Petey Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 Benoit/Misawa dying and how they died greatly altered how I enjoy pro wrestling. I used to be a huge ROH fan back from 04-08 and loved all the head drops and everything. I went out of my way to track down some 90's AJPW during those years and ate it all up. But with Benoit and Misawa and even the increased concussion awareness in the NFL, I really got turned off to that style. Now when I go back and watch some of the ECW stuff and Attitude Era matches I actually cringe at unprotected chairshots and other stuff that I used to think was awesome. I don't really understand this mentality. I mean, if you refuse to watch it, it's not like it's like it's going to make the videos go away or reverse the effects that wrestling that style has already had on guys. Going online and condemning dangerous looking spots also isn't going to stop arena fans from continuing to pop big for them. After all, even when we're talking about reeling in new fans, the matches that generally get recommended the most and have the highest success are ladder and TLC matches built around crazy stunts. I'd argue that instead of there being some "workrate dogmatism" (lol) created by some obscure RSPW guys, there is just something about watching these athletically impressive or death-defying spots that appeals to some primitive part of the brain and creates the same unparalleled excitement seen while watching slugfests in boxing or MMA. WWE may have been able to condition fans to accept a less violent style, but I doubt that visceral quality so fundamental to wrestling's appeal can ever be entirely learned away. I don't refuse to watch the matches. I just look at them from a different perspective than I did a few years ago. I now also cringe at huge hits in football that I didn't back in the early 2000's. Part of that is an awareness on concussion issues and another part of it is that they also happen less frequently. It doesn't mean I'm gonna stop watching football though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fxnj Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 I don't refuse to watch the matches. I just look at them from a different perspective than I did a few years ago. I now also cringe at huge hits in football that I didn't back in the early 2000's. Part of that is an awareness on concussion issues and another part of it is that they also happen less frequently. It doesn't mean I'm gonna stop watching football though. What I disagree with is your implication that cringing and thinking it's awesome are somehow mutually exclusive things. Whether it's Andre carefully building to a single basic bump or Yuko Miyamoto doing a moonsault off a scaffold, the idea of creating a convincing impression that a guy is hurt is a pretty fundamental part of building a match, so I don't see any reason to not look at head drops as just another way of creating drama even with the studies telling us how bad concussions are. I'm also pretty sure the WWE style of having guys on the road year-round trying to wrestle entertaining singles matches poses a lot more risks with the drug addictions than puro guys mostly coasting through tags and going all out for the last match on the tour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkdoc Posted July 7, 2014 Report Share Posted July 7, 2014 i'm in the same boat as petey here. it's not that i would think i'm doing some sort of meaningful protest - i just genuinely don't enjoy stunts like those when i know the possible long-term effects of them. i too love football, but for its strategic depth & ongoing evolution rather than the JACKED UP!!! side of it. and even then, i'm getting less and less comfortable with the game over time as i realize how unsolvable the problem truly is... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilclown Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 So, I went to the WON banquet and after party. And.....oh boy! Also, Keith was definitely first generation RSPW. He was in place early enough for us to parody him and other posters (sorry jdw!) with the Workrate Cru. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victory Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 My first introduction to "dirtsheets" was from calling hotlines. I called some free ones from time to time in the late 80's and early 90's. I can't remember who did those. Blackjack Brown maybe? In the late 90's since I didn't have the internet I called a line with some guy named Michael Stern. I presume he was just saying what Meltzer and Wade were posting. I wonder how many other guys had a hotline and were doing the exact same thing? He updated everyday and I listened to it at work on speaker phone. He even did some interviews. I remember he did one with Bob Luce ( famous Chicago promoter). I wish I would of had the sense to record it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Jackson Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 In the 90s I called a hotline in Calgary where the guy just recapped WO news. This went on for most of the decade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artDDP Posted July 9, 2014 Report Share Posted July 9, 2014 My local newspaper, The Sacramento Bee, had a phone line you could call for upcoming events, sports scores, horoscopes, etc. One of the options was a pro wrestling insider line and it had twice-weekly Blackjack Brown updates. Sometimes he'd read news in kayfabe, sometimes semi-shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisZ Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 This poll is fantastic for so many reasons Which of these personalities do you believe to have been the biggest star to the public of the last six months? John Cena Ronda Rousey HHH Jon Jones Chris Weidman Randy Orton Undertaker Roman Reigns Daniel Bryan Brock Lesnar Chael Sonnen Bray Wyatt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Enthusiast Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 Classic Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted July 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 Randy Orton sure is a valid choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Sorrow Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 Who the fuck is Chris Weidman? And what public is this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cm funk Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 It's weird that he left off Ultimate Warrior, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao For arguments sake, it's Rousey-Undertaker 1-2, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 Who the fuck is Chris Weidman? And what public is this? To be fair, he was crossfit athlete of the month. http://crossfitunsalted.com/chris-athlete-of-the-month/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 He also knocked out Anderson Silva who was a huge PPV draw. Weidman is legit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 He did, but Silva was clowning around and got caught with a KO shot. Then Weidman happened to be in the cage when Silva's leg exploded in the rematch. A win's a win, but it's not like he pounded him into submission either time. He may well be legit, but I wouldn't base it on the Silva matches. Also it's funny he would include any UFC fighters in a poll like that one when 75% of the MMA discussion on his site is involving dropping interest in UFC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Sorrow Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 And I still never heard of these people , What "public" is Dave going on about? The evening news isn't ever talking about fake wrestling OR "real" wrestling / UFC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goc Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 Umm you guys The Undertaker's Streak being broken was mentioned on The Daily Show and has memes so obviously him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Log Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 And I still never heard of these people , What "public" is Dave going on about? The evening news isn't ever talking about fake wrestling OR "real" wrestling / UFC. Exactly. If it's the actual "general public" as in, you know, everyone, then the answer is none of those people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eduardo Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 If it's general public, the answer is probably LeBron James. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 If it's the global public, it's probably Luis Suárez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eduardo Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 Touché. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 He did, but Silva was clowning around and got caught with a KO shot. Then Weidman happened to be in the cage when Silva's leg exploded in the rematch. A win's a win, but it's not like he pounded him into submission either time. He may well be legit, but I wouldn't base it on the Silva matches. Also it's funny he would include any UFC fighters in a poll like that one when 75% of the MMA discussion on his site is involving dropping interest in UFC. Dude, he was involved in two of the most highly replayed incidents in UFC history. That's the point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bix Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 He did, but Silva was clowning around and got caught with a KO shot. Then Weidman happened to be in the cage when Silva's leg exploded in the rematch. A win's a win, but it's not like he pounded him into submission either time. He may well be legit, but I wouldn't base it on the Silva matches. Also it's funny he would include any UFC fighters in a poll like that one when 75% of the MMA discussion on his site is involving dropping interest in UFC. I think you missed the first round of the rematch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpchicago23 Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 He also took 4 of the 5 rounds against Machida. Dude is legit. Maybe not a superstar, but a legit fighter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 In case anyone on earth hasn't seen these two iconic UFC moments, here they are... The knockout... The leg break... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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