Return of the casual fan?

**Disco Apocalypse** · 07-14-2011, 07:13 AM

Hi, and thanks for having me. I only registered on tpww this year, but have been a guest for a while. In fact, I vaguely recall coming on here for the first time to find out that Bret Hart had beaten Chris Beniot for the WCW Title in 1999 in the title tournament. I think... has tpww been round that long? Anyway, a few months later, HHH retained in the fatal four way at Wrestlemania. I was a HUGE HHH mark at this stage, and I made the exclusive switch from WCW to WWF, and I have watched WWF/E somewhat religiously since then... although I had been a casual fan since Wrestlemania 6.

And this is what I would like to discuss� the concept of the "casual" fan. And by this I mean people that know fuck all about wrestling.

I have been to a total of 1 (one) live WWE event, as I live in New Zealand and even though I live in the capital city, the WWE has come only once to our city, and I'm a lazy son of a bitch. I have never been backstage, stepped in a ring, or even shook the hand of anyone who has ever workedfor WWE. The only piece of merchandise I have is a Chris Benoit shirt from that live event...

But I'd like to think after 11-12 years of full-time fandom, I know a thing or two about the WWE, based simply on my experiences and memories as a fan. And reading tpww of course

This thread came about today at work when a colleague of mine noticed that I was watching videos of Raw on my lunch break. He said "Oh, you like wrestling, I'm a huge wrestling fan as well!". I responded "Really? That's great, have you seen the CM Punk promos?".

Blank stare� not only at the name CM Punk, but at the word "promo". Huge wrestling fan indeed� so the typical story came out, this guy hadn't watched wrestling in years, and knew exactly seven things about wrestling�

Randy Savage
Hulk Hogan
Bret Hart
Yokozuna (Random)
Stone Cold Steve Austin
The Rock
There's a ring, referee and belts

I mentioned Triple H� blank stare. At this stage, I became angry and stopped talking to him.

If someone was to say "Oh, I'm a huge Lost fan" and then go on to tell you they watched the first four episode of season one, you'd laugh at them, right?

So, getting back on topic, the question I pose is this� will WWE ever get casual fans like this again, people who are not that invested in the product, but watch it anyway because it's "cool"? Or has this ship sailed simply due to the fact that the world has matured and we are just a generally more bitter, cynical and sarcasic bunch of monkeys? Would ice-cream help?

Do the recent events of CM Punk and the media attention he is garnering (I have heard, again, I'm from NZ, we don't have media) show any possibility of drawing in this larger fan-base? If not him, is their anyone on the roster that has that ability?

Look forward to your comments

Apologies for the keyboard diarrhoea...

07-14-2011, 07:13 AM	#1
Disco Apocalypse The Funkaceratops... Posts: 170	Return of the casual fan? Hi, and thanks for having me. I only registered on tpww this year, but have been a guest for a while. In fact, I vaguely recall coming on here for the first time to find out that Bret Hart had beaten Chris Beniot for the WCW Title in 1999 in the title tournament. I think... has tpww been round that long? Anyway, a few months later, HHH retained in the fatal four way at Wrestlemania. I was a HUGE HHH mark at this stage, and I made the exclusive switch from WCW to WWF, and I have watched WWF/E somewhat religiously since then... although I had been a casual fan since Wrestlemania 6. And this is what I would like to discuss� the concept of the "casual" fan. And by this I mean people that know fuck all about wrestling. I have been to a total of 1 (one) live WWE event, as I live in New Zealand and even though I live in the capital city, the WWE has come only once to our city, and I'm a lazy son of a bitch. I have never been backstage, stepped in a ring, or even shook the hand of anyone who has ever workedfor WWE. The only piece of merchandise I have is a Chris Benoit shirt from that live event... But I'd like to think after 11-12 years of full-time fandom, I know a thing or two about the WWE, based simply on my experiences and memories as a fan. And reading tpww of course This thread came about today at work when a colleague of mine noticed that I was watching videos of Raw on my lunch break. He said "Oh, you like wrestling, I'm a huge wrestling fan as well!". I responded "Really? That's great, have you seen the CM Punk promos?". Blank stare� not only at the name CM Punk, but at the word "promo". Huge wrestling fan indeed� so the typical story came out, this guy hadn't watched wrestling in years, and knew exactly seven things about wrestling� Randy Savage Hulk Hogan Bret Hart Yokozuna (Random) Stone Cold Steve Austin The Rock There's a ring, referee and belts I mentioned Triple H� blank stare. At this stage, I became angry and stopped talking to him. If someone was to say "Oh, I'm a huge Lost fan" and then go on to tell you they watched the first four episode of season one, you'd laugh at them, right? So, getting back on topic, the question I pose is this� will WWE ever get casual fans like this again, people who are not that invested in the product, but watch it anyway because it's "cool"? Or has this ship sailed simply due to the fact that the world has matured and we are just a generally more bitter, cynical and sarcasic bunch of monkeys? Would ice-cream help? Do the recent events of CM Punk and the media attention he is garnering (I have heard, again, I'm from NZ, we don't have media) show any possibility of drawing in this larger fan-base? If not him, is their anyone on the roster that has that ability? Look forward to your comments Apologies for the keyboard diarrhoea...