Running head: Final Draft

Ready to Rumble?:

Why Women Watch Professional Wrestling.

Amanda Burns

Saint Mary’s College

Notre Dame, IN

December 1, 2000

Abstract

There are many theories about why women watch professional wrestling, yet many of them have never been tested. A qualitative study was conducted to better understand why women watch professional wrestling. Nine women who are avid watchers were interviewed and answered 26 open-ended questions. An analysis of the current research data and questionnaire responses identified four specific areas as contributing factors of professional wrestling interest. These findings indicate that there is a shift in theory regarding women as wrestling fans.

Ready to Rumble?:

Why Women Watch Professional Wrestling.

LIGHTS, cue music, cue effects, CAMERA, cue wrestlers, ACTION. This is just a typical start to any airing of a professional wrestling televised event. Avid wrestling fans have tuned in to watch their favorite wrestlers battle their on going nemeses. Men, women, boys and girls of all ages have turned out for the event, all claiming that their favorite wrestler is the best, the meanest, and the strongest there is.

Everyone who watches the event reacts and interacts in their own ways to the soap opera like story lines. Some are deeply involved and enthraled with a character, while others just sit back and watch in amazement with the wrestlers actions. With action not always taking place inside the ring, the question of the quantity of violence, and how its audience has sometimes reacted, has been raised. So why do people continue to watch? Dive into the dark corners of the ring and find out who still stands once the bell has been rung.

In this corner...Professional Wrestling

Today’s professional wrestling roots stem from the ‘old world’ wrestling styles of the Greco-Roman era. It wasn’t until the mid 1700's that America got its first feel of wrestling. German and Irish immigrants gave wrestling a ‘new world’ twist and staged bouts at country fairs or touring carnivals. “‘At Shows’ (short for athletic shows), where wrestlers with colorful costumes, equally colorful nicknames, and fictionalized biographies would wrestle each other or accept challenges from all local comers.” (Albano, Sugar & Woodson, 1999, p. 16) This new form of wrestling had a stimulating effect on early America; it brought a new form of entertainment to the masses. Six United States Presidents even knocked gloves a few times in the wrestling ring: Washington, Lincoln, T. Roosevelt, Taylor, Taft, and Coolidge (Albano, Sugar & Woodson, 1999).

The earliest recorded ‘new world’ wrestling match was in 1871 in Pennsylvania, a match for “the championship of the United States and Canada and $2,000.” By the 1880's, Greco-Roman wrestling was all the rage. Greco-Roman wrestling, a style that was developed in Europe in the 1860's and made its way to America about 10 years later. This Greco-Roman style of the time had little similarity to that of the classic Greco-Roman style, but still persists today in a modified form as an Olympic sport (Albano, Sugar & Woodson, 1999).

Most of the first great American wrestlers were made up of first-generation Americans of European descent. They combined Greco-Roman wrestling and catch-as-catch-can wrestling. This type of wrestling allowed the wrestlers to grasp any part of their opponent’s body, and falls were scored whenever both shoulders of a wrestler touched the floor at the same time. The second wave of American wrestlers, Frank Gotch, Tom Jenkins, Dan McLeod, and George Hackenschmidt “The Russian Lion,” used this style and gained audiences and support for the sport of wrestling (Investigative Reports, 1998).

The popularity of wrestling to its audience wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for its superstars. Ed “Strangler” Lewis, was just that, a superstar of wrestling in the 1920's. In a career of more than 6,200 matches he was to “lose” only 33 times. Gotch and Hackenschmidt would put on two of the most celebrated bouts in wrestling history and two of the most controversial. These matches skyrocketed them into wrestling’s ring of superstars. During the 1920's a promoter, Toots Mondt, wanting to change the pace of wrestling matches and bring new faces to a growing list of superstars, decided to install a time limit. Without the time limit some matches lasted hours and sometimes days. Mondt also introduced the flying dropkick, to make matches more interesting to the audiences of the 1920's (Investigative Reports, 1998).

By the time the roaring 20's were replaced by the troubled 30's, the American Dream had become a nightmare. Like all other forms of entertainment, wrestling struggled for its existence, but fought on. With wrestlers like Dick Shikat, Jim Londons, Jim Browning, and Gus Sonnenberg, wrestling continued to flourish. It was during this time that promoters decided to shake things up to increase its audiences. They put a time limit of 10-15 minutes on the matches, started to have women’s wrestling, tag teams, and even mud wrestling. Crowds finally started coming back to the ring. “A record 45,000 people paid an estimated $75,000 to see the July 1933 championship match between Danno O’Mahoney and Ed Don George.” (Ball, 1990, p. 43) One of the biggest things that the promoters came up with during the 30's, was to recruit a new kind of wrestler, the former collegiate football star. Football stars from the likes of Dartmouth, the University of Nebraska, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Minnesota all tried their hands at wrestling. Wrestling’s fortunes didn’t improve throughout World War II either, times were tough and as with everything, wrestling suffered. Times were about to change in a very big way for wrestling and for the rest of the world with the introduction of the television (Albano, Sugar & Woodson, 1999; Investigative Reports, 1998).

