A colleague and I are writing a piece on the Chris Benoit tragedy. If you don't remember, he is the professional wrestler who killed his wife, son, and then himself. We're wondering why there is so little press or comment on the story now that it has been basically ruled out that steroids played a major part in the event. Instead, they now believe that recurring brain injuries suffered in the ring contributed to Benoit's depression and possible dementia. I wonder if other wrestlers are worried that they too may eventually face the same fate. But here's my question for the week.
Why is wrestling so popular? It consistently pulls in huge television ratings and is one of the most popular cultural television events for teenage boys. This certainly is nothing new. Wrestling has been an interesting entertainment option for decades. Why do you think it is so popular and is it just of interest to dumb rednecks. Many argue it isn't. I've even been asked to guest lecture on the topic for a class at MIT in Boston. How is today's pro wrestling comparable to past sports entertainment events? Is wrestling just an extension of other events that took place long ago? And what about the female wrestler. Is she selling sex, or empowering women? Two full paragraphs. And hey, if you aren't too familiar on this topic, watch a wrestling show this week.
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26 comments:
I think that wrestling is so popular among boys today because it has become the male version of a soap opera. Wrestlers do not just enter the ring and wrestle; but they grab the mic, taunt fans, throw chairs, etc. Today's wrestling is providing entertainment in that story lines actually exist from event to event. People understand that it is staged, but watch it for the entertainment value provided by the wrestlers.
Because of this, the sport has a wider appeal than before. Well-educated professionals purchase events on pay-per-view and gather for entertainment. Therefore, the event is no longer only of interest to "dumb rednecks." Also, the inclusion of women in professional wrestling has added appeal. These women, such as Sable, are usually bombshell types who simply add a sexual element to the event.
Marques
I feel that wrestling is really just a male's version of Sopa Opera's. Although we all know wrestling is fake and scripted we will still watch it week end and week out. But i feel the popularity of wrestling stems from the diversity that it posses. I use to watch wrestling for certain wrestlers like the ROCK, Stone Cold, Degeneration X etc. Those individuals all had charisma that could captivate an audience and draw you in and they seemed to always leave you with a cliff hanger. It is not a sport wrestling is pure entertainment.
Also since the inclusion of women in wrestling mainly in the WWE even more men have started to watch. It is clear an obvious that they are selling sex because sex sales just ask HOLLYWOOD porducers. Anytime you have a match that determines the winner by having to tear your opponents dress off, clearly indicates they are selling sex. Also the vast majority of these women are models or playboy material.
Marques January (MDJ4)
In his collection of essays entitled Mythologies, French literary critic Roland Barthes vividly depicts the "spectacle" of professional wrestling in the first chapter. He theorizes that fans of wrestling are not effected by the notion wrestling is staged. The fans actually want the action to be staged. That way they will not feel guilty for viewing violent and cruel scenes. This aounds like an essay written in the late 1990's. The book Mythologies was originally published during the 1950's.
Wrestling has stood the test of time and will continue. Why? Though the basics remain the same, wrestling will always create an innovative way to market and present the product. During the mid and early 1900's, while boxing was at it's peak, wrestling was presented as a legitiamte sport. Once the late 1980's and early 1990's arrived, wrestling was livened by larger than life, cartoon characters like Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, and the Undertaker. These characters spark the imagination and were role models kids looked up to. Obviously, as times change, the product must evolve with the audience. The music industry received a shot in the arm during the early 1990's when the hair bands of the 80's gave way to Nirvana. Popular music changed. A similar shot was given in the late 1990's when the clean cartoon wrestling stepped aside as rebellious, anti-authority icons like the New World Order, D-Generation X, and Stone Cold Steve Austin moved into the limelight, bringing new and more mature audiences with them. Wrestling companies continue to develop story lines that draw casual fans. Recently, WWE ran a storyline over the duration of a few months revealing an illegitimate son of Vince McMahon. This story had nothing to do with wrestling; it was simply entertaining TV.
Combining this element of storywriting with the athletic performance of wrestlers, then adding a few voluptuous females, young males will be hooked. These stories will draw people was all backgrounds, races, and gender.
