Could Kayfabe Work Again?

[Mick Donalds]

Let's discuss Kayfabe.

Should the WWE go back to a strict Kayfabe approach to the storylines and booking? With how the internet has changed access to wrestling for the fans, would Kayfabe work again in the current environment of social media, cell phone cameras and youtube?

I don't have a strong opinion one way or another, but I will say it seems awkward to me when the WWE is doing their cross-brand or non-wrestling ventures and have heels and faces working together to represent the company. I mean... (for example) if the WWE is promoting "B.A. Star/Say No to Bullying" what sense does it make to put David Otunga (a Heel who should have a tendency to act like...a Bully) on TV or in the community reassuring kids to speak out against bullying?

That's just one example, but this can be a worthwhile thread if we discuss the real issue. Could Kayfabe work nowadays? Should the WWE go back to it, even if for just an experimental run to see what results could be produced by it?

 

[PHX]

There really is no way I think they could do full 100% kayfabe like they used to do back in the day. They've gone too deep to go back and the the internet age just makes it even harder than it already is to do it. They could still do stuff like heels not doing charity things but full on kayfabe having the wrestlers stay in character as much as they can in public days are something that just couldn't work in today's world.

 

[Mick Donalds]

I don't know... I don't see why everybody staying in character all the time wouldn't work. It was funny back in the '80s when heels would interact with fans and would just run them down and make fun of them in public. I kinda think some of the heels need kayfabe to return.

 

[Deezy]

Kayfabe is totalyy different now.

They don't kayfabe real issues, but they do work net marks everytime they post a tweet or a tout or end up on a newsletter.

They work the internet base, because they know they are the easiest ones to work.

 

[Cena's Jeans Shorts]

By breaking kayfabe though, the WWE doesn't have to put up Alberto del Rio in the best hotels, have him seen in the best restaurants, flying only first class, limo to and from events, etc. on their dime. I also think that by not embracing kayfabe, the media is more willing to work with them. How much would any local TV station or a newspaper reporter care to do a promotional interview with wrestlers that come to town if they're going to yell and snarl in character.

I think they are still largely on the work, but by not going to the extreme lengths of kayfabe, it allows certain conveniences. They're still very image conscious. Maybe to the extents you're speaking of. But I think in the end, they made moves they believe works for them in the big picture.

 

[Mick Donalds]

By breaking kayfabe though, the WWE doesn't have to put up Alberto del Rio in the best hotels, have him seen in the best restaurants, flying only first class, limo to and from events, etc. on their dime. I also think that by not embracing kayfabe, the media is more willing to work with them. How much would any local TV station or a newspaper reporter care to do a promotional interview with wrestlers that come to town if they're going to yell and snarl in character.

I think they are still largely on the work, but by not going to the extreme lengths of kayfabe, it allows certain conveniences. They're still very image conscious. Maybe to the extents you're speaking of. But I think in the end, they made moves they believe works for them in the big picture.

I could see that, I guess. But then again, only the faces should be going on promotional TV. A heel would only come on to insult the audience, the host of the show, etc. I think faces have a little more leeway in breaking character and acting "normal", whereas heels should always be on the work.

 

[Troy]

There is no way to go back to kayfabe because everyone knows that it is all a work. Back in the days when people all thought that it was real there was a need to keep up appearances but now it would just be silly to try to go back to those days. People should be able to realise that a wrestler on tv is just playing a character and that they aren't really like that in real life and should be able to do charity work/promotional appearances etc.

 

[Gimmick]

There's no way kayfabe could go back to what it once was, it's been exposed far too much. People still watch wrestling and know it's fake, so there's no reason for them to be fooled. If wrestlers started staying in character outside the ring then they'd look like idiots who are taking themselves too seriously.

 

[Crippler]

The way the internet is now and the use of twitter and all these other social media stuff coming out, i don't see it working ever again. We are just in a completely new era.

 

[EffectsofRaven]

By breaking kayfabe though, the WWE doesn't have to put up Alberto del Rio in the best hotels, have him seen in the best restaurants, flying only first class, limo to and from events, etc. on their dime.

Didn't Ted DiBiase SR as the Million Dollar Man get that though ? It's not too farfetched for them to possibly to do it if they put caps on Alberto Del Rio spendature/ getting him to go to the worst of the best (if that make sense).

On that note, Kayfabe still works on manly levels but impossible to do like they used to do.

 

[Mick Donalds]

If there's no reason to go back to Kayfabe outside of the arena, what's the point of even playing a character inside the ring then? Fan participation levels (heat and pops) are nothing like they used to be. Since the fans all know it's fake now, what's the point in even playing a heel or face anymore?

 

[Chris]

I don't think kayfabe like the OP is talking about is even close to possible mainly because there aren't those kinds of characters anymore, most of the characters we see on TV are just exaggerated personalities of the person playing it. Take CM Punk for example, he's just as much of an asshole in the airport as he is on TV. The only characters who truly break kayfabe in public are guys like Kane & 'Taker. I'm pretty sure if you see Brodus Clay, he'll be just as happy-go-lucky as he is on TV, same goes for most of the other superstars and their "characters."

 

[Troy]

If there's no reason to go back to Kayfabe outside of the arena, what's the point of even playing a character inside the ring then? Fan participation levels (heat and pops) are nothing like they used to be. Since the fans all know it's fake now, what's the point in even playing a heel or face anymore?

Fans know that Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart aren't really vampires and they still go crazy for them in real life. They are playing characters on screen just like WWE stars are playing characters at shows. There still needs to be heels and faces because that is how a wrestling show works, people just need to accept the fact that they can't expect these workers to play their characters when they aren't working.

 

[Keith]

Fans know that Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart aren't really vampires and they still go crazy for them in real life. They are playing characters on screen just like WWE stars are playing characters at shows. There still needs to be heels and faces because that is how a wrestling show works, people just need to accept the fact that they can't expect these workers to play their characters when they aren't working.

Also the idea of dropping heels and faces is almost like saying lets not bother having wrestling because part of the appeal is the conflict, the fact that
they are fighting over something not just doing it because its a sport (or worked sport as it were).

It can never returne to what it was in terms of kayfabe and that is very sad and is the main reason in the decline of the business, the magic
more often than not has been lost. There are odd examples, maybe for a special programmes when it can be done, but not on a major level.

 

[Mick Donalds]

I just think it's stupid to have Heels doing charity and activities outside the ring that are "good".

For example: Cody Rhodes shouldn't be touring military bases giving high fives and smiling. If he's on the tour, he should be drawing heat by calling the fans idiots and complaining that he has been forced to come along.