Have you ever seriously tried to explain the wrestling BUSINESS with someone? [Archive]

Shadrick

02-23-2010, 10:11 PM

I was having a conversation with a young lady about wrestling, and I was trying to school her on what a "shoot" was, the Montreal Screwjob, the importance of charisma and in-ring ability, mic skills, etc, and she just couldn't get it. She thought Ultimate Warrior had EXCEPTIONALLY good inring ability just because he moved around a lot.

I tried to explain what a good/bad promo is, to no avail. She just likes The Rock (who she purely knows as Dwayne Johnson) because "he's sexy" and because of that, and only that, to her, he is the best wrestler in the history of everything.

KYR

02-23-2010, 10:12 PM

I tried to explain it to the likes of Kane86 and HBPunk but got nowhere.

KYR

02-23-2010, 10:13 PM

Also, The Rock IS the best wrestler in the history of everything.

Team Sheep

02-23-2010, 10:19 PM

yeh but its all fake tho

The Franchise

02-23-2010, 10:23 PM

you're probably right there KYR

SupaNovaHBK

02-23-2010, 10:46 PM

yeh but its all fake tho

you cant pretend to fall off a ladder

Steveviscious89

02-23-2010, 11:19 PM

Yeah, it takes a certain kind of personality, usually skeptical, to really know all the lingo and political BS that goes on. I don't presume to 'know' the wrestling business myself, but I do have educated ideas on it.

Jeritron

02-23-2010, 11:25 PM

Most people don't know/care about the details and whatnot of the wrestling industry.

They perpetuate the idea that it's a circus and pulp entertainment, which it is, but they also fail to recognize that there is a whole industry/world behind it that's quite interesting and can be enjoyed by intelligent people.
Also, I feel like there's a lack of respect for the notion of quality storytelling and skill in wrestling. To most non-fans, it's all the same and there is no skill or storyteling present.

This is how it's always been though, and it's probably not going to change. In fact, I rather like that there's only a small portion of the population who appreciate it on that level. Others follow casually, or as a guilty pleasure, and others write it off.

I was able to educate and convert a college roomate of mine pretty well. He didn't become a big fan or smark, as far as I know, but he learned about a lot of shit from me. Stories, history, and how matches "work" and stuff. Pushes, shoots, promos, etc.
I got him to love watching DVDs with me from time to time, while I did smark commentary.

FourFifty

02-23-2010, 11:31 PM

I tried to explain it to the likes of Kane86 and HBPunk but got nowhere.

HBKoo96l > HBPunk

:lol:

Anyways, no, I have not tried to explain anything aisde from a quote from Jeff Jarrett (that he stole from somewhere else, it was on "The Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling" documentary).
"For those who believe, no explanation is needed. For those who don't believe, no explanation will do."

Albeit I never credit the quote.

Fox

02-23-2010, 11:42 PM

VSG

02-23-2010, 11:59 PM

yeh but its all fake tho

Say it aint so!

I have tried and failed on multiple occasions to get my friends, especially the female variety, to appreciate my interest in WWE but they all seem to think its a sick sport with middle-aged men hitting each other with chairs :lol:

KYR

02-24-2010, 12:03 AM

Even though I don't watch much wrestling these days, my wife still thinks I have latent gay tendencies because I like to watch oiled-up, muscle-bound men grapple with each other.

Hey wait a minute...:shifty:

TrentDRUGFREE

02-24-2010, 01:56 AM

I've noticed that the female population is a lot more unwittlingly gullable than the male population when it comes to wrestling.
For example, I'll mention I'm a pro wrestling fan to a girl, they'll write it off with the usual "You know it's all fake right?" then if they happen to watch it with me at some point they'll be caught up in a match more so than many of my smark/mark friends, who happen to be all guys.

Fignuts

02-24-2010, 02:01 AM

Used to, but not anymore. It's futile. You either "get it", or you don't.

Ol Dirty Dastard

02-24-2010, 02:03 AM

Shadrick

02-24-2010, 02:11 AM

ME: "It's a pretty big deal for Bret Hart to be coming back like this. Back in 1997 he and Vince had a contract dispute and he was supposed to leave the WWF with the World Title, but Vince screwed him on his last night and took the belt off him. They haven't really worked together since then."

HER: "...you know it's all fake, right?"

ME: "Yeah, but I mean, he was PLANNED to win the match and Vince screwed him over and made the other guy win, live on TV, in front of thousands of people."

HER: "Yeah, but they plan all that stuff first."

ME: "Okay, but..."

lol...SAME exchange happened with the young lady in question.

And I never consider myself to KNOW the wrestling business, because the closest I've ever been was to have an associate of mine actually IN the E, and has been for a little bit (he's busy, so we dont talk that much anymore), but I'm merely saying its so funny trying to explain that its past what they're SEEING, the skilll that is.

I tried to explain how good of heel Jericho is, or how GREAT of a character CM Punk has, or how great of a promo Cena cut with Vince a few weeks ago, and she was like :shifty:

Fignuts

02-24-2010, 02:13 AM

It's kind of funny that we think we actually "understand the wrestling business" because we read some dirt sheets. I mean yeah we kinda get it but we really don't.

I mean I think I do, but I probably don't lol.

Dunno. I don't presume to know as much as people actually in the business, but you don't ritually watch something for 20 years without figuring out how things work.

CSL

02-24-2010, 02:14 AM

Best chance you probably have nowadays is renting The Wrestler and seeing if they 'get it'

Jeritron

02-24-2010, 02:20 AM

Dunno. I don't presume to know as much as people actually in the business, but you don't ritually watch something for 20 years without figuring out how things work.

This. Plus it goes beyond dirtsheets. Wrestler biographies, documentaries, and a number of other things have shed light on how the wrestling industry works.

