All of the opinions expressed in this blog are solely that of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Diva Dirt as a whole.
Diva Dirt caused a little stir on Twitter yesterday, and by “little stir” I do mean little (more of a teacup tremble than 8.0 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale), yet this brief interaction sparked the inspiration for a wider debate in this column. You see, independent wrestler and one half of the SHIMMER Tag Team Champions, Courtney Rush, was a little unhappy it seems by a tweet of ours inviting readers to vote on whether they felt the Beth Phoenix injury on Raw was an angle or legitimate. Mimicking the style of our tweet, Ms Rush responded: “Reader Poll: Wrestling’s mystique – kill it completely or play along?” The response struck me as a little odd; in all of my near five years as editor of this here site I’d yet to encounter a talent hit back with that particular argument, and wondered if such wrestlers were just mythical creatures. I began to think, “Where do I stand on this?”, but the more thought about it, the less it was about where I stood on the issue, but whether the issue still existed in 2012?
The irony of this exchange taking place on Twitter, on the Internet, wasn’t lost on me. After all, the fact this conversation was even taking place suggests how different the wrestling landscape is today compared to the days of yore. I imagine those piss-and-vinegar wrestlers trekking from territory to territory would scoff at the idea of Twitter and the Internet. If fans and websites discussing whether Beth’s injury was an angle is killing wrestling’s “mystique”, as insinuated, shouldn’t we consider Twitter and the Internet as a whole as killing wrestling’s mystique? The fact this conversation was taking place on Twitter surely added to this Dexter-ing of the mystique, no? The unprecedented, cosy interaction Twitter affords between fans and their favorite celebrities can be seen to harm their “specialness”; for example, you wouldn’t have dreamed to be able to tweet Elvis Presley, but now you can tweet Rihanna in an instant and get response (disclaimer: response not guaranteed). In wrestling, where storylines are/were (you decide) considered sacrosanct, this level of interaction poses an issue: How “in character” do you need to be? How “out of character”? Should you be on Twitter in the first place?
The teacup tremble of a stir started with Beth's injury.
In 2012, most wrestlers can be found on Twitter or Facebook because it’s a way to promote themselves, gain bookings, hawk their wares, and even plug their Amazon wishlists. I don’t see anything wrong with any of that personally–I’m kind of a Twitter junkie and have a wishlist, too. But for the sake of argument, I would suggest that all of this, too, is in direct conflict with the so-called “mystique” of wrestling, however, most wrestlers are perfectly happy to use Twitter and Facebook for the aforementioned uses.
Of course, that is to say that this mystique even exists in the present era. Most fans above a certain age are surely aware that Kelly Kelly isn’t a performing monkey whose sole reason for existence is to come out to the ring when “Holla, holla” hits–she’s a real person with a life just like the rest of us. Fans surely know that, right? (I hope.) Furthermore, if you’re a fan on the Internet (and if you’re reading this, then you are) and follow Kelly Kelly on Twitter, then you are just as capable of Googling her. One quick Google search will show you that Kelly Kelly is in fact Barbara Jean Blank. Additionally, the profession’s top company itself is obsessed with Twitter and trending topics; this allows the audience to be more part of the product than ever. Not to mention WWE’s own constant kayfabe breaking by simultaneously acknowledging Triple H as a character, as well as the company’s COO under his real name, Paul Levesque. So, just how much of a “mystique” can there really be?
In this exchange between Diva Dirt and Ms Rush, several of the wrestling rabble chimed in–most typically supportive of their peer (one even cheerleading for Rush as if she were the best thing since sliced bread–okay, hyperbole, but it’s my story! #CreativeLicense), but one person strayed from the pack. SHIMMER’s Nicole Matthews became my tag team partner in spirit, tweeting: “Knowing the process of something you love is fascinating. That’s why the lives of artists of all types is researched. Does the fact you know Picasso’s place of birth, or the process behind his work make him or his art less interesting?” I agree. Personally, fake or real, Beth’s injury would’ve made me admire her–it doesn’t take away from the actual product. If it’s an angle, great job; real, what a trooper! Nicole added, and I think this is most important, “I don’t think fans/websites should censor their thoughts.” Agreed again. In this case I’d suggest it is Beth’s and WWE’s obligation to create mystique around her injury, not anyone else, and by all accounts, Ms Phoenix is doing a fabulous job at convincing people of her affliction.
At the end of the day, my personal belief is that discussion — whether it kills this elusive mystique or not — can only be a good thing. In this particular instance, our teacup tremble of a stir has created more discussion about Beth and her injury than there might have been. That gives a woman in wrestling more publicity, and puts her more in the consciousness of the fans than she might have been four days after Raw aired. I personally believe that is a good thing.
11 Comments
at 12:35 pm
I actually agree fake or not I will still watch WWE.
BTW, i think it wasn’t fake because you see when all the divas we’re on top of Beth, Beth had time to tell them that she was injured and she wanted nikki to roll her up, and then when Natalya and Tamina pick Nikki up you can totally see Tamina telling Nikki to roll Beth up because she’s injured, just watch closely.
at 1:08 pm
Wrestling may be mystique, but it’s a business and it goes with all the media around it, except WWE.com, no media has an interest in keeping the mystique, it’s not their business.
Movies proceed the same way, there is storyline, and there is reality, and people disconnect from the movie as soon as it’s ended, why would wrestling be different.
Plus everyone knows wrestling is fake, it’s the first thing people tell you when you say you watch wrestling, it’s the first thing you notice when you watch wrestling.
