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My mom was randomly telling me a story about how her coworker went to the WWE when they were in town (years ago now). The two complains from her friend were that the show was “boring now” and that the people who went were “losers.” This was from a middle-aged woman and her family lol.
I know lots of families who have just quit going. Not because there isn’t interest there, but because they don’t want to be around fans trying to hijack it (they don’t say it like that, but that’s how we know it). I know women who think the wrestlers are hot, but the guys are absolutely not. One flat-out told me she would have an anxiety attack if she was around so many thirsty blokes.
There’s nothing wrong with being a nerd, or a geek, or enjoying your fandom — don’t get me wrong. I’m obviously nerdy as fuck about my wrestling. But it doesn’t mean it’s a desirable trait, nor that wrestling fans are all cool people. Or perceived as cool people, even if they are.
A big problem wrestling has (its biggest being that kayfabe is gone making it hard to build stars), is that the general audience has been run away (probably because of that), and you’re left with a niche audience that wants to gate-keep. That makes it harder for people to get into wrestling, even if they want to. It’s not “for” them anymore. It’s for people who think about its ironic presentation ironically. It’s so bad it’s good that it’s actually great for them. Cool. Most people are not going to engage with that, even for a passing moment.
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