Wrestling needs emotion again...

[James Steele]

Professional wrestling has been considered the "male soap opera" for quite sometime, but it has been missing that one crucial element over the past few years...emotion.

The only real emotional moment over the past few years, for me personally anyway, was WrestleMania XX when Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit closed the show as WWE and World Heavyweight Champions. Also, the only real storyline that have drawn true emotion out of me were the night Flair challenged Triple H for the World Title. Many storylines have had potential to use this emotion factor to their advantage, but WWE always has to take it over the top.

You look at the Austin vs. McMahon saga, and it used emotion to expand upon its overness. Whenever you get people emotionally involved in a storyline, they are going to eat it up. People love being taken on an emotional roller coaster through wrestling because they can get the high of experiencing all those emotions without having to go through the hurt. Austin vs. McMahon was about a guy who represented the average joe who was fighting to be on top and stay there against those who thought they were "better than" him. Everybody has experienced a person feeling above them, but rarely do you get to fight them and prove them wrong. This emotion added to the love of the Austin vs. McMahon saga.

You watch any promo with lots emotion you will get into that character and either love him or hate him for those emotions he portrays. Ric Flair's promo when he returned to WCW shows this. Ric Flair was loved and adored, but him just pouring out his soul made the people love him even more. When a storyline, promo, or whatever shows emotion and evokes those emotions in the viewer then they [the viewer] are more likely to get lost in those emotions and this losing themselves in the show and being "hooked". WWE has had so many great chances to use this powerful tool, but they always have to take it over the top or dumb it down. Most wrestlers have a true passion for what they do, and if you let them use that passion to evoke emotion in the viewer than you will have a guy who can get ratings. You have a guy who can get buyrates. Emotion is the key to getting wrestling fans lost in the product, and those are fans who won't change the channel.

[The One]

Why is it that you put into words what the random meaningless rants in my head sound like? I love you. :love:

[James Steele]

:love:

*ahem*

Opinions? Fuck You's? STFU's? SUYIA's?

[Destor]

I dont think anything I could write would say it any better than Tully just did.

[Jaton]

STFU!

[redoneja]

Fuck emotion. I want pointless Hardcore spotfests!!!

CZW CZW CZW CZW CZW....bring back XPW Bitches. Nick Mondo > Kurt Angle mutha fuckas. Emotion is for guys that can't get laid.

[The One]

The only young guy who I actually see try to put heart into it and truly views this as something he loves rather then something he gets a pay check for is Randy Orton. I'm sorry, but the guy really does try, and I don't know if it's because he is a thrid generation...but he has the same type of heart for it that Rocky did. Rock knew his dad's time was done, but he has respect for it. He wanted to take the old and put the new feel to it, and honestly Orton is the only youngin' I see doing that.

[Destor]

I mean James. :shifty:

[Jaton]

I believe Batista does put more into it than most guys though. I mean, look at how much he's improved in the last year alone? I remember last year he could barely go over the ropes without botching.

[The One]

Batista tries to work at it...I think he wants to be good no doubt, but as far as somebody who's heart is in it...I mean fucking in what they are doing...it's just not the same. Guys like Ric Flair, Mick Foley, Harley Race, Ricky Steamboat, Steve Williams (both Dr. Death and Austin), Dywane, Hart, Michaels, Davey Boy...those mother fuckers have/had heart. They went in there and I don't think they gave a rats ass if it was a half moon or MSG was sold out, they loved what they did.

[Jaton]

I suppose you're right.

Damn, we're owning the forum tonight.

[James Steele]

When Ric Flair came back to WCW and the Four Horsemen returned those tears were real. He was glad to be back WRESTLING. Not just to be back in WCW or in a big arena, but he was back doing what he loved.

[Marcyo]

Ok, so that's four guys with the same avatar...

*head explodes*

[Destor]

We should make it five, we need a JJ Dillon.

[redoneja]

ahem *clears throat*

[redoneja]

Anyway, I agree that wrestling needs to reintroduce emotions to some of the wrestlers/storylines. I enjoy an athletic contest as much as anyone, but the drama of the match is just as important.

[Jaton]

The psychology is what's important.

[James Steele]

Emotion is one of the most important parts of ring psychology.

[redoneja]

Emotion is one of the most important parts of ring psychology.


:y:



That's how someone with the wrestling ability of Hogan can get over and make millions. Because he can connect with the fans. That's also why a great wrestler like Shelton Benjamin isnt higher on the card. Cause the typical fan reaction is :| . I mean, Jesus Christ, how long did it take Beniot to make it to the top with little emotion? Now compare that to Hogan and you'll see why emotion is important.

[PureHatred]

Actually, in ECW Benoit Chris showed some great emoition. Heyman turned that fact that he was "quiet" into a real instensity. So that even if he wasn't ranting and raving, he came across as a legit bad ass. Just the simple "constantly rubbing his hands together" conveyed more intensity than anything that WCW and the WWE have been able to do with him in years.

