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What kind of fan are you?

2K views 35 replies 33 participants last post by  Legion 
#1 ·
I do apologize if this is the wrong thread to post this in. If it can get placed in the right one if its in the wrong place please help me do so. I apologize in advanced but I think that this would belong here.

So I am currently writing a paper about wrestling fans. If you can take a moment and fill out the following questions to the fullest extent that you feel, that would be amazing! Thank you all!

1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not?
2.How long have you been a fan?
3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?)
4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling?
5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it?
6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event?
 
#2 · (Edited)
1.What makes you a part of this community? Why or why not? I'm a 40 year-old man and pro wrestling keeps me young. It also helps me escape the every day grind.
2.How long have you been a fan? Since about 1979/1980.
3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about language? I speak mostly from a fan's perspective rather than from the POV of someone in the business.
4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling? It is a niche form of entertainment that has one of the most devoted fanbases in the world.
5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it? That we're nerds. That some of us are old guys that never grew up (which is true in my case, to an extent).
6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event? Typically the two are very different experiences. You see and hear things at live shows that aren't noticed on television.
I feel so pathetic now.
 
#3 ·
I do apologize if this is the wrong thread to post this in. If it can get placed in the right one if its in the wrong place please help me do so. I apologize in advanced but I think that this would belong here.

So I am currently writing a paper about wrestling fans. If you can take a moment and fill out the following questions to the fullest extent that you feel, that would be amazing! Thank you all!

1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not?
2.How long have you been a fan?
3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?)
4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling?
5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it?
6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event?
1. Pro wrestling has literally become apart of my life... it's kiiiinda sad.

2. 1994-95 WCW is my earliest memory of pro wrestling. Surfer Sting was my first favorite. I remember a Saturday morning WCW show that was featuring Glacier. I think he fought someone else that looked like another MK character. 1995-1997 is when I started watching WWF and when I really got into pro wrestling.

3. I use wrestling terms. Face, heel, bury, put over, work, mark, marked out, shoot, etc.

4. The drama.

5. Perhaps. I don't care really.

6. Um... dedication?
 
#4 ·
1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not?
Just the fact that I love wrestling, and I love getting obsessed over my favourite wrestlers. I seriously have no idea what I'd be doing without WWE and wrestling in my life tbh. Life would be very different!
2.How long have you been a fan?
I've been a casual on-off fan since 1998, but I started watching every single week and getting more obsessed in 2007.
3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?)
Depends who I'm talking to. Online, I use face & heel and all the terms, and I use them with friends who get them. When I talk to my Mum and Uncle, I use 'good guy' and 'bad guy' cos they don't know the face/heel terms :lol
4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling?
The action in the ring, the crazy storylines, supporting my favourites, going to live wrestling shows whether it be WWE or indy, buying wrestling merch.
5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it?
That we all think it's real, lol.
6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event?
I find people who attend the TV tapings and NXT and that, to be a more hardcore style of fan and much more brutal when it comes to judging the storylines. A lot of people who just watch it on TV are more casual? Unless you mean the difference between watching it and being there, cos they're very different.
 
#5 ·
1. I love forums full of people that over analyze everything, breed negativity, and just generally like to bitch about things. Usually spend more time on a Walking Dead forum for the same reasons. It's been slow lately. Plus wrestling has always off and on been a part of my life. Takes me back to a place before I was tainted.
2. Since 89 when I was at my cousins house and saw a preview for the Flair/Steamboat match at WW89 that was playing The Final Countdown by Europe. Piqued my interest. Had to see what it was all about.
3. I talk to people irl just like I do here. I just explain the terminology to them.
4. Character work. A person that has the ability to draw me into their story. In ring work is second
5. Depends on how old one is. It's expected for a kid. I sometimes get looks from people that make me wonder if they are asking themselves if I ever grew up. Don't care. Depending on the person I will most likely amplify it
6. For me? An antisocial personality that hate crowds.
 
