would you consider WWE etc "sport"

martinedwards

In work we have a forum (BIG company)

there's a sports section and a TV/Film section

I started a MASSIVE row when I posted a thread asking why WWF threads are in the Sports section rather than TV.

Wrestlers are skilled athletes, and yes, they can get injured (and even killed) but the whole show is scripted (with some improvisation) with planned results.

A Jet Li or Jacky Chan movie is exactly the same (including the potential for injury or death of the participants) , but doesn't appear in Sky sports.

am I a bad person for thinking this?

LDN_Irish

YOU THINK IT'S FAKE?

*slaps OP in the face*

"It's still real to me dammit!" *cries*



You don't upset the fans of wrestling. They take that **** really seriously.

stimpson

They take performance enhancing drugs, so by that measure it's a sport.

genericguy

stimpson wrote: »

They take performance enhancing drugs, so by that measure it's a sport.

So do people in nightclubs though

Tombi!

I wouldn't consider it a sport since there's only an illusion of competition.
But I wouldn't take ban it from Sky Sports.

SEPT 23 1989

It's not sport when the final result is known

stimpson

genericguy wrote: »

So do people in nightclubs though

But not compeditively. Unless there is a dance off.

Wild Garlic

It's a sport, the same way Eastenders is.

smash

Remember when WWF changed to WWE... It's entertainment, not sport.

Omackeral

It's not a sport. Everyone who watches it knows it's not a sport bar young kids. Anyone who says "eh you that's all fake" is a bigger idiot thinking that they're breaking the news to people. Yes, we know. It's like someone standing up in the middle of Star Wars and berating a fan of those movies by saying eh this is all fake. It's entertainment and that's it. However, it's bloody real where I juries are concerned. The outcomes are predetermined but the toll that stuff takes on the performers is very real. Many are crippled or mentally damaged. They are athletes, most definitely.

PS it hasn't been called WWF in 14 years.

Del2005

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

It's not sport when the final result is known

A lot of sports know the final results before the start. It's very rare that a top team or ranking player is knocked out in the qualification rounds, so does that mean that only the final is sport and the rest entertainment?

Canis Lupus

Omackeral wrote: »

It's not a sport. Everyone who watches it knows it's not a sport bar young kids. Anyone who says "eh you that's all fake" is a bigger idiot thinking that they're breaking the news to people. Yes, we know. It's like someone standing up in the middle of Star Wars and berating a fan of those movies by saying eh this is all fake. It's entertainment and that's it. However, it's bloody real where I juries are concerned. The outcomes are predetermined but the toll that stuff takes on the performers is very real. Many are crippled or mentally damaged. They are athletes, most definitely.

PS it hasn't been called WWF in 14 years.

F*** off, I'm not that old am I?

micar

Not a sport....sport is all about competition where at the outset anyone can win.

With wrestling, the results are all pre determined and what happens in between is planned/scripted for entertainment.

I have never understood the appeal is this.

Omackeral

micar wrote: »

Not a sport....sport is all about competition where at the outset anyone can win.

With wrestling, the results are all pre determined and what happens in between is planned/scripted for entertainment.

I have never understood the appeal is this.

That's fair enough that you don't get the appeal yet you can see it for what it is without being disrespectful.I guess it's similar to Cirque Du Soleil or something like that. Theatre and athleticism for the purpose of entertainment.

Dtp1979

You're dead right. It's not a sport and it shouldn't be on a sports channel.
What's even more amusing is the amount of overgrown children, or adults for want of a better word, who watch it and follow it like it IS a sport.

Canis Lupus

micar wrote: »

Not a sport....sport is all about competition where at the outset anyone can win.

With wrestling, the results are all pre determined and what happens in between is planned/scripted for entertainment.

I have never understood the appeal is this.

You can't understand why heterosexual men like to watch other oiled up, muscly men in leotards pretend fight with one another????

smash

Canis Lupus wrote: »

You can't understand why heterosexual men like to watch other oiled up, muscly men in leotards pretend fight with one another????

As soon as the ultimate warrior was gone, wrestling was never the same!

