|
|
Post by ANuclearError on Feb 20, 2022 9:05:10 GMT -5
Got an interesting conundrum here that I'd love to hear some thoughts on.
I've managed to arrange a group watch of a wrestling show with some friends, who aren't really all that familiar with wrestling. As such, I've been picking my brain as to which show would work as a general introduction. There's a lot of factors to be considered:
1) The show has to have a general good quality matchwise
2) The show should have heated feuds going into it
3) The show should be accessible to English speakers 4) The crowd should be pretty decent 5) The show should ideally be somewhat modern, or at least have a lot of established names
Probably others I can't think of off the top of my head. My initial choice for this came as a bit of a surprise to me: ECW One Night Stand 2005. My logic here is that it's a fairly standalone show, which I think makes a gentler introduction due to not really needing as much context to enjoy, with Joey Styles and some video packages helping to give the context behind the history. You've also got a good mix of matches, with Storm v Jericho, the thee man dance, Awesome v Tanaka and the main event all being very different affairs.
The downsides of this choice are of course the blood and the rather edgy crowd, which can sometimes take things away.
Would love to hear other suggestions on other beginner friendly shows.
|
|
|
|
Post by CeilingFan on Feb 20, 2022 9:08:04 GMT -5
AEW All Out 2021
|
|
|
|
Post by cassonova on Feb 20, 2022 11:29:29 GMT -5
One of the shows I show newish fans is PWG's Threemendous III. PWG actin us top notch and hosts people who would work for WWE/AEW including Kevin Owens, Chuck Taylor, The Young Bucks, Most of the Undisputed Era, The Dark Order, etc.
|
|
Bo Rida
Fry's dog Seymour
Pulled one over on everyone.
Got away with it, this time.
Posts: 23,523
|
Post by Bo Rida on Feb 20, 2022 14:19:27 GMT -5
WM17 is the classic answer but not exactly modern.
Double or Nothing 2021 might work if you skip Cody's match, some great matches, a few big names to latch onto, OC in a prominent role and Stadium Stampede is the ideal way to finish. Much of the show is still relevant to what's happening today.
The next two were better for fans but wihtout prior context they would lose something.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnnyk9 on Feb 20, 2022 14:56:18 GMT -5
Summerslam 1991
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2022 12:05:13 GMT -5
NXT R Evolution. It's a few years old mow but it's the WWE birthplace of a lot of important players today. I firmly believe that, if you include its hype videos, Sami vs Neville is the perfect first wrestling match to show someone. The action is state of the art and the story is clear, well built and paid off.
|
|
JIMBOB
Unicron
PLAY! REWIND! RELIVE!
Posts: 2,673 
|
Post by JIMBOB on Feb 21, 2022 12:47:41 GMT -5
1992 Royal Rumble
|
|
|
|
Post by Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story on Feb 21, 2022 13:05:07 GMT -5
My answer might be unexpected, it might not totally fit your criteria, but I'm going with the April 26, 1999 episode of RAW IS WAR.
It's got star power - Austin, Rock, the McMahons, Taker, Kane, Mankind, Triple H and The Brood.
It's also got drama - it's the episode where Austin saves Stephanie from the Ministry of Darkness. It's arguably the best single show story the WWE did during that time. All you'd need to explain to somebody is that Austin's the good guy but an anti-hero, Vince's the boss. Then the story becomes will Austin do the right thing. It's arguably one of Austin's two or three best "heroic" moments, the others being saving WWF from the Alliance right before that PPV and Austin helping Mankind win the WWF Title.
Is there a ton of wrestling? No. But I'd argue a show like that is a good way to start somebody down the road of watching wrestling without having to sit through a modern PPV where there's a lot of really good wrestling and not a ton of story.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2022 14:43:16 GMT -5
I’ve never really understood trying to get a new fan into wrestling using old shows. There’s nothing wrong with the classics. Theres so much good wrestling these days, it’s more exciting when you don’t know what’s going to happen. It just seems easier to turn on a rumble or baller episode of dynamite and see what catches their attention.
|
|
|
|
Post by "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay on Feb 21, 2022 14:44:31 GMT -5
Extreme Rules 2012
Not even slightly joking
|
|
Cranjis McBasketball
Crow T. Robot
Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
Peace Love and Nothing But
Posts: 41,913
|
Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Feb 21, 2022 18:50:37 GMT -5
I’ve never really understood trying to get a new fan into wrestling using old shows. There’s nothing wrong with the classics. Theres so much good wrestling these days, it’s more exciting when you don’t know what’s going to happen. It just seems easier to turn on a rumble or baller episode of dynamite and see what catches their attention. Well I like my friends, so I’d certainly never show them a new Raw. |
|
bob
Salacious Crumb
The "other" Bob. FOC COURSE!
started the Madness Wars, Proudly the #1 Nana Hater on FAN
Posts: 78,339
Member is Online
|
Post by bob on Feb 21, 2022 19:14:37 GMT -5
for modern shows Wrestlemanias 36 and 37 were great
basically, any AEW pay per view
older shows: Wrestlemanias 30, 14, 17, 31, 21, 10 and 3
Money in the Bank 2011
|
|
|
|
Post by Cyno on Feb 21, 2022 19:56:42 GMT -5
While I appreciate the classics, I don't think they do anything to inform what their companies' current products are like. So I tried to limit it to shows within the last calendar year (January 2021-now). WWE - Not really qualified to tell you, heh. AEW - All Out or Full Gear 2021 Impact - Rebellion 2021 or Bound For Glory 2021 NJPW - This is a bit of a tougher one. Especially since a lot of NJPW's big events started to go 2 nights (3 in WK16's case, but then a newbie can probably skip Night 3). I guess Dominion 2021 is a good starting show IMO.
ROH - Final Battle 2021. I normally wouldn't suggest this as a person's first exposure to ROH's product, as it's almost like a series finale. But I think it had a good mix of solid wrestling as well as touching tributes by alumni who talk about what the company meant to them. It does a great job of showing why the promotion was so special to talent and fans alike.
|
|
|
|
Post by flowercity on Feb 21, 2022 20:00:54 GMT -5
my girlfriend got into wrestling by watching the current product. i have found that trying to get people excited about nostalgia they have no ties to just doesn’t work.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2022 20:14:19 GMT -5
my girlfriend got into wrestling by watching the current product. i have found that trying to get people excited about nostalgia they have no ties to just doesn’t work. Yeah it’s kinda like… Nah that guy never wins the title… That guy left because of drug addiction… That guy that badly injured… That guy is dead… That guy is also dead… That guy killed his wife… |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2022 20:29:59 GMT -5
To me it’s like trying to get someone into Star Wars and telling them to read the thrawn trilogy.
There was at least four shows this past week. I would have watched with friends. Wrestling never stops which makes it so awesome. If you dont want to show them WWE, show them Impact, AEW, ROH, Prestige, there’s so much good wrestling these days I’m sure you can find something they would like.
|
|
