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In defense of wrastlin'; Philosophy Monday
Topic Started: Sep 25 2017, 12:59 PM (202 Views)
Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
As anybody who saw the pay-per-view last night can attest, WWE's No Mercy 2017 was an auspicious moment for wrestling this year. Among other highlights was John Cena's much-anticipated match against Roman Reigns. After an agonizing blow-up that seemed to last over an hour, Reigns finally achieved what was previously presumed to be impossible: he actually dethroned Cena, presaging the beginning of an end to an impressive wrestling career.

Whose eyes just rolled back behind their skull just now? Okay then, I want to talk about why people should actually watch this stuff. Because if you write professional wrestling off as low-brow entertainment for morons, then you're completely missing the point and perhaps dumber than the folks who paid tickets to go watch.

I mean, how could you even describe these events to people who don't live in America? It's an athletic event that everyone—everyone—knows is rigged. And while that part isn't a secret to anybody, here's what I find even more fascinating: everything is part of the theater. Absolutely everything. When the Cena/Reigns match turned serious and the former was thrown into the announcers' tables with a flying clothesline, the tables were actually made to accommodate this move, which was undoubtedly rehearsed many times over before the actual match.

Everybody knows this. But what nobody knows—sort of—is how these matches are going to turn out. So that's why you watch.

Talking with wrestling fans about a match is unlike any other kind of sports discussion—probably because sports are not at all what's being discussed. What'd the Cena/Reigns promo look like? Because it's a high-profile bout with two faces against each other, will one of them turn heel? Was all this just the start of Cena's farewell tour? Why place the cruiser weight bout so late into the lineup—will its outcome provide a new angle for the next two weeks?

You know what it is? It's basically lit theory applied to a kind of sports theatre, and every fan I've ever spoken with over the age of 12 engages in these kinds of discussions. I've been in Master's classes discussing the point-of-view schema of Madame Bovary that have relied on shoddier analyses and a weaker understanding of the source material than these drunken speculations about the fake track record of some orange-tanned acrobats on steroids. The subject is different, but however much you slice it, it's exactly the same shit going on.

Oh, and it isn't a sport, you say? Maybe not a sport, no. But you go do that shit and let me know how it turns out for you.

No, it's not a sport, and anyone honest with their criticism can see that. And yeah, a lot of it's dumb—bombast and spectacle is the entire point. There's also absolutely zero actual pretension or cheating going on. In a way it's more honest than baseball, Wimbledon and professional cycling combined.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
It's a sport. Rigged, but a sport.

I used to work out with some of those guys and they are some serious iron pushers. Not to mention good flexibility and reflexes, because even if it is rigged, you can get badly hurt doing it.

So, there is a level of competition and not everybody can do it, not at the higher levels.
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
People can argue about the definition of "sport," but it's undeniable it takes a crazy level of athleticism and commitment to do it.

I wouldn't even say it's rigged. It's rigged in the way that a stage production of Romeo & Juliet is rigged.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Horace
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HOLY CARP!!!
With the verbal performance aspects of it, it would stand to reason that they're some our smartest athletes.
As a good person, I implore you to do as I, a good person, do. Be good. Do NOT be bad. If you see bad, end bad. End it in yourself, and end it in others. By any means necessary, the good must conquer the bad. Good people know this. Do you know this? Are you good?
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Luke's Dad
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Emperor Pengin
Horace
Sep 25 2017, 01:43 PM
With the verbal performance aspects of it, it would stand to reason that they're some our smartest athletes.
Maybe not
The problem with having an open mind is that people keep trying to put things in it.
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Davis
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Fulla-Carp
I always thought of it as comic book characters come to life. I can see the fantasy aspect where the fans help write the script by their reactions.
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Larry
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
As Hulk Hogan tactfully put it...

"The outcome is predetermined."
Of the Pokatwat Tribe

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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Luke's Dad
Sep 25 2017, 02:51 PM
Horace
Sep 25 2017, 01:43 PM
With the verbal performance aspects of it, it would stand to reason that they're some our smartest athletes.
Maybe not
While I'd never trust the Donald with my vote—even for Dog-Catcher—I would enthusiastically back Ted DiBiase in nearly anything he campaigned for.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
Aqua Letifer
Sep 25 2017, 01:41 PM
I wouldn't even say it's rigged. It's rigged in the way that a stage production of Romeo & Juliet is rigged.
That's the best analogy. It also explains why people watch it even knowing it's rigged. Every soap opera or TV drama is 'rigged', after all.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Axtremus
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HOLY CARP!!!
There should be a performance arts degree with majors in wrastlin' and wrastlin' choreography, and wrastlin' scripting/playwriting should be a part of any respecitable creative writing degree program.
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
jon-nyc
Sep 26 2017, 08:00 AM
Aqua Letifer
Sep 25 2017, 01:41 PM
I wouldn't even say it's rigged. It's rigged in the way that a stage production of Romeo & Juliet is rigged.
That's the best analogy. It also explains why people watch it even knowing it's rigged. Every soap opera or TV drama is 'rigged', after all.
So yeah, everyone's on the same page—and because it's one massive farce, it's impossible for any of the athletes to honestly take their personas seriously.

Compare this to professional cycling, where (with the exception of Peter Sagan) everyone's completely up themselves about a sport in which the most sophisticated cheating schemes in the world take place.

Wrestling's more honest by a country mile.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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brenda
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..............
In Minnesoooooooota, we call it wrasslin' , no letter t necessary.

I remember dad watching that every Saturday. One of the first times I met hubby's dad, he asked me if my folks ever watched wrestling on TV. I said, "You mean wrasslin'?" He thoroughly enjoyed my response. I loved that guy.
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
jon-nyc
Sep 26 2017, 08:00 AM
Aqua Letifer
Sep 25 2017, 01:41 PM
I wouldn't even say it's rigged. It's rigged in the way that a stage production of Romeo & Juliet is rigged.
That's the best analogy. It also explains why people watch it even knowing it's rigged. Every soap opera or TV drama is 'rigged', after all.
The willing suspension of disbelief.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Friday
Senior Carp
brenda
Sep 26 2017, 07:56 PM
In Minnesoooooooota, we call it wrasslin' , no letter t necessary.

I remember dad watching that every Saturday. One of the first times I met hubby's dad, he asked me if my folks ever watched wrestling on TV. I said, "You mean wrasslin'?" He thoroughly enjoyed my response. I loved that guy.
It's "wrestling" here in SoCal. :lol2:

One of my high school teachers was a professional wrestler. He would come to school on Monday all bruised up. He tired to hide it all up, but everyone knew. Kids were constantly asking him who gave him this one or how did you get this?

Ha! Good old Mr. Burke. I honestly can't remember what subject he taught.
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Copper
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Shortstop

Way back when it was called the WWWF (3 Ws) we used to go watch it in the old Boston Garden.

Like usual we were sitting in the cheapest seats up near the roof the third level. A friend smuggled in a dozen eggs.

He didn't tell us he had the eggs until the Battle Royale started. I believe there were 20 guys in the ring. The whole dozen went from the third balcony into the ring. The wraslers started picking up the broken eggs and rubbing them into each other's faces. We almost died laughing as we ran to hide in different seats.

That probably wouldn't work as well today but somehow the eggs had a kind of synergy with the Battle Royale back then in the old Garden.

The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy
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Nobody's Sock
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Fulla-Carp
It's a short drug filled life for most of them. that's the sad part.
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."
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