Has WWE tainted the market so much that...

[Jordan]

Has WWE changed the wrestling market in the US so much that a puroresu style promotion wouldn't work? What I mean is, a company that would treat wrestling as a sport, not sports entertainment?

Thats what I really want, I want a company to make wrestling seem real again, I want to wonder if he really knocked the fuck outa that guy, because in WWE I rarley feel that way, TNA never makes me feel that way, the only thing close is ROH but they do so much high flying bullshit that it becomes unrealistic.

Honestly what its all about for me is that I have become a huge UFC and Pride fan, and when I switch over to wrestling I just think, "What the fuck is the point of watching this, when I can watch a real fight?"

I think for this to happen a company would have to train the wrestlers a totally different style, therefore none of the wrestler would be well known, which isn't a good thing. However if they built from a small promotion like ROH did to a pretty big money maker then I think it could work. Could they compete with WWE and get their ratings? Probably not, at least for many many years.

But then again maybe its me, I loved wrestling when I was a kid and a teenager but now I just don't feel it as much. Sometimes I do, like during Wrestlemania 23, or Cena/Michaels II, I was a total mark at those times, but other times I just feel silly.

So two questions, do any of you believe that a company could make wrestling a sport again, at least for that particular brand. Also, do you feel the same way I do about wrestling? Getting bored with the rehashed storylines/finishes/angles from back in the day?

[Jordan]

One more thing that seperates Japanese wrestling from US wrestling is that it has press coverage in the news papers along with the other sports. The wrestlers don't cut shitty promos, they just talk like a normal athelete. Would it be possible to get normal sports coverage by a US style puroresu promotion? I'd say not but I want to hear your thoughts.

[Stickman]

I don't think it'll happen at the states at all. I agree with you, why watch when you can watch a real fight?

[Kane Knight]

I think it's hard to compete on a realistic level when you have the primary brand being a soap opera. I do think thay it could be done. After all, the Attitude Era came after Sodomania, the gayest, campiest era in Sports Entertainment.

[BigDaddyCool]

At this point it would be a slap in the face it they went back to being kayfabe and trying to pass themselves off as a "real sport."

[IC Champion]

its true.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I think it is possible, and it would be awesome, but I don't think WWE or TNA can do it. ROH can do it, and I think they can actually pull it off. I mean they have the best matches in North America (arguably the world), and they have actually had matches end on technicalities, like time limit draw, and knock out. Plus there was the whole ROH Pure Title.

I would not be opposed to seeing Bryan Danielson bringing that belt back, and feuding with Nigel McGuinness over it. It may not seem like the Pure Title has a chance against the World Title, but I present to you the Law & Order television series. Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent have surpassed the original in terms of quality. Odd analogy, I know, but I think there is room for interesting Championships like the ROH Pure Title in today's professional wrestling landscape.

I also like ROH's high-flying. It's very artistic. To be perfectly honest, I love the balance between sports and arts in professional wrestling. Enough of that "entertainment" shit. Sports and arts are entertainment.

[Mr. Nerfect]

But to answer the topic question, I don't think the WWE has tainted the market. I think they have tainted themselves, but I think the market can be whatever it wants to be, as long as people are willing to watch. Fuck what the WWE says.

[Destor]

At this point it would be a slap in the face it they went back to being kayfabe and trying to pass themselves off as a "real sport."You miss the point, it's not about telling people your real. Its about presenting a beleivable product.

[Destor]

...On a very deep and techniacal level.

[Kane Knight]

You miss the point, it's not about telling people your real. Its about presenting a beleivable product.

:y:

[FourFifty]

Honestly what its all about for me is that I have become a huge UFC and Pride fan, and when I switch over to wrestling I just think, "What the fuck is the point of watching this, when I can watch a real fight?"


I get that from so many non-wrestling fans.
"Oh why don't you watch REAL fights?"
Because I don't want to watch a legit ass kicking. I want to watch a show, not a contest. I'd rather see a suplex where I know the guy's neck and head are being kept safe than watch someone get their knee blown out in the first round.
I'm a fan of the show. The story. The drama. Not the violence.

[Kane Knight]

While that's valid, Fourfifty, a lot of people got hooked on wrestling for the physicality. I liked good matches and impressive atheletics. I'm not saying I don't like the drama, just that there's something else a lot of people like. And they can get that elsewhere regardless.

[KayfabeMan]

Yes.

[KayfabeMan]

I meant that just for the title of the thread.

[FourFifty]

You can still find good matches today. Yes, they seem to be farther apart, but still, look at Beniot/MVP, or Cena/HBK. I think if all we got was pure wrestling, or even mostly wrestling, fucking hell even 75 percent wrestling, we wouldn't watch it as much.

[Vastardikai]

There is and will always be a market for "believable" pro-wrestling. It may not ever be as big as WWE, but there is a market. If someone were to seriously persue that market it would be successful. Much of WCW's success was hinged on the fact that they had, get this, WRESTLERS. AWA centered on Wrestling. JCP centered on the talent of their wrestlers.

[Kane Knight]

You can still find good matches today. Yes, they seem to be farther apart, but still, look at Beniot/MVP, or Cena/HBK. I think if all we got was pure wrestling, or even mostly wrestling, fucking hell even 75 percent wrestling, we wouldn't watch it as much.

Yeah, well, the 90% soap opera is losing fans by the million.

[CSL]

<font color=white>I think somebody could do it and pass themselves of as real 'cause a lot of 'uneducated' people would believe it.</font>