#6 ·
1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not?
I don't know where I'd be without pro wrestling/sports entertainment. It took over my life as a young kid and my love for it has only gotten stronger every day since.

2.How long have you been a fan?
For as long as I can remember. I cannot pinpoint a time where I first watched it or fell in love with it. It defines me as a person and I wouldn't change a thing.

3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?)
I don't really have people around me I can watch it with or talk to about it outside of fellow fans on social media or at live shows, but when I do I prefer to talk about it as both a fan and from an insider point of view.

4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling?
The entertainment, the stories, the characters, the fact that it's humans telling a physical story in front of an audience and making me care why they're doing it. I love it all.

5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it?
People outside of the business and fan base act like all wrestling fans think it's real. Someone asked me why I watch wrestling because "it's fake", and I responded by asking them why they watch Game of Thrones and why they care so much about it when it's not real and it's just a TV show. Wrestling fans are the most passionate fanbase in the world because we care more than we should, and that's a great thing and it shows how great the art from of pro wrestling is. You can be in the audience for a taping of a normal TV show, but yelling out and cheering for your favorites will get you kicked out of the place. We as wrestling fans get to interact with the show and change the course of things by showing our support.

6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event?
Those who go to live events, PPV's and TV tapings are your more passionate and dedicated fans. Casual fans are more likely to just watch on TV or go to a PPV when it's in their home town.
 
#7 · (Edited)
1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not?

I've been involved in various forum communities and have acquired some great information and managed to waste a lot of time at work doing so, therefore when I got back into wrestling it was only natural I find a forum community to link with.

2.How long have you been a fan?

Since I was 3 years old. Lived breathed and dreamed wrestling up until I was about 12. Stop watching in about 2000after WWE monopolized WCW/ECW and just started watching again in 2015 when I saw NWO and DX had showed up at a Sting vs HHH wrestlemania match and have loosely watched for the past year. After watching WWE for a bit I found myself more interested in some Indy promotions but still follow WWE

3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?)

None of my friends in real life know I watch wrestling anymore, I'm a closet nerd for sure.

4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling?

Story lines, unique characters, and hardcore matches of any type.

5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it?

Complete nerds.

6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event?

I guess nothing really except one might call a home watcher more of a casual and the live event goers as marks or what not
 
#8 · (Edited)
1.Because I watch wrestling and I post on this shit.
2.When I was a kid I watched since 99 to 2005, but I was just a kid so I didn't really understand wrestling at all. I started watching wrestling on 2012 again.
3.I use the terminology mostly on this site, and from time to time to a couple of friends that understands the terms as well. But when talking wrestling with people that is not THAT into wrestling, I won't use those terms.
4.The action in the ring, the confrontation and the athletic showmanship.
5.Yeah, most people thinks wrestling fans are fucking geeks. Either that, or kids.
6.Someone has the money or the time to go, the other one not necessarily is less of a fan, sometimes it is the case that one may not care that much about wrestling to actually spent money on live events, but sometimes someone may just not have the resources to attend live shows too. I don't know, I don't feel in the capacity to answer this questio, there could be thousands of individual differences and I can't really label fans who attend live shows and those who doesn't.
 
#9 ·
I just wrote whatever came into my head, apologies.


1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not?
This is where I post things that I feel like posting, I guess? I am still pretty new here but I think I sort of just melded on in. I don't really speak to anyone directly except I did speak to greenlawler and Drago, both whom are nice people and well, I love to discuss wrestling, like I enjoy intellectual questions most of the typical people who like to gimmick their posts and just spew shit to do it are just kind of silly in my opinion but when a good conversation about wrestling appears, I'm all ears and really love to hear any opinion.