Television and professional wrestling were made for each other. It offered an almost made-for-television format and offered wrestling an entirely new group of fans and fans-to-be. But the professional wrestling era during the 40's and 50's wouldn’t have been what it was, if it wasn’t for the unique and standout, Gorgeous George. Gorgeous George always put on a show and incidentally became wrestling’s first pure ‘performer’, which set the stage for wrestling’s new direction: showbiz. The postwar era for professional wrestling saw a whole new dimension of action and adventure. With showbiz came athletes from around the world ready to bring back the bright lights and screaming fans to the professional wrestling arena of the 60's and 70's. Some of the men who skyrocketed to the top during this time were Bruno Sammartino, Verne Gagne, Dick the Bruiser and the von Erich family. In 1963, one man was about to make a huge change to wrestling and his name was Vince McMahon Sr. McMahon broke away from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) to form the now famous WWF. It is with the formation of the WWF by McMahon with help from his son, Vince McMahon Jr., and later its competition, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) run by Ted Turner, that professional wrestling became part of the 1980's pop culture (Albano, Sugar & Woodson, 1999).

The 1980's and 90's brought stars like Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mankind, The Rock, Goldberg, Sting, The Big Show, Chyna, Sable and Lex Luger who blew the roof off of wrestling in just a short amount of time and still continue to dominate today. These are the current stars and have taken wrestling and made it the blowout success that reaches 14 million viewers a week and have even conquered the information superhighway by spawning websites upon websites. Both the WCW and WWF have official websites to find the latest information on current wrestlers and upcoming events (Albano, Sugar & Woodson, 1999).

Professional wrestling, according to Morton and O’Brien (1985), has become a staple in American culture and in part a ritual in the lives of Americans who watch. “Professional wrestling, too, is more a drama than a sport. The actors are athletes, but is ultimately not their athletic prowess that is significant, but rather their dramatic talents are what makes them success. But just as all drama is not ritual, this fact alone does qualify professional wrestling as a ritual” (Morton & O’Brien, 1985, p. 156). This is just one of the many reasons one might get the itching to watch professional wrestling. The professional wrestling performance combines breathtaking athleticism and prodigious showmanship. Wrestlers present themselves as larger than life figures, wear costumes, have entrances to flashy music, carry trademark props, and have signature gestures and shouts. With a soap opera like appearances, professional wrestling provides mini-plays or dramas that are significant to spectators. The actual competition is secondary in importance to the drama that precedes and follows each event. According to Rickard, professional wrestling is the only sport that gives such an externalized image of torture (Ball, 1990; Mazer, 1998; Morton & O’Brien, 1985; Rickard, 1999).

In this corner...The Fan

What would wrestling be without the fans? Millions of people are tuning into the events on cable television and millions more going to see the live events all over the United States. With magazines, videos, websites, T-shirts, action figures, cologne and most recently movies, one cannot go anywhere without having the force of professional wrestling in their face. At the American University in Washington, D.C., students have even formed their own club, The American Wrestling Association, and tune into every wrestling event (Kleiner, 1999).

The fan of professional wrestling cannot be typecasted into one category. Everyone watches male and female, young and old, doctors, lawyers, teachers, factory workers, sales people and everyone in between. Just in the last half of the 1990's professional wrestling has gained increase popularity in American and has become mainstream. McHugh (1999) mentions wrestling has always been the area that has generated the dollars and brought the fans along with it. It was Gorgeous George in the 50's, Hulk Hogan in the 80's and Goldberg in the 90's, that brought them coming back time and time again (Economist, 1999; Jensen, 1998; McHugh, 1999; Rossellini, 1999).

With wrestling fans tuning into wrestling programs however they can. Some fans are intensely involved with the sport whether playing or as the spectator, which has been labeled as the ‘deep play’ a term used by Real (1996), or ‘a deep fan’ used by Schrader, Wann and Wilson (1999). The concept of Deep Play was developed by Clifford Geertz. “The theory of deep play in his descriptions of the involvement of Balinese spectators in the popular ritual cockfight...the involvement of the sports fan in a mediated sporting even closely parallels this deep play” (Real, 1996, p. 51).

According to Ball (1990) there have been many theories concerning the popularity of wrestling as a spectator sport among women, a few of them involve the ‘deep fan’ approach. The Sport Fan Motivation Scale (SFMS) is an instrument designed to measure eight different motives of a sports fan. Written by Scharder, Wann and Wilson (1999), the eight different motives of a sports fan are eustress, self-esteem, escape, entertainment, economic, aesthetic, group affiliation, and family. These eight motives along with the theories that Ball expresses gives us an insight on how and with what level of intensity fans, in Ball’s case women and the sport of professional wrestling, get involved with the sport they watch (Ball, 1990; Wann, 1995; Schrader, Wann & Wilson, 1999).

In this corner...The Media

With professional wrestling becoming more and more readily available in the households of America, and around the world, questions about the level of violence being portrayed and the amount of violence people watch has been raised. Holmstrom (1998) writes about the obscene culture surrounding the world of professional wrestling and its influences on children. “Much of today’s wrestling presented by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and the World Championship Wrestling (WCW) has a newfound emphasis on hostility, obscenities, and sexual explicitness” (Holmstrom, 1998, p. 1).

Berger (1996) and Brants, Hermes and Zoonan (1998) all agree on the potential influence on the viewer and take into account the public’s interest of how much violence the viewer actually watches. McBrien (1999) probes into the possibility of teaching media literacy to everyone in the United States. The kind of viewer that professional wrestling is aimed at are young males between the age of 16 - 25, but not restricted to them. Women are also tuning in and are exposed to the same level of intense violent acts.

