Wrestling in the Media Part 1

One year ago I did something on this site called Asking the Crowd and that was a five week series wear I asked 7 or 8 wrestling fans a variety of questions. Since then and before that I have done a lot of different fan interaction posts on this site to get you guys and gals involved in what I am posting. Now we have the biggest post yet as you will see in the coming weeks a lot of people have gotten involved in this post and I couldn't be happier. Thanks to everyone partook and I hope you enjoy!!

​Question 1: Will Pro-Wrestling Ever Be Respect by Main Stream Media?
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Let's Play TEW: It can be. Look at comic books. It is possible to go from the butt of the joke to the forefront of pop culture. That said wrestling needs a crisp product with stories that capture the average person again.

​Christelle: Yes because you must successfully entertained while doing physical prowess.

​Eamon Corbin: Yes and no. I always respect each and every wrestler past and present for paying their dues, sacrificing time and punishment for years. I will always respect Vince McMahon for WrestleMania and what WWE has been all these years for the fans. But I lost respect when it became about what they wanted. Guys who look like Cena get 30 championships while smaller talented guys get nothing. Roman desperately needs to be the next guy in Vince's mind, so much in fact that he's willing to put his own creation WrestleMania, to absolute shame and has been willing to put Roman against all boos and all hatred from the fans just hoping and praying that with a "sufferin sucatache" he could finally get over. But he hasn't and he won't. And for that WWE and Vince have lost some of my respect so it's a yes and no.

Raw Attitude Podcast: No, wrestling will never be fully respected by the mainstream media because so many people still have the idea in their heads that wrestling is simply "that fake thing The Rock used to do." Whereas other organizations have the broad appeal of the masses (e.g. -- NFL, MLB, NBA), wrestling caters to a very niche audience, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. We do occasionally see pockets of mainstream acceptance (ESPN covering "WrestleMania 32," TMZ breaking the story of Lana and Rusev's engagement), but other than that, the only coverage you're probably going to see from major media outlets is when the next former WWE personality dies far sooner than he/she should have.

​AttitudeofAgression: I think wrestling is definitely moving in the direction of mainstream media acceptance. The best evidence of this is what is going on with ESPN. You now have a weekly interview segment with a top star on Sports Center every single week. That is huge because you have so many people who complain that wrestling is "fake" and the guys and gals are not real athletes. Well, having ESPN feature them really undercuts that argument. You are seeing the same sort of evolution taking place with eSports (such as League of Legends). Now, if you are asking whether ESPN ever gives a whole segment to the Main Event of Mania, like when the Super Bowl is played...no, I don't see that happening. But the world is a lot smaller now and with blogs, podcasts, the Internet, and ready access to information, I think you are seeing wrestling cross over into the mainstream media more than ever before. Wrestlers are being recognized as the tremendous athletes that they have always been. Exciting times.

​Ken Johnson: As a whole, maybe not because most either think it is all fake(which to that I like to say, wrestling is just scripted, because you can't fake gravity) or childish or a combination of the two. I do however think that they will or do respect some individuals in the wrestling profession.

Anthony Walker: Yeah I believe it can be but only if it is created right IE creative booking and that but for it to be respected I think they need to drop the PG era that's my view.

​War Eagle #WWE: That is an amazing question. I feel that the media is leaning that way, with the superstars being included on such shows as ESPN, Good Morning America, and so on. This may be due to the superstars undeniable fame and not respect. Wrestling as a sport has never really found its place in mainstream media but I feel the times are changing, with the popularity and with the overwhelming support of the fans it can happen.​





​For more from these fine people:
​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3onEmsEqWigN6so-qMwYHw?app=desktop
​https://www.youtube.com/user/LetsPlayTEW
​http://www.attitudeofaggression.com/
​https://www.youtube.com/c/gamesmatterchannel