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The Over 30 year old WWE fan thread

10K views 121 replies 52 participants last post by  Juggernaut Reigns 
#1 ·
Hoping to chat to some like-minded over 30 year old fans of WWE in here.

Are there even any out there? :)

Well, these days I take the WWE for what it is - kid's entertainment that I enjoy. I enjoy the new TMNT cartoon too - and that is geared towards kids - so, it's all cool.

I think the difference between now and 5 years ago is that when a show does not go exactly as I want, or a star is not booked correctly, I don't feel shafted in my personal capacity any more - I just take it for what it is -->> a wrestling based entertainment show, not the end of the world...

I do find myself enjoying the underdogs though - and the pushed faces and heels for the most part hold no interest for me. Guys like Bryan, Ryder, Sandow, Ambrose, Cesaro keep me coming back for more - while the Cena's Sheamus' and Punks are only an afterthought unless they really perform - like Punk has the last 3 weeks or so.

Do the rest of the over 30s feel the same way? A sort of nonchalant interest in the show, while rooting for your favs - and just enjoying it for what it is?

Or are you still passionately supporting and have knee-jerk reactions to booking, burials, backstage segments and so on? (nothing wrong with it)

I hope we can come here and chat each week about the Raw past

PS> I enjoyed Raw last night - skipped past Wade/Orton - Meh'd the Shield / 3 Heroes fight - loved the Ryback / Cesaro match (although, Ryback really looked tired afterwards - gotta look at that cardio) and was mildly interested in Swagger and somewhat in Bryan's new antics (embrace the 'Yes' Bryan!)

PPS> I am sure under 30's can comment - but I hope we can at the very least keep this civilised...
 
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#41 ·
38 yrs old....been watching since the late 70s thanks to my older brother who forced me to watch NWA on Sundays when I wanted to watch cartoons or something else. Then I started watching WWF on Saturdays at noon. Kept watching all the way to the early 2000s when I finally got bored of the product. At that point it seemed like anytime I switched to RAW, all I saw was triple H with a sledge hammer or Cena (who I knew very little about because I didn't see him debut). I happened to switch to an episode of RAW approx 1 yr ago, and was hooked back in. I can only hope that 2013 will keep me interested…..let’s get Rock/Cena out of the way first and see if things get better after that.
 
#33 ·
Ugh... I get that sometimes too.

Another problem I have is when a show is boring, I can't help but go in my head - 'He is fake hitting him...Miz looks like he is punching him, but he's not... that kick was fake...'

I rate a match more stars the more it takes me out of this mindset

Good example was Cesaro / Ryback on Monday - I was bored at that point and my mind was wandering - 'look how tired Ryback is... that hit didn't look real '

But by minute 3 or so I was engrossed (since Cesaro dominated - coincidence?)

So, even though purists would not rate the match high - I would personally - as it made me interested and not 'feel to old for this shit' :)
 
#49 ·
Yeah man. It was great when it was just 4 big shows a year. They were all unique and you got the big match ups. They felt like events instead of just another show, good stuff. They could probably fill a stadium more than once a year if they didn't have so many PPVs and the ones remaining were made to feel special and can't miss.
 
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#50 ·
I'll be 42 next month and although I did enjoy the AE I also enjoyed the Hogan era. By the time mid-90s came around I had no time for the WWF
I watch WWE/TNA and a few other promotions.
Right now the booking in the WWE is horrible which is a shame because they have a fairly talented roster. PG has nothing to do with it being bad, uncreative creative and hiring workers that will coast along just for a check is what is killing the WWE.
 
#81 ·
Hi, there! I'm also an over-30 WWE and wrestling fan *will turn 43 tomorrow* that's been a student of the business since I was 5. I've never been in the business, but I've always loved it, and I've loved - and hated - how it's changed over the years.

Nowadays, I view it as a sitcom with weapons, and because I got a taste of ECW hardcore years ago, I'm wanting to see WWE go back to its' hardcore roots. Whether that will happen anytime soon is questionable, but I think it'd be a hoot if Vince McMahon started booking exploding ring matches and revived the Chamber of Horrors match.

Be blessed!
 