2.How long have you been a fan?
My mom watched wrestling before I was born, so when I was like... literally born my mom and I would watch it, surely I was too young but I was in the crowd when Austin was crucified by the Undertaker, and I do remember Kane's debut, I might have even been there but I was young. So if we're taking that into account 1997-1998 I was about 4 or 5. I stopped watching Raw right after Eddie's death but Chris Benoit's death was just the nail in the coffin. I returned in 2011 and started watching all sorts of wrestling companies and just really that was when I heavily began to watch it. No longer as a "casual" experience.

3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?)

Uh, I say whatever the fuck I want I guess? If you're a fan in this day and age odds are you know what a face or heel is, so... if you're a fan I'll say "Jay Lethal is a great heel" if you're not I'll just say "Dude this guy plays such a good bad guy." It just depends.

4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling?

Uhh, man. I really love the characters, Bray Wyatt is my favorite right now based solely on his character, but I can't deny talent. I love good matches, I guess I just love wrestling, everything it embodies, and I can watch any promotion and attune myself to it, I expect a spotty high-octane mix of technical skills and great character work with Lucha Underground, I expect a more pure hard hitting yet dynamic style with some character in NJPW, you know? So whatever I'm watching, if it's WWE or ROH or NJPW it's because I love what it offers, in it's entirety.

5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it?
To be honest I don't really mind any of this. I enjoy Wrestling. If there is a stereotype let there be one you know? If someone said "What do you like to do?" I just say "You know x and x" if they judge me on that who cares? It's who I am, I have friends, and we all have our quirks, plus I am in a healthy relationship, so who cares what anyone that hardly even knows me thinks, you know?

6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event?

It's louder in real life, I think. The last show for me was when I was still fairly young, under 13. So for me it's hard to really answer this question with 100% honesty, but that's ok.


Tl;Dr: Who I am.
 
#10 · (Edited)
1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not? I simple view this as a hobby a thing that distracts me from me "real life". It's good vs evil, story-telling and the show.

2.How long have you been a fan? 40 years

3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?) I have exposed many non-wrestling fans to the wrestling language and now even many of them who do not watch use phrases like "pop,heat, face/heel" when talking about things like theater and movies.

4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling? Gimmicks and watching the crowd respond to heat.

5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it? Yes, Stupidity and really I hate it, but that is reality, like it or not.

6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event? Very Little
 
#13 · (Edited)
1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not?
2.How long have you been a fan?
3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?)
4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling?
5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it?
6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event?
1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not?
Watching so many wrestling promotions, including RollerJam. Joining forums to talk about wrestling.

2.How long have you been a fan?
90's

3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?)
Wrestling terms such as sell, work, shoot, face, heel, spot

4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling?
Tough one. Great crowds and commentary certainly make great matches & moments better.

5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it?
"You do know it's fake, right?"

6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event?
Fans in attendance can help create a better show for the people watching on tv but can also hurt the show by trying too hard to be a part of it or by being dead. Fans watching on tv get to hear commentary.
 
#14 · (Edited)
1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not? Being a fan of wrestling.

2.How long have you been a fan? Since 1998. Caught the bug at 4 or 5 and haven't wavered since.

3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?) Heel/face if they follow wrestling closely, but generally good guy/bad guy to people who don't follow the product.

4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling? It's a catalyst to most things in my life. I love film/movies, I love sports/athletics/combat and I love fitness/working out. It enthralls all of that.

5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it? Occasionally get the "do you know it's fake?" routine, but that's really it.

6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event? Living expenses and location. I'm from Australia, so the opportunity to go to live events is yearly at best without digging deep into my pockets for travel expenses.
 
#15 ·
1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not? I just really love wrestling. I'm really invested in the product.
2.How long have you been a fan?
Ever since I could remember. Probably when I was around 5. I stopped watching regularly after WM 27 and I slowly completely stopped until SummerSlam of this year now i'm in full on wrestling mode again. I'm 17, do the math.
3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?)
I tend to use the snarky terms a lot.
4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling?
The good matches and the storylines. I also get invested in certain characters. I love predicting what will happen, or booking my own scenarios of how they should do things.
5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it?
I guess being a nerd or lame. A lot of people think it's for little kids.
6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event? I've never been to a live show :(
 
#16 ·
1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not? I like wrestling.