[Destor]

:y: Your the man PH

[PureHatred]

As to the topic: I think we as fans have to realize that alot of these guys are getting into the business for reasons other than the ones we have for watching it. Look at Hassan. His runs at WWE is over. he oges off to make movies and take advantage of the exposure that will boost his career now. Basically, most new talents (especially the ones the WWE sign) are looking at wrestling as a stepping stone to a movie career. These guys aren;t training in their basements and driving 70 miles to work an indy show. They have headshots and agents and are just trying to be famous

Wrestling is an afterthought.

And the blame also rests on the writing....again mainly because the WWE is hiring people who dont' understand the genre. They don't know how to make the fans care about the characters. Wrestling isn't complicated; its drama at its most base. Two men that the fans both care about in a conflict with each other. And the fans tune in to see who wins. That's it. Simple. But if you can't make us care, or you make it so that the conclusion is obvious then there's really no story to tell.

So you have performers who aren't really concerned with telling a story, writers who can;t write for great characters, and a lackk of direction in the ring (not to mention a policy designed to limit performers)...of course the product is going to feel completely flat.

[redoneja]

Actually, in ECW Benoit Chris showed some great emoition. Heyman turned that fact that he was "quiet" into a real instensity. So that even if he wasn't ranting and raving, he came across as a legit bad ass. Just the simple "constantly rubbing his hands together" conveyed more intensity than anything that WCW and the WWE have been able to do with him in years.

Which is another point I would like to bring up. It isnt always the wrestler's fault. For example, look at the Godfather. Zero charisma as Papa Shango or Kama, but was over as the Godfather. If you need a better example, I'll go back to Hulk Hogan. Verne Gagne failed to recognized Hogan's charisma over talent. He didn't push Hogan the he needed to be. Vinnie Mac did. What I'm trying to prove is that the wrestler needs to be booked properly. I quoted PH cause he had a key word in his post, "HEYMAN". A good modern example would be Edge.

E & C Edge = :rofl: :y: :yes:

Mad,angry, wifestealing Edge= :-\\ :roll: :nono:

[redoneja]

Damn, basically beat me to it.

[Pinnacle Charisma]

I think to develop passion for something you need to be doing that thing for a long period of time. In Australia some footballers who win the grand final (the biggest prize in football) often lament the fact that they won a grand final when they were 19 or 20 instead of winning one when they when they were in their late 20 when they appreciate it more.

The WWE are pushing wrestlers who have only been in the wwe for a short period of time (marsters, cena, carlitto) as compared to the stars of yesteryear like Bret Hart, Austin and HBK. I felt that when the WWE push those wrestlers they are more appreciative of their push and that comes out in their in-ring performance and promo ability. Unlike the younger stars who seem sometimes to be going thought the motions.

You only to have look at the wm20 celebrations with two wrestling journeyman and the buzz they generated and compare them to wm21 champions celebrations to see the difference.

[PureHatred]

Great point. There's a school of thought on TPWW that basically says that making wrestlers "pay their dues" is meaningless. And from a business standpoint it is; you put the guys at the top who draw at that moment, regardless of experience. Makes perfect sense.

But maybe, just maybe if you did force wrestlers to wait to be put in the main event, then they might appreciate it more and their performance would reflect that.

[The One]

Not only that but if you make them wait for their turn not only do they bust there asses to stay on top, but they have staying power with the fans. Guys like Michaels and Hart are *arguably* bigger draws now then they were when they got big the first time. But even after they were dethroned we stuck with them and as a result have made WWE more money in the long run. In no less then 3 years I doubt Cena will be worth more then a tease title chase. The fans won't stay with him because not only does his not appreciate it, but we don't appreciate them as much.

[Corkscrewed]

Wrestling needs emotion again...
Don't ask for what the writers can't give you, James.

[Aussie Skier]

I think to develop passion for something you need to be doing that thing for a long period of time. In Australia some footballers who win the grand final (the biggest prize in football) often lament the fact that they won a grand final when they were 19 or 20 instead of winning one when they when they were in their late 20 when they appreciate it more.


:-\\

ur obviopusly not talkign about St.Kilda footballers :(

[ThruTheWire]

Wrestling needs emotion again...


Your crazy.. as if Kane balling his eyes out wasn't pure heartfelt emotion... :| ... :shifty:


But yeah I definitely feel what your saying there, too few wrestler's seem to actually have their heart in it. The top is no longer reserved for the one's who have busted their asses their entire life to get there, which is why you generally don't see a whole lot of emotion when all these new guys who have barely went through any actual hardship times in their career are handed it in basically the beginning of their careers.

You can tell the wrestler's who actually worked their way to get there and those are the ones that generally put their heart into what they do. Everything to them at a time was "Do or die" and you can still see that mentality in them. In and out of the ring.