when is it time to give up wrestling?

kronsington

i'm interested in peoples' opinions on this. my first memory of anything wrestling related was when i was about 7 years old in Canada and started flicking through a wwf magazine in some shop. i was immediately hooked- the wrestlers on the front row the likes of jake roberts, ted dibiase, randy savage, big boss man and of course, hulk hogan. my fist wrestlemania was wrestlemania 5, when the "mega powers" savage and hogan finally went face to face after a long running feud. for a long time from then i was an avid fan, and built up a huge collection of toys, figures etc (a lot of which i still have somehwhere) even when i was very young, if you liked wrestling you were laughed at, but i just got on with it. going into secondary school i wateched sporadically for about 2 years around the time of wm 12/13, and had just lost interest in it. but my interest started to come back around 97 or so, the dawning of the attitude era. in school it was now acceptable to like wrestling, we even had one of the lads bring in printed raw results every tuesday and would review them. even my non wrestling liking friends were into it at that point, during the attitude hey day, one lad missed an important exam one morning as he had been up the previous night watching a live ppv. but around 2002/03, when the big guns started leaving and the company began to change direction, most people i know gave up on it, or just moved on. it is now 2011 and apart from my brother, i dont know anyone else who is into wrestling anymore. i still listen to podcasts and watch raw every week (just read what happens in smackdown, dont watch) but back to my original question, is there a time to give up wrestling? i am 29 now, 30 in december, and i am back at the stage where i keep my love of wwe secret. a few friends of mine are back watching recently since the return of austin and rock (which im sure was the intention of wwe, get the old fans back) but wont be for long. i read somewhere recently that it's still the same group of people still watching the shows, we're just getting older. the product isn't aimed at us anymore. and while it is still enjoyable at times, and i have great memories over the years and will always hols it dear to me, perhaps it is time to give it up. my mother couldnt believe that i still watch it, when i was a kid it was banned in our house cos my brother and i kept injuring each other and my brother nearly killed himself doing a moonsault off a tree, my granmother (seriously) would tape it for us and we'd sneakily watch it down in her house. wrestling is the epitome of a guilty pleasure but im thinking about phasing it out slowly after mania. anyway, please share your thoughts, maybe you have some similar experiences. im sure i am amongst the older posters in this forum, im curious if there's anyone around my age who has similar thoughts.

thanks lads,

k

D.Q

Don't fool yourself. You can't get away.

Lord TSC

YOu stop watching when you don't enjoy it anymore. Simple as that really.

At 24, I still adore watching Raw each and every week. I order every ppv and keep up with the news online. I love wrestling and as such, I don't feel any pressure to stop watching. What was it WWE said recently? That over 75% of it's audience is over the age of 18? I don't care what some people in society think. I'm not going to stop watching cause I'm growing older. If (and I doubt this will ever happen) I stop enjoying the shows, I reckon I'll let it fade away then. But until that time, I plan on watching and loving every moment of it.

grames_bond

as long as you dont care what people think you can watch it for as long as you like. I'm 23 and have no issue with admitting i like wrestling. It is entertainment and it keeps me entertained so its as simple as that! I don't look down my nose at people who watch glee (even if i think its the stupidest show on tv) so i think no one has the right to do the same to me! Hell i go to work wearing my bret hart T-Shirts, and with our contact with the WWE, me being a fan is a huge plus in this job.

simply - watch it as long as you like, and don't feel ashamed about liking it, if people look down their nose at you for it that's their problem!!

Gerard.C

You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave the WWE Universe

CMpunked

When your a child you enjoy the suspension of belief that you have when you think anything and everything is possible. You discuss it with friends in school and you pretend to do moves with your closest friends.
Of course you actually watch it but half the fun is "omg did you see big bossman dragging the big shows dads coffin last night on smackdown?!"
"What a badass!"

As you get older this element seems to fade, the ability to 'mark out' with a friend. This is the sole reason why the IWC is so big. This is what you hold on to when you start to grow up and your the only one out of your whole group of friends who refuses to give his wrestling figures as hand-me-downs to a relative. Or even spends €300 on a replica belt because it reminds you of your childhood(!)


