For the the last 35 years, pro wrestling has been a media driven powerhouse.
But …
The same media that has, since 1984, pushed this form of sports entertainment to best-in-the-world status, also has deemed it – at times — as “taboo.”
Today, pro wrestling is once again on the brink of being ostracized creatively, and even worse, permanently. Pro wrestling “fans” have drastically changed since days past, we, as fans, could literally feel honest fear when The Road Warriors’ music blared. Or how about that feeling of unmitigated disgust and jealousy for the lifestyle that only the Nature Boy knew as reality? Who can forget poor Bruiser Brody’s murder and his case being thrown out because that man made everything just too damn real? Or the most memorable of them all, who can remember reaching out and touching the outstretched fingertips of the American Dream?
I am not obsessed with feelings of the past; those territories are long dead. Since their demise, the WWE has stricken the verbiage “Wrestling” from the English language. That’s okay with me because change also ushered in the Attitude Era and the Monday Night Wars.
Latest Wrestling News
- Rumor: WWE Being Sold To Saudi Backed Company Are False For Now
- Top Five Wrestling Stories of 2022
- Roman Reigns Number One in Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 List
- Jon Moxley Getting His Rightful AEW Title Run
- Triple H Bringing Wrestling Back to a Wrestling Show
Remaining edgy and wild, there was still that feeling of realism. We, the fans, know the predetermined nature of the sport and it doesn’t matter at all. It never used to matter; the feeling was always there mostly because we wanted that feeling there. When “Stone Cold” Steve Austin pulled the old switcheroo with Bret “The Hitman” Hart, that feeling of realism was at its peak with a newer generation of sports entertainment fans — the cycle was continuing and flourishing.
Sure, it was still a lot different than the days when Fritz Von Erich ran the entire state of Texas, but still even so many years later, the fans know, at that time, Austin, billed from Victoria in the Lone Star State, the could have won the presidency. Why? Because of a feeling, a feeling of so badly wanting something to be real that you, yourself, in your heart and mind allowed it to be real.
Now we are gleefully welcoming in the Social Kayfabe era for pro wrestling. The world in 2019 has a new heartbeat, an algorithm actually, informing us that, if Social Kayfabe isn’t something you are willing to partake, there’s the door. In 2019, it is what drives everyone on the planet: normal people, famous people, politicians, the leader of the free world, and yes, even sports rntertainers. It is what they are passionate about in this day and age — not only is Social Kayfabe killing wrestling rapidly, it’s actually also its driving force. How is that for the most devious of double-edged swords of all time, the hand that is currently feeding the WWE, AEW, ROH, etc., is the same hand that could be responsible for the pro wrestling’s downfall.
The Inability To Just Watch
How many Monday morning bookers do you personally know that host a podcast? Five or maybe six hundred sound about right? While I do realize that maybe a gross exaggeration, the point remains the same. Everyone watching the WWE today believe they can currently do it better than the WWE does it. Don’t fret though, we are in luck because they all have a podcast! Sometimes weekly, nightly, hour long or even longer “shows” Inform us how much better they can run the WWE than Vincent Kennedy McMahon and his hoard of minions can.
A voice for the voiceless is what they say; well, what if those voices don’t deserve to be heard? A platform for fans to express their talents and opinions sounds great, doesn’t it? What if you could bottle up all the negative feelings associated with pro wrestling and mix it with this overwhelming sense of entitlement? That, my friends, is a wrestling podcast; you would figure something this toxic would be a clear foreshadowing of things to come and it could be easily stifled or even ignored, which, in most instances, podcasts are. Seems simple enough, don’t mix the worlds, don’t allow the real world to seep into the world of suspended belief that was pro wrestling. Too late, it’s done.
-
Ep 114: Aaron Rodgers, OBJ, and The New York Jets
by Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:09 am
Have we fans destroyed the fantasy world that we created for ourselves by taking it too seriously? An oxymoron indeed.
Did We Destroy It?