2.How long have you been a fan? 9 years in November this year.

3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?) Obviously. I even began using them outside wrestling. Like, in Star Wars, Darth Vader is a "heel", not a bad guy.

4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling? Armchair booking.

5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it? I don't know, there aren't almost any open wrestling fans where I'm from.

6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event? You have more fun when you're there, even if the show is shit.
 
#18 · (Edited)
I'm that hardcore kindasmark kindamark casual old-timer sort of fan.
 
#19 ·
1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not? - I guess the fact that I'm a long time wrestling fan who comments online about what I see sums it up.
2.How long have you been a fan? - Late 1984, early 1985-ish...
3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?) - I guess I use the "Face/Heel" lingo, and "Jobber"... other than that I don't use "Insider" terms.
4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling? - Interesting characters, great matches
5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it - Too many for me to list! I guess my number 1 is..."Why do you like that fake shit?"...I hate those people.
6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event? - It depends on what the show you go to is. As long as I've been a fan of wrestling, I've never once been to a live WWF/WWE show. I really enjoyed watching some of their events on TV through the years, though...I don't know, if you like the product see it live. If you don't, stay home...Watch it on TV if you don't want to sit through what you see as absolute crap and have to pay money for it live.
 
#20 ·
1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not?
This particular forum? I've bounced around a couple forums before I found this one. I can say that wrestling has been the one consistent passion in my life, and I like to discuss wrestling with people that have the same passion as I do about it.

2.How long have you been a fan?
I've been a fan since I was about 2 years old. So, about 26 years now.

3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?)
Whenever I discuss wrestling with people on here, or even on my podcast, we use "insider" terms. Though, outside of "heel" or "face", I personally try not to use them that often because I don't want to come off as a know-it-all asshole.

4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling?
When I was younger, it was the big characters. As a grew up, I started to appreciate the actual physical aspect of it. The art form of building feud, crafting a good promo, and working a good match.

5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it?
I think the main one is that we are fat, stupid, friendless geeks. Don't get me wrong, those people do exist, but I think wrestling fans are the most eclectic group of fans around, especially comparing it to other different facets of nerd/pop culture.

6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event?
The experience of going to a show is vastly different than watching it on TV. This is especially true from independent wrestling shows. But as far as the fan goes, there is little to no difference at all. Live events attract all sorts of wrestling fans. From casual to hardcore. Sometimes, it may change depending on the city. The bigger cities seem to attract more hardcore fans to the events than the small cities do.
 
#21 ·
1. I like watching wrestling with others
2. I first watched it in late 2007, in fact it was a TNA PPV. It was since I think 2009 when I used to watch WWE and TNA more frequently online while watching lots of older good wrestling matches since 1998, this was up until 2014 when I took an hiatus watching wrestling. But right now I'm an on and off casual fan of WWE, but I want to go back and watch older ROH and Lucha Underground shows if I have time.
3. I don't really talk about wrestling with others because most of my friends and family don't like it. But if I do I would just use the face/heel terminology.
4. I like enjoying talented wrestlers and matches with good old wrestling. But I usually only like the middle-to-end matches where the pace picks up and a shit load of exciting moves like top rope ones happens. I also at times like good storytelling in the matches.
5. The stereotype that I see would be how it is "fake" to lots of non-wrestling watchers. Also the good old "bunch of shirtless men fake fighting for a belt"
6. I've only been to one WWE live event in Adelaide in the back row, but had a great time. The problem is that when WWE go to Australia they always go to the popular Melbourne and Sydney cities but switch from Brisbane Perth and Adelaide each year. Which is why I can't go cause it's never in Adelaide. But luckily this time it's in Adelaide, and I'm sitting a lot closer, and am going with a friend this time around, so I think it will be funner than the last, even if it's a shit show.
 
