Post by Mr. Socko's Brother on Feb 4, 2013 17:00:25 GMT -5
But at the end of the day, we aren't watching an actual, honest-to-goodness fight, right? And if it's not a real fight, then what are people supposed to call it?
Professional Wrestling, pro wrestling, wrestling, sports entertainment, entertainment, a show, or even fixed. My trainer always used to say, "It's not fake, it's fixed." What he meant was what you acknowledged already, matches have a predetermined outcome but it does take a strong body and involves the risk of injuries. There have been allegations of pro boxers throwing fights, but they still take a beating up to the point where one takes the dive.
The word "fake" is usually not used by people who appreciate pro wrestling. Most instances I have heard the word used it is in a dismissive or even insulting context. It is used by people who aren't fans to belittle those who are. It's like they are saying, "If you enjoy wrestling, you must be an idiot." When non-fans use it towards wrestlers, it's usually used in a way to say that wrestling takes no talent, no skill, no risks, etc. It's a word that insults the fans and and those involved at the same time.
As a person who does this on Wednesday nights and weekends, it stings a bit to hear the word. As for someone who does or has done wrestling as a full time job that puts food on the table and a roof over his/her family's head, this word has to hurt even worse. Nobody likes to be insulted for what they do for a living, whether it be a garbageman, fast food worker, pro wrestler, etc.
I don't expect to change your mind about Tony Kozina or what he did. If I was looking at the situation from the viewpoint of a fan, my mind would be hard to change on the situation.
I think I understand, and thanks for explaining.
I have been a fan of wrestling my whole life and have had friends involved in the business since 1997 on up. Many of my good friends that were involved in wrestling including others that I have just been fans of have mentioned that they lost their love of wrestling b/c of the bs involved. In some cases they left the ring but remained fans, in other cases they simply lost every bit of joy they had from wrestling. It makes me wonder if these "codes" had anything to do with destroying their love for something they used to give their life for.
That would not surprise me if it were the case.
Feb 4, 2013 9:13:42 GMT -5 @wvguitar said:
I can't remember who it was (maybe Bret Hart), but someone had an excellent quote on how these wrestlers themselves are the only real marks left - it used to be that wrestlers pretended to hurt each other while everyone believed it was real, now they really do hurt each other while no one believes it's real.I don't know if he was the first to say it, but the part about pretending to hurt one another with the fans believing it was real in the old days and hurting one another for real with fans believing it's all a work now is something I did hear Jim Cornette say once in an interview. He was talking mainly about hardcore wrestling, I think, but it can also apply to this.