Your first inkling that wrestling is fake

[The MAC]

Unless you where born in the 90's you probably, at some stage, believe wrestling was legitimate. However, there are times when things just don't seem real.

its a single moment like when Hogans punch missed but the opponent reacted or maybe its something thats more than one instance such as "they never have bruises the next day".

What was the first inklings of "work" to you?

[DaveWadding]

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[Shisen Kopf]

Wrestling is fake. That gay shit they do in the Olympics. But rasslin, that shit ain't fake at all.

[Droford]

http://shoptna.com/images/products/detail/IMG_2926.jpg

[Emperor Smeat]

Might have been when Fox had a tv special exposing the secrets of wrestling.

[Cool King]

Yeah, I think that's the same for me.

[loopydate]

I don't specifically remember, but I feel like it was a Bret match where I knew each spot that was coming because I realized I'd seen him have basically the same match over and over. "When his opponent moves, why does he still charge chest-first into the turnbuckles? And why does NO ONE ELSE do that? And what was he going to do if he hadn't moved? Just run into him really fast? He doesn't jump or anything, just... right into the corner."

[Sepholio]

FINGER POKE OF DOOOOOOOM

[The Condor]

I was 10 and Marc Mero showed up as a boxer when only earlier in the year he had been Tarzan.

[teamXtremist]

When my dad pointed out they talk to each other during the whole match

[Shadrick]

wait what wrestling is fake?

[#1-norm-fan]

It wasn't THE moment but I remember during one of the Steamboat-Flair matches, Steamboat dropkicked Flair over the top rope and he clearly missed him. My brother ended up rewinding it over and over to "show the fakeness".

[Sixx]

I don't think I ever thought it was real. I got into wrestling when I was old enough to realize that bouncing off the ropes after an irish whip was fucking ridiculous.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I never really had the chance to think it was real. Neither parent was happy that I was watching wrestling and they were quick to tell me it was fake so that I wouldn't be tempted to try to replicate moves in school.</font>

[Damian Rey]

Fucking Vito told my story. My dad always made it a point to tell me that the guys hung out at bars together. He, to this day, does not believe wrestlers blade themselves to bleed. He thinks the staging of it all is do intricate that they have some sort of special effect glued and painted on them that allows them to bleed profusely.

Oh, and the chairs and ladders are made of aluminum.

Sorry, got a bit off topic about by dad ruining it for me

[Cool King]

This isn't really on topic, but that blading thing reminded me that my mum's ex-husband used to rip the shit out of wrestling whenever he saw me watching it.

He used to say that the blood was ketchup and refuse to accept that it was real blood.

He also use to make sure I knew that it was "fake" by telling me, "It's all fake" and going on a tirade about it, during one such tirade, I challenged him by saying "People have died in the ring y'know. How do you fake that?" He then went quiet for a while and then said "Well....mistakes happen".

He would also mockingly say things like "Ohh, that hurt!" whenever someone pulled off a move, and he would also proclaim that the ring was padded and that the noise the wrestlers make when they hit the canvas was either due to microphones under the ring or sound effects added in.

He was also adamant that all wrestlers were taking steroids.

[Damian Rey]

I hate that shit. Who gives a fuck if it's staged? I never understood my dad's obsession with going out of his way to tell me it's fake.

[#1-norm-fan]

My dad did the same thing. Well into my teens when it was obvious and no one was gonna argue the fact. He'd find little things and be like "See, you know it's fake because..."

[DAMN iNATOR]

LOL, I'm not sure I ever quite received that speech, but I think my father told me "how he knew it was fake" when he watched a show during his time in the military or some such.

My friend who I'd watch the shows with or DVR for him if he had to work and I was there watching his place for him would go out of his way to do that thing where he'd pick out some move and then rewind to it and show me frame-by-frame of how it didn't even connect or something. I never really cared but did feign interest/agreement to keep him happy, LOL.

[Mr. Nerfect]

It wasn't THE moment but I remember during one of the Steamboat-Flair matches, Steamboat dropkicked Flair over the top rope and he clearly missed him. My brother ended up rewinding it over and over to "show the fakeness".

It's kind of odd that one of the most heralded matches of all-time, and a series that is often referred to as "flawless" was what exposed it to you guys.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I hate that shit. Who gives a fuck if it's staged? I never understood my dad's obsession with going out of his way to tell me it's fake.

I've often wondered why people get so butt-hurt about it being fake. To the point where they actually go in the other direction, and don't know how it is all done. Is it the carny reputation wrestling has? I mean, why do two guys pretend to fight each other in spandex? Is it because wrestling tries to take people in, like the guy at the county fair?

People don't feel the need to point out the special effects at the movies. Some people still buy into magic tricks of all things, just for the display. But wrestling has found a way to truly disgust people.

[Disturbed316]

It was my sister who gave that sort of speech, saying how fake it was. I was probably about 7 or 8 and she started it after seeing Doink 'hit' Crush over the head with his cast. Never really bothered me and just brushed it off as I knew my sister was a stupid liar :shifty:

[Damian Rey]

I used to love when JR would go out of his way to point out how there's no way you can learn to fall on concrete or off a 20 ft ladder. Think he had a line stating a ladder wasn't made out of chocolate.

[DAMN iNATOR]

I used to love when JR would go out of his way to point out how there's no way you can learn to fall on concrete or off a 20 ft ladder. Think he had a line stating a ladder wasn't made out of chocolate.