#23 ·
1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not? Just the enjoyment of it really. Sometimes I'll take a back seat if it's becoming too much of a drag.

2.How long have you been a fan? Since the early 90's. My earliest memory I think is either Bret vs Bulldog at Wembley or HBK throwing Jannetty through the barbershop window, I took a sabbatical in my teens when I found out the realities of wrestling and I got back into it again about 5 years ago.

3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?) I do these days yes.

4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling? When they get it right (rare these days) then you will go a long way to beat it in terms of sheer joy and entertainment. Example Daniel Bryan's epic run and more recently on Sunday the continuing rivalry between Owens and Zayn.

5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it? Amongst my friends who don't watch WWE it's deemed that we are all sad and virgins etc. My reply is "you watch a movie when you know it's scripted and buy into it so it's the same kinda thing really". I see it more as an art form. You either get it or you don't. I used to think the same thing until I started watching again and I quickly changed my mind.

6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event?
I'm not so sure as I have only been to a house show although I've booked tickets for the first live Raw that will be in Scotland so I'm looking forward to that. I don't think I'm quite at the dedication though to save up 2.5k and book and head to WM, I think I'd rather spend that amount of cash elsewhere.
 
#24 ·
1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not?
I enjoy discussing wrestling with others online since I never really watch it with anyone else. Plus regardless of the problems I may have going on in life wrestling can make you forget about those. I think that's pretty cool.
2.How long have you been a fan?
Started watching in early 2005 by asking for the new SvR game for christmas and fell in love with wrestling from there. Started to buy lots of DVDs and it all just went from there. Did stop watching for 3 years in 2007 though.
3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?)
Depends whether that person will understand the terms themselves. Whenever I talk to my friends who are casual fans I just say stuff like "yeah Miz is a great bad guy" etc. If it's someone on this forum then sure, I'll use more insider terms just to get my point across easier.
4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling?
The mixture of athleticism, charismatic personalities and drama.
5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it?
Well my one friend who went to Raw with me pointed at any long haired metal enthusiast and said "they're definitely wrestling fans" so... :lol
6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event?
I guess the people who pay to see it live are more avid fans. I pay lots of money every 6/7 months to go to the shows here in the UK because I still love it deep down.
 
#25 ·
Ok happy to give the OP my thoughts.
I have been a fan for 25 years when I began watching then WWF at my grandparents house.
Wrestling bonded me with my Grandparents even more and wrestling has a special place for me and my loved ones.
I have seen the Hulkamania era through to New Generation, Attitude and Monday Night Wars through Ruthless aggression and PG to present and have remained a fan throughout.
I care about the product and about the direction it is going in.
I like many consider myself a fan of "wrestling" . By that I mean I believe the show should be about a combination of good athletic wrestling contests, wrestling characters of all varieties that stand out and make you want to love or hate them.
I am not a fan of breaking kayfabe even though we know wrestling is predermined, I still believe the industry should have their stars portrayed as their characters in and out of the ring.
I do not agree with the nonsense direction WWE have gone with crap like Total Divas and Tough Enough because I find it insulting that they are trying to pass it off as "reality" when anyone with a brain can see it is totally scripted and nonsense aimed at a demographic that could not care less about wrestling.
I find shows like that have made me lose respect for people I respected earlier which is a shame.
If WWE wanted to do a real reality behind the scenes show then they should have done so based on the goings on of how things are done backstage not a load of scripted soap opera nonsense that is giving no one a true insight at all.
As a fan I watch RAW and Smackdown weekly and the pay per views, I buy the DVD merchandise for big events.
As for opinion on other fans, I think the fans can be a great thing as they create the atmosphere and the buzz but I think some of the IWC are just bizarre in their disrespect at times and give fans in general a bad reputation.
I find fans like to complain about what is wrong but yet crap on things before they are even tried at times which is odd.
I believe the fans should be vocal because we are the target base, I don't care what anyone says about casuals, WWE want Casuals to become fans so the end result is people like us.
However I think there are ways and means of going about expressing opinion on wrestling in a respectful manner.
I think the talent of the WWE roster today is of a high standard, I believe that some of the roster do not deserve their spot but it is the minority.
I think Creatively WWE have been lacking for several years but have recently shown a more respectable effort.
Overall being a wrestling fan brings out so many emotions if you are passionate about it.
 