Even with the speculation of the violence in professional wrestling, the soap opera like story lines, the extreme acrobat like moves, the lights, the music, the websites, the T-shirts, the money, the flash and pizzaz of the wrestling personalities, people still tune in and keep coming back. Why is this? Why do people, especially women, watch this form of sports entertainment? What keeps them coming back for more? To find out, you will just have to tune in next time. Are you ready to rumble?

Purpose and Rationale

Professional wrestling has become a staple in American culture. Everywhere people turn they are bombarded with T-shirts, magazines, commercials, televised events, movies and music all inspired by professional wrestling. Professional wrestling and television go hand in hand, each playing on the other’s benefits.

With millions tuning in all over the world, pro-wrestling wouldn’t be where it is if it weren’t for the fans. Professional wrestling, has gone through some up in downs in its life time, but in the last few years has grown into a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Nothing can stop the force, good or bad, that professional wrestling has on America and on the world. All though professional wrestling has always been geared toward male viewers, recently more females have begun to watch and have jumped onto the pro-wrestling bandwagon.

Many theories concerning the popularity of wrestling as a spectator sport among women have been made. None of which have been scientifically tested and only a few scientifically measured. These theories should be tested. The fact that they haven’t been tested, is reason enough to do so. This research will try and put some of these theories to the test by examining “Why women watch professional wrestling?”

Method

To find out why women tune in and watch professional wrestling, the method that was used in this study was a type of qualitative research. Qualitative research was the best way to conduct this study because, qualitative research is oriented toward the ‘experience,’ the understanding of human activity.

The audio taped one-on-one interviews were to help the researcher to understand the interviewee’s activity of watching professional wrestling. This was done by asking them some open ended questions. The researcher attempted to understand why they tuned into this male dominated form of sports entertainment by asking the interviewee 26 open-ended questions.

Sample

The target population is females that are avid professional wrestling fans. With the impossible feat of trying to contact every professional wrestling fan that is female around the world, the only accessible population were females who are avid professional wrestling fans within the chosen college community.

The college that was selected for this study, is one of the Nation’s Premier Catholic Women’s College in the Midwest. The college insists on a liberal arts foundation for all its students. A broad-based course of study invites students to think critically and creatively about the natural world and human culture. The women, from the college community that were used in this study are between the ages of 18 and 22 and were in the top 10% of their high school graduation class.

The type of sample that was collected is purposive. The reason for collecting a purposive sample is to collect people that are wrestling fans. Using a random sample would get a mix of fans and non fans. Purposive sampling allowed the researcher to collect information from only the female fans.

For the researcher to find all possible female wrestling fans at the selected college, contacts were made with a few students who are fans on campus and in a chain-reaction or snowball effect were put in touch with others. The researcher had been put into contact with 9 avid wrestling fans. It is also possible the interviewees could put the researcher in touch with others that watch after the initial interview with them. The researcher was put into contact with 3 people in this manner. This purposive sample allowed the researcher to sample as many professional wrestling female fans that they can get into contact with at the selected college as possible.

Instrumentation

The instrument used in this research was a researcher instrument. For the extended interviews, the interview schedule consisted of 26 open-ended questions broken up into four sections (Appendix B and Appendix C). The extended interview took no longer than an 30-60 minutes to complete by the interviewee and was audio taped for transcription purposes. The tapes, after the transcription process, were erased.

Again this theory seems only be half true. The argument about women middle-aged and the fact of being introduced to sex later in life, does not sit well with the females of today’s society. Sex has been an ‘in your face’ topic, at least for a good portion of the women’s lives that were interviewed. The part of the theory that might have some truth is the part of the psyches and vicarious gratification. Deep down in your subconscious, the question is asked, when does pain become pleasure? The fact that here are many people out there who are into the dominatrix and S&M role playing, just goes to show you can’t count this part of the theory out.

The last theory that was read to the women states, that it is not necessarily the sexual appeal of the good-looking wrestling hero that attracts women to the sport. Many of the less attractive wrestlers receive fan letters from women and are mobbed by women at arenas. At least one writer believed this to be due to women’s comparing the ugly stereotype with their husbands or male friends. The familiar male would appear relatively more desirable (Appendix C). This theory seemed to stump the nine women. Many of them thought the theory was interesting and never really thought about it. Participant D, stated it best when she said, ‘I think it depends on the female and what her particular body type, facial features, hair aspects, which she likes, if that is the kind of person that she enjoys, then yes. But if she likes the Hollywood look then that is the one she is going to like more. Big and buff versus Leonardo Dicaprio, scrawny and 12ish.’

This theory seems to agree with most of the women, in stating that it really doesn’t apply to the masses. It all depends on what the woman, who watches, what she wants and likes in a guy. One woman might want the not so attractive underdog to watch and then someone else might want the big buff Hollywood looking type.

Background Information

All nine women, when asked, confirmed that they did watch professional wrestling. Most of the women said that they watch professional wrestling between once or twice a week. Out of the nine women interviewed, eight said that they only watch World Wrestling Federation (WWF) while only one stated that she watches both WWF and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). This greater number that watches WWF over the WCW, seems to show that the WWF is more popular among people that watch professional wrestling than the WCW.

