Why do people watch pro wrestling?

[Heeko]

This is not a rant about 'wrestling is fake'. Of course everyone knows that and if you don't then you are a total moron. That said..

People watch pro wrestling for different reasons. I heard a psychologist once claim that some fans watch and see themselves in their favorite wrestler's role. He used the example of Stone Cold Steve Austin and said most would like to tell their boss off and do some of the things Austin did and actually get away with it. In a more generalization, fans often see themselves in the underdog role and sometimes feel cheated in some ways for things beyond their control. All these elements are in pro wrestling.

Also, what exactly does a pro wrestling title mean? So what if 'whats-his-name' won the belt x amount of times? It's all scripted and in reality he didn't actually "win" anything, it was handed to him by the powers that be.

Yes, he worked hard in the business and yes, his shirts and posters probably outsell everyone else, who knows. Did he bleed more? Did he do some great deed that placed him in front of the line? What exactly is it that determines who gets the belt handed to them? If the answer is "because it fits the storyline" then imo that makes the title even more worthless.

Why exactly do people watch pro wrestling? It has no real value and it isn't a sport. It's 'entertainment'. But entertainment for what? Because someone gets scripted to be beaten up? The titles are worthless and it's all a big act. What values does that teach our children?

This is not a knock on pro wrestling. I'm just curious as to why people watch it?

 

[Adam]

Pure escapism. The example you gave is a good one. How many times do we all wish we could be Stone Cold and give our boss a big, fat, vicious Stunner? The other side of it for me is that I truly appreciate the pure athleticism involved. Sure, it's scripted, but the talent it takes to pull off those maneuvers without causing serious injury is very real. Sometimes it's even the storylines that draw me in, though that hasn't happened much in recent years. Just a few of the random reasons that I enjoy pro wrestling.

 

[MWhoTklsFemFeet]

Pure escapism. The example you gave is a good one. How many times do we all wish we could be Stone Cold and give our boss a big, fat, vicious Stunner? The other side of it for me is that I truly appreciate the pure athleticism involved. Sure, it's scripted, but the talent it takes to pull off those maneuvers without causing serious injury is very real. Sometimes it's even the storylines that draw me in, though that hasn't happened much in recent years. Just a few of the random reasons that I enjoy pro wrestling.

A watch for a lot the same reasons that were listed above, but here are my reason.

You may say "It's scripted and anyone can do it, it just a matter learning how to fall and take a punch" all well and true and yes it is entertainment, but if anyone can do then why isn't everyone a pro wrestler?

Another reason is that unlike boxing or dare I see UFC or any other MMA matches, it's not a whole lot of hype for something that won't go the distance. Case in point, Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock III was built up to be this epic clash but only lasted a few minutes, with wrestling, yes it is scripted but if they hype it, you know your going to watch a great match and it will go the distance and you will be locked in.

It's great fun to just lose yourself for two hours in storylines and watching how amatuer wrestling and well timed and corigraphed stunt work blend together to make something people can enjoy together.

 

[storm7400]

It entertains me. Just like watching baseball, basketball, hockey or football.

 

[JimmyBoy]

Just like soap operas are the (majority) female escapism, pro wrestling is the (majority) male escapism.

Instead of wishing they were the women they see on tv being swept off her feet by the hot guy and fighting off jealous ex-lovers; men wish they were the ones in the ring beating up everyone and getting kicks out of it.

It's entertaining; that's the reason.

 

[The Sean Man]

It's a soap opera for guys.

 

[toyou444]

It's a soap opera for guys.

Took the words right out of my mouth!

I used to watch with my grandparents and they got in to it...hating certain wreslters and cursing at them.

Years later I can't even watch it anymore. Its too much talking and 2 minute matches and boobs and inuendo and not enough story.

~ toyou

 

[SlaverTickler]

People watch pro wrestling for different reasons. I heard a psychologist once claim that some fans watch and see themselves in their favorite wrestler's role. He used the example of Stone Cold Steve Austin and said most would like to tell their boss off and do some of the things Austin did and actually get away with it. In a more generalization, fans often see themselves in the underdog role and sometimes feel cheated in some ways for things beyond their control. All these elements are in pro wrestling.