#26 ·
Hey man, I'm happy to help:


1.What makes you apart of this community? Why or why not?
- I love to discuss wrestling and learn about it, and with this being WRESTLING FORUM, it's the most obvious to be a part of. Although I have a lot of friends into different things, I have very few who like / watch wrestling, so coming here and being able to discuss it is great for me. I've been here a good few years now and always enjoyed it. I've learned things I never though I would, not specific to what has occurred or why it occurred, but the dynamics of wrestling and things other members know better than me. Overall, it's a fun forum that a lot of posters don't take them too seriously, a good place to discuss a large part of my life and the definitive voice in online wrestling discussion.

2.How long have you been a fan?
- Honestly, the day after I was born I was put in front of the TV sat with my brother who was watching wrestling. I can never remember not watching wrestling. I'm 29 today and can honestly say I've watched wrestling the entire 29 years, and honestly have been a fan since before I can remember.

3.What kind of language do you use with someone when talking about wrestling? (are terms like face/heel used?)
- Talking about wrestling in real life or on Twitter with someone who knows what they're talking about, I will say things like face / heel and lingo we're all used to, but I never go too far down that road. It's cringeworthy reading people who have never wrestled or been involved in wrestling using insider terms or just saying things to prove how "smart" they are, (there's someone I followed until recently on Twitter who refers to Triple H as 'Paul' and it's awful. They're being ironic, but they're trying to prove how smart they are, you know?), and there's nothing worse than one fan calling another a fan a 'mark' as an insult as they don't realise they are one, too. Overall though, yeah, if I'm talking to a fellow fan I will speak in terms I know they'll understand, but just talking about it to other people I will just use things like good / bad instead of face / heel.

4.What do you enjoy most about wrestling?
- Hard question to answer, honestly. This is probably a cliche, generic answer but it's an honest one, I think I most love the theatrics of it, the storytelling and the fact you can get lost in something you know isn't real but reels you in each time. I care about every wrestler I see and respect all of them, and the fact that each one entertains me in a way I get from movies or music, possibly more, is fantastic to me and leads me to still enjoying it almost 30 years later.

5.Is there a stereotype associated with being a wrestling fan? If so what is it?
- There is, yes. It's a shame but we still get people either telling us it's fake, as if we don't know, or laughing because we haven't grown out of it. On the outside the stereotypical fan is some sort of man child who can't determine real from fake, someone who should have outgrown something a long time ago and a person who is easily laughed at, which is absolutely stupid. There's wrestling fans I know who I've been out with and have actively denied being a fan which is absolutely crazy. I think the stereotype is wearing off, in my country anyway (England) because wrestling is now a fun thing to see / do, and is becoming more and more of a nightscene in recent years and it's a place where large amount of friends attent together, which is great. I do find that those who judge don't understand though, and think that they all think we're all sat believing everything we see.

6.Whats the difference between someone who watches the live show versus someone who may go to the live event?
- Not sure, really. I don't think there are a lot, it's just liking it in other ways. I personally haven't been to a live event because with work and a family, and again not having a lot of wrestling fan mates, I don't get to go, but I don't think I'm a worse wrestling fan for it. I'm a football fan too and hear an argument a lot that you're not a real fan if you don't attend the matches which is strange because some can't afford it or work on matchdays and a lot of other reasons, but some think they're better because of it. Now I don't see that often in wrestling but I have, people who think just because they attend shows they're somehow more of a fan than those who don't, so I don't think there's a lot of difference really. I think we all just enjoy it in different ways.
 
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