These kind of sites keep that same spirit alive. I seem to get the same kind of buzz coming on here after (or during, sometimes) a major event and discussing it heavily. A lot of varied opinions too at times!
I would easily say that it is the same buzz as when you used to run into school and have those discussions with others kids when we were younger.
Im not saying wrestling is impossible to enjoy without a medium to express your opinion of what you think but it is a lot lot harder to.

Big Daddy Cool

you should'nt stop watching until you dont like it anymore, im in my early 30's and ive still got a pair of bret harts pink and black wrap around shades he wore in the 90's, and most of Austin's t-shirts from the attitude era.

i mainly collect the wwe classic figures now from hogan, warrior and the undertaker through diesel, razor, and bret hart to austin, hbk and the rock, even mean gene is in there, but as ive got older the interest has waned a bit due to lack of real characters now compared to the mid 90's to early 00's but i'll still continue to watch until its not fun or interesting anymore.

Rjd2

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

YOu stop watching when you don't enjoy it anymore. Simple as that really.

This.


It doesn't matter what age you are, if you don't enjoy it stop watching.

Wile E. Coyote

I wouldn't stop watcing it just because your friends have. I'm 28 and like yourself have watched it since I was about 5/6. No one else I know watches it and the wife does take the pi** from time to time but she gets to watch her soaps and the only difference between wrestling and those is that wrestling is more believable . At the end of the day it's an entertainment show. If you enjoy it then watch, if you don't then don't. I rarely watch it live these days but always catch it online the next day.

sliotor

Yeah I am in a similar situation, I am 26 now and I still like wrestling, and a bit of the same, there is only one of my mates that are still interested in wrestling. A bit like cm punk was saying I started when I was five and I like the different aspect of wrestling now that I watch hoping to view a class match now, I now know the majority of moves are not real now but to have a match that suspends my disbelief and get excited about match and not knowing who will win. Boards certainly does help you to continue to be a fan of wrestling because it does bring you back to the class room mindset of discussing wrestling with other fans of it.

Jazzy

i started back watching it a year ago after a goof 4/5 year break, possibly more. i always held an interest in those years and would read a bit about it but i wouldnt regularly watch it at all.
right now, its nowhere near as good as it was so unless something drastic happens ill probably be turning it back off in a few months. theres very few new guys to actually watch and follow and the current big names are the reason i stopped watching in the first place. i remember in 2000 id follow angle, jericho, tazz and benoit and eddie (who were kinda new to me as following WCW was hard here), theres no1 like those guys now, bryan daniels a bit, seamus a bit and JoMo and del rio but there isnt as much to those guys and the product as a whole as there was back at its best

Hercule

after watching the last few PPVs (which I dont PPV) I say "thats the last one ill ever watch, this thing has gone to sh1t" - then I get bored and watch another - the thing needs a major re-launch with different better values if its to recapture its' old audience

Exclamation Marc

Rjd2 wrote: »

This.


It doesn't matter what age you are, if you don't enjoy it stop watching.

With wrestling though I don't think its as simple as that. I mean that if you stop enjoying wrestling but you know that it can still entertain you it's hard to walk away from it because you know they can do it and hook you in, they just arent'.....

Like for example I was hugely into 24, but season 7 was absolute tripe but I stuck with it because I knew it could still get me if it tried that bit harder even though as a whole I wasn't enjoying it with as much love as I used to before. And then in Season 8 I really started enjoying it again....

So its hard with wrestling to give it up because you know that is has the potential to entertain you...

Diabhal Beag

Whenever you feel awful and embarrassed about watching wrestling you probably should. If you enjoy it keep watching.

jaykhunter

kronsington wrote: »

apart from my brother, i dont know anyone else who is into wrestling anymore. i still listen to podcasts and watch raw every week (just read what happens in smackdown, dont watch) [...] i keep my love of wwe secret. [...] my mother couldnt believe that i still watch it

As a 27 year old I think we have a similar situation; in that we were hooked as kids during the Hulkamania Era, went away for a bit, then were hooked as teens/early 20s in the Attitude Era; and so we're lifers now. I think the problem is that you obviously still love wrestling enough to want to talk about it/listen to discussions on it but you don't have a wrestling outlet in your daily life. Sure I want to talk wrestling all day long but I can't so that's why I'm on boards every day.