Wrestling is a cross section of society. That is why the art is so popular. These companies know which performers need to "go over" or win their matches. Promotions plan every detail in order to gain attention and persuade viewers to purchase pay per view events. They know when to throw out a foreign enemy character to draw boos or a thug to draw cheers. This is why wrestling shows are on cable TV four nights a week plus two pay=per=view events per month. Even with the recent popularity growth of mixed martial arts cannot challenge the legacy of staged professional wrestling.
Even though the industry is ine crisis due to the Benoit concussion research, the upcoming Congressional Hearings, and the recent steroid suspensions by WWE, he business will adapt and keep going. This may include fewer chair shots and smaller superstars, but wrestling will continue to thrive.
Bradley Cook
bac91
I think wrestling is so big because its just like todays popular reality shows. There is always a plot that people are following when watching wrestling. People tune in every week to find out whats going to happen to there favorite character every week. I thnink young boys have been drawn to wrestling is becuase they see some wrestlers as heros in a way. There are also bad guys and good guys.
As far as women in wrestling go i definetly think that they are selling sex. Wrestling is mainly a male watched program and what better way to draw in ratings the sell sex. It has been a hollywood trick for decades.
John Bennett (kkb34)
I think wrestling is so big because its just like todays popular reality shows. There is always a plot that people are following when watching wrestling. People tune in every week to find out whats going to happen to there favorite character every week. I thnink young boys have been drawn to wrestling is becuase they see some wrestlers as heros in a way. There are also bad guys and good guys.
As far as women in wrestling go i definetly think that they are selling sex. Wrestling is mainly a male watched program and what better way to draw in ratings the sell sex. It has been a hollywood trick for decades.
John Bennett (kkb34)
I think wrestling is so big because its just like todays popular reality shows. There is always a plot that people are following when watching wrestling. People tune in every week to find out whats going to happen to there favorite character every week. I thnink young boys have been drawn to wrestling is becuase they see some wrestlers as heros in a way. There are also bad guys and good guys.
As far as women in wrestling go i definetly think that they are selling sex. Wrestling is mainly a male watched program and what better way to draw in ratings the sell sex. It has been a hollywood trick for decades.
John Bennett (kkb34)
I agree with most, if not all of the post so far. Wrestling is just a soap opera that is for young males like mid-day soaps are for mostly females. Wrestling is watched by a wide variety of gender and race. I think that you can only compare wrestling with past sports by saying that it is entertaining.
As far as women in wrestling I also think that they are there to promote sex and yes sex sales. I can not see any way that they are empowering women, execpt to maybe tear each others cloths off. Wrestling to me is just another show and or entertainment program that is trying to get a piece of the pie.
Hmmm....good question. Why is wrestling so fake? I believe that men are attracted to drama as much as women, but because there is "fighting" involved, it still allows men drink their beer, burp loudly and still maintain their manhood by watching these little "soap operas for men" as so many other people have already commented about! I actually watche a small segment of the WWE last night and it just hilarious to me! It is a bunch of actors running their mouths and fighting about it to see who wins. And because there is fighting involved, it is still considered a manly thing. No, I don't think that just rednecks watch it because I know several business men who I work with every day who watch it and come back to the office the next day and actually talk about it! HILARIOUS!
I think that wrestling could be a strain of boxing. However, in boxing, there isn't all this acting involved. It is a real sport with no preconceived notions who is going to beat who up. It is an actual sporting event!
Don't get me wrong, I am not commenting negatively against wrestling because I have been guilty in the past of jumping on the bandwagon when Sting and Goldberg were going to fight it out!
As for women wrestlers. I don't think it is empowering females one bit! The reason behind this is because if they were actually athletes who duked it out, they wouldn't all be blond, tanned and have at least a 34D chest. Women athletes who empower women are people like Serena Williams, FloJo and others who are real women and not fake. There is a difference in an actor and an athlete.
While these people have to be skilled at what they do in the ring, they are just actors and stuntmen and should no way empower women!
I am sure it is crossing wrestlers minds every day the effects that their job might have on them. I don't know for sure how many wrestlers we will see retiring early, but I am sure it has to be in the back of their mind every time they go to the ring, "Will today be the day that an injury comes back to haunt me?"
