Is Anyone Else a Pro-Wrestling Fan?

[lessthanpleased]

I know I'm not along here, so I figured that this thread will be for those of us who like watching grown men in spandex pretend to beat each other up while actually beating each other up to confess out dirty secrets without shame or fear of rejection.

So, if you have a favorite pro-wrestler, say it. If you have a favorite match, do tell.

And if you don't like pro-wrestling, just don't participate. My girlfriend demasculates me enough for watching American wrestling, and nothing any of you say can be more humiliating than what I've heard on and off for six months plus.

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To start:

Favorite wrestlers (WWE/WCW/NWA): Ric Flair, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Yoshihiro Tajiri.

Favorite Wrestlers (international/independent): Yoshihiro Takayama, Toshiaki Kawada, Jyushin "Thunder" Lyger, "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson, Aja Kong.

Favorite Matches (WWE): Chris Benoit v. Shawn Michaels v. Triple H (Wrestlemania XX), Chris Benoit v. Kurt Angle (Royal Rumble 2003), Ric flair v. Ricky Steamboad (WrestleWar '89).

Favorite Matches (international/independent): Jyushin Lyger & Minoru Tanaka v. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru (2003); Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue v. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi (6.9.95); Yoshihiro Takayama v. anyone (any time).

Please don't let me be the only scholar with pure pro-wres love!

[Mei Zhen]

Equinox and I are often guilty of Monday and Thursday Night WWE watching these days, in part because we find it so funny. He describes it as "a testosterone soap opera", and like any live show, occasionally stuff goes wrong, and the unplanned stuff is by far the most interesting. Real injuries, bad acting, and Michael Cole misidentifying moves are always nice little surprises in an often predictable business.

I don't know, I've always thought it would be cool to have my own entrance theme when walking into a room. In a way wrestlers are a bit like superheroes: larger than life, almost always super-muscular, and with their own little gimmicks, sayings and costumes. The show aspect of the business is usually pretty interesting, and I can understand why there is a draw to it.

Favorites? I've always liked Chris Jericho. He always tries to put on a good match, and has pretty solid wrestling skills, and isn't afraid to step up to the mic. That, and the Lionsault and Walls of Jericho are very cool names for moves!

[Dennis]

/hangs self

I used to live it back when it was quality, but I think it was when Owen Hart died that I stopped watching it.

[Tigger of Kai]

Oh boy, first the comic book threads and now this. Can we at least move it to the Gamer's Haven?

[lessthanpleased]

Oh boy, first the comic book threads and now this. Can we at least move it to the Gamer's Haven?

I posted it here because, well, wrestling isn't a sport. Mei Zhen's analysis is just about perfect: it's a soap opera. I'd go slightly farther and say that it's the most popular form of theatre in America, and I know several theatre scholars who agree with me.

While I love the impetus behind your suggestion- that being that wrestling should be categorized with other, legitimate sports- I figured that wrestling was no different than other TV shows: in particular, I'm basing this off of the semiotician Roland Barthes' analysis of wrestling in his book Mythologies, as well as a lifetime "watching my stories," as my grandmother says.

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Mei Zhen: I've long had love for Chris Jericho. The Lionsault cannot be denied, nor the Walls of Jericho (although I liked it better when it was the Lion-Tamer).

The Monday night/Thursday Night trap is ridiculous: it's like the shows dare you to proclaim a storyline too stupid to watch.

Question for you and Equinox: how about Kane and Gene Snitsky?

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Dennis: Owen Hart was my frickin' hero when I was 13. I bought my first WWF pay-per-view ni several years the night after I graduated high school, and that was the one Owen Hart died on.

Question for you about Canadian wrestling fans: is Bret Hart really a national hero?

[Mei Zhen]

About Kane and Lita:
Equinox and I were watching this whole Matt Hardy/Kane angle and just rolled our eyes the whole time, because we both knew exactly what was going to happen with Lita's supposed baby (though we just didn't know how they were going to do it - but Equinox even figured out it would involve Kane and an in-ring incident). I love her fashion sense and unique wrestling style, but *eyeroll* Lita is positively the worst actress that has ever lived.

About Snitsky:
Promoting a guy who is huge and putting him in matches that will get peoples' attention is usually a good idea. No one wants to see a big dude like Kane just kick the crap out of smaller guys every week, or conversely have him take dives to smaller guys with weapons. It's bad business. Snitsky's in a good position right now to make a bold move in his career. I don't know about his ring skills, but just look at the Rock, they obviously don't matter . I would not at all be surprised if "It's Not My Fault" becomes his catchphrase, as lame as that would be!

Oh by the way, when we "watch wrestling" it's more like we have it on in the background while we do other stuff, and turn our attention to the TV when something sounds interesting. Have to learn to multitask, you know, and when something stupid comes on like "Triple H vs. Eugene", we'll just be doing homework or something.

[Ranbir]

Hey, whats that about skill? Rock as skill, he can also act, which means he can sell his opponents moves REALLY well. He can give other wrestlers real big pushes in their career.

[Mei Zhen]

It was a joke about the Rock by the way, to gauge interest in the thread - it worked, yay!

If by skill you mean acting and creating buildup for matches, then sure, the Rock can do all of those things. I kind of have to laugh when I see him over-selling moves, though. Like jumping four feet in the air after taking a Stone Cold Stunner. Or writhing and twitching in agony after an F-5 for waaaaay too long. However, his wrestling technique is questionable. Just check out how he does the Sharpshooter, and how few sound mat and technical skills he's got compared to some of the other guys. But then again he's more of a showman, and that is his persona in the ring. You could always say it's his style, too, but I meant that comment to be humorous.

[Ranbir]

I loved the chemistry between the Rock and Austin. Their matches are always great to watch.

I'm keeping an eye out on Randy Orton and Shelton Benjamin. Those two are doing really well. (I saw Orton's match against Cactus Jack, well done!)

Mmm, I wonder when Rob will notice this thread...

[Dennis]

Dennis: Owen Hart was my frickin' hero when I was 13. I bought my first WWF pay-per-view ni several years the night after I graduated high school, and that was the one Owen Hart died on.

Question for you about Canadian wrestling fans: is Bret Hart really a national hero?

Dude there's a hockey team in Calgary NAMED after the guy, the Calgary Hitmen, their jerseys are even pink and black hehe.

Yea he WAS pretty popular, but I think the Canadian the most people like is Chris Jerhico, or he at least played for Ti-Cats which is a CFL team based out of Hamilton Ontario.

Anyways like I said, WWF for me died with Owen Hart, I tried to get back into it momentarily with WCW [The nWo Wolfpac vs. Hollywood was pretty neat] but after that ended... meh, I think they over-sexualize woman in the "sport", and there aren't any real heroes anymore.

P.S. ltp did you watch a tag-team called High Energy, with Owen Hart and Koko B. Ware, they were frickin' awesome!