense for too many backstage fights or potential stuff matches where someone who might be of importance gets hurt. Vince probably would get upset at the loss of money he could make promoting matches and shows if he lost a superstar to a stiff match or backstage fight.

Not sure on WCW but WWF/WWE always had the stories of having a few guys seen as in charge of the locker room to prevent most incidents occurring such as the Undertaker and JBL/Bradshaw or other veterans.

[Outsider]

Am I the only one who thinks that it's a good thing that employees are no longer subjected to company sanctioned physical abuse from fellow employees due to a disagreement with management?

[Supreme Olajuwon]

It also seems like there are less trouble makers in the WWE nowadays. Plus wrestlers don't have any bargaining power to do any of this extra stuff because they have nowhere else to go except that other promotion that doesn't really count.

[Blue Demon]

Am I the only one who thinks that it's a good thing that employees are no longer subjected to company sanctioned physical abuse from fellow employees due to a disagreement with management?

It's more like "being an asshole" than "disagreement"