Wrestling definitely caters to a certain fan. The speculation on what kind of fan it is can lead to several conclusions. The immediate person associated with wrestling is the redneck. I would personally associate them with Nascar but if a sport is to be demeaned wrestling is a easy target to. The acting is lax and the athletes are more connected with there feelings than soap opera stars. The industry brings in untold amounts of money so it must be coming in from somewhere. The lifestyles these guys live is extravagant so just on the popularity one must argue that there must be some fans of all income and education. Almost everyone is guilty of watching it as kids but that would not warrant the wild parties and expenses that these guys have been known to throw. The money must come from a large group of adults or wrestling would not be on the stage that it is now.
I would not consider myself a fan of professional wrestling but I am familiar enough with the product to be able to make a few comments.
Professional wrestling today is actually a very well executed event. The story lines that are written are played out over a period of time which keeps the viewer engrossed. Keeps them coming back for me. As mentioned by some of my fellow students, as a soap opera does. The plots always seem to depict a "good vs evil" scenario which is a technique that has been used in literary works for as long as there have been stories told. It's just been given a modern twist.
Wrestling combines a story with physical prowess and some limited violence. Take a look at the popularity of football. Without a doubt, it is a very physical sport. We all oooo and ahhhh when there is a big hit. While there are some exceptions, everyone gets back up and keeps going. For the most part, we get the violence without anyone getting seriously hurt. It feeds the primal urges.
Female wrestlers were not on the scene when it first began but now they are a common place. Its a fact, sex sells. So, it addresses that primal urge as well. Does it empower women? I guess it depends on the size of the implants she has. ;-)
To me wrestling is important to the people that like the sports. However, i'm not a fan of wrestling. And no its not interested by just rednecks you have blacks also that like wrestling. Most people back in the day liked baseball then came the wrestling. I guess they thought it was a interesting sports.
Yes wrestling is an extension because as I said earlier; people back in the day played baseball then came alone wrestling. And I think the female wrestlers are just doing something to be doing because I wouldn't want to be hit upside the head as been a woman. And I don't think they selling sex but think that they are trying to empowering women to make them think they can do what men can do.
If I remember correctly, wrestling was introduced in ancient Greece as a way for men to demonstrate their strength and to maintain their physical fitness when not on the battlefield. While today, it is still about feats of strength to some degree, I think that this has been polluted somewhat with steroids. Testosterone also plays a huge factor. Men have always loved a good fight. So, this I think that this is one of the big draws for teenage boys and men.
Although, the wrestling does seem to be a self-contained sub-culture, it does appeal a multitude of men from all walks of life. I do not think it is a show for just dumb rednecks. In my white-collar profession, there are many men who stand around the “water cooler” discussing the latest pay-per-view.
I do not think that female wrestlers are empowering women. In my opinion, it is degrading to women. However, as full-grown adults, these women can make their own personal choices. I do believe, based on their attires and behaviors, that these women are using their bodies and sexuality to attract viewers to wrestling.
Rebecca Zetterholm (raz11)
I was once a big wrestling fan and I am most certainly not a dumb redneck. But I believe the interest in wrestling that people have is solely for entertainment. Once your past the age of 12 you pretty much realize that its fake. But its entertaining to see the good guys and bad guys, and the so called plot twists. For the little boys it gives them an idea of what tough is and for the little girls its the occassional cute guy.
Now as for the women wrestlers, they are mostly "playboy" in motion. They are women who want to be in the entertainment business but really have no talent, but all the looks. They present the worst kind of impression of women for young women.
Oh man! You guys have just ruined it for me! First Christmas, then Halloween, the Tooth Fairy, what is left! I just cannot believe 1. It is not a real sport? 2. It is faked? What am I going to believe in now? Gerry Lawler has been my hero for years and now it is all meaningless. Shame on you all for what you have done to me.