That being said, the first rule of wrestling is : it’s fake but we do not talk about it.
at 1:16 pm
Stop being deluded! It’s clearly not a genuine injury. And DIVA DIRT.. It does ruin it slightly for those who like to play along that you’d post that on Twitter. Consider everyone in these decisions please. There are enough people running around spouting about how they think wrestling’s fake GO FIGURE so fair enough have articles on this site but there’s no need to carry that kind of post over onto Twitter, where a lot of wrestlers like to pretty much stay in character a lot of the time!
at 1:52 pm
The mystique behind wrestling storylines has changed over the years due to the internet & other technology. We are able to share our ideas and thoughts to the world now, which was once not possible. I’m here writing this from a little town in Shropshire, England (Shrewsbury, for anyone who is curious), and this message will instantly be posted onto this web page which can then be read by thousands of other people from different countries around the world.
Yes, it may have killed the mystique behind wrestling & the drama in its programs, but you take what has been provided and put a positive spin on it, such as WWE & TNA promoting through Twitter & Facebook, to encourage fan communication as well as storyline progression. Personally, I love being able to discuss opinions on active storylines and read spoilers about upcoming events. This is wrestling in 2012, this is how it works now. It’s changed, for better or for worse? That’s up to us to decide, but there’s no going back.
at 2:01 pm
It depends on the person. When you watch behind the scenes of Titanic (yes, I’m comparing wrestling to Titanic. lol) and learn how they did the special effects, does this ruin the movie? Because I know who the actors who played Jack and Rose, does this ruin their characters? No and no.
I didn’t see what was wrong with the poll. It’s no different than “Do you think Quinn died in the car crash? Yes or No”
We can still play along and know it was fake. Isn’t that what do all the time while watching wrestling?
at 2:32 pm
Courtney seems a little jealous of the publicity that somebody is getting…
at 3:55 pm
read the whole argument last night. im going to side with rush on this one.
at 4:11 pm
hmm, it’s weird. it’s as if, as a fan of the industry, i feel like i deserve to know everything, real or not? yet i guess it sort of does ruin the fan experience, the mystique? kinda similar to how, if i was to watch a ‘behind the scenes’ dvd extra on one of my fav. tv shows.. that sort of ruins the show for me. =/
anyone with an internet connection should know just how fake wrestling can be, so a reader poll like that on a website devoted to wrestling.. i don’t really think it’s a big deal. what’s next, being told off for posting spoilers? =/
props to courtney for sticking up for her sport, though.
at 6:45 pm
I think people can and should think for themselves. I don’t understand why someone would be upset with a tweet.
Beth’s injury IMO opinion seemed genuine live, but the way she was going on at it on Twitter seemed staged and hyped up. With past injuries, Beth never played up to injures. Matter of fact, she actually denied them and tried to play them down.
So that made me realize it’s part of a storyline. Not to mention lately, WWE have been pretty Twitter-happy when it come to storylines. So I guess they do want that mystique back in wrestling.
But people aren’t stupid. I know Kharma doesn’t kill bitches dead but I play along, don’t I?
at 7:06 pm
We are all aware that everything is script (except for real injuries ofcourse) but that’s not because it’s “fake” we will stop watching it. That lady as an issue if she believes Melanie is taking the wrestling “mystique”. Are there people still believing they are actually fighting and experiencing dramas on live tv?
at 9:51 pm
The “mystique” was done away with 30 years ago with the rise of cable TV and home video. While most fans were already aware it was scripted, video trading proved it. With video, fans would see two wrestlers having a bitter feud in their own city, while, at the same time, being a tag team in another city.
The promoter of the New York territory realized that everyone knowing it was scripted could work to his promotion’s advantage, and got one of the biggest pop music stars at the time, Cyndi Lauper, involved in a storyline about the Women’s Championship. This got the attention of the international entertainment media, who covered the story as it developed, making that promotion a phenomenon. People who’d never watched wrestling tuned in each week to see what would happen, next.
This led to a big MTV special, “The Brawl To End It All,” Moolah vs Richter, the most watched pro wrestling broadcast in history, up to that point. Vince kept the storyline going, bringing Hogan & Piper into it, leading to the first Wrestlemania. Vince forgot, somewhere along the way, that it was the Women’sChampionship that MADE the WWF, but that’s another subject. None of it would have happened if people still thought it wasn’t scripted.
If anyone still thought it wasn’t scripted, the 90s removed any remaining doubt. WCW, for example… For anyone who has never seen it, look up “White Castle of Fear” on Youtube. Words can’t describe that. But, I think it’s safe to say that not even the little kids really believed Vader lived in a dark castle in the mountains with those girls and the evil dwarf henchman.
Then, the internet took off, stories about backstage politics got out, and ECW promoter Paul Heyman took full advantage of it. For example, look up “Steve Austin ECW Promo HD 1080p” in which Austin goes there about proposed storylines, politics, being held down, and he names names. Then, the nWo at WCW used the fact that everyone knew it was scripted. HBK’s WWF promos accused Bret of keeping younger talent held down & calling Sid the company’s “most expensive piece of luggage.” And newer fans think CM Punk invented the worked shoot. :)
If Courtney doesn’t want the cat let out of the bag, she needs to take a time machine a couple of decades back and put a stop to it. Better go back and stop that Internet thing from taking off, too. Well, really, she’d need to go back to the early 80s and stop those cable and home video things from happening. Because, she’s three decades too late to complain about a little site focusing on women’s wrestling suggesting that it’s all scripted.
The clock CAN’T be turned back to the “good old days” of the territories and kayfabe. Technology made sure of that. And, really, pro wrestling was dying in the US before cable revived interest in it. If it hadn’t been for cable, home video, and the Internet, there’d BE no Shimmer, since there wouldn’t be a market for an all women wrestling promotion in the US. Courtney wouldn’t be a professional wrestler.