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#86 ·
Just joined the site,
33 years old, started watching around the Hulk vs Andre WM's... It's kinda hazy. Clearly remember Undetakers debut, and Hogan vs Warrior. I used to watch PPV's on random channels, partially scrambled, haha.

Watched pretty consistantly straight through the attitude era, then stopped for a number of years.

I've been back in 100% for about. 3 years. I had a son so I want to get him into it so I figure why not.

Nothing will likely be as awesome as being 18-22 here old during the attitude era, but I selfishly don't mind them toning down some of the stuff since I would like to watch with my kid. That said I they wants to bring back the adult stuff I'd watch that too... Just without the kid.
 
#100 ·
I'm 32 and have been watching wrestling since about 1984/1985, but I didn't get crazy into it until WrestleMania 5-ish when I became a huge Randy Savage fan. I would watch random matches on Saturday mornings circa 1984/1985 and enjoyed it from time to time but never got seriously into it until I saw that Hogan was challenging Savage for the title at WrestleMania 5 and I really got into the whole story of the Mega-Powers splitting up, it was just a magical time for me as a kid. But still, to say that I've been a fan since 1984 makes me proud and it's something I take pride in to this day, since getting really into wrestling I've collected videos and DVD's from all over the world and have stuff going back to the 40's all the way to current day stuff, so I'm pretty well schooled.
 
#2 ·
With time, I think more than anything, I've got patience with the product. Once you've seen multiple eras, it's not so startling when things start shifting and changing. I cheer my favorites and even though I recognize the signs and cliches that tell me who's likely to win, I still hope for my favorites to come out on top (ie, cheering for Punk at the Rumble). But when he loses and Rock vs. Cena II is booked, I don't flip out and rant anymore. Maybe I just understand and appreciate the business aspect of it a bit more now. I understand why they won't turn Cena heel, I understand why older talent is highlighted for shows like Wrestlemania instead of young talent, and I understand who the WWE is trying to reach with their shows now.

These days, I follow the news, I want the highlights from Raw & Smackdown, go to events when they come to town, and watch all the pay-per-views at a local bar. When a hot, good feud starts up, I get more excited. When things are a bit quieter, I'm a little less invested, but I know the pattern and something exciting is sure to start up sooner or later.

I'm still a big fan and consider wrestling "my sport." I think I've just accepted the business for what it is and am not so startled by direction choices I disagree with.
 
#3 ·
Yeah, another old fogie here :( :D:

I think atm with WWE, my glass is always half empty, if i think they'll go with the obvious route for a match/fued, more than often they do just that, so i just have to accept some things and mark out/enjoy the aspects i want to, from Punk/Bryan to Lesnar/Taker, ill know ill never enjoy it as much as i used to, and it leads to me moaning alot about it, but hey, 'tis the way it is i guess...
 
#7 ·
Another 'old timer' here

I had the absolute pleasure of growing up during the attitude era, which totally got me hooked on professional wrestling. I used to love flicking between raw and nitro.

I think the product these days it's very PG but there's a lot more families watching it these days. I'm currently in he process of letting my 7 year old son start watching it hoping he gets the bug ha!

His year I am ticking a box on my bucket list and realising a life long dream..... To attend Wrestlemania and I seriously can't wait!!
 
#10 ·
Yep, another old un here.

I tend to appreciate the wrestling more, than the entertainment side - though a good promo is always welcomed. But the crowd does matter - being English we love the chants, songs and noise. I don't mind their is no blood, or no swearing either - neither is needed, but nowadays what annoys me, is talent is wasted for some Vince ideal.

But the big problem, is the US audience. Or the kiddies in the audience. Perhaps their is no pantomime in the USA, so children just do not appreciate heels, they just come to see their hero's. It is almost like they do not know its fun to boo people.
 
#11 ·
I'm still pretty passionate about pro-wrestling. I do find myself getting worked up when I feel like things aren't going swimmingly. For me, I think the reason is because I have been watching & following wrestling for so long, I feel like all of my time invested should mean something, as a fan. Instead, WWE constantly makes me feel like not only does me being a fan not matter, but they don't care at all that I ever existed. The fans that were there to put them on the map are completely forgotten about like we don't exist. I understand building new audiences & your product switching gears & everything but I don't think it should be at the cost of alienating long-term fans. I have been watching WWE for twenty-five years. Through Hogan, through Hart, through Diesel, through Austin, through Rock, through Triple H & through Cena. I guess the marketing "strategy" is that we're not going to ever go away if we haven't yet but that's not true. I didn't watch RAW last week because the Royal Rumble was so bad. Although I did watch (and enjoy) RAW this week, I would leave if things didn't improve. Without the return of Mark Henry, the Punk/Jericho match or Brock Lesnar, that's a completely different show. The ending was still dreadful. The first hour might as well have not even happened.
 