Nope, it is not us who are doing the unrepairable damage to the sport that we all used to love. All we want so desperately is to be part of this amazing world that seems unattainable. However, that is the biggest misconception of them all.
The Fans were at one time a huge part of the show. We actually made the product we saw better. From the beginning, the fans have been an integral part of the show, hating the hateable, loving the loveable, and vocally expressing that to add to the story that these amazing athletes are trying to tell us. It was our job to add to the show to make it better. Now, chants of former stars with no current barring echo though the buildings at the most annoying times. Though I don’t think in this Social Kayfabe Era it’s the fans in the seats hurting the product so badly. It’s not the podcasts of the fans in those seats either, without them none of this matters anyways.
What is it then? Who is robbing us of that feeling?
We all have a massive black hole inside for wrestling that we can never fill, no matter how good or bad the product is. Who is responsible for destroying this feeling of realism and letting the fans into a world in which we have no business?
Social Kayfabe
The Social Kayfabe Era is here, and it can be stopped fairly easily actually but it won’t be. Belief is the lifeblood of pro wrestling. It is what makes a small boy of two have the same feelings watching wrestling as that of a 35-year-old man and beyond. Giving in to that belief and embracing it is what makes it real. If it’s up to us the fans to keep it positive and enjoyable for ourselves and everyone else, what happened? Why can’t we keep it as fun for ourselves as we did in the not-so-distant past and not create online talk shows to discuss our displeasure?
It’s not our fault it’s theirs, the Super Stars of the WWE and the pro wrestlers everywhere else. The feeling of mystique that wrestling and wrestlers once held near and dear, that wall of mystery that at one time we wouldn’t dare peak over or even want to is taking massive sledge hammer blows every second. It falls like the Berlin Wall, with tweet by out-of-gimmick tweet. Then a scathing Instagram post in character by Dolph Ziggler going after everyone followed by the next as Nic Nemeth in the bath.
Enough is enough and it’s time for a change! If these real people want Twitter accounts, sure, enjoy. If Mark Calloway wants to show us his new motorcycle while wearing a Bedazzled Bon Jovi t-shirt, great. I sure as hell don’t want to watch The Undertaker pick out grapefruits at Whole Foods. The wall of suspended belief is crumbling more rapidly by the minute — I can see to the other side and that is exactly from whence Real Life Rhonda Rousey came.
Latest WWE News
- Rumor: WWE Being Sold To Saudi Backed Company Are False For Now
- Top Five Wrestling Stories of 2022
- Roman Reigns Number One in Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 List
- Jon Moxley Getting His Rightful AEW Title Run
- Triple H Bringing Wrestling Back to a Wrestling Show
I watch wrestling to escape the real world for an hour or three. What’s the point of a cross promotion feud on Twitter between the Universal Champion in gimmick and some guy that tried out for 205 Live in gimmick that ends with an apology from Colby Lopez? That breaks down my wall.
In the real world, I don’t believe in building walls to hide behind. In my personal world of wrestling enjoyment, I want the most massive, gargantuan, titanium-reinforced, indestructible walls known to mankind. I never thought when watching Vince and Shane simulcast Nitro and RAW that I would long so badly for the days of splitting my time and never seeing all of either show on Mondays I didn’t blog my hate about that in 1998. Then, here they come, larger-than-life actual wrestlers, the toughest of the tough, the most indestructible beings to ever walk the earth – them with their tiny hand computers. They are the ones destroying my wall of make believe by Tweeting out cute pics of Braun Strowman in reading glasses picking flowers.
Keep wrestling real and leave us OUT!