Wrestlers are just another genre of hero for people to watch and follow. They are an icon to subscribe to. I have never been a real fan of wrestling, but I do remember an A&E story about this one maniac Mick or Nick Foley who’s most popular stage name was Mankind, who started as a young man taking falls off his garage. The mattresses he had for a landing pad shifted and he ended up landing on concrete. After healing, he went right back up there and did it again. I suppose the main draw would be the on going question, what will they do next? This maniac, by the way, has retired, and the character he created lives on in books, lunch boxes, figurines, and other memorabilia that are making a him a great living years later. This author, movie actor, and radio and TV personality’s image included a leather half mask he wore on his face and his willingness to do anything. During one match (read performance) he was walking around on a chain link ‘ceiling’ to the ring and fell through breaking one of his bones and continued to ‘wrestle’ his opponent. While the wresting itself is faked, often the blood, broken bones, etc are real. Mr. Foley had a career total of breaking his nose twice, over 300 stitches, six concussions many broken bones and thousands of tack holes. During this same event this wrestler dumped tacks in the ring to heighten the drama. He ended up being dragged through them himself. The blood, again, was real. From what this guy demonstrates, his goal was to entertain no matter to what level he had to go.
It is interesting to me to compare this person to Gene Simmons of Kiss fame who now has a reality show on A&E called “Family Jewels”. Gene Simmons, even though Kiss broke up years ago, still has a multimillion dollar business centered on his painted up character from the band. His only product is himself making guest appearances and his memorabilia. A fan base that he created through the character still supports him. This is the same for this wrestler who did what he had to do to create a character seemingly larger than life, for people to ‘buy into’. I believe that this type of entertainment satisfies a lust for blood while keeping a safety distance from the real thing. It is a release from the norm of life that people buy into overlooking the fakeness of it.
The previous comment was from Mark Mize mcm3.
Thanks,
Mark
One reason I think wrestling is so popular is because in general, people love to see a fight. Whether it's on television or in your local bar. We really don't care that we know it's fake either. I have been watching wrestling since I was about 10 years old and even though I knew it was fake then, I allowed myself to be drawn into the hype that surrounded "Hulkamania". And who can forget his best bud, "Macho Man" Randy Savage! I was drawn into it by my dad and brother, but even now I've noticed that when flipping through stations I have been known to stop on wrestling and actually watch it. We like to think for a split second that it could be real.
I also think it's more popular now because they're even betting on it in Vegas. When I recently visited, I was truly amazed at everything they are actually gambling on out there then. But people love it.
I defintitely don't think this sport is just for dumb rednecks. One reason I feel that way is because simply watching a match on television you will see Donald Trump, Jack Nicholson, and even Hugh Hefner and his girlfriends in the audience. None of those people are rednecks. Alternative lifestyles, but definitely not rednecks. I think pro-wrestling is comparable to NASCAR even. They do promote to a certain crowd but have ended up getting much larger than they ever thought they would be.
As far as the female wrestler, they could have left her out of the rink for me. All of the female wrestlers seem to look a little manly to me. I wish they would have just left the women to be the pretty girls that the wrestlers were fighing over like back in the day. I don't necessarily think the female wrestler is selling the sex because the girlfriend of the male seemed to do a great job at that.
I think that some of the main reasobs why wrestling has become so popular, is because of entertainment wrestling puts out on fighting and people. Many people watch wrestling for pleasure purposes and others watch wrestling for thrills. I personally hate wrestling because, it has become so violent and the moves have gotten more dangerous. another reason why most people get a thrill out wrestling and why it has become so popular is because, it is a mixture of different sports combined into to one of things that most people may like.
Today's wrestling, is mnore better than compared to long past sports because, sports back then did not have the gear,equipment, and rules and regulations that we have now in most of the sports we have.Pro wrestling to me has gotten more advanced in the ring, and more events dangerous events has happened in the process of all this.Even, the women wrestlers today are using their bodies and stage outfits to attrack more indivduals to this particular sports.
I have to admit that when I watched wrestling as a small child, it scared me to death. I would have nightmares, especially about the Undertaker. Now my brother and his little boy live for Monday night wrestling. I have to agree with my classmates in that wrestling is very much dramatic and the wrestlers are in fact actors. This allows people, the majority male, to be entertained while at the same time feel like they are following a sport. (It must be a male thing!!)
I agree with our teacher in that the story about the controversy over wrestlers' death ceases when the controversy disappears. America loves controversy(one example:O.J. Simpson--I could care less who he held up in a hotel room!) We, as a society feed off of controversy.