Women seem to start watching professional wrestling at a late age. Most of the interviewees started to watch at the age of 18 years or older. However two did state that they used to watch it when they were younger and watched it until they were in junior high school. While in high school they stopped watching but started again once they got into college. This period that they stopped watching is when the interviewees were in their teenage years. Girls during this time, seem to be more involved in make-up, puberty, boys and trying to fit in at school. Wrestling seems to not be included as something cool during this time, so they stop watching. Once in college they know who they are and aren’t so involved in trying to find their identity and they come back to wrestling.

Participant G gave her reason:

I was in elementary school, but there was a gap between sixth grade and junior year in high school, where I didn’t watch it, but I started watching it again when I got into my junior year.

Participant E gave her reason:

I started at about five, but then I didn’t watch for a while, and then I recently started watching it again about 6 months ago.

Influences and Motivators

Wrestling, like life, has an influence acting on it. In trying to find out if there were any family influences on the nine women interview, there were some interesting answers. Some of the women stated that neither their parents or siblings watched wrestling. While others stated that they had a male influencing them, either their dad, brother or both. One women stated that everyone in her family watched. But the most interesting came from 20 year-old participant E, who said that it was her grandmother who got her hooked on professional wrestling. This is very intriguing because there is a small amount of a female influence on females to watch wrestling. Wrestling is such a male-dominated sports entertainment industry, for the most of the time it is the male influence on the female that gets the women to watch, not the other way around.

It seems to be this male influence on the women to watch professional wrestling that when asked, they state that they don’t normally watch the programs on television with other women. A few of the women stated that they don’t watch wrestling with anybody of the same gender. The majority stated that sometimes and on rare occasions would they watching with one or two other females. Participant G stated it in this way:

Sometimes if someone is walking down the hall and I am watching it, they might stop in.

It seems that a male influence is very present in who women prefer to watch professional wrestling with. Only one female said she does not watch it with males, while the rest stated that they watch it sometimes with males, usually with one or two other males. The males that they tend to watch with are either their boyfriends, brothers or guy friends.

This male influence on the female to watch wrestling seems to differ from what seems to motivate the female to watch (Variable List, Appendix E). A small minority stated that there was a male influence present on why they watched. Participant B, stated that what motivates her was the hot sweaty half-naked guys. Participant F said it was her guy friends who motivated her to watch wrestling, it was just another way to be with the guys. Participant H, summed it up as the Rock being her sole motivator.

The other side of the male influence is the entertainment value. Soap opera, dramatic storylines and fun entertainment seemed to be the consensus of the bulk of the women on what motivates them to watch (Appendix E).

Participant A had this to say:

I like the fake drama. It is very amusing and entertaining.

Participant D stated it in this way:

It is like a soap opera and it is absolutely hilarious.

Participant G said this:

You understand the drama in the middle of it when you get older. It is more a soap opera, you are following a story.

Females, it seems from these results that they, are not solely motivated by a male influence to watch professional wrestling. Many women seem to watch wrestling for the dramatic aspects and soap opera like storylines of the show more than anything else.

Why Watch? New Theories

It is this entertainment aspect of professional wrestling that most of the women interviewed seemed to get out of watching wrestling. When asked what they get out of watching professional wrestling, the answers were quite interesting. For the most part they get entertainment and laughs out of watching (Appendix E). They also stated that it is relaxing and a mindless kind of fun, wrestling seems to be something that they don’t have to seriously do deep thinking about.

Participant A explains it this way:

I find it relaxing, because it is an escape from reality. It can be fun to watch unrealistic drama.

Participant D states it is way:

A whole lot of laughs.

Participant F says it like this:

Wrestling is just one of those things that you just don’t have to think about, you know it is just purely entertainment.

These statements are fascinating because many times you hear people say that women think to much or read too much into certain topics. Women defending themselves say they don’t, but maybe they do. Wrestling is just one of the few things that can let them escape from reality and they don’t have to think or worry about life in general.

If they find it an escape from reality, they sure don’t make it a big part of their reality. When asked if they reenacted or recreated parts of the show most of them said no, they didn’t go that far. Unlike their male counterparts, who have been known around the United States, to recreate the shows and or start their own wrestling federations. A few interviewees said that they use ‘the people’s elbow’ or dialog and catch phrases of certain wrestlers. And only, participant F, said she reenacts the show with her friends. She states:

Yeah we actually have done Smackdown before. Everyone, including myself, partakes in the theatrics. We don’t take on character names, but we just do holds or just mess around.

The women might not go as far as the men in recreating the moves, but they sure seem to take with them the lingo. When asked if they use any professional wrestling language in their daily life, the vast majority of the women said yes. They use pretty much just the catch phrases and or dialog of the professional wrestlers. Some of which includes the phrases, ‘laying the Smackdown’ and ‘Can you smell what the Rock is cookin.’

It is this fine line, between tv land and reality, that these women don’t seem to want to cross. They use the language, sometimes recreate the show, but all said that they have never attended a live professional wrestling event. And only about half of those women, said that they would ever want to. It is interesting that they are all for watching wrestling in the privacy of their rooms. But give them tickets to attend a live event and most wouldn’t take you up on the offer. This could show that women might be afraid and embarrassed to let the world know they watch professional. They sure seem to give off the impression that it would make them less of a person. Women seem to only take wrestling so far into their lives.

