The Pro-wrestling Curve of Attractiveness

[NotJayTabb]

Enzo's firing ending the "Nia loves Enzo" storyline was one of the best things to happen to Nia. Not only did it mean she instead got a proper title match story line heading into Mania, it also meant she stopped braiding her hair, which looked terrible on her. She looks much better with her hair as it is now.

[TravJ1979]

 

If looks matter slightly less for men nowadays then the women still have a long way to go. The buckets of make up, fake, bleached hair . . . In certain lighting they look ridiculous frankly. Rousy is probably the only exception.

 

What do you make of Nia Jax? (Who is stunningly beautiful in her best modeling photos, by the way ...)

 

Nia outside of the context of her wrestling character is extremely attractive, both aesthetically and her personality. In that commercial where they advertise that all the PPV's are dual-branded, she is acting silly and looks amazing.

 

This thread seems to be a good spot to publicly admit my attraction to Reggie Bennett. Yes. Reggie Bennett.

[Jesse Ewiak]

 

Here I thought this thread was going to be a discussion about how much attractiveness plays into people being able to overlook flaws in a performer. To the degree that some even prop-up talent to the next echelon because their looks effect their judgement so much.

 

That was the intent at first.

 

Instead it's just five pages of people talking about who is attractive. I didn't see that coming.

 

You're naive.

 

So let's bring content back. Of sorts.

 

Sable is an interesting case, because she had or displayed exactly not talent whatsever apart from modeling T-shirt with her obnoxious fake boobs. Yet, in 1999, she was arguably the biggest star on WWF TV next to Austin. Were the Attitude Era mainstream fans so desperate for boobies to make her one of the biggest ratings peaks (pu intended) when she really had nothing in term of promo ability (let's not talk about her in-ring prowess) nor even character even ? Her heel turn before Mania 15, another brillant idea by Vince Russo at his "peak", gave us the immortal catchphrase of "Are you ready for the grrrrrind ?" followed by the lamest hip-swivel ever. Really, is Sable the biggest case of looks being the *only* factor as a needle mover (pun intended) in the pro-wrestling business ?

 

 

I mean, yes. After all, Pam Anderson was one of the biggest stars in the world, despite having little acting talent. I think people remember what a different world the pre-broadband Internet world was. People laugh at things like Baywatch or how people obsess over five second boob shots in movies in the 80's or even the SI Swimsuit Issue, but really, in a world without easy access to porn, Sable being on TV in 1998-1999 was probably a good reason for twelve to twenty-something guys to watch RAW.

 

One mistake the WWE made in the post-Attitude Era was realizing that in a world of Pornhub, Instagram, Snapchat, and frankly, loosening standards in other media (why watch a bra 'n' panties match when Rhianna is basically naked in a music video), the sex wasn't really selling anything and well obviously, you still want attractive people on the TV screen, the Diva BS was actively hurting the product after probably 2003 or 2004.

 

Also, Stacy Kielber is objectively the most attractive woman in wrestling history because she's the only one to end up with an A-list star like George Clooney, who could literally choose anyone, for a decent period of time. I'm only half joking about this.

[PeteF3]

 

Also, Stacy Kielber is objectively the most attractive woman in wrestling history because she's the only one to end up with an A-list star like George Clooney, who could literally choose anyone, for a decent period of time. I'm only half joking about this.

 

 

Well...there's Torrie Wilson and A-Rod. Alex isn't as A-list as George, I'll grant, but he has quite a wide variety of women to choose from in his own right (like Cameron Diaz). They're really 1a and 1b as far as I'm concerned.

[brockobama]

Does this make David Otunga objectively the most attractive man in wrestling for landing Jennifer Hudson?

[Jimmy Redman]

I think it makes this objectively the worst thread on the board.

[donsem43]

Didn't Barry Windham hook up with Loni Anderson?

 

It will interesting to see how women who are casual WWE fans react to Almas. He seems like a guy who could get a noticeable following there.

 

After watching some of their Snapchat/Instagram stuff, WWE is really missing the boat with the Riott Squad. They are three different women with unique looks and have great chemistry together but none of them have much of a character on TV.

 

I always get a kick out of how Asuka comes off as such a badass to people but her ring gear is basically women's underwear complete with a thong.

 

I'm surprise that more joshi wrestlers don't try to sell merch to English speaking fans, Io Shirai and Hana Kimura especially. Hiroyo Matsumoto is the only one that I know of.