Omackeral

Dtp1979 wrote: »

You're dead right. It's not a sport and it shouldn't be on a sports channel.
What's even more amusing is the amount of overgrown children, or adults for want of a better word, who watch it and follow it like it IS a sport.

Same way people watch Eastenders and Breaking Bad. You're hardly a child for rooting for Jesse Pinkman or Walter White. Imagine someone goes "actually his name is Aaron Paul and he's only an actor, he's not really a drug dealer". It's suspension of disbelief for the purpose of entertainment. You know movies aren't real yet you can want John McClean to kill all the baddies... Spoiler, they aren't really evil

Boom_Bap

The guys are athletes, they have an arena, there is competition and there is a prize on the line. But it still aint not sport as it's not a case of who is the best that becomes the champion, it's about who Vinny Mc decides is making the company enough money and will make them more by becoming champ.
WOoooooooaaahhhhh yyyeeeaeaaahhhhhhhhhhhh.

micar

Omackeral wrote: »

without being disrespectful.

How am I being disrespectful?

I've seen wwf. I've seen the fans reaction what happens in the ring and I can't get beyond the fact that it's all planned.

I'm a Liverpool supporter. The match on Thursday was amazing....emotional highs and lows....that's sports....result In doubt until the very last kick when dormund had a free kick at the end which if they had scored would have put them through.

galljga1

Would you say that this is the first year that premier league football is sport?

Dtp1979

Omackeral wrote: »

Same way people watch Eastenders and Breaking Bad. You're hardly a child for rooting for Jesse Pinkman or Walter White. Imagine someone goes "actually his name is Aaron Paul and he's only an actor, he's not really a drug dealer". It's suspension of disbelief for the purpose of entertainment. You know movies aren't real yet you can want John McClean to kill all the baddies... Spoiler, they aren't really evil

Yes but I'm talking about the typical manchild who goes to these "wrestling" events, shouting, screaming and cheering at these pumped up steroid freaks as if they were really 2 warriors battling it out for a real victory.
Or the typical manchild going on forums, discussing wrestling events and current wrestling news/gossip as if it was real. Speaking about the characters and their stories in this pantomine like they were in fact discussing reality.

Omackeral

Canis Lupus wrote: »

You can't understand why heterosexual men like to watch other oiled up, muscly men in leotards pretend fight with one another????

Well done on making the same joke everyone ever has ever made. Also, maybe this thread might give you some other viewpoint, these women are absolute stunners.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056257084&page=142

Unearthly

From Sky's point of view they put it on sports because it's one of their most watched products so it makes sense to put it on their premium channels.

I'd consider it an inbetweener between sport and entertainment.

Omackeral

micar wrote: »

How am I being disrespectful?

I've seen wwf. I've seen the fans reaction what happens in the ring and I can't get beyond the fact that it's all planned.

I'm a Liverpool supporter. The match on Thursday was amazing....emotional highs and lows....that's sports....result In doubt until the very last kick when dormund had a free kick at the end which if they had scored would have put them through.

If you read again what I said , I said fair play to you for explaining that it doesn't appeal to you yet you weren't disrespectful about it. It was refreshing to read. You said it wasn't for you but didn't look down your nose either

micar

galljga1 wrote: »

Would you say that this is the first year that premier league football is sport?

The best team over 38 games win the league.

Just because the current leaders are an unexpected team does not make all previous campaigns not "sport".

Surely look at man city. Needed a last minute goal to win the league.

Look at Liverpool...leaders with 3 games to go. They could have afforded to loose one. Went to crystal palace and went 3 up. All they had to do was hold that lead. But they conceded 3 goal, drew and dropped 2 points. That was the match where they lost the league....not the Chelsea match.

Arsenal won the league but beating Liverpool by 2 goals in anfield . They needed to win by 2 clear goals and scored their final goal late on in the match.

Omackeral

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Yes but I'm talking about the typical manchild who goes to these "wrestling" events, shouting, screaming and cheering at these pumped up steroid freaks as if they were really 2 warriors battling it out for a real victory.
Or the typical manchild going on forums, discussing wrestling events and current wrestling news/gossip as if it was real. Speaking about the characters and their stories in this pantomine like they were in fact discussing reality.