I distinctly recall him also saying during a RAW match that something (forgot what) "isn't made out of BBQ sauce"...miss J.R. so much,...wish Vince would give him another shot, let him call RAW as part of the 3-man team alongside his friend King, and JBL...I miss how all his intense emotional passion for the product and his wacky commentary made me able to feel more immersed in the show...don't get me wrong, Michael Cole is terrific, but he's no J.R. :(

[Damian Rey]

I feel like nothing Cole says is legitimately his own. I can tell he's being fed lines and that there's no real passion or energy. Every now and again he has a moment, but for him to follow up arguably the greatest commentator of all time was a tough, near impossible gig. Doesn't help that it seems like he's not into the actual product and is just playing a character.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I've said it before but I thought Cole and JBL were fantastic on SmackDown together in 2006-07 when it was clear Vince wasn't feeding them lines and forcing them to argue constantly. They argued but it felt natural and it was funny, not completely forced.

It's a shame that they have no real chance to thrive with Vince wanting complete control over commentary nowadays.</font>

[DAMN iNATOR]

I feel like nothing Cole says is legitimately his own. I can tell he's being fed lines and that there's no real passion or energy. Every now and again he has a moment, but for him to follow up arguably the greatest commentator of all time was a tough, near impossible gig. Doesn't help that it seems like he's not into the actual product and is just playing a character.

http://nodq.com/images/bingo.jpg
:shifty:

[DAMN iNATOR]

<font color=goldenrod>I've said it before but I thought Cole and JBL were fantastic on SmackDown together in 2006-07 when it was clear Vince wasn't feeding them lines and forcing them to argue constantly. They argued but it felt natural and it was funny, not completely forced.

It's a shame that they have no real chance to thrive with Vince wanting complete control over commentary nowadays.</font>

Yeah, I hate to say it but Vince is coming up on 70 in a week or two, and in a way I don't really blame him for wanting to hold on to some small degree of control over his baby, but some of the commentary these days is downright embarrassing as a fan to listen to.

Can't believe Vince let his stupid personal feelings regarding the SSlam reveal of WWE 2K14 with Jim Ross as presenter influence his rash decision to let him go...he thinks J.R. and Flair had been drinking all day when in fact he'd only had one cocktail, which he even admitted on stage. He was not drunk. His Bell's Palsy combined with his fatigue was what caused him to apppear and talk as he did that day. I think Vince ought to be counting his lucky stars that Ross didn't sue his ass for wrongful termination.

[Damian Rey]

I miss JR so much. Was watching a few old Manias on the network and nobody sold the matches like JR. And it's not like he isn't capable nowadays either. Though you could also tell his commentary was being controlled towards the end as well. He wasn't as fiery, and like the current announcing, when vile shit would happen he would just make a comment here or there in a low tone, when in previous years he'd be flying off the handle.

[DAMN iNATOR]

<a class="embedly-card" href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2xqz6f_jim-ross-goes-insane-stone-cold_fun">Jim Ross Goes Insane STONE COLD!!!!</a> <script async src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/platform.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>

Rediscovered this little gem too (J.R. giving Cole the business)
<a class="embedly-card" href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2xuz7h_jim-ross-kicks-michael-cole-in-the-nuts_fun">Jim Ross kicks Michael Cole in the nuts</a> <script async src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/platform.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>

That "'Ya little narrow ass" line gets me every time. :lol::rofl:

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>JR being re-hired and just being a heel who is completely bitter about the product would be brilliant.</font>

[Damian Rey]

Lmao. When they brought him back with his own announce table, wasn't it a ploy to have him try to heel it up, but the fans sided with him over Cole so it got canned? Fuck I love JR.

[Fignuts]

When Jake Roberts betrayed the Warrior.

Was all like "Wouldn't the Ultimate Warrior die from that? How is Jake not in jail?"

[Damndirty]

When Jake Roberts betrayed the Warrior.

Was all like "Wouldn't the Ultimate Warrior die from that? How is Jake not in jail?"

That's the way I figured it out, not necessarily that event, but rather the things the NWO were portraying. When no police came to stop the "gang violence" or when the victim magically recovers after nearly getting killed, it was pretty apparent it was all a stunt.

[Stid]

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@16:08
This shit. Not to mention the magic camera flash that conveniently goes off right as the move hits on more recent DVDs.

[road doggy dogg]

I unfortunately never really had the suspension of belief that rasslin' was real. I got into the game way late and had always heard "wrestling is fake!" growing up so by the time I started watching as a teenager I already kinda knew

[road doggy dogg]

That being said, thinking about it objectively as an adult, it does seem a bit silly to think "I am willingly watching a bunch of grown men pretend to beat the shit out of each other", even though that's no different than watching Tom Cruise pretend to be a spy tbh

[road doggy dogg]

The whole premise of movies or TV or entertainment in general seems a bit daft when you really sit down to think about it

[Sixx]

That being said, thinking about it objectively as an adult, it does seem a bit silly to think "I am willingly watching a bunch of grown men pretend to beat the shit out of each other", even though that's no different than watching Tom Cruise pretend to be a spy tbh

To be fair, that lil' nigga is pretty hardcore. Check out the "Edge of Tomorrow" behind the scenes shots. Tom Cruise is crazy, but he delivers.