Yet they keep tuning in and coming back for more. When interviewed about wrestling and how it appeals to the female viewer, most said females tune in for the bodies of the male wrestler to see their physical size. Another reason that was stated was that is breaks the feminine mold and gets guys to notice you. If you can talk wrestling, the guys will seem to notice you and be impressed. The women also seem to say that the violence and dramatic soap opera style is different in wrestling than other shows that they watch.

Participants E summed all of it up like this:

I know at least for myself and my friends that watch we started watching it again because our boyfriends. Because it is so popular among 20-something guys and they think it is funny and start reenacting it. We are their girlfriends so and we are like sure we will watch it, and then we get so wrapped up in the plot. Like I said, it is a male soap opera. I think that there is also a certain kind of violence to it that we don’t normal express in the female soap opera and other tv shows we watch. I watch Felicity all the time, but there is not a lot of ‘Smackdown’ going down on Felicity. So sometimes you want a little bit of violence. Sometimes you want to get really mad. It kind of lets you live out that whole naughty girl thing.

It is this violence and physical action, that all the women state is the main difference between what attracts the male viewers and the female viewers of professional wrestling. Males, according to them, seem to like the ‘primal action’ the ‘sheer violence’ of professional wrestling, to get ‘their testosterone pumping.’ Where as women seem to tune in to watch for the dramatic storylines, good looking wrestlers and its pure entertainment value.

‘Real’ v. ‘Fake’

It is this notion of wrestling’s entertainment value and what is ‘real’ versus what is ‘fake’ that seems to have no definite answer. The argument over wrestling being ‘fake’ or ‘real’ has taken over a life of its own, with no clear winner to declare. All the women interviewed argued their points.

Participant B explains her view in this way:

I think the argument is pretty pointless. I mean thousands of people watch professional wrestling. I think it is both. I think there is a lot of showmanship but there is really big chance of physical injury.

Participant C sees it like this:

Well since a lot of it is fake and some of it is real. And you can usually tell what is real and what is fake. I think its pretty much, I think it is real. I mean I get mad sometimes when people say ‘it’s fake.’

Participant G had this way to look at the issue:

It’s fake, I mean everyone knows it, if you don’t too bad. The fact is that it is a real sport and they do do real activity that does take real physical exertion out of you. And they have to train for all the physical activity that they do. I do realize that some of them do really get hurt, so that is the real part of the wrestling as far as the scenarios and the marriages, that is all fake, it is just part of the industry.

The argument of whether professional wrestling is ‘real’ or ‘fake’ still goes on with no end in sight. No one can come to agree with one side or the other. It all depends on the viewers perception of what they have come to believe is ‘real’ and what is ‘fake.’ Is it ‘real’ because there is the possibility of injury or ‘fake’ because it is choreographed. The answer is a toss up and the answer seems to change from viewer to viewer.

The Portrayals of Women

One answer that seems to be consistent, among all the women that were interviewed, was their answer on how they think women are portrayed in professional wrestling. Words such as degrading, negative, hoes and sex objects were encompassed in all their answers. There was also the flip side of this bad side. Many of the women expressed how one women wrestler in particular, Chyna, is a ‘woman of obvious strength, who is competing on the same level of men’ as stated by Participant F. No one seems really happy about the way women are portrayed in wrestling. Participant A says that they, ‘portray an attitude about themselves.’ While Participant H states that, ‘I don’t like the way they are portrayed. But the women that participate set themselves up for it.’

When asked how women should be portrayed in professional wrestling, Participant G summed it up very well by saying, ‘In every respectful way possible.’ There were also comments on women being ‘portrayed as equals to the men,’ having the women partake in a ‘more serious role, and bigger roles behind the scenes,’ and have the women be ‘sexy in a classy way.’

Then again, some say, like Participant I, that in ‘that context that’s the way they should be because, that is what you want from them right then.’ Or take Participant H’s response, ‘for the entertainment, I don’t think there is any other way to portray them to make it interesting.’ Breaking down all these answers, it looks like these nine women suggest that the professional wrestling industry try to dress sex down, make it classy, be respectful to the women being portrayed and to the women who watch and not be too overly offensive.

Suggestions to Change Wrestling

Along with these suggestions about the portrayals of women in this sports entertainment industry, they came up with a few more when asked if they would they change anything about professional wrestling. Suggestions such as, ‘making it less choreographed,’ ‘change the way they treat women,’ invent or come up with new ‘gimmicks, the tables and chairs, just don’t do it anymore’ and have more of an emphases on ‘don’t try this at home.’ One positive aspect of professional wrestling that has occurred according to Participant A is:

A good thing that the WWF is doing is getting it audience to register to vote. Both the Rock and Chyna were at the Democratic and Republican National Convention. I even registered to vote through WWF.com

The sports entertainment industry has a lot of work ahead for them in the future if they want to keep the women tuning in day after day, according to the nine women interviewed.

Discussion

The nine women who interviewed and discussed the reasons why they watch professional wrestling have come up with some theories of their own. Instead of watching for the ‘good versus evil’ or to let ‘their frustrations out,’ as the old theories state, it is out with the old, in with the new. There seems to be a move towards four new theories on why women watch professional wrestling. This theories include watching for entertainment value, the soap opera storylines, mindless fun and the guy wrestlers. The women interviewed for this study have given some insightful information on why the 20-something women of today watch professional wrestling and how much of it they take into their personal lives.

