WWE Raw at the O2 tonight!

[Martin-O2]

Hey guys, 

WWE Raw is on at the O2 tonight and although I don't follow wrestling much anymore got me thinking about when I was a bit fan a a kid. For me my all time favourite wrestler was The Undertaker. The way he would rise out of a coffin to attack his opponents was one of the most exciting things on TV for a young wrestling fan! 

A few others that stick out in my memories are The Road Warriors who used to ware the spiky pink armor but still managed to look mean as hell. There was the British Bulldog who being pretty much the only pro wrestler at the time always kept me glued to the TV. Finally Rowdy Roddy Piper who went on to star in tons of TV and film roles. The one that sticks out is They Live which included a ridiculously long fight scene over a pair of sun glasses! 

Is anyone a fan of wrestling (past tense or present) and if so who is your all time favourite wrestler? 

[jonsie]

All hype and fixed and always has been!!!!

[Martin-O2]

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@jonsie wrote:

All hype and fixed and always has been!!!!

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Not a fan then I take it @jonsie 

Its obviously fixed but it's more of a stage performance then an actual sport or competition. You have to give them credit for the moves they pull off without hurting each other! Definitely takes a fair bit of skill. 

[Beenherebefore]

"Its obviously fixed but it's more of a stage performance then an actual sport"

But do the spectators really understand that it is an entertainment production rather than a competitive sport ?

[Martin-O2]

An interesting question @Beenherebefore I'd say that the kids probably believe it but the vast majority of adult fans (and there's a lot) know it's staged and for entertainment but enjoy it for what it is. 

[Anonymous]

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Fake is like the worst word you could use to describe anything, you know?
What are you talking about? What is fake? It's a television show, and a live performance, nothings fake about it. We're not telling you we're out there fighting each other, we're going out there to entertain you. I consider myself an athlete, i recover and get sore, just like any other athlete. We're not lying to anybody. People just don't understand the art form of what we do. It's a mental and physical grind. You can't be a dolt in this industry. On the opposite end of that you can be the smartest guy in the world and not understand what it's like to have a presence on stage. Being a character, executing a live performance, understanding what it is to connect with a crowd and elicit a specific response at a specific time using moves and body language and emotions, what we do is very complex. It's under appreciated.

 - Former WWE champion Seth Rollins.

I am very passionate about professional wrestling and i feel that this is the only way i can explain it to people who have never seen the product.

EDIT: Monday night RAW was last night....

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[Toby]

I like that quote @Anonymous!

How long have you followed wrestling for?

[Bambino]

An excerpt from Wikipedia:

"As in other professional wrestling promotions, WWE shows are not legitimate contests, but purely entertainment-based, featuring storyline-driven, scripted, and choreographed matches, though they often include moves that can put performers at risk of injury if not performed correctly. This was first publicly acknowledged by WWE's owner Vince McMahon in 1989 to avoid taxes from athletic commissions. Since the 1980s, WWE publicly branded their product as sports entertainment, which is considered to acknowledge the product's roots in competitive sport and dramatic theater."

In other words....FAKE

[Beenherebefore]

I prefer not to mix theatre and sport.

[Toby]

Well I hope anyone who does follow it enjoys tonight and let us know what you thought