Most people online that discuss it enjoy the behind the scenes stuff as much as anything else, the real life beefs rather than what's on screen. Sometimes, these real life things play out on screen the odd time and it's fascinating to watch. Take for example this, a wrestler called Matt Hardy was dating one of the female wrestlers Lita for years and she actually cheated on him in real life with another guy in the company called Edge (Adam Copeland). With the internet as it is now, it all became public. They decided to work it Into to the storylines and you could clearly see, if you're in the know, that they were goińg extra hard as in not pulling punches. There's been countless incidents like that over the years.

It's not for everyone and I can see where the ridicule comes from in fairness but thinking you're breaking news to someone by telling them it's fake is more ridiculous than anything else. They already know. Live and let live. For example, one poster said he's a Liverpool fan. To me the notion of following and supporting a team from England and singing in a pub and shouting at a telly (and more often than not rarely actually going to matches) calling Manchester United fans dirty Mancs while calling yourself Scouse or we or us is absurd but it doesn't affect me.

Unearthly

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Yes but I'm talking about the typical manchild who goes to these "wrestling" events, shouting, screaming and cheering at these pumped up steroid freaks as if they were really 2 warriors battling it out for a real victory.
Or the typical manchild going on forums, discussing wrestling events and current wrestling news/gossip as if it was real. Speaking about the characters and their stories in this pantomine like they were in fact discussing reality.

Adults don't think it's real. If you read the wrestling forum it's bad mouthing or in some cases praising the owners, writers etc.

But let's not get the truth in the way at thinking grown men thinking its real

RWCNT

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Yes but I'm talking about the typical manchild who goes to these "wrestling" events, shouting, screaming and cheering at these pumped up steroid freaks as if they were really 2 warriors battling it out for a real victory.
Or the typical manchild going on forums, discussing wrestling events and current wrestling news/gossip as if it was real. Speaking about the characters and their stories in this pantomine like they were in fact discussing reality.

Do people like this actually exist? I read the wrestling forum on here the odd time and none of those guys fit the description. I find that most of the big wrestling fans are actually more like critics than fans, expressing their disappointment at the way their favourite characters are used in the storylines.

Omackeral

RWCNT wrote: »

Do people like this actually exist? I read the wrestling forum on here the odd time and none of those guys fit the description. I find that most of the big wrestling fans are actually more like critics than fans, expressing their disappointment at the way their favourite characters are used in the storylines.

That's really spot on. Much in the way film buffs would praise an actor's performance or the production of a movie

galljga1

micar wrote: »

The best team over 38 games win the league.

Just because the current leaders are an unexpected team does not make all previous campaigns not "sport".

Surely look at man city. Needed a last minute goal to win the league.

Look at Liverpool...leaders with 3 games to go. They could have afforded to loose one. Went to crystal palace and went 3 up. All they had to do was hold that lead. But they conceded 3 goal, drew and dropped 2 points. That was the match where they lost the league....not the Chelsea match.

Arsenal won the league but beating Liverpool by 2 goals in anfield . They needed to win by 2 clear goals and scored their final goal late on in the match.

Agreed, but other than Blackburn rovers 21 years ago, only 4 teams have won it. It is good to see fresh blood at the top.

Dtp1979

Omackeral wrote: »

Most people online that discuss it enjoy the behind the scenes stuff as much as anything else, the real life beefs rather than what's on screen. Sometimes, these real life things play out on screen the odd time and it's fascinating to watch. Take for example this, a wrestler called Matt Hardy was dating one of the female wrestlers Lita for years and she actually cheated on him in real life with another guy in the company called Edge (Adam Copeland). With the internet as it is now, it all became public. They decided to work it Into to the storylines and you could clearly see, if you're in the know, that they were goińg extra hard as in not pulling punches. There's been countless incidents like that over the years.

It's not for everyone and I can see where the ridicule comes from in fairness but thinking you're breaking news to someone by telling them it's fake is more ridiculous than anything else.

Fair enough. Point taken.
Going back to the op, It still shouldn't be on a sports channel though.

genericguy

stimpson wrote: »

But not compeditively. Unless there is a dance off.

But wwe isn't competitive its scripted

Omackeral

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Fair enough. Point taken.
Going back to the op, It still shouldn't be on a sports channel though.

