why are so many wrestling fans so grippy?
 

how do fossils like flair and hogan still make money by wrestling? why are people still paying money to watch them dotter around the ring as embarrassing shells of who they used to be, all the while, taking time away from guys who can perform better than they ever could? what is this obsession with "one more match," and why can't people let the idea go until a wrestler is either crippled or dead?

is there another form of entertainment where fans are so reluctant to embrace a new star over an old one?

I've never heard anyone say "one more match" about Flair or Hogan.

Have you read anything on this site ever?

I mean, Hogan and Flair have no business wrestling. Hogan has no business on TV at all at this point. Flair can still pull it off if he weren't wrestling.

Guys like Taker have been around for years but he can still go, and isn't on ALL THE TIME. I don't have a problem with guys who can go. Steamboat was awesome in the ring when he returned for that short stint (he'll likely never wrestle again, though).

If they can still go and bring something to the table, I don't have a problem with it.

I'm pretty sure teh IWC doesn't prefer old stars over new stars OP.

When it comes to Hogan, all I ask for is one more injury.

Or death.

one more divorce! One more divorce!

Dunno, there should be some clause about being unfit to wrestle once your muscles turn into saggy tits.

Many long time wrestling fans grew up on Hogan and Flair so it's kind of a nostalgia trip. Same reason why people loved Old School Raw.

People don't pay to watch Hogan and Flair, they get into the Impact Zone for free.

Nostalgia is certainly a factor, but it's true -- the IWC by and large isn't in love with fossils.

Flair, as an example, is fine as an on-air persona. Promos, credibility, and let's face it -- the man is a wealth of experience. These are all very real assets, especially if he's teamed as a manager or leader for a group of young talent. Perfect way to use him.

Matches? Yeah, not so much.

As for the old guard not wanting to step down, it's ego and a sense of entitlement. But, that's true in most fields. Upper management tends to not like hotshot newcomers who might upset the status quo and cast them (and their cushy upper management positions with huge paychecks) in a bad light by simply being better and/or working harder. So that's hardly wrestling specific. It's just a shitty fact of life.

As for people who are getting to the edge... Undertaker was brought up. He's become an event wrestler. In a lot of ways, he shouldn't be in the ring anymore. But, as long as he only works an event here and there, he's fine, because it's more about presentation. Sure, he's worse in the ring. Injuries do that. But as long as he gets plenty of downtime between events, he can still reach down, grab hold, and put out a solid offer. But yes, he is certainly on his way out.

Ultimately, though, old broken wrestlers dottering around the ring for one more match while they shit on their own legacy isn't a matter of the fans -- it's more often than not because of the wrestlers themselves. Ego's a bitch that way.

While I do agree Hogan and Flair shouldn't be wrestling(and probably not even on TV), the fact is, the majority of wrestling fans have to cling to the past. The main reason being the current slump in the wrestling product. There is no more creativity in wrestling anymore. Both WWE and TNA suck, because every week is the same thing week in and out with the same wrestlers. Eventually, even the best routines get stale(especially when they suck to begin with).

Just look at the Old School edition of RAW a few weeks ago. That had to be the most boring, filler episode of RAW I have ever seen.

But as to your last question, most other sports hang on to top stars as long as they can too(you see it all the time in basketball, football, etc.). Although I will agree wrestling is worse, since there is no offseason.

Don't know. Flair was "still better than 90% of the roster" and whatnot just 2 years ago. Probably a year ago. While the IWC goes through phases, it's hard to say people have never said "one more match" about flair.

And not much has changed in the last year.

I havent, BOOM!

Yeah, but you're our Saviour.

Hulkamania will never die brother!

the other side of the question stems from former wrestlers who are still capable, but just don't want to.

dwayne johnson hardly ever does an interview without someone asking him if he will wrestle again. his movies are covered like it's wrestling news. why? he's been done wrestling for like 10 years. he's publicly distanced himself from "the rock" character. austin's name was floated around not too long ago. also, wasn't there some headline with "shawn michaels return" in it a few weeks ago? i don't know, some line easily construed as a ring return (i'm almost certain on purpose) even though shawn has retired from wrestling.

in the rare cases where superstar wrestlers make the right decision to be done wrestling with their bodies and brains in tact, why not just let them be done wrestling?

yes.