Memories from before you were a smark?

Hematocyte

I don't know if this topic will go anywhere, but I just thought I'd post it for the 'what-the-hell'.

Did you have a period where you were a kid and still thought wrestling was real .... and in particular where you thought one of your favourites was going to to take a severe beating at the hands of a heel. Real 'Rocky IV' stuff here.

For instance I clearly remember in the build up to Wrestlemania III genuinely thinking Hulk Hogan would be hurt/injured/killed by Andre the Giant.

In retrospect it's ridiculous, but at the time I genuinely felt this way. I only just recalled it now while watching a youtube of their Saturday Night Main Event match from 1988.

Interested in hearing fans pre-smark memories (if indeed there is such a thing anymore thanks to the internet!).

GTR63

Remember when Doc Hendrix used to go through an upcoming PPV card, etc about an hour into Raw in the late 90's. Oh its Edge vs Droz at Judgement Day I cannot wait, even though there is no prior feud or storyline.
His early kudos was all for nothing when he advertised Bradshaw vs Val Venis at Capital Carnage & it never happened. It was for a long time a template of something that is a long time away and unlikely to happen for my brother.

chopperbyrne

The barbershop window. Blew our little minds.

beakerjoe

Jake Roberts/Macho Man angle with the cobra. It was real as can be back then.

The Bob Backlund Angle with Bret. I thought he actually went bonkers.

Rick Rudes angle were he tried to get with his wife.

Jake Roberts and The model were Martel blinded Jake.

The Warriors feud with Papa Shango, The Warriors vomit looked real. I was convinced he was dying.

The warriors feud with the Undertaker were he was locked in the casket. Looking back it was so obvious what was gonna happen. I was truely shocked as a child.


Though my dad would remind me every 5 minutes that it was all "abbey acting!"

Jason Todd

beakerjoe wrote: »

Jake Roberts/Macho Man angle with the cobra. It was real as can be back then.

Though my dad would remind me every 5 minutes that it was all "abbey acting!"

The Papa Shango v Ultimate Warrior feud terrified the bejesus outta me.

briany

I think the only true memory I have of that is watching the Hogan v. Taker match from Survivor Series 1991 and being absolutely gutted when Flair came out and got Taker to tombstone Hogan onto the chair, especially seeing as Hogan was just about to overcome Taker.

doncarlos

This

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUD6hjAiOLk

gimmick

I genuinely worried for Ricky Steamboat after Macho Man elbow dropped him with the ring bell.

When Strike Force were Tag Champs and realising there is no way they could ever beat Demolition. This upset me as Strike Force were just so wholesome and babyface.

thebostoncrab

gimmick wrote: »

I genuinely worried for Ricky Steamboat after Macho Man elbow dropped him with the ring bell.

Same, I watched it a few years after it happened while in my cousins and me, the big Macho Man mark, was really concerned not only for Steamboats health, but I thought they might fire Machoman for going too far

ShagNastii

The 1000000% belief that ANYBODY could realistically win the Royal Rumble.

"Awwwh man Repo man has just been eliminated. I thought he was a shoe in."

Ironman76

A few things I remember that frightened me, I was about 10-11.

When Outlaw Ron Bass cut open Brutus The Barber with a spur. A big censored X sign appeared on the TV. You could see loads of blood though. Looked really barbaric at the time.

When Kamala used to do the big splash from the top rope. I thought the little jobber guys were dead.

Macho Man hitting Steamboat with the bell was very well done.

beakerjoe

ShagNastii wrote: »

The 1000000% belief that ANYBODY could realistically win the Royal Rumble.

"Awwwh man Repo man has just been eliminated. I thought he was a shoe in."

Yes yes yes!. I used to love the preview in the weeks before it, new guys were added to the list.

Marty Janetty
Tatanka
British Bulldog
The Warlord


I believed these guys would definatly make up the final four on a few occasions

gimmick

Ironman76 wrote: »

When Kamala used to do the big splash from the top rope. I thought the little jobber guys were dead.

.

I was frightened of Kamala. At least one nightmare.

Moneymaker

chopperbyrne wrote: »

The barbershop window. Blew our little minds.

"Janetty tried to escape through the window, what an act of cowardism!"

Still one of my favourite lines ever. Heenan

To answer the OP, yeah I thought wrestling was real when I was a kid.

I was afraid of the Undertaker

beakerjoe

gimmick wrote: »

I was frightened of Kamala. At least one nightmare.

I thought Hacksaw Jim Duggan was dead when Yoko gave him the bonzai drop. Blood from the mouth = He is hurt for real back in those days.

glenjamin

I had a tear in my eye when Triple H drugged Stephanie. How could he do that to Test?

rovert

I miss the space between PPVs I just remember thinking endlessly about the implications of random midcard matches.

LOTD

Being shocked when Austin got hit by a car, or even more so when it was Rikishi who did it. Who would have taught it was the dancing fat man.

glenjamin

Hearing a stipulation for a match and being genuinely shocked and excited for it.

Liam McPoyle

When Cactus went missing in WCW after Vader powerbombed him on the concrete.

Agent Coulson

gimmick wrote: »

I genuinely worried for Ricky Steamboat after Macho Man elbow dropped him with the ring bell.

This was mine as well.

cian68

I started watching when I was seven, found out it was fake when I was seven. Didn't effect my enjoyment though still went crazy when dx or austin got one over the corporation. My only memory of thinking it was real is some kids on my street talking about their mate who thought it was real and me playing it cool like he was some sort of idiot.

Sirsok

When Nash threw poor little Rey Rey into that production truck, I was a wcw head as a kid....

SimonQuinlank

Ric Flair's heart attack on Nitro seemed very real to 11 year old me.

Lads in school convincing me Owen Hart wasn't really dead at all.

bobby_says_hi

I was a massive Cena fan when he was the heel rapper. I went to a live event in Belfast and told myself it was okay to cheer him because his rap that evening was only insulting the Irish

I nearly sent a letter to a recently heeled Trish Stratus asking her to patch things up with Chris Jericho

CastorTroy

I remember hearing it was fake and, after seeing a couple incidents in WCW where it obviously was (drop kick not even nbeing close to the guy but he still acted like he was hit. Flair being pulled to the corner post, being let go for a couple secind and he continued moving himself to the post), insisting that WCW was fake but WWF was real