Why do people call it "The" WCW?

[Zach]

This has bothered me forever, when you hear wrestlers refer to WCW as "The WCW". Hogan did it all the time but I've also heard Bret and others say it. It doesn't make any sense...yeah you can say "The WWF" because you're essentially saying "The Federation". But saying The WCW makes it sound like you're saying "The Wrestling". WWF is 2 adjectives and a noun, WCW is 3 adjectives. (inb4 look at the adjective jokes).

Does this bother anyone else or am I just crazy?

[eDemento2099]

It bothers me too. I think guys like Hart routinely make references to "the WCW" and "the WWE" because they got into the habit of always putting "the" before the name of whatever promotion they wrestled for. Those guys wrestled for the WWF for so long that it was hard to shake the habit of uncritically applying "the" before the title of whatever company they went on to work for.

Technically 'wrestling' is a verb (an action word), but it functions as an adjective (a descriptive word) when used to describe a type of federation.

What did Shane Douglas teach? Perhaps he always knew the grammatically correct way to refer to the many promotions he worked for.

[paperbackhero]

Bret also called it "The" Summerslam.

Albertans....sheesh!

[toodarkmark]

I'd say its psychological for them. I think they don't use the term when indicating territories, like "I worked in Georgia" or "I worked Georgia". It even works for "I worked Mid-South". That was the mentality and the way they learned to speak. When referring to WWF it was working "Up North" or "New York", and WCW was working "Atlanta." When you hear them talk about the company, they are talking about a product. Therefore it becomes the WWF, or the WCW , or the E. It's no longer a location, it's now a thing that they are referring to. You wouldn't say "I worked in hospital" or "I worked in store", it's "I worked in THE store." If that makes sense.

[Zach]

I understand why they are saying it but it just sounds weird to say "I'm gonna be the top guy in the WCW" instead of "I'm gonna be the top guy in WCW"

[N E O G E O B O Y S]

[thirteen3]

Because it's THE WCW, unlike that other World Championship Wrestling from Australia.

You are now aware there once existed WCW in Australia.

[The Ichi]

I've literally never heard it referred to in this way.

[LexExpress]

I've been watching early Nitros and someone says this literally every other promo. Drives me mad!

[N E O G E O B O Y S]

Couldn't "Championship" be used as a noun too?

The word "wrestling" is an adjective for this actual championship that could had been of judo, or chess, or instead of world, being an intercontinental, or national championship

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2015 10:17:14 GMT -5 eDemento2099 said:

Technically 'wrestling' is a verb (an action word), but it functions as an adjective (a descriptive word) when used to describe a type of federation.

Wrestling is also a noun.

[ERON]

I always chalked it up to guys being used to saying "the WWF" for so long. It was a bit annoying, but not nearly as much as guys saying "The Powers TO Be" instead of "The Powers THAT Be."

[domrep]

Dec 12, 2015 9:03:07 GMT -5 ERON said:

I always chalked it up to guys being used to saying "the WWF" for so long. It was a bit annoying, but not nearly as much as guys "The Powers TO Be" instead of "The Powers THAT Be."

This, I'm watching Nitro in order and it seems like it's mostly guys who were in WWF who are saying the WCW, guys like Hogan, Piper, etc. You didn't hear it from guys like Sting, Luger or Flair.

[eDemento2099]

Since we're talking grammar and correct English, is it correct to say "the powers that BE" rather than "the powers that ARE?"

[tms]

Dec 12, 2015 9:03:07 GMT -5 ERON said:

I always chalked it up to guys being used to saying "the WWF" for so long. It was a bit annoying, but not nearly as much as guys "The Powers TO Be" instead of "The Powers THAT Be."

Russo's taint was so strong that even the name of his stable was a continual swerve.

It would have been funny if they went all-in on how much the name was botched, and referred to it as the powers to he, powers to she, powers to thee, and powers to ye.

[ERON]

Dec 12, 2015 9:53:51 GMT -5 eDemento2099 said:

Since we're talking grammar and correct English, is it correct to say "the powers that BE" rather than "the powers that ARE?"

Under modern rules of grammar, yes. However, that phrase is so old it actually predates the modern rules and therefore gets a pass. Either way, I was referring to Russo and Ferrara, who were known as "The Powers That Be" at one point. Except darn near half the roster called them "The Powers To Be," which annoyed me to no end.

[eDemento2099]

Dec 12, 2015 10:03:08 GMT -5 ERON said:

Dec 12, 2015 9:53:51 GMT -5 eDemento2099 said:

Since we're talking grammar and correct English, is it correct to say "the powers that BE" rather than "the powers that ARE?"

Under modern rules of grammar, yes. However, that phrase is so old it actually predates the modern rules and therefore gets a pass. Either way, I was referring to Russo and Ferrara, who were known as "The Powers That Be" at one point. Except darn near half the roster called them "The Powers To Be," which annoyed me to no end.

I think they were going with what he hear in terms of modern grammar. We do say "to be" (i.e. "I want TO BE the sexiest person in the world."), but NO ONE says "that be" unless they're speaking in the style of the outdated phrase you mentioned.

[Kevin Hamilton]

Dec 12, 2015 9:54:52 GMT -5 tms said:

Dec 12, 2015 9:03:07 GMT -5 ERON said:

I always chalked it up to guys being used to saying "the WWF" for so long. It was a bit annoying, but not nearly as much as guys "The Powers TO Be" instead of "The Powers THAT Be."

Russo's taint was so strong

[Heinz Doofenschmirtz]

Dec 11, 2015 10:31:13 GMT -5 paperbackhero said:

Bret also called it "The" Summerslam.

Albertans....sheesh!

HEY!

No...wait, that's fair.

[Manute Bol]

We all call it the WWE which makes no sense either.