Finally, I have to say that I am not a fan of women wrestlers. I do think that they get into the sport to simply draw more viewers, especially teenaged boys who might not watch wrestling any other time.
To be honest I have never been a fan of wrestling, and I feel that not too many females are. It is mostly popular among teenagers. I find wrestling to not have any substance at all and I wonder why they consider it to be a sport. The wrestling competitions at the Olympics could be considered a sport but the wrestling that is on television is too flashy and all together fake. Honestly, I don’t feel that it sends a positive message to the world. They curse and make derogatory comments toward other opponents and it sends a negative message to the youth. Adolescents might take those images or the behavior that they see and bring it into the classrooms. They might feel that it is okay to curse and fight with individuals. Even though the wrestling is fake on television, could young children or teenagers decipher between what is real or not. It promotes aggressive behavior and teachers and parents can’t fathom why their children or students are acting the way that they are in school. It is because of these destructive images on television.
Also, I have a big problem of how these wrestling shows promote women as sexual objects. Why do all of the women have skimpy outfits on? Women are always portrayed as a sexual object in these wrestling tournaments. This stuff is just as bad as these rap videos that portray women as sexual objects. People are going to have to boycott this type of media. These images are not a positive influence for our youth and society as a whole. Another thing with wrestling, is that they promote a false way of gaining muscles and having a cut body. In order for a man to have those type of defined muscles and cut they have to use steroids. No matter how long they lift weights in the gym, they would never get to that size or cut and they would have to use steroids. So all together I don’t think wrestling is a good form of sports entertainment. Obviously, it destroys the lives of the individuals that participate in the sport. They had a study done and the study showed that most wrestlers die at a very young age. Most of them are involved in drug use and steroid use. If they don’t commit suicide most of them have destructive habits that cuts their life short.
I think Professional Wrestling is just an extension of a long cultural tradition of fighting. It has often been noted that people like to watch fights, especially men. Although I don’t think this infatuation is necessarily “human nature”, I think it is so culturally ingrained that people are drawn to fighting unconsciously.
Professional Wrestling is obviously not the first expression of people’s interest in fighting. Many other types of entertainment fighting have been shunned and outlawed by societies due to the harmful effects on the fighters. Bare-knuckle boxing, gun fighting, and the fighting of animals are considered cruel by most members of society today. Wrestling offers an alternative. I agree with Roland Barthes (referenced by bdog2121) that viewers use the fakeness of wrestling to free themselves of the guilt of watching a fight. However, the Chris Benoit incident and others are making it more difficult for viewers to feel as guilt free.
I believe today’s pro wrestling is just a form of phony entertainment that has been
Extended from past sensationalistic events.
When I was a young girl, I can remember such names as “The Junkyard Dog”, “The Spoiler”, and one of my favorites, “Cowboy Billy Watts”. Even then, just as today, there was the idea of “good versus evil” among wrestlers.
I never understood, just as today, how the wrestlers could be slammed into the turn-bucklers of the platforms, then hit with iron chairs, and barely, if at all, become injur
I can also remember my grandparents becoming “physically” involved with the sport. When a less favored opponent appeared to overcoming the more favorite opponent, my grandfather would put up his fists, pumping the air, and act as if he were in the ring himself! Also, my grandmother would call out, “He knows better than hurting that boy!” Now, those were some characters to see!!
I believe the female wrestler is selling sex, not improving women’s disposition. From the skimpy outfits to the stiletto, four-inch heels, is the only angle I can see. Because males are drawn by what they visualize, and if it’s and attractive female, they’re there! Boring (to me)!
Again, I agree with Angie Jackson. Wrestling is popular because it is pretty much a male soap opera, with just enough "cattiness" and violence to not be a "chick thing". If you remove the organized violence, it's no different than the early morning soaps that come on television. There's betrayal, sex, lust, drama, etc. I think that we know it's fake, but why care? It's entertainment. People converse about Harry Potter and other fictional characters all the time as if they're real people. We know it's fake, but through personification we make the story even more compelling and interesting. As a young teenager, I used to love wrestling. It kind of puts humans in the places of superheroes and villains almost (without the special effects of movies or cartoon animation) because the shows are live every week.
