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...
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.
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...
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
33 here. I miss the Crockett days (I'm from the Carolinas), but always loved WWF/E too. I think it would be great to have an over 30 section here (not a knock toward any younger fans) because we have a completely different mindset toward the business.
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.
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.
Personally I'm a huge supporter of PPV's returning to the big 4 a year only model.
My first memory of watching a PPV was Summerslam 1990, Sky Television had only just been introduced to the UK a year earlier so we never got WWE in the UK before that time. Back then you never had to pay for PPV's in the UK and for some reason they were never shown on the Sports channels but on the Sky Movies channel.
My neighbours were also big wrestling fans and we'd be excited all week leading up to the PPV's. If there was 12 a year back then I think the novelty would have worn off quickly.
I suppose that's just one tiny facet of what's changed. Back then we had to wait for PPV's to see Superstars actually wrestle each other. I remember watching Wrestling Challenge and Superstars religiously.
Nice to see some other 'older' fans about. I'm 35 myself and started watching in 83.
I still find myself very passionate about the business but I don't take things personally either. Doesn't matter if my guys win or not, I tend to be workrate or character oriented and have an understanding of why things are done certain ways for certain purposes. As others have stated, the constantly shifting landscape has become common place and I've developed an appreciation for the campy nature of the product (sometimes bad booking, botches and blunders provide great entertainment).
It's fucking 'pro-wrestling' and I love it, but it's 'pro-wrestling'.
My children have probably been subjected to more wrestling footage than most people will see in their entire lives, but my daughter isn't interested and my youngest is too young to understand. My seven-year-old son on the other hand has only recently started taking an active interest in watching the product with me.
I have no problem with the modern product as it's geared to everyone, both adults and kids. Have even taken to showing my son some vintage stuff including AE and ECW but I'm also very liberal in that way and take the time to explain things to him as we watch.
Edit: I'd just like to add that sometimes being a contributing member of this forum can be difficult as an actual adult wading through a pool of often petulantly posting pre-teens.
Nice to see some other 'older' fans about. I'm 35 myself and started watching in 83.
I still find myself very passionate about the business but I don't take things personally either. Doesn't matter if my guys win or not, I tend to be workrate or character oriented and have an understanding of why things are done certain ways for certain purposes. As others have stated, the constantly shifting landscape has become common place and I've developed an appreciation for the campy nature of the product (sometimes bad booking, botches and blunders provide great entertainment).
It's fucking 'pro-wrestling' and I love it, but it's 'pro-wrestling'.
My children have probably been subjected to more wrestling footage than most people will see in their entire lives, but my daughter isn't interested and my youngest is too young to understand. My seven-year-old son on the other hand has only recently started taking an active interest in watching the product with me.
I have no problem with the modern product as it's geared to everyone, both adults and kids. Have even taken to showing my son some vintage stuff including AE and ECW but I'm also very liberal in that way and take the time to explain things to him as we watch.
Edit: I'd just like to add that sometimes being a contributing member of this forum can be difficult as an actual adult wading through a pool of often petulantly posting pre-teens.
I feel you on that last point - it is sometimes hard to remember we are not always chatting to age-peers. (note, I said age - I know age does not = mental maturity as I see a lot of posters on here below 30 with some real insight)
this doesn't even feel like a proper thread as no-one say 'you are teh suxxorz' yet
What did your son think of the AE stuff? who did he like?
I'm 32 and I skip through most matches these days. The show just really doesn't keep my attention like it used to, maybe because it usually sucks or just because I am getting old. Right now, Punk/Heyman/Bryan/Shield/Sandow is pretty much it for me these days. And I don't really want the Attitude Era back like some, just a better show.
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'
It seems a lot of is are like-minded - which is nice to see for a change.
We don't mind PG - but also would not be against a better show within that framework
I equate this to the current TMNT show I mentioned in my original Post - if you have ever watched that, it is undoubtedly a kids' show - but the humour is razor sharp, the action is great and the storylines well written - All Ages
Or take Avatar as an example - great action, great story, well written - all ages kids' show
Like most of you - I think it is the poopy jokes that get to me - but in opposite to that I think we can agree that Sandow, Shield, Cesaro and a few others deliver something different from the norm - which is a good thing.
I am interested to hear what the posters on here think of Ryback - since he gets a lot of flack most elsewhere on this board.
I kind of enjoy him - 70% positive and 30% negative only because of his lack of cardio. But I think he is ok on the mike and passable in the ring.
PS> I am 33 by the way (HA! had to ask my wife how old I am - the mind is going - too much beer in my 20s)
Ryback's ok. Not a skilled wrestler by any means, but he does a decent job with the gimmick. It may have been done by Goldberg who did it better, but that was done by Nikita before who did it even better, which was done before by ____ and etc...
I suppose my kids are to thank (or blame!), for me getting back into watching wrestling. They started getting into it in 2010 when the Nexus angle had just started. Then it was a case of " oh you're watching wrestling? I used to watch that. It was called WWF back then though".
I sat down and watched it one day with them and really enjoyed it. Very different to the last time I watched it, which was around 2000. The PG format didn't really bother me as I was watching it with my kids and had seen it all before anyway. When I'd watched Hogan, Warrior, Savage etc, it had been kid friendly.
Another 30+ here. my dad starting taking me to about 2 house shows a month right after Wrestlemania 3 so I have been a fan for a long time. Started off great with that kid amazement of the spectacle. Early 20's for the Monday night wars, Attitude era, and ECW and I think we just got spoiled during that time. Wrestling was awesome. Now I take it for what it is, entertainment. Not so much the super fan any more. Will usually at least catch the PPVs and odd RAW here and there depending on whats happening. There are things I love and absolutely hate in the current product. The rise of Punk and Bryan has been nice but the Cenas(present day), Hornswoggle, and Brodus Clay are just straight embarrassing to watch. If my girl walks in on any of those segments and asks me why I watch that crap I have to search for an answer. She never comes in when something awesome is happening. But the again she watches real housewives so my ass is always at the ready for her to kiss. But alas I am attending my first Wrestlemania this year and am beyond stoked. I've been through some turns in the business and always hope it will turn back on the up again.
I'll be 30 next month. I don't need the AE era back, either. But as others have said, I think there is a happy medium between where the product is now and the AE. I don't see why they can't delve into that area alittle bit more. I'd be perfectly fine with the Ruthless Aggression era type of content. It just seems alittle too "kidd-ish", over-produced, and too clean, as well. These are all fixable things, but it doesn't seem like they have much interest in changing things up at least a little bit and that's a shame. Because WWE is stale at the moment.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Wrestling Forum
23.4M posts
266.5K members
Since 2002
A forum community dedicated to all Wrestling enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about WWE, AEW, Ring of Honor, Impact and all forms of professional and amateur wrestling.