Anyway it might be difficult but the best thing would be to find out if anyone in your area also watches wrestling. Or make it a thing you watch with your bro every week.

Also, when you're a father you can watch it with your kids and they'll love it and that'll be your 'excuse'.

I have an anecdote for you. My girlfriend once told me I watch too much wrestling and that I was too old for it. I told her point blank to never ask me to choose between her and wrestling, because she'd lose and I'd dump her on the spot. There was some uncomfortable silence but she relented and accepted it and we're still together over 5 years later. I just don't watch wrestling when she's around, even when she offers to watch with.

Exclamation Marc

kronsington wrote: »

i keep my love of wwe secret.

I have to say it is hilarious how its easier in a social situation to talk about things like rape, paedophilia, atrocities, embarassing ailments, childrens cartoons etc but nothing will make someone look down on you or get embarrassed like talking about wrestling....

ricero

wrestling is starting to have a bit of a renaissance with all my mates so its less embarrassing and were all having a mania party

flahavaj

Its like the Mafia, just when you think you're out, it drags you back in.

Pentecost

FireballPitcher wrote: »

I have to say it is hilarious how its easier in a social situation to talk about things like rape, paedophilia, atrocities, embarassing ailments, childrens cartoons etc but nothing will make someone look down on you or get embarrassed like talking about wrestling....

I wouldn't admit to enjoying some of those things if I were you lad!!

Wolfe Tone

Benoit was the beginning of the end for me.

Gerard.C

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

Benoit was the beginning of the end for me.

I'd have thought the failed landing at Bantry Bay in 1797 was the begining of the end for yourself

Wolfe Tone

Gerard.C wrote: »

I'd have thought the failed landing at Bantry Bay in 1797 was the begining of the end for yourself

I recently gave them another chance and got a renault, french are still unreliable.

Gerard.C

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

I recently gave them another chance and got a renault, french are still unreliable.

I hope it's able to handle bad weather conditions :pac:

Leaving the legend that is Theobald out of this, I'd say its never time to give up on wrestling. There'll always be SOMETHING out there for people to enjoy. Wrestling is savage at the end of the day.

drayme

For Wrestling? None

The idea that Wrestling is for kids is a WWF/E idea. If you look at crowds pre-WWE national expansion you had mainly adults in the crowd.

GTR63

Don't know why but when something is huge & popular I hate it.That doesn't happen much with wrestling last time was 98/99 with Stone Cold,The Rock etc before that it was the late 80's Andre,Hogan.I find it cool to be a wrestling fan but it does have its lows with the far too often Deaths,the odd Suicides & other low points eg Rey exploiting Eddie's death or TNA not learning from their mistakes.

el dude

stopped watching a few years ago, 26 now, didn't stop because i thought i was too old or anything like that though. it just got really bad, and the whole Cena thing bored me to tears. i think the final straw was when Angle was really over with the crowd but they still had him lose to Cena in an Elimination Chamber match and then dumped Angle on Smackdown after that.

i'll check up on it every now and them, read the message boards, but there's never been anything happening that's compelled me to tune back in.

the groutch

I'm the exact same as the OP, except I bailed on the WWE before it went downhill, and watch TNA instead now

davrho

If you do not enjoy it then switch over. I am 38 and still enjoy wwe. I take it as a staged tv show and rarely get upset at the goings on. I read posts and folk get upset about a show with giants, leprechauns, dead men etc and wonder why? This has been my attitude for 20 years

It gives me my buzz and my escape. I do not give a feck what anyone else thinks of me being a fan and will be seen in the Penny Hill, Lucan, with the t-shirts on. No body has ever said a word?

Do what you want to do. If your mates do not like it ,so what? Live your own dreams. Most my mates thought the attitude era was childish pish so feck them;)

Charisteas

Question: When is it time to give up wrestling?

Answer: What else are you gonna do on a Monday? Sit in your fu*kin’ armchair wa*kin’ off to Pop Idols? Then try and avoid your wife’s gaze as you struggle to come to terms with your sexless marriage? Then go and spunk your wages on kebabs, fruit machines and brasses? F*ck that for a laugh! I know what I’d rather do. Monday Night Raw, love it!

