Hot Topic: Criticism in Wrestling
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| Source: wwe.com |
Since this topic has been brought by wrestlers and backstage officials on social media and podcasts more and more over the past few months, i think it is time to dive into this topic.
Via this website, forums or social media I have also voiced my opinion on current wrestling products and so do thousands each day. But everything past the 'not my cup of tea' seems to increasingly offend those, who are on the other side of the business. This article is not to discredit those who work hard to entertain us, i personally fear this current argument might result in a rift between the two parties. In this article i argue as a fan and i will display and discuss arguments of people in the business.
From the eyes of a fan:
Yes, there are fans verbaly attacking wrestlers, laugh at their injuries etc. But those are not the vast majority. The vast majorty of non-casual fans just shares a deep passion for the wrestling business, way beyond just WWE. Of course emotion run wild from time to time. That is just what happens when you have such a passion for something and want it to be good. Some might not admit it, but in between all the awesome things wrestling does week by week, there are flaws. flaws someone who does this for decades might not see. That is okay. Personal attacks are not alright, but often criticism is just not ment that way, but taken as such. It is the old disseminator and recipient thing. A fan should not only be allowed to say that he did not like something, he should also be able to lay out why. She or he should be shut down just because 'she or he has no clue about the business'. Most of us respect the performer and the work behind the scenes. Most of us are very much aware that wrestlers put their body on the line for our entertainment every single night. But: Even the best thing can not always be good and I for myself, i want to say if something is not working out, in hopes my/our opinion gets heard and things might get tweaked next time, resulting in something better next time.
People have been criticising other forms of entertainment forever, but it seems like in wrestling this is a sensitive topic for some. Do I want to be rated on an online forum doing my work? No. But am I a public performer or company, in need of a positive public opinion to sell my goods? Also no. That is how I view it.
Fans are in no position to lash out or bark orders against performers and production, but our opinionshould be valued.
From the eyes of people in the business:
Tweet from the COO of Westside-X-Treme-Wrestling (Germany's Biggest Wrestling Promotion):
https://twitter.com/wXwTas/status/1138328595645046785
There have been several opinions out there, but I just picked this tweet right now, because Tassilo Jung is a trusted man in the wrestling business and is also the biggest reason I felt it is time to do an article like this.
I agree with Jung saying we have turned into a weird, negative society. Absolutley. Everything is bad, always. But I also think that goes to both sides. Negative opinion has increased, but so has negative reception. Thing ment as a slice of criticism might get taken as an attack towards the wrestler's work. Of course there are people out there, that want to do that, but i can only repeat myself and say: Most of us do not have that intention.
He also argues that people never would want to have such negativity against them, but are happy to insult perfomers and that has been deemed acceptable by the society.
Yes, like in all places, idiots (sorry I have to use that term) have gotten louder and sometimes even have increased in numbers. Just do not give those a stage, but do not forget to hear those out who actually voice their opinion in a good manner and try to give ideas, without the intent to insult someone.
These reason I have chosen Shane McMahon as the thumbnail for this article comes clear on Jung's follow up tweet a day later.
https://twitter.com/wXwTas/status/1138709205827891201
BILD is Germany's biggest newspaper and is not exactly what one would call journalism, also when it comes to wrestling.
I would compare it to TMZ in the USA or The Sun in the United Kingdom. Screenshoted article says 'Please leave' towards Shane McMahon, but also 'please stop' when it comes to the Undertaker and Goldberg match.
In the on going argument on Twitter the editor of the articles argues that opinion can be part of journalism. After that Jung made another statement (translated by a fan here: https://twitter.com/ReiseleiterTim/status/1138753364374827009).
In this statement he explains himself once more and also adds that media (and politians, too) are responsible for a bad discussion culture, that users started to adapt.
A lot of fans and other people fans picked up on this, this is not all Tassilo Jung alone. Fans and other people from the business have shared a simular opinion either during this discussion or during othter altercations between websites, fans and wrestlers.
Websites and fans have to get back to arguments and criticism that the people you are talking about bout can work with. But people in the business also have to accept critisicm sometimes, it it is done right and stop getting hot about that. Just for the record: Tassilo Jung is open to criticism, but there are wrestlers that have a tough time dealing with it, even if it is with the best intentions.
I do not want to see this create a rift between anybody. Let's just blend out the idiots and all just watch out what and how we say something, when we did not like a certain thing.
We Love Wrestling, don't we?
Information: This blog is non-profit. This article was not done to promote myself or this blog, this is something that is very near and dear to my heart.
