WS presents: What IF series! # 3

[Wrestling Station]

Wrestling during the old school had very less amount of highflyers and more of technical superstars.

Today, we have more and more highflying maneuvers and thats what most fans want to see (high risks).

So what IF the wrestling industry never accepted the high risk takers to this wrestling world? Do you think that it would have taken another twist in the talent production? Do you think that it would still be old school till today? Or do you think that there would have been more of hardcore matches (to be classed as high risk as there is no highflying going on) ?

 

[Airfixx]

US mainstream wrestling: High flying isn't what got it huge to start with, it was the 'amplified' characters, so I don't see 'flying' being that significant a part of it's evolution. Aside from maybe HBK, none of the biggest stars of the last 2/3 decades (or even before for that matter) have been anything close to what you'd consider to be a 'High Flyer'. (I suppose you could argue for the likes of RVD or Jeff Hardy, but neither are even close to the stature of "Superstar" I'm refering to.)

...As for the global wrestling industry(Particularly of note being the Mexican-style) no expert on the history, but I think it's fair to assume that the afformentioned style/scene represents a further significant curveball to the question/topic.


You wanna debate a key point in the evolution of modern wrestling? ...I'd say look towards the ECW/Hardcore-effect (and the catalysts for that particular style). How many times do you see a match rubbished because of lack of blood? ...Can't recall similar reactions due to a lack of high flying. Alternatively, imagine how badly MITB would get bashed if there was no weaponry or sick bumps involved...?

 

[Wrestling Station]

^so youre saying that hardcore matches is what fans are looking for? I mean what will catch their attention more than highfly stunts?
So this will bring up the issue of WWE turning to PG rate. Doesnt this lead to the raise of CZW on the other hand?

I know you will say that fans would love to follow feuds and storylines (as CZW lack this thing), but still WWE lately are lacking decent storylines right now. Its rare now to see any blood in the WWE after the PG rate. Doesnt it frustrate the (upper portion of fans that are more interested in hardcore) not to see such in WWE?

 

[Airfixx]

^so youre saying that hardcore matches is what fans are looking for?

No, not specifically.

You questioned the influence of high flying over the modern era and I said I felt ECW/hardcore had been far more influential.

I mean what will catch their attention more than highfly stunts?

...Good fueds?

...Interesting characters?

I can only speak for myself and what enjoyment I've garnered from wrestling over the years, but if I was spending every Monday night hankering for a splatter of blood or a 450splash (i.e. a matter of seconds from a 2 hour show), even in more Attitude-ridden times I doubt I'd have retained my interest in the product very long at all.

So this will bring up the issue of WWE turning to PG rate.

...These days, what doesn't get blamed on WWE going PG? :roll:

Doesnt this lead to the raise of CZW on the other hand?
I know you will say that fans would love to follow feuds and storylines (as CZW lack this thing), but still WWE lately are lacking decent storylines right now.

Granted there's always room for more, but Rey/Jericho, Punk/Hardy, Dreamer, HBK/JBL IMO all illustrate otherwise.... Even with Orton/HHH/MacMahons it's only the matches that have let it down.

As for CZW... Sorry, I can't even take it seriously... Backyard bullshit that somehow got enough of a budget together to hire a venue & ring.

Looks like 'chicken', smells like 'chicken'... but, tastes like shit.

Its rare now to see any blood in the WWE after the PG rate. Doesnt it frustrate the (upper portion of fans that are more interested in hardcore) not to see such in WWE?

Hardcore doesn't simply equate to blading.

As for the "upper portion" of fans? ...Assuming you mean the older fans, from what I've observed, it's mainly the late-teenaged fans that miss the blood THAT much(*). I'm one of the oldest members on IWF and I, for one, couldn't give a shit about the guys bleeding.


(*The same guys that grew up with ECW & the Monday Night Wars... Coincidence????? :roll: )