Thats probably true. When I was a kid watching it in the early 80's I wanted to be the Hulkster, and do the big run in to save (let say) Koko B. Ware from being stomped but members of the "Heenan Family" or some other baby face being attacked by a group of heels. Then I got older, and wasn't as in to Hogan (still liked him, but I realized he wan't a great wrestler) and I took a shine to guys like Hart, Henig, and (believe it or not) Micheals (and I was a Hunter Herst Helmsly fan to at one point), because these guy displayed more athletic skill in their matchs, and I liked cheering them on against the bigger guys. It was also cool to see a Hart win the IC title for the first time. The entire time I watched wrestling I had never seen a Canadian as champ, and when he beat Mr. Perfect (on my B-Day no less) it was a big deal to me. I knew Martel had been AWA champion, but I had never seen it.

Also, what exactly does a pro wrestling title mean? So what if 'whats-his-name' won the belt x amount of times? It's all scripted and in reality he didn't actually "win" anything, it was handed to him by the powers that be.

At one time being champ really had meaning. It meant that the boss had faith in you to carry the show, and his company. When the NWA was the big shit the World champion was voted on by a comitee, and the world champ traveld around the territories defending the belt. So the belt wasn't 100% handed to you because you had to have proven yourself to be a performer who could draw a crowd, and it didn't hurt if you had some actual in ring skill as well.

Yes, he worked hard in the business and yes, his shirts and posters probably outsell everyone else, who knows. Did he bleed more? Did he do some great deed that placed him in front of the line? What exactly is it that determines who gets the belt handed to them? If the answer is "because it fits the storyline" then imo that makes the title even more worthless.

Their is a certain amount of "does it make for good drama" in who wins the title sometime. The Iron Shiek winning the title was part of an angle, but if he hadn't done a good job as a vilianess charactor then it probably would have been somebody else. The title basicly reprisent who the lead good guy or bad guy is in the company. It means you are the leading male in this live action/Drama/comedey.

Why exactly do people watch pro wrestling? It has no real value and it isn't a sport. It's 'entertainment'. But entertainment for what? Because someone gets scripted to be beaten up? The titles are worthless and it's all a big act. What values does that teach our children?

You could ask the same of any show. Why do people watch Law & Order, to see a scripted performance of a person pretending to be murdered, and fake police detectived pretending to catch the person who did it. Or a movie where a young actor pulls a fake magic sword out of a fake stone and become King of England? On difference is that when the wrestler is thrown out of the ring, it isn't a padded stunt double who lands on those thin little toubling mats. Trained to fall or not, that shit is hard.

At one point the good guy didn't cheat, he respected the system, even when it failed him. Every match was sort of like a shoot out in a western, including the bad guy having his buddies in the saloon window waiting to take a cheap shot at the good guy. Then came the Attitude Era where Olympic Champions were booed and Pimps were cheered. I wasn't real keen on it, it actual became sort of funny in a sick way.

This is not a knock on pro wrestling. I'm just curious as to why people watch it?

It's like Jeff Jerrett said in a documentary, "For those who do believe no excuse is needed, for those who don't believe no excuse is good enough.", in other words either you like it, or you don't.

 

[SlaverTickler]

Another reason is that unlike boxing or dare I see UFC or any other MMA matches, it's not a whole lot of hype for something that won't go the distance. Case in point, Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock III was built up to be this epic clash but only lasted a few minutes, with wrestling, yes it is scripted but if they hype it, you know your going to watch a great match and it will go the distance and you will be locked in.

I wouldn't say everything in wrestling lives up to the hype, remember the "Invation" angle. It makes my eye's bleed to think about how they totaly fucked up such and incredible oprotunity.

 

[Goodieluver]

Growing up, it was one of the few things that brought me, my brother and father together every week

Back then i enjoyed it being the young mark i was. As i grew up, i admired it for the skill and the story