#34 ·
Hey mate - love your positivity thread - as I mentioned in there as well.

Question - do you have kids? what do they think of today's WWE? Just wondering if you will keep on watching regardless because your kids' watch - which is what I think the WWE is accomplishing to a large degree.
 
#12 ·
This fits me as well. My first "live" (as much as it could be where I live) PPV was Wrestlemania VI and I still have very clear memories of how awesome it was seeing that as a kid, especially Hogan vs Warrior of course.

I've had quite long periods where I've stopped watching though so I've probably been away from wrestling slightly more than I've been watching since then. Right now I came back thanks to CM Punk and he's the one I'm counting on to always entertain me, along with Heyman. I also like Bryan, The Shield (especially high hopes for Ambrose), Cesaro, Ziggler and a few others. The returns of Jericho, Lesnar and Rock are also fun. The writing isn't that good though but there are good enough performers for the show to always have something worth watching.

I guess I can relate to the part of watching mainly the midcard guys and so on though, seeing how Punk is the first guy in a long time that's a big favorite that's also been pushed strongly as champ and main eventer for a long period of time.
 
#14 ·
Funny though - most on this thread would have kids (I don't - wife and I decided against it )

Does that make you guys more in favor of PG? Or do you long for the AE of our youth - happy to let your kids watch that with you as well if wwe changed back.

For me, I never enjoyed AE - as I don't enjoy Jerry Spinger mentality entertainment for the most part - I was a ruthless aggression era guy with Eddie, Benoit, Kurt and Lesnar at the forefront.

Those were the days IMO


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#20 · (Edited)
I was big on the AE because I was in High school/college and watched religiously during the time. But I also love the 80s period. PG doesn't bother me much, but I wish they would show blood once in a while. It's been an integral part of wrestling since well before I was born.
PG is fine, but if Raw is on umtil 11pm and usually lasts longer than that, why don't they put on an edgier product during the final hour? Kids shouldn't still be up at that point, so why not get a little bit edgier at the end of the show? My kids are WWE fans, but they're not old enough to stay up and watch the whole show. PG for the first hour and a half, then TV-14 for the second half.
 
#18 ·
I'm 35. I watch more to root on my "guys" and hope that they make it to the top. The product is not nearly as entertaining, but I enjoy reading about and discussing the business to the same degree I did back then.
 
#23 ·
The first Wrestlemania I really remember was me and a friend going to the video store and renting the 'betamax' copy of Wreatlemania 3 after it was released and thinking how great it was. We must have watched it 4 times over the weekend before returning it. I am 37 now and I have lightened up over the years and like others I enjoy the product for what it is now, entertainment and don't get as upset about outcomes or matches. I do not think the show being PG is a problem but as I have learned more about how the Wrestling business works I am less impressed with some of the booking of shows both TV and PPV. I know things will not always go the way I the fan want and WWE must have a business reason for what they are doing.
 
#24 ·
Didn't realise there were so many over 30 year olds here. (31 year old here)

I've been watching since about 87' Hulk Hogan is who got me into wrestling. Had the hulk rules bandana. collected the action figures. Then started to branch out and enjoy other wrestlers like Ultimate Warrior, Piper etc.

Been privy to some great periods but seen some awful ones as well (Yokozunas title reign being a perfect example) Undertakers match against giant gonzales being another.

Each era has brought something different to the table. One thing that seems to be lacking in todays era is intersting gimmicks. There are a few but you have a lot of wrestlers called "cody rhodes" "Daniel bryan" etc. and the gimmicks that are being used are just rehashes of old ones. e.g damien sandow is just the genius all over again. Granted he pulls it off quite well.

But then on the other hand i think the quality of the in ring wrestling has improved. as i said every era brings something different to the table.
 
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