It seems the tides have changed and it is has only pure entertainment value in their lives. The women want the laughs, they want the soap opera type storylines and they don’t seem to really want to have to think deeply or be deeply involved about professional wrestling. They also don’t let professional wrestling take over their lives, like it could with their male counterparts, as some of the women interviewed suggested. The lingo and catch phrases seems to be the only thing that they take into their daily lives. They don’t want to cross that line between reality and tv, and have wrestling take over their lives.

The reason for the shift from the old views of why women watch, to the new views, could be in part from the changes that professional wrestling has gone through in the last part of the 20^th century. In the beginning wrestling was 100% sport, and gradually it has become almost 100% entertainment. They don’t call it a sports entertainment industry today for nothing. Nevertheless those interviewed still can not agree on whether wrestling is ‘fake’ or ‘real.’

Times have changed, society has changed and so have the ideals of women. Professional wrestling industry take warning, the women of today don’t seem to care much for the scantily clad women of wrestling. You want them to keep tuning in day after day, give them something of what they want. You don’t have to sacrifice everything. We all know that sex sells and it keeps the guys coming back for more. If all the women interviewed got their way, the way women were portrayed in professional wrestling would change. But as one of them suggests, make it sexy in a classy way. Some who were interviewed thought Chyna was a good start, she is a ‘women of strength’ and glamorous at the same time.

This research is just a start, the possibilities for future research are endless. The research conducted here was just a small sample of private college students in the Midwest. The women that were interviewed all came from upper middle class backgrounds and go to a private Catholic college. More accurate or in depth answers and theories could be found if you were to interview women of all economic and educational backgrounds.

With unlimited time and unlimited resources the possibility to interview those women who don’t watch it, and get and outsiders perspective would also come in handy. One could also interview males on why they think women watch professional wrestling, as another perspective. It is worth while to look at these other groups and get their takes on the theories that were presented to the women of this study and also the theories that these same women gave on why they watch.

So whether women watch professional wrestling for pure entertainment value or good versus evil, professional wrestling remains a staple in American culture no matter what background you come from.

References

Albano, L., Sugar, B., & Woodson, R. (1999). The complete idiot’s guide to pro wrestling. New York: Macmillan Publishing.

Appendix A

Consent Form

My name is Amanda Burns and I am a senior communications major at Saint Mary’s College. You are invited to participate in a study of why women watch professional wrestling. Many theories concerning the popularity of wrestling as a spectator sport among women have been made. None of these theories have ever been studied in great detail. The benefits of this research will give the public some understanding of why women watch this male dominated sport. You have been chosen for this study because I have prior knowledge that you are a professional wrestling fan or have been recommend to me by someone who knows you are a professional wrestling fan.

I have selected you to be involved in an extended interview with myself, which will be audio taped for transcription purposes only. The interview should take no longer than an hour to complete. There are no risks or discomforts to you or myself. In this study I am trying to find out why professional wrestling is appealing to its female fans.

This consent form with your signature will be stored separately from the data collected. Tapes will not be available to anyone but myself. Upon completion of transcribing the tapes, they will be erased.

Your decision whether or not to participate is voluntary and if you choose not to participate there will be no penalty against you. If you decide to participate you are free to discontinue participation at any time.

If you have any questions please ask them. If you have any additional questions later I will be happy to answer them. You can reach me at (284-5034). You may keep the top part of this consent form for your records.

________________________________________________________________

I have read and understand the above information and agree to participate in this study.

________________________________ ____________

Participant’s Signature Date

________________________________ ____________ Researcher’s Signature Date

Appendix B

Interview Schedule

Age:

Where are you from:

What is your major:

Do you watch Professional wrestling:

How often do you watch:

Do you watch WWF, WCW, ECW, other, or a combination:

At what age did you start watching professional wrestling:

Do/Did your parents and/or siblings watch professional wrestling:

What do you think motivates you to watch professional wrestling:

Do you watch with other people of the same gender, if so how many:

Do you watch with other people of the opposite gender, if so how many:

Do you ever reenact/recreate parts of the show:

What do you get out of watching professional wrestling:

Do you have a favorite professional wrestler, and why do you identify with them:

Do you use any professional wrestling language in your daily life:

Have you ever attended a live professional wrestling event:

What is your take on the ‘real’ verus ‘fake’ issue of professional wrestling:

What do you think are the reasons why professional wrestling is appealing to its female viewers:

What do you think about the way women are portrayed in professional wrestling:

How do you think women should be portrayed:

If you could change anything about professional wrestling, what would you change and why:

What do you think are the differences between professional wrestling’s attractiveness toward it’s male viewers and it’s female viewers:

I am going to read a few of the theories concerning the popularity of wrestling as a spectator sport among women, what do you think about these theories: Appendix C

Appendix C

Four theories on why women watch professional wrestling.

From Pages 58 and 59 of

Professional Wrestling: As Ritual Drama in American Popular Culture by Ball

One theory says that women are the ‘traditional custodians of morality,’ and are especially attracted to the morality play between the forces of good and evil.

Another theory states that girls are socialized to control their hostility and to ‘act like ladies.’ Wrestling acts as a kind of catharsis, allowing them to vent their frustration and their aggressive feelings.

