[meehalych]

I have been always curious whether Americans are confident that all what is happening during this show is only a performance, that has nothing to do with a real fight?
Wrestling is broadcast in one of Russian channel and one if sticks to this show for a minute without moving to another program, may find the crowd yelling, reacting to any movement on the ring so one may assume those people do believe this all is a real fighting.
While watching this show in TV one can spot that all punches and kicks are not more than slight touches 
Those wrestlers are actors, not fighters, I conclude.

[Dazzler]

I assume (not being a fan myself) that most realise it is not real.. much like any live play. I think they just play along for a bit of fun...

But no doubt some are "sucked in" ...

[AlanHo]

Some years ago there was wrestling put on every other Friday evening at an ex-cinema next to where I worked. A work colleague's uncle was the producer and we were able to pop in during the afternoon to watch the wrestlers practice their moves for the evening performance.

[eye30]

A friends son did wrestling in the Leeds area and he told me that it was all set up.

They knew who would win and how long a fight would last so they could all get time in the ring on the evening's bill.

Just as a side. Here's a wrestling joke........

When is a ring not a ring?

When it's a wrestling ring......

[Dazzler]

I believe some of them have got serious injuries or even died when things have gone wrong.. THere life expectancy isn't very long 

http://prowrestling.about.com/od/whatsrealwhatsfake/a/wrestlersdeaths.htm

[Phil №❶]

Does anyone remember Mario Milano or Killer Kawalski of World Championship Wrestling fame. It was a show in the 60's & 70's. Even as a child I could see them stomp on the floor with their feet to make a noise when they were slamming their opponent, funny but fake. 

meehalych

Do you have UFC show on your TV. It's like kick boxing with no rules & they frequently draw blood. It's sometimes gruesome and very real. 

[rustynutz]

Does anyone remember Mario Milano or Killer Kawalski of World Championship Wrestling fame. It was a show in the 60's & 70's. Even as a child I could see them stomp on the floor with their feet to make a noise when they were slamming their opponent, funny but fake. 

I remember it well..... 

Do you remember the commentator, Jack Little having the "brain buster" done to him? 

[Phil №❶]

Heh, there was more "fighting" outside the ring than inside. It was SO BAD, I had to watch it,,,, damn. 

[Surferdude]

And then there was "Roller Derby".

[Phil №❶]

That's the one with the American girls right. Their favourite move was a remote elbow to the head, powered through their fist and forearm with the muscles of the opposite arm. Absolutely classic, I had forgotten that show. 

[Surferdude]

That's the one with the American girls right. Their favourite move was a remote elbow to the head, powered through their fist and forearm with the muscles of the opposite arm. Absolutely classic, I had forgotten that show. 

Boy you've got that move down pat.
Wasn't just girls though. There were men's teams as well and it was so popular in Oz they actually came out here for a few seasons, doing shows in Brisbane at Festival Hall and Sydney and Melbourne. I was in my late teens, so maybe 1966/67.
It's going through a resergence in Oz at the moment. I think they're even in Adelaide.

http://www.rollerderbyaustralia.com.au/

[Phil №❶]

I only watched the "girls", although I think some were blokes dressed up. 

[Surferdude]

I only watched the "girls", although I think some were blokes dressed up. 

Be careful. They interviewed some of the current crop of Ozzie competitors on TV recently. You wouldn't want them to hear you say that.............

[Phil №❶]

I'm sure the Ozzie girls are very nice people. No offence meant to any competitors who own i30's.

[eye30]

My friends son was a professional wrestler around the yorkshire area.

He once told me that the fights were set out before the match and they would do loads of falls, punches, kicks etc but none would ever connect.  If they did it was in error....

The fights were timed so all the bouts would fit on the bill.

They would take it in turns to win, loose or draw.  That way it would allow them to advertise certain bouts so as to get the punters in.

Do you get the old dear with the hair net and handbag having a go at one of the wrestlers?

[Phil №❶]

 :disapp:People actually pay to go and have their intelligence insulted.

[FatBoy]

:disapp:People actually pay to go and have their intelligence insulted.

We (spouse and I) took our two boys (10 and 8 at the time) to the WWE at Rod Laver Arena earlier in the year.  Both boys are aware that it is "Sports Entertainment".  My eldest even said to me, "If they really did that to each other, they'd probably kill each other."  Smart lad.

Saying that, it was a great night's "entertainment".  You know that it is fake, but you still have to be impressed when they do a flying back flip with a double twist off the top rope, or lift another person over their head.  Athletes, yes.  Sport, no. 

I saw an interview with Brett Hart (years ago), he was badly injured during a "match".  He stated that there is a "safe word" that they say if they are injured, and the other guy ends the match early, however, Brett had a ruptured sternum, so couldn't breathe, let alone say any words.  His opponent asked if he was okay, but wasn't getting a reply, so kept on with the "match".

The WWE has even gone to calling itself "Sports Entertainment", so they get taxed the same as any theatre event.  They even admit it is staged.  They have warnings before and during the shows that kids shouldn't try this at home, as it takes lots of practice and training to get the moves right.

We saw a lot of families there, like us, along with the kids.  It was sad to see the couples in their 30's with the fake championship belt and the promotional t-shirts on.

[meehalych]

meehalych

Do you have UFC show on your TV. It's like kick boxing with no rules & they frequently draw blood. It's sometimes gruesome and very real. 

Hmm, probably this is what we call M-1 mixfight here.

[meehalych]

I remember "Busido" being very popular in 90-s in Russia, so I went to school that time and admired watching that show along with the rest boys of our class. Finally we came up with idea of carrying out the same fighting in our school among the boys of our class. So we drew a schedule of fights, where it was said who would fight with whom and when. I fought only once and won (it took me a time to transform the fight into a wrestling on floor and use the skills I had gained from judo), after that I caught cold and was staying at home for two weeks about.