Neither should Poker!

gerrybbadd

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Fair enough. Point taken.
Going back to the op, It still shouldn't be on a sports channel though.

Where would you have it put then? The WWF/E draw huge numbers to Sky and have been a very important part of Sky Sports for decades now.

Their monthly Pay Per Views draw huge buy rates (or at least they did, until the WWE created their own online streaming service)

osarusan

I recognise the athleticism and hard work that goes into WWE, but I don't think anything in which the outcome is determined in advance can be considered a legitimate sport.

RWCNT

gerrybbadd wrote: »

Where would you have it put then? The WWF/E draw huge numbers to Sky and have been a very important part of Sky Sports for decades now.

Their monthly Pay Per Views draw huge buy rates (or at least they did, until the WWE created their own online streaming service)

I think all right-thinking people agree that a separate Sky channel dedicated to pro wrestling coverage would be the best thing ever.

Cienciano

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Fair enough. Point taken.
Going back to the op, It still shouldn't be on a sports channel though.

This is just fücking stupid. Sports channels can show what ever the hell they want, just stop watching if you don't like it

Diabhal Beag

It's absolutely not a sport but it is in a world of its own in terms of how you can categorise is. The predominant term is "sports entertainment" which is a bit ridiculous, befitting to pro-wrestling. People get injured a lot, guys have actually died in-ring, there's still a huge steroid culture, people are playing a single character and politicking their way to being the face of the company and finally legitimate athletes have come from and have gone into pro-wrestling.

I watched it on and off (mostly off) for the last 10 years and it is a bit depressing the amount of young deaths there is. Performers are also kinda dry****es at times because this is the life but at the end of the day it's still men (and women) fake-fighting other men (and women) and you should have a bit of a sense of humour about it.

Boskowski

Its a sport. Its theatre but its also sports. A lot of of sports is theatre anyway. Sure Premier League is just one big soap for men. But what do I know, I'd tell you golf is a sport, too.

Dtp1979

Cienciano wrote: »

This is just fücking stupid. Sports channels can show what ever the hell they want, just stop watching if you don't like it

For a start, I don't watch it.
And, ahem, sports channels usually kinda show........ sports

Dtp1979

Boskowski wrote: »

. But what do I know, I'd tell you golf is a sport, too.

Wo wo wo, slow down. Your being ridiculous now

gerrybbadd

Google "Sport Definition" and this is what you get.

"an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment"

That pretty much sums up what the WWE does. And although the in ring action is pre determined, dont ever think it's not competitive. Those guys are in constant competition to further themselves, make themselves stand out, and to be the one pushed to the top.

RollieFingers

Dtp1979 wrote: »

You're dead right. It's not a sport and it shouldn't be on a sports channel.
What's even more amusing is the amount of overgrown children, or adults for want of a better word, who watch it and follow it like it IS a sport.

Someone didn't eat their Booty O's this morning!

hynesie08

It's not a sport, it's a TV show about a sport.

I thought Hogan bought the WWE and was changing the name back to WWF?

micar

gerrybbadd wrote: »

Google "Sport Definition" and this is what you get.

"an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment"

That pretty much sums up what the WWE does. And although the in ring action is pre determined, dont ever think it's not competitive. Those guys are in constant competition to further themselves, make themselves stand out, and to be the one pushed to the top.

"competes against another or others"
This is exactly why wwf is not a sport.

pickarooney

Del2005 wrote: »

A lot of sports know the final results before the start. It's very rare that a top team or ranking player is knocked out in the qualification rounds, so does that mean that only the final is sport and the rest entertainment?

You must make a killing at the bookies.

Can you bet on Wrestling?

Unearthly

pickarooney wrote: »

You must make a killing at the bookies.

Can you bet on Wrestling?

Yes on paddy Power

Paddy Samurai

More circus entertainment than a sport IMO.Lots of dressing up in funny costumes,acrobatics ,hitting each other with chairs ,jumping off ladders etc.
But highly skilled for all that!.

galljga1

Deleted User wrote: »

I thought Hogan bought the WWE and was changing the name back to WWF?

That's dependent on Gawker paying him for being a d1ckhead.