Why is wrestling stereotyped? How to stop the stereotypes?
 

The average person that doesn't watch wrestling usually calls it 'fake','garbage','stupid'. A question I get, "You do know its fake, right?" I have a buddy that calls it a "Redneck Soap Opera". As an avid wrestling fan, it really bugs me that the general public looks at professional wrestling as crap, when its actually an artform. I find it annoying constantly correcting and informing people what professional wrestling actually is. Why do you think wrestling has been perceived as something so low by people? How can professional wrestling or let's say the WWE (The general public only knows of that company) show non-watchers, it really is something entertaining and not garbage?

How dare they call a fake sport fake?

A better question is "when will pro wrestling fans put on their big boy pants and stop giving a shit about stereotypes?"

The "You know it's fake, right?" question when someone simply finds out you're a fan of wrestling is pretty retarded though.

True. I usually compare it to "documentaries" like John Carter or Conan.

I hope next time someone asks, you just go "WHAT?!?" and freak out, jumping out of the window of the building you're in.

I usually just deadpan that it isn't fake and provide no argument to support my opinion. When they continue I just silently shake my head no while covering my ears until they walk away.

The easy comeback of course is to ask them what their favorite television show is and then say "Umm... You know it's fake, right?"

Unless their favorite show was Cops or the Price is Right, then you'd be fucked.

Off subject, but god damn if the new Price is Right isn't bright as holy shit in terms of color. I went slap fucking blind when I tried to watch it the other day...

LOL "car racing".

Then you ask their favorite movie.

Chances are they enjoy something that is scripted and meeting their condescending question with something that says "See how fucking stupid you sounded when you asked that question?" is fun.

lol what!?

Yeah I know, I'm just being a dick. I've always hated the whole real/fake conversation. I usually just say, "All TV is fake, what's it matter?" Most usually drop it there.

I enjoy wrestling, and I generally don't have to talk about that to a lot of strangers in public. I have you guys for that.

"Car racing":lol: and people call us rednecks:roll:

On the subject though I once had someone come up to me when I was wearing an old HHH shirt (the king of kings black one with the skull and crown from like back in 2006 or something) anyway they started with the "It's fake" crap and this kid who's like probably 8 or 9 walks up and pulls the "It's still real to me damnit!" line. I loled so fucking hard.

I always explain it as base theater. It's a simple theater-in-the-round morality tale of good vs evil with two people telling the story through their bodies. The tradition goes all the way back to the Greeks. As far as the fake thing, that's theater. That's film. That's TV. It's all fake. Anyone who gets upset that wrestling is "fake" are the same people who watch Jurassic Park and get upset that the dinosaurs weren't real.

It's all theater, it's all entertainment. And as with any live performance, if it's being performed by people who are experts at their craft, it can transcend into art.

Let's not bash car racing until we find out who wins the Nascar championship. If it isn't the 2 car then proceed with the bashing.

Also wrestling clowns, turkeys and garbagemen did not help the reputation of our beloved institution.

I usually tell people I only watch real sports, like wrestling. Then tell them everything else is fake.

I've actually been asked the "You know it's fake, right?" question by family members.

This had me pissing myself. :rofl:


The rest of the world just can't accept that all their sports are all a work. At least Wrestling admits it.

wish you would have said 99%

then I could have been all: "WE ARE THE 1%"

why the hell do you care about what someone else's opinion is about what you watch?

Also because 99% of wrestling is fucking ridiculous...

Artistic Combat

Yeah, that'll show 'em!

Dude, you want some ice for that burn?

***Autistic.

Tell em "you know God is fake right?" Boom. That'll learn 'em.

... You seem to know me too well...

Because there is a large percentage of people who take it really seriously and give it a bad name, just like any type of fan base.

This goes into it a fair bit. Guys pretending to beat each other up is perfectly fine and normal -- but wrestling finds this way to make it xenophobic, sexist (while at the same time claiming to empower women), nonsensical and sometimes just plain fucking stupid -- all the while claiming to be a morality play. One of the most successful eras the business has ever seen was the Attitude era, and it wasn't because it wasn't "PG." I imagine a lot of it was because it was one of the most testosterone-filled vicarious outlets for male aggression out there.

All the things wrong with wrestling are, conversely, what makes it work. Cena would be instantly cheered by everyone in the audience if he just admitted he was a violent sociopath, and he did totally screw AJ because he's a big star and can do whatever he wants. Then when Vince comes out to punish Cena for not being an acceptable face for the company any more, he gives him an FU and then has a few beers with Michael Cole, before giving him an FU for being "weak" and in that position in the first place.

Rassle Art

I guess because it tries to portrays as a serious sport with legitimate competition when it's clearly not - Between some of the cartoonish characters, the whacky storylines, and some of the crazy fans, it's hard for some serious sports fans and some people in general to take it seriously.

I grew up in Germany and my view of pro wrestling is treated as a sport, not entertainment. When I moved to America in 1991, it's like culture shock, it's the other way around. I still treat pro wrestling as a sport, not entertainment.

You know it's fake, right?

That right there is a perfect example of why some people look down on wrestling's fans -I am a fan, but it's not a sport. How can it be a sport when the wrestlers already know who is going to win the match, and they are not out there competing with each other? i.e. Not trying to hurt each other. Not to mention, ESPN never shares the results of the matches. It's not a sport. It's a form of live theater where the performers do their own stunts and settle their drama in a ring by doing what is called "combat theater".