IWC...

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: IWC...

I don't see how wanting today's product to mirror the single greatest era in wrestling history is a bad thing.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: IWC...

It's not that its a bad thing, it's that the Attitude Era was the absolute PERFECT storm. You had multiple superstars in their prime, two major companies vying for supremacy, etc. It is really hard to mirror the Attitude Era because that era had so many unique factors that combined to make the product extremely special. It's horribly unrealistic to expect to happen again, or as easily as some may want.

[55]

Re: IWC...

I don't see how wanting today's product to mirror the single greatest era in wrestling history is a bad thing.

I'm sorry, but when they got a fat guy in a thong and a douchebag that did the worm as a finishing move, I stopped watching.

I was one of those folks who watched WCW until they ceased to exist, then tried to watch WWF for about a month or two before I decided it was too corny for me. I only started watching again about 18 months ago or so.

[GnarlyKing]

Re: IWC...

The internet and the excessive trashiness of the Attitude Era ran me off from wrestling back around 2001. I didn't start watching again until a few weeks before Mania last year. This time around, I try to avoid spoilers as much as possible and just enjoy it. In fact, this and R's blog are the only wrestling related boards or web sites that I ever visit, and while we might have the occasional spoiler here, it's usually nothing that isn't terribly obvious to a long time fan and JR pretty much refuses to put spoilers on his page, so it's all good. I enjoy it a lot more now than I did from about 98-01 because of that.

[EWRMETS]

Re: IWC...

I don't see how wanting today's product to mirror the single greatest era in wrestling history is a bad thing.

Wrestling was best in 1997 and 1998. By 1999, it became ridiculous.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: IWC...

IWC is a vague term nowadays. Anyone who talks about or searches the web for news/articles is a part of it. From the kids who post on the WWE Universe forum to 25 year olds overanalyzing 30 year old Memphis Wrestling TV episodes, we're all under the same umbrella. Like with any community, there's different groups within.

You can't say the internet has ruined wrestling. All that stuff that was "suprising" ten years ago was spoiled on the 'net (441, Rajah, Scoops, WrestleBoard, etc.), it was just a little bit harder to find. The sheets have been around for like 30 years. Spoilers have been around since the start since most shows were taped. It's just that the base has gotten bigger with more availibilty.

I agree about the cynicism. WWE has always been for kids and the LCD of society (really, all American wrestling the exception of St. Louis was). Nobody is really saying anything that wasn't said 5, 10, 15, 20+ years ago. The same people who hate Cena, hated Hogan. The same people who beat off to Dragon Gate, beat off to NJPW. The people who talked up ROH big three years ago traded AJPW tapes. The older crowd that bashes WWE were Southern wrasslin' fans, or thought ECW style was the pinnacle or some nonsense. Point is, all the criticisms are nothing new, just with new names. And even they haven't ruined wrestling because they're like the roaches of the fanbase -- around forever and not going anywhere.

If any fan is responsible for "ruining" wrestling, it's the ones raised on the Attitude Era who think that's what wrestling should be. But I can't blame them, or any type of fan. I can only diasgree with their views, which is what makes being part of the IWC fun.

Bam, end thread.

[Streets]

Re: IWC...

Bam, end thread.

Yeah... I don't think it's that simple.

I never said the internet ruined wrestling. I said it ruined wrestling for me. There's a difference. As was said earlier, you can't help but to hear spoilers now a days and back then they were much harder to come by (which can have a tendency to ruin suprises). My statement is more personal than a blanket statement. I also threw out the caveat that IWC was not the best word for the type of fan I was thinking of, but it was the best word I could think of.

I'm basically trying to find out if there is some appeal or benefit to being "in the know" and bashing the product for some, which seems to be the case. Other's feel it is their right to complain being the consumer (which I agree with, but it's not really my point). I'm interested in why people who continually bash the product and seem to hate 95% of it continue to watch. Saying "people always complain, it's nothing new" doesn't help me much.

Also, saying that fans raised on the attitude era who think that's what wrestling should be ruined wrestling... that seems like a blanket statement, and I don't understand it considering that wrestling was at the pinacle of it's popularity, pulling in amazing ratings. So while the era may have ruined wrestling for some on here, I have a hard time saying that those who want it back are in the wrong (though I'm of the belief that many have rose-colored goggles when looking at that era, and today's PG stuff aside, the long promos, 5 minute matches, celebrities, screw-jobs, and often flat out stupid gimmicks and storylines were commonplace back then... but that's another topic).

I'm not saying JJ is wrong, in fact I always value his opinion (especially in this forum), it is just that he doesn't speak for everyone in this thread.



I do!

/thread.

[55]

Re: IWC...

I'm interested in why people who continually bash the product and seem to hate 95% of it continue to watch.

That sounds like a gross exaggeration to say the least. I sincerely doubt that anyone who hates 95% of wrestling even watches it at all.

[Streets]

Re: IWC...

That sounds like a gross exaggeration to say the least. I sincerely doubt that anyone who hates 95% of wrestling even watches it at all.

I said "seems to hate...", as I don't really know the inner-workings of the average cynic.

[TimmeH]

Re: IWC...

The IWC really does bring everything down a notch for me. Mainly just because of the spoilers that slip up. I like being surprised, and most surprises are ruined because stuff leaks onto the internet and that's it. We all know where storylines are heading, who's turning on who, etc weeks in advance. I try avoiding wrestling sites/message boards as much as possible, but it's difficult to balance. With wrestling not being so popular these days, it's hard to find die-hard wrestling fan to discuss what's going on with, so I turn to message boards...but in turn, I tend to stumble upon spoilers and dirt that I'd rather not read. That's why I like these boards, for the most part, the dirt is filtered.

[55]

Re: IWC...

Save for the specific dirt and spoilers threads, everything here is pretty much put in the proper spoiler tags so I don't see what all the fuss is about.

[Streets]

Re: IWC...

Save for the specific dirt and spoilers threads, everything here is pretty much put in the proper spoiler tags so I don't see what all the fuss is about.

On this site, I found out about TDJ turning on Orton, Bret's return (and subsequent WM streetfight with McMahon), Sheamus-HHH, and

Spoiler

Rey vs. CM Punk being a Mask vs. Hair match... which has yet to happen, but if the spoilers are correct... I won't be suprised

That said, I agree that this is one of the better sites on the net as far as spoilers go.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: IWC...

On this site, I found out about TDJ turning on Orton, Bret's return (and subsequent WM streetfight with McMahon), Sheamus-HHH, and

Spoiler

Rey vs. CM Punk being a Mask vs. Hair match... which has yet to happen, but if the spoilers are correct... I won't be suprised

That said, I agree that this is one of the better sites on the net as far as spoilers go.

Same. And I just quoted this so I saw the spoiler in the spoiler tag.

FML.

[DJ]

Re: IWC...

I watched SD last night and had no idea what was going to happen before I watched (I don't read show spoilers) and I think that helped me enjoy the show more.