Other observers have noted the sexual representations inherent in various wrestling holds. Guessing that women spectators are middle-aged and therefore, were introduced to sex in a period before... sex became play, there observers have speculated that the woman spectator of wrestling experiences vicarious gratification from the pain inflicted by one (male) wrestler upon the other (male) in the sexually suggestive position. It is obvious from the kind of sentiments expressed by many of the women in the heat of a match that their psyches are responding to something besides the purely dramatic aspects of wrestling. ‘Lookit that hunk of man!’ is a common cry. ‘What a build! How would ya like to date that one. C’mon, Superman, bust him one for me.’

Another theory says that it is not necessarily the sexual appeal of the good-looking wrestling hero that attracts women to the sport. Many of the less attractive wrestlers receive fan letters from women and are mobbed by women at arenas. At least one writer believed this to be due to women’s comparing the ugly stereotype with their husbands or male friends. The familiar male would appear relatively more desirable.

Appendix D

Transcripts

Participant A

Researcher: What is your age?

Participant A: 21

R: Where are you from?

A: El Paso, Texas

R: What is your major?

A: Double major in Sociology and Philosophy

R: Do you watch Professional Wrestling?

A: Yes

R: How often do you watch?

A: Twice a week

R: Do you watch WWF, WCW, ECW, or a combination?

A: Only WWF

R: At what age did you start watching professional wrestling?

A: 21

R: Do/did your parents and/or siblings watch professional wrestling?

A: Yes, my brother does, he was the one that got me started watching.

R: What do you think motivates you to watch professional wrestling?

A: That’s a hard one. I find all the action and hitting people fun. I like the fake drama. It is very amusing and entertaining.

R: Do you watch with other people of the same gender, if so how many?

A: Well, when I get the change I watch with my younger cousin sometimes, she is 13.

R: Do you watch with other people of the opposite gender, if so how many?

A: Just one my brother, when I am at home.

R: Do you ever reenact/recreate parts of the show?

A: No, I try to stay away from that.

R: What do you get out of watching professional wrestling?

A: I find it relaxing, because it is an escape from reality. It can be fun to watch unrealistic drama.

R: Do you have a favorite professional wrestler, and why do you identify with them?

A: Triple H, um, I really don’t identify with him. He is a big white man and I am a small Hispanic woman. What I do like about him is his characteristics.

R: Do you use any professional wrestling language in your daily life?

A: No.

R: Have you ever attended a live professional wrestling event?

A: No.

R: What is your take on the ‘real’ versus ‘fake’ issue of professional wrestling?

A: Sometimes I wish some of the things that they do were real. I think I know that what they do is staged. If there were more things that were real and they were telling the truth it might make it more interesting to watch. I like the fakeness, so that no one gets hurt, but I wish it were real.

R: What do you think are the reasons why professional wrestling is appealing to its female viewers?

A: I think for me some people characterize me as some feminine person. When I watch wrestling I break that mold. I am diverse and well rounded.

R: What do you think about the way women are portrayed in professional wrestling?

A: Wow, um, I think that women in professional wrestling portray an attitude about themselves. The way people see them is the way they want to be seen. They do it for themself for different characteristics.

R: How do you think women should be portrayed?

A: I don’t have a problem on how they should be portrayed. Stephanie McMahon Helmsly seems strong. She doesn’t portray herself as an airhead. She is strong and independent and unique the way she is. Women of professional wrestling should be of the same caliber.

R: If you could change anything about professional wrestling, what would you change and why?

A: Kind of a tough one, I think since a lot of people watch it, it could definitely use some positive aspects. I have some problems with violence in the media. There are children that watch wrestling and most of the time the stuff shown is aggressive. They should focus on not only friendship, but amicable stuff, stuff that is not as aggressive in nature. A good thing that the WWF is doing is getting it audience to register to vote. Both the Rock and Chyna were at the Democratic and Republican National Convention. I even registered to vote through WWF.com.

R: What do you think are the differences between professional wrestling’s attractiveness toward it’s male viewers and it’s female viewers?

A: Weird, for me I like to see aggression, same as male viewers, like my brother and cousins. I am not sure about women, I don’t know too many women who watch it like me. I feel transformed into a guy while watching.

R: I am going to read a few of the theories concerning the popularity of wrestling as a spectator sport among women, what do you think about these theories? OK, here is the first one. One theory says that women are the ‘traditional custodians of morality,’ and are especially attracted to the morality play between the forces of good and evil.

A: That could be a possibility, I haven’t been watching all that long. My perspective is I like the ultimate good. Right now, my wrestler is one of the good guys and I really like that. I really identify by this theory.

R: Another theory states that girls are socialized to control their hostility and to ‘act like ladies.’ Wrestling acts as a kind of catharsis, allowing them to vent their frustration and their aggressive feelings. What do you think about this theory?

A: I can identify with this one. I was raised and a southern belle. Always acting like a lady and was constantly told not to act like a dude. Watching wrestling twice a week gives me an escape. I can understand why there is a theory on that.

R: Other observers have noted the sexual representations inherent in various wrestling holds. Guessing that women spectators are middle-aged and therefore, were introduced to sex in a period before... sex became play, there observers have speculated that the woman spectator of wrestling experiences vicarious gratification from the pain inflicted by one (male) wrestler upon the other (male) in the sexually suggestive position. It is obvious from the kind of sentiments expressed by many of the women in the heat of a match that their psyches are responding to something besides the purely dramatic aspects of wrestling. ‘Lookit that hunk of man!’ is a common cry. ‘What a build! How would ya like to date that one. C’mon, Superman, bust him one for me.’ What are your takes on this theory?