TrentDRUGFREE

02-24-2010, 03:02 AM

Best chance you probably have nowadays is renting The Wrestler and seeing if they 'get it'
That's true, over 20 years the wrestling business has comparatively been recognised in mainstream culture and that's the only "hollywood" movie with credability that's been made.

Rammsteinmad

02-24-2010, 03:35 AM

I was having a conversation with a young lady about wrestling.

:rofl:

Shadrick

02-24-2010, 03:38 AM

:rofl:

I expected this response a lot sooner lol. She asked. :cool:

Ol Dirty Dastard

02-24-2010, 03:40 AM

Yeah i guess i have watched wrasslin for 20 years and all, but I dunno I still feel like a pompous ass when I judge guys in the ring and whatnot. I mean frankly I know I myself pretty much get it, give or take a few things... but some of the guys on here who think they get it cuz they know some guys' real names, and watched some ECW in 1997, I dunno that's not knowing pro wrestling.

Londoner

02-24-2010, 04:51 AM

Yes i have, but some people just don't want to know it seems. There really is no point in explaining too people like that. I hate their reasoning though when they say 'i don't see the point in watching people fake hit each other'. :roll: Its so much more than that...

DaVe

02-24-2010, 05:27 AM

Ya.

And I freaking love 450's quote: "For those who believe, no explanation is needed. For those who don't believe, no explanation will do."

Sixx

02-24-2010, 05:33 AM

She just likes The Rock (who she purely knows as Dwayne Johnson) because "he's sexy" and because of that, and only that, to her, he is the best wrestler in the history of everything.

You take any kind of sport, and a girl will always consider the sexiest guy to be the best.

Jeritron

02-24-2010, 05:36 AM

When we ordered wrestlemania 24 at my apartment in college, these 2 girls we had over were practically fingering themselves over Cena and Orton

NoRoolz

02-24-2010, 05:59 AM

I've successfully explained to many about the "whole deal" of pro-wrestling, and removed the simple "it's fake and for kids" stereotype.

Being proper wrestling fans like ourselves does take a certain type of person though. It does require a certain level of intelligence, a good memory and to be interested in history and stats etc (hence why many wrestling fans are huge geeks).

I say to people, it's got it all - drama, fighting, stunts, dance like routines, athleticism, 7ft beasts to 5'5 jumpin jacks, and an incredible history.

To us, we care that Orton changes his theme, that Kurt Angle changes his attire or that Triple H just won his 14th title. We can appreciate the great depth, without the actual wrestling itself! Most just wouldn't care. We know dates well and it probably ranges to general life for most of us, too.

Shadrick

02-24-2010, 07:15 AM

When we ordered wrestlemania 24 at my apartment in college, these 2 girls we had over were practically fingering themselves over Cena and Orton

Lol I showed a girl Randy Orton to show her who I modeled my physique after. When I showed her she was like :eek: and asked me to "prove it" which we all know what that means.

Lets just say, my viper struck that night /vintage Shadrick

Sixx

02-24-2010, 07:21 AM

Lol I showed a girl Randy Orton to show her who I modeled my physique after.

Ahahahaha

Shadrick

02-24-2010, 08:18 AM

Ahahahaha

:love:

Anybody Thrilla

02-24-2010, 08:34 AM

The whole 'fake' thing is what comes up most often when I try to 'explain' to people. It's not like I'm going around wearing a leather vest and two knee braces threatening to give everyone who doesn't watch wrestling a Stone Cold Stunner, either. It usually starts off with someone saying 'how do you watch that shit? It's so fake', so I try to defend it.

I usually start off my rebuttal by asking them what percentage of their favorite television shows or movies are 'real'. The occassional smart ass will mention reality TV, but that's hardly a leg to stand on.

Basically, talking to people about it who don't 'get it' is pretty annoying, so I try to avoid it. Some people consider it the absolute lowest form of entertainment and want to look down on you for being a fan, and I feel that's pretty pretentious.

Side note...who is your WWE associate, Shadrick?

Rammsteinmad

02-24-2010, 09:03 AM

I showed a girl Batista to show who I modeled my physique after.

I'm still working on it though. :p

Anybody Thrilla

02-24-2010, 09:04 AM

Something isn't resonating with me about showing someone a picture of someone you have modeled your physique after. I'd like to know how that comes up in conversation and leads to getting laid.

Skippord

02-24-2010, 09:16 AM

I try to avoid letting people know that I watch wrestling at all

Anybody Thrilla

02-24-2010, 09:17 AM

Because you are an insecure little bitch.

Skippord

02-24-2010, 09:22 AM

I feel like that was uncalled for

Anybody Thrilla

02-24-2010, 09:31 AM

Yet accurate.

Skippord

02-24-2010, 09:32 AM

I won't argue that point

Indifferent Clox

02-24-2010, 09:57 AM

I have successfully got several people into ROH.

Team Sheep

02-24-2010, 10:11 AM

Lol one of my friends that I met in Houston for Wrestlemania last year said that a few of his friends were too embarrassed to admit to work and friends that they were going to Orlando for Wrestlemania 24 that they made up a story about going to America for a relative's wedding. :lol:

The Pope

02-24-2010, 10:13 AM

I got a chick into wrestling.

Shadrick

02-24-2010, 05:44 PM

Something isn't resonating with me about showing someone a picture of someone you have modeled your physique after. I'd like to know how that comes up in conversation and leads to getting laid.

Simply point, at this point she hadn't seen my body before, and I always talked about dieting and exercise, and I told her to check out Randy Orton because from a physical standpoint, post-chubby Orton's workout physique is ridic. She came over. I showed her a PPV, she got slightly visibly turned on, she asked me to prove it, I wasn't lying, and....bam. My viper struck. lol.