WWE Presence On ESPN Under Increasing Scrutiny

[Roadster]

It's not Journalism? I guess it ain't Journalism when someone writes about a TV show, play or movie. I have no problem with ESPN or Sports Illustrated covering WWE, and I don't see why anyone else would either. WWE seems to be going more towards a more Sporty type outlook with their deal with Tapout, and more.

 

[edge4ever]

Well, he IS right in a sense. WWE is character driven, storyline driven, and the direction and fate of everyone involved is guided by the powers that be behind the camera, just like with any other fictional television show. No one is actually going out there and winning or losing a match for real. Undertaker didn't actually have an undefeated streak at Wrestlemania. John Cena isn't actually overcoming the odds. Hulk Hogan didn't actually beat Andre The Giant. Etc., etc. That's what completely distinguishes it from things like boxing, mixed-martial arts, basketball, baseball, football, soccer, amateur wrestling, tennis, racing, and the other hundreds/thousands of sports in the world. Competing for spots or pushes backstage doesn't count, as actors and actresses compete for roles in movies and television too, yet I can't recall the last time someone categorized acting as a sport.

To be fair, WWE do call it Sports-Entertainment for a reason, but it will always be far closer to pure entertainment like any other show because of the predetermined nature of the business and the fact that there's no legitimate competition going on in the ring. Matches are fixed, guys win or lose depending on how it works within the context of the storyline, guys get pushed to the top because of business reasons (i.e. who will draw the most money) and not because of how gifted they are athletically, etc.

Anyway, this topic is kinda going off the rails at this point.

There's no doubt, whatsoever. That these stars are acting. I will not argue that, nor have I argued that. But, they are also physically competing with each other. For example, even though dolph Ziggler may know he's going to lose a match, he still attempts to perform better than his opponent. Whether it be with selling their moves, dishing out moves, and simply out classing them.

In other words, every superstar is out there not only to follow a script and story, but also to compete with each other in a physical sense: there's extreme amounts of competitiveness.

Oh, and I 100% agree that people will get pushed not always based on altheticicsm but money; as we all know WWE is still a business. However, that doesn't deter from the fact that it's still extremely physically competitive and these people are hardcore athletes.

Agreed, it is off the rails. But I like the points you made.

 

[Snowman1]

Was this guy able to get a "breaking news" graphic with his "wrestling is fake" story?

Seriously, every time I hear something like this, it reminds me of Perro Aguayo, and all the less-tragic injuries that have come off routine moves.