A: Referring back to my wrestler, I find him very attractive and stimulating. I love the power he has. It is a turn on. That Herculean strength you don’t see that often especially when he fights over his wife with other wrestlers. Sometimes I wish I was his wife. Him being the protector is very appealing.

R: Another theory says that it is not necessarily the sexual appeal of the good-looking wrestling hero that attracts women to the sport. Many of the less attractive wrestlers receive fan letters from women and are mobbed by women at arenas. At least one writer believed this to be due to women’s comparing the ugly stereotype with their husbands or male friends. The familiar male would appear relatively more desirable. What do you think about this one?

A: Um, I think the ugly dude is more attractive, more realistic. The ugly guys are treated last. But because of strength and aggressiveness is more appealing even though they don’t have the Hollywood look.

Participant B

Researcher: What is your age?

Participant B: 21

R: Where are you from?

B: Buchanan, Michigan

R: What is your major?

B: Literature

R: Do you watch Professional Wrestling?

B: Yes, I do.

R: How often do you watch?

B: um, Mondays and Thursdays

R: Do you watch WWF, WCW, ECW, other ,or a combination?

B: WWF, I can’t stand WCW

R: At what age did you start watching professional wrestling?

B: 20

R: Do/did your parents and/or siblings watch professional wrestling?

B: No.

R: What do you think motivates you to watch professional wrestling?

B: Hot sweaty guys that are half-naked

R: Do you watch with other people of the same gender, if so how many?

B: um, depends, sometimes I do generally one or two.

R: Do you watch with other people of the opposite gender, if so how many?

B: No.

R: Do you ever reenact/recreate parts of the show?

B: No. I am not stupid, they say pretty much, you see those commercials don’t do this at home, we are professionals

R: What do you get out of watching professional wrestling?

B: It is a nice way to relax and a mindless kind of fun. I don’t have to think about anything else.

R: Do you have a favorite professional wrestler, and why do you identify with them?

B: I do, the Undertaker. And I identify with him because I guess he is the bad boy. And when I started to watch he was in his lord of darkness mode and I am a Pagan so I can identify with him that way.

R: Do you use any professional wrestling language in your daily life?

B: No.

R: Have you ever attended a live professional wrestling event?

B: Unfortunately no.

R: What is your take on the ‘real’ versus ‘fake’ issue of professional wrestling?

B: I think the argument is pretty pointless. I mean, thousands of people watch professional wrestling and WWF has the whole Smackdown the Vote and they have registered over 200 thousand new voters, whether or not it is real or fake it doesn’t matter, people still watch. Do I think it is real or fake? I think it is both. I think there is a lot of showmanship but there is a really big chance of physical injury, um, real wrestling moves.

R: What do you think are the reasons why professional wrestling is appealing to its female viewers?

B: Hot sweaty half-naked men. I am telling you, I don’t know any girl that would turn down a hot sweaty half-naked man.

R: What do you think about the way women are portrayed in professional wrestling?

B: I think that sucks. They do the whole, gravy/mud wrestling type of thing. The only one women wrestler that I think is any good is Chyna. Because they don’t stick her in the gravy boat and have her get her clothes ripped off of her.

R: How do you think women should be portrayed?

B: I think they should get a more serious role, not necessary the sex kitten, big-boobed role. And things can’t change in front of the camera without women having a bigger role with the behind the scenes stuff.

R: If you could change anything about professional wrestling, what would you change and why?

B: I don’t know, let me think, what would I change... I would definitely change the way they treat women. That is like my big pet peve, other than that, they are doing a good job. Oh all those Summer Slams and the rest of the Pay-Per-View events they need to have those so those of us with out Pay-Per-View can watch.

R: What do you think are the differences between professional wrestling’s attractiveness toward it’s male viewers and it’s female viewers?

B: Yeah I think guys watch it, It is like football, they don’t watch it for the guys in tight pants, like women do, at least that I why I watch football. Um, but they watch the violent contact sports to get their testosterone pumping. And of course they have the women and the gravy.

B: I think that in a way that is very true. They do have the good and evil characters of good and evil of wrestling. It is not like Superman and Lex Luther, but like I said before, the undertaker came on as the lord of darkness and he was unpopular for a while there, because he was the lord of darkness, now he is back, and he has this whole Texas thing going on, he is not the lord of darkness anymore. And he is not nearly as unpopular as he was. The good guys and the bad guys change a lot and just in the past 12 months that I have been watching it, I can see that.

B: I don’t, I think this theory bites, frankly. Women are socialized differently now that than statement was made. We are encouraged, well maybe not vent violently, but whether boys socialized to vent violently, but we are encouraged to express our feelings.

B: I think they are reading way too much into it. I mean yeah, I think Jesus Christ there hot. However, I am not experiencing any vicarious gratification, by seeing two guys beat each other up.

B: I think it is an interesting theory, I have never thought about it before. I mean my boyfriend still is no Tom Cruise, um, he was a wrestler perfectly. But I guess it is odd that I am dating a wrestler while I am a big fan of professional wrestling. I don’t think it is quite the way they put it. I mