Professional Wrestling

[Webbie2689]

Firstly, not sure if mods would rather this be posted here in the Off Topic forum or in Film & Television. I chose here but do what you see fit.


Who loves pro wrestling?

When I found combat sports I stopped watching pro wrestling for like 16 years because I had that, "fuck that fake shit, I watch the real shit!" attitude. Over the past few years I rediscovered my love for wrestling, and man, when it's good... it's really good.

Currently watching through this "Unreal" docuseries on Netflix, a little behind the scenes look at the build up to the debut of Raw on Netflix and the last WrestleMania. The behind the scenes shit is my favorite these days. Also love listening to podcasts where old timers sit around and talk about shit that happened backstage that fans never had the chance to hear about until now.

Also took my soon to be wife to NXT Battleground a few months ago. We had seats directly behind the ring, so we were right in the main camera the whole night.

I've got some pics from it, but it won't let me upload them because they're too big. Any quick/easy way around that?


Anybody following pro wrestling these days? WWE, AEW, TNA, NJPW, anything?

[Aragorn]

Always fucked with it heavy. It's been really interesting watching it evolve from being about kayfabe to becoming more about the opposite: breaking said kayfabe.

Pro wrestling faced the very real threat of fading into obscurity if it continued to play its gimmicks with a straight face in the age of the digital highway that is the internet and social media - but they've done a shockingly good job at evolving; and circuits other than WWE keep the competition healthy.

It might not be ''real'' but it's not about how real it is per se, it's about the story telling. And wrestling has some transformative story telling at times when it bends fiction and reality - hell the UFC has been actively trying to become more and more like WWE in the past few years. Drama sells.

I'm very excited for 2027 because i'll finally get the chance to attend WrestleMania. Gonna be an insane show.

As for the pics - try imgur

[squallman1]

I’ve been back into WWE ever since it came to Netflix! I tried to start watching it 6-8 months prior to it being on there but I refused to pay towards another subscription to watch it. 

Since it’s been on Netflix, I’ve been heavily addicted to it. Even watch it with my partner who was never a fan in the first place. It’s been fun getting back into it again and following along all the storylines. 

Would love to go to a show whenever it comes to the UK again, hopefully one day!

[Wayno]

I've not watched wrestling since maybe 2003 but I still keep up to date with it, strangely. I'll listen to wrestling podcasts on YouTube as background noise when I'm walking or juggling. They really tickle my nostalgia receptors.

I'd love to go to a WWE event and I was very tempted to get two tickets for the Manchester show recently for me and a friend but the prices were extortion. Although it might not have been too had as he's a wheel chair user and I may have got a carers ticket.

If AEW came to Manchester I'd go for a reasonable price even if the product doesn't appeal.

[Dirty Duck]

Haven't watched professional wrestling in a long time but in recent years I've attended some shows by a local amateur wrestling group a few times which is always fun. Great to try and get a big group out to see it as its very high energy. It's a queer wrestling group called Fist Club and the love they have for WWE is very clear to see. As part of the interval a drag king will dress up as a WWE icon and do a lip sync. They did Goldust last time I saw them and it was great. Incorporated an interview clip where Dustin Rhodes explains a phone call where Goldust was suggested to him and he agreed to do it but then didn't actually know what the word "androgynous" meant hahaha.

They also have someone just literally playing Paul Bearer most of the time which I love. Undertaker has always been my favourite Wrestler and I thought Paul Bearer rocked.

[Webbie2689]

Pro wrestling faced the very real threat of fading into obscurity if it continued to play its gimmicks with a straight face in the age of the digital highway that is the internet and social media - but they've done a shockingly good job at evolving; and circuits other than WWE keep the competition healthy.
It might not be ''real'' but it's not about how real it is per se, it's about the story telling. And wrestling has some transformative story telling at times when it bends fiction and reality - hell the UFC has been actively trying to become more and more like WWE in the past few years. Drama sells.
As for the pics - try imgur

That new Unreal docuseries on Netflix is amazing. Love how they go in depth showing the process behind the scenes of deciding what to do with each angle based on what they have to work with and what's best for business. They have done a great job adapting to modern times indeed.

I'm guilty of being one of those people who shit on pro wrestling for being "fake" for years, but realistically I doubt I could handle what these performers have to deal with when you take it all into consideration; the actual in-ring work and the consistency of it, the traveling, the media, etc. It's a crazy amount of work that takes more effort and dedication than the average person is willing to commit to anything.

And thank you, used to use Imgur on the regular but in my years away from the forum I'd completely forgotten about it. Let me see what I've got...







Hmm... not sure yet how to make the images smaller or I'd post pics of the actual event. I'll mess with it more when I get a chance.

I’ve been back into WWE ever since it came to Netflix! I tried to start watching it 6-8 months prior to it being on there but I refused to pay towards another subscription to watch it. 
Since it’s been on Netflix, I’ve been heavily addicted to it. Even watch it with my partner who was never a fan in the first place. It’s been fun getting back into it again and following along all the storylines. 
Would love to go to a show whenever it comes to the UK again, hopefully one day!

Yeah, my lady had never been to a pro wrestling event nor ever really watched wrestling. Needless to say, she had a great time.

I've not watched wrestling since maybe 2003 but I still keep up to date with it, strangely. I'll listen to wrestling podcasts on YouTube as background noise when I'm walking or juggling. They really tickle my nostalgia receptors.
I'd love to go to a WWE event and I was very tempted to get two tickets for the Manchester show recently for me and a friend but the prices were extortion. Although it might not have been too had as he's a wheel chair user and I may have got a carers ticket.
If AEW came to Manchester I'd go for a reasonable price even if the product doesn't appeal.

Man, I think AEW is great as well. Their in-ring action may even be slightly better. I feel WWE does a slightly better job making use of their talent and handling storylines, but AEW in-ring is at least as good IMO.

Haven't watched professional wrestling in a long time but in recent years I've attended some shows by a local amateur wrestling group a few times which is always fun. Great to try and get a big group out to see it as its very high energy. It's a queer wrestling group called Fist Club and the love they have for WWE is very clear to see. As part of the interval a drag king will dress up as a WWE icon and do a lip sync. They did Goldust last time I saw them and it was great. Incorporated an interview clip where Dustin Rhodes explains a phone call where Goldust was suggested to him and he agreed to do it but then didn't actually know what the word "androgynous" meant hahaha.
They also have someone just literally playing Paul Bearer most of the time which I love. Undertaker has always been my favourite Wrestler and I thought Paul Bearer rocked.

Dustin Rhodes as Goldust is one of the greatest characters in professional wrestling history. Always top tier entertainment.


Let me see if this works...