[Badlittlekitten]

 

If looks matter slightly less for men nowadays then the women still have a long way to go. The buckets of make up, fake, bleached hair . . . In certain lighting they look ridiculous frankly. Rousy is probably the only exception.

 

What do you make of Nia Jax? (Who is stunningly beautiful in her best modeling photos, by the way ...)

 

Yes Nia has a more natural look.

 

Charlotte is stunning in her way. Not just the height and the blonde hair but she carrys herself like a star. One of the most most charismatic workers on the roster. (Just a real bad face).

[Victator]

Since this is sorta off the rails. I want to ask, why do all the women in WWE wear support hose? It seems like something from the office. Asuka did not have them in Japan and I think NXT. But first match on the main roster she has them.

[Boss Rock]

I've sort of wondered that too.

[Migs]

 

Kevin Owens has consistently been one of the most pushed acts on the main roster for basically his entire run. A hefty guy with a rough-and-tough brawler look beat John Cena in his first MR match, became the second Universal Champion, and got to work a program with both Shane AND Vince.

I don't see "rough-and-tough brawler" in Kevin Owens - I see a chubby neckbeard. Someone either here or on Twitter (Dylan maybe?) said he's like an avatar for the audience as he looks like a more in-shape version of them. (Apologies if I'm butchering that assertion.) Which is harsh but funny nonetheless.

 

 

I have joked that if we ever had a wrestling costume party, 75% of my friends would be best suited to go as Kevin Owens.

[joeg]

Theres female comic in DC who does a bit about taking a photo of AJ Styles to her stylist with his look being the hair style she's looking for.

[Loss]

I could get into Kevin Owens and his following in the bear community but I am not sure I should. I will just say he has lots of fans. So does that otter Sami Zayn.

[C.S.]

I could get into Kevin Owens and his following in the bear community but I am not sure I should. I will just say he has lots of fans. So does that otter Sami Zayn.

 

Does that mean 75% of wrestling fans also appeal to the bear community?

[El-P]

Arn Anderson always seemed to me like he would be big there too.

[Loss]

 

I could get into Kevin Owens and his following in the bear community but I am not sure I should. I will just say he has lots of fans. So does that otter Sami Zayn.

 

Does that mean 75% of wrestling fans also appeal to the bear community?

 

 

Likely, yeah. I wish what Russo says about the current fanbase was true because going to shows would be such an easy way to score.

 

Arn Anderson always seemed to me like he would be big there too.

 

You have no idea.

[C.S.]

Likely, yeah. I wish what Russo says about the current fanbase was true because going to shows would be such an easy way to score.

What does he say? I stopped paying attention when it became blindingly obvious that he was working a trolling gimmick on Twitter.

 

 

Arn Anderson always seemed to me like he would be big there too.

You have no idea.

 

I'm suddenly fascinated by this topic, and I have no idea why.

 

Imagine the following "The Last Real Man" Silas Young is going to have if/when he eventually makes it to a bigger stage.

[Loss]

Arn does, which means that by proxy, Dash Wilder also has his fans.

 

Russo thinks fans are secretly gay because when he criticized Finn Balor's look, a bunch of people sent pictures of his abs or something.

[fakeplastictrees]

I am going to make a post in the next 24 hours or so that will kill this thread. Thats my assumption of course and not my intent. But yes, I have a feeling that the conversation is going to venture back into attractiveness and how we view pro wrestling through that particular lense.

[FMKK]

I could get into Kevin Owens and his following in the bear community but I am not sure I should. I will just say he has lots of fans. So does that otter Sami Zayn.

 

I didn't know this was a thing re KO but I once sent my boyfriend of Goldberg's entrance and his one word response was 'daddy'. I hope it was a joke but I can almost see why it wouldn't be. This was 2017 Goldy as well.

 

EDIT: In terms of the women, I think Becky is quite attractive backstage as well. It's so weird that WWE's presentation of their women makes them look so much worse on camera than they do naturally. How do they not see how shitty their make-up an stuff is?

[C.S.]

Russo thinks fans are secretly gay because when he criticized Finn Balor's look, a bunch of people sent pictures of his abs or something.

I must be gay then, because I'm the one in this thread saying Finn is the handsomest/cutest/etc. guy in wrestling.

 

Ironically, I'm not exactly a fan of his matches. Someone else argued that Finn's bland ring-work makes him less attractive. I can see that, I guess, even if I don't think it diminishes his matinee idol magazine cover good looks.

 

As for the women, WWE tends to favor this really weird tanning spray for TV days. I think I've seen it on the men too. It's hideous.

[TravJ1979]

 

Sable is an interesting case, because she had or displayed exactly not talent whatsever apart from modeling T-shirt with her obnoxious fake boobs. Yet, in 1999, she was arguably the biggest star on WWF TV next to Austin. Were the Attitude Era mainstream fans so desperate for boobies to make her one of the biggest ratings peaks (pu intended) when she really had nothing in term of promo ability (let's not talk about her in-ring prowess) nor even character even ? Her heel turn before Mania 15, another brillant idea by Vince Russo at his "peak", gave us the immortal catchphrase of "Are you ready for the grrrrrind ?" followed by the lamest hip-swivel ever. Really, is Sable the biggest case of looks being the *only* factor as a needle mover (pun intended) in the pro-wrestling business ?

 

 

Cornette told a story once about how Russo would always say, "Can you imagine her in a pair of tighty whities, bro?" and go on and on about her. It's safe to say Vinnie-Roo had an obsession.

[Loss]

 

I could get into Kevin Owens and his following in the bear community but I am not sure I should. I will just say he has lots of fans. So does that otter Sami Zayn.

 

I didn't know this was a thing re KO but I once sent my boyfriend of Goldberg's entrance and his one word response was 'daddy'. I hope it was a joke but I can almost see why it wouldn't be. This was 2017 Goldy as well.

 

Goldberg and Austin in particular are classic daddies. I was laughing as I typed that sentence.

[Victator]

Russo is definitely not working a gimmick. He is an idiot.

How we view people is interesting. I think we will think of a talented person as being attractive because we admire them so much. We might think of someone not very good as either being less attractive or only gets by on their looks.

Some of you guys know me in real life. I am a giant fat man and I definitely hate myself. I was bullied as a kid and abused and I blamed everything on my appearance. That if I were a more conventionally attractive person life would be better.

Pro wrestling was my escape from this world. Even then the guys who I could credibly see myself being were the monsters. There was no way in hell I could ever be Hulk Hogan or Sting or Steamboat. Even if I loved them. I could never be Ric Flair or Randy Savage even if I admired their talent.

But I could be One Man Gang or King Kong Bundy or Bossman if I persevered. I actually learned later my story was not too different than Gang's

I am still a huge guy as an adult but I ended up losing a lot of weight. Girls would find me attractive but to my horror, I still hated me. The ugliness was more within.

I told this terrible story to show we are all different in how we view the world and what is attractive and "objective" has no place here.

I have never been very comfortable in judging women on their appearance. I can't really say why. I'm not some noble feminist one way or another. I try my best to judge others by the content of their character or their in ring abilities.

[gordi]

I think that judging a pro wrestler based on their "look" is perfectly reasonable. In fact, I have long insisted that it's something we need to do more of on these boards. Pro wrestling is not just about the work. The look and the character are a huge part of it, too. When the look, the character, and the work all fit together, you get a particular type of pro wrestling greatness. (Think for example of how Rick Rude's amazing physique fits perfectly with his egomaniacal character and the hip swivel taunt... how it all works together synergistically. Think of Vader, Abdullah, Classic Flair, The Road Warriors...) I mean, a good booker is gonna use Braun Strowman differently than Spike Dudley, based on how they look.

 

Judging Pro Wrestlers (or anyone) on their "attractiveness" is a whole other kettle of fish. That wasn't what this thread was intended to be, but at certain points that is what it has devolved into.

 

I think that's a common consequence of the regrettable current trend where many people just want to toss their opinions out there, as opposed to engaging in discussion. We all, myself included, do that sometimes.

 

It's also a consequence of the (sadly?) very human tendancy to want to judge damn near everything.

 

I hope it's understood (and I hope - perhaps naively - it's universally true) that when any of us posts a judgement on a wrestler's attractiveness that it is only one (small?) part of how we think of them, overall. That we also consider (as Vic put it) the content of their character and their talent and so on... Hopefully that goes without saying. Presumably a comment like "Nia Jax is attractive" or whatever is not the sum total of that poster's thoughts on Nia Jax.