As far as the empowerment or degradation of women goes, I think it's a combination of both. NOt to sound biased, but I think that the incorporation of women AS WRESTLERS is only a ploy used by the creators/promoters of professional wrestling to gain a wider female audience. The truth is, alot of men find women wrestlers boring. They often resort to scratching, clawing, and kicking and honestly do look awkward sometimes trying to perform the wrestling maneuvers. But all in all, in that respect, i is empowering. Wrestlers like Sable and Chyna have proven that they can "hang with the boys" and at the same time TRY not to look like lesbians. On the other hand, the women who are still just "show girls" or ringside assistants, may be considered degrading because they're still scantily clad (most of them) or resort to sex (calendars, etc.) to remain relevant. So, from a promotional standpoint, there are women who can serve both purposes - degrading and empowering. That way, the men have something to look at and the women have something/someone to look up to.
I think that wrestling is so popular because is provides entertainment especially for the male population. It is exciting and somewhat violent and very physical. Wrestling is made even more fun because begin to relate with the wrestlers and pick their favorite ones. Wrestlers not only try to win the crowds favor by how good they wrestle, but also with their attitude and personality out of the ring and before they fight.
As far as women go, I think that female wrestlers are somewhat good role models, showing that women are strong too and can defend themselves. However, I think that wrestling has become really commercialized and women wrestlers especially have resorted to selling sex and gaining attention to themselves through provocative clothing and actions. This is definitley the actions of good role models.
I believe that modern humans are not much different from the warrior tribes that existed 1000 years ago. One thousand years really isn't a long time in the grand scheme of things and even though we've adapted a more 'civilised' vernear it is clear that the motivations and urges that have powered the human race for so long do not lie quiet and still in spite of the tons and tons of ridelan being perscribed our children every year.
Some of us are attracked to wrestling because we can live the lives that our hypothalmus desires through the actions of others.
Has it really been that long since our familes were warriors? My family is only about 5 generations out of the 'jungle'. Back then, the men still fought to death for food, women and the right to have the best hunting grounds. On another side of my family, percieved disrepect was settled with duels that usually ended in death.
I think that deep down inside, everyone of us feels a more base calling that we must temper with patience and alternatives.
Do I really want to throttle the guy that just cut me off in Houstons traffic, endangering the lives of me and my wife and children in the process? Not really, but the body reacts just the same by sending large amounts of adrenaline through my body. This reaction would have helped me fight and survive just a feww hundred years ago. Today, I think these chemical releases are probably harmful especially if our observation of these events occurs through the eyes of a sedentary life style.
My personal violence addiciton lies with the UFC's no rules fighting.
I find these fights more entertaining because I'm trained in martial arts and the fake injuries and 'wins' on typcial wrestling shows do not fool my brain enough. The original UFC fights were acutally quite accurate. The later ones not so much.
OK, to a degree I'm feeling Ernie on this one. In wrestling, people, mostly male, get to witness total apparent mayhem, saga and drama, and what happens when people get totally fed up. It's the equivalent of walking towards your local supermarket when you notice off to your right these two women absolutely yelling at each other. They continue yelling as they get closer and closer to one another. Then the expletives fly...the crowd begins to swell around them...and then you see the one on the right raise her umbrella and she....................................................now if you've been visualizing this, and if I wrote that correctly, you probably are experiencing increased breath rate and an increased heartbeat as a result of endorphin release. Yes, to one degree or another, we all like a good fight. For some, they want to see the daytime soap opera where woman a and woman b strategize against one another to get man c. For others, they want the Court TV effect - still a fight. Others still want to see the "going off" that is portrayed in pro wrestling.
Me? I'm like Ernie. When I want that rush that just makes you YEEAAAHH!!! I watch UFC. Of course, I started out watching videotapes of UFC 1,2, and 3 ruled by Royce Gracie who I bumped into in Memphis many years ago. These days it's all pay-per-view which I just refuse to do. So I get my UFC/Pride itch scratched via youtube, metacafe, sherdog, and a host of other web sources.
Lawrence Lockhart ldl12
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