Make sure to follow my act on Twitter @SuperSmartMark
-
Ep 149: Remembering Bud Grant With Former Vikings RB Chuck Foremanby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2023 at 10:41 pm
Former Vikings running back Chuck Foreman joins Clark and Ira to discuss […]
-
Ep 148: Hall of Fame Voter John McClain Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on March 15, 2023 at 10:15 pm
Hall of Fame voter John McClain of Gallery Sports returns to the show to […]
-
Scouting Reports on First Round Caliber RB's in NFL Draftby LandryFootball.com on March 26, 2023 at 12:50 pm
Go Inside the Draft Room and listen to Veteran NFL Coach, Scout and […]
-
Scouting Reports on First Round Caliber QB's in NFL Draftby LandryFootball.com on March 25, 2023 at 9:00 pm
Go Inside the Draft Room and listen to Veteran NFL Coach, Scout and […]
-
Ep 278: The Trade Marchby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2023 at 8:02 pm
-
Ep 277: Free Agency March Madnessby Full Press Coverage on March 17, 2023 at 2:39 am
-
Ep 276: Franchise Tag 2023by Full Press Coverage on March 8, 2023 at 8:28 pm
-
Ep 275: Dynasty Dispersal Draftby Full Press Coverage on March 4, 2023 at 2:06 pm
-
Episode 3.5: "Free Agent Frenzy" w/ Pete Hailey from NBC Sports Washington and "Big Doug" McCrayby Full Press Coverage on March 15, 2023 at 8:40 pm
George Carmi hosts NBC Sports Washington's Pete Hailey and Doug McCray on […]
-
Season 3.4: "Winds of Change" with Rick Snider of 106.7 The Fan and "Big Doug" McCrayby Full Press Coverage on March 2, 2023 at 10:33 pm
George Carmi hosts Rick Snider from 106.7 The Fan to discuss the latest […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 735by Charlie Saunier on March 26, 2023 at 5:25 am
Ep 735 The Renegades Of Puck Recap 7-2 L Vs Kraken Preview Maple Leafs […]
-
Full Press Islanders - Friday, March 24thby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2023 at 5:05 pm
The Isles got help yesterday in a massive way with the Pens and Panthers […]
-
3/24 - Bruins Approaching Record; OBJ To the New York Jets?by Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:07 am
Ian and John discuss the Boston Bruins dominance and discuss whether or […]
-
3/22 - World Baseball Classic Was A Classic; Connor McDavid on Hockey Tournamentby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2023 at 10:29 pm
Ian and John discuss the success of the World Baseball Classic and debate […]
-
3/21 - Aaron Rodgers Latest, World Baseball Classic Talkby Full Press Coverage on March 21, 2023 at 6:59 pm
Ian and John talk more Aaron Rodgers and the excitement around the World […]
-
3/20 - Aaron Rodgers, Brandin Cooks, Boston Bruinsby Full Press Coverage on March 20, 2023 at 2:25 pm
Ian and John discuss the latest with Aaron Rodgers, the Brandin Cooks […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Mavericks at Hornetsby Broken Controller Media on March 26, 2023 at 1:35 pm
-
Pelicans at Clippersby Broken Controller Media on March 25, 2023 at 8:00 pm
-
Jazz at Kingsby Broken Controller Media on March 25, 2023 at 7:00 pm
-
76ers at Sunsby Broken Controller Media on March 25, 2023 at 6:00 pm
-
Bucks at Nuggetsby Broken Controller Media on March 25, 2023 at 5:00 pm
-
Pacers at Hawksby Broken Controller Media on March 25, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Nets at Heatby Broken Controller Media on March 25, 2023 at 3:00 pm
-
Ep 157: Sid Part One - Skyscraper to Sychoby Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 2:00 pm
-
Fight Stack: Final Notesby Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 11:00 am
-
Ep 114: Aaron Rodgers, OBJ, and The New York Jetsby Full Press Coverage on March 25, 2023 at 12:09 am
- Feed has no items.
-
Talkamania Episode 230by Talkamania on September 6, 2022 at 11:43 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 229by Talkamania on August 5, 2022 at 3:37 am
-
Boot 2 The Face Revolution Reviewby Boot 2 The Face on March 10, 2023 at 12:42 am
AEW Revolution Review, Power Rankings, B2TF of the Week, and […]
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 215by Boot 2 The Face on March 2, 2023 at 12:50 am
We are back talking Kenny Omega's importance to AEW. Also, we break down […]