D-FENS

I’m 35 in July, watching wrestling for 25 of them years, married with three kids and am looking forward to watching wrestling with their kids or being slagged by them all in approx 30 years time

Motley Crue

I've been wondering this myself. I remember going to New York in 2000, visiting WWF New York, buying all the shirts and just being so into it (I was secretly delighted when Shawn Michaels came out of retirement but by that stage I'd sort of given up on it - didn't stop me from staying up until 4am to watch his last match this time last year)

I turn 26 in a few weeks and my interest drifts in and out to be honest, love seeing the older guys from my childhood but do enjoy watching the likes of CM Punk and Kofi in the ring. I'm going to my first WWE event alone (can you believe that) in a few weeks thanks to a free ticket and I'm terrified that I might end up spending the evening getting funny looks from parents lol

Big Daddy Cool

i wont be giving it up anytime soon, my son just started watching it, hope he has as much fun watching it, as i had during the 80's and the 90's especially the mid to late 90's, something tells me he wont though

MitchKoobski

I used to watch Smackdown every saturday morning on SKY until I was 15, then I had to work weekend mornings so I couldnt watch it. Lasted for two years and never went back until rumours started flying about Y2J returning. Have watched it again ever since.

stiffler123

I agree with the OP about keeping it secret. Look at this thread for instance, 1000 views and 30 replies, people are interested but still won't discuss it in a forum where your identity is a secret. It hasn't been considered cool to watch wrestling in a long time. None of my friends know I still watch it, the last time I have discussed wrestling with people apart from boards was about 10 years ago. That was of course....until The Rock came back! And since then I have been showing his return to anyone willing to watch it with little or no shame. I'm sure that will stop when he leaves again though.

Bounty Hunter

Big Daddy Cool wrote: »

i wont be giving it up anytime soon, my son just started watching it, hope he has as much fun watching it, as i had during the 80's and the 90's especially the mid to late 90's, something tells me he wont though

out of interest, do you two watch it together or seperate? From my own PW watching experience I woulda found it weird my dad watching while the Diva's paraded around or someone was put through a table for instance. However there is the flipside with you maybe being seen as a yoda of wrestling to him with all the answers who seemingly already knows what will happen before it does, tis also something you can bond with your son due to your similar interest.

Diabhal Beag

Nothing more embarrassing when the father would walk in while Randy Orton had a chinlock on Benoit screaming. If I didn't have a girlfriend at the time he would have no doubt thought I was gay.

Big Daddy Cool

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

out of interest, do you two watch it together or seperate? From my own PW watching experience I woulda found it weird my dad watching while the Diva's paraded around or someone was put through a table for instance. However there is the flipside with you maybe being seen as a yoda of wrestling to him with all the answers who seemingly already knows what will happen before it does, tis also something you can bond with your son due to your similar interest.

haha i doubt he see's me as a yoda of anything to be honest, more like a clown. i was watching the 1st Rock hogan match about a month ago, and he came in and watched it, he loved the crowd reaction when hogan kicked out of the rock bottom and started hulking up, so from then on he watches when i watch it, i would'nt tell him its fake (although he has noticed that the ''wrestlers'' use the same moves every week) or whats going to happen cos that would ruin it for him.

he also has a fair idea though that if you got hit in the head with a chair in real life or put through a table,the chances are you might need hospital treatment instead of getting up within 5 minutes. i do however have a problem with the diva's cos they dont wear what Sable, Terri, or Torrie wilson wore, watching them didnt do me any harm so i think he'd like them to,

Motley Crue

Big Daddy Cool wrote: »

i do however have a problem with the diva's cos they dont wear what Sable, Terri, or Torrie wilson wore, watching them didnt do me any harm so i think he'd like them to,

Just be thankful he didn't experience the horror of the Mae Young is with child storyline - perhaps the most ill-fated decision the WWE has made since that time a man won the Women's Championship

Ridley

Here's the answer: http://ourvaluedcustomers.blogspot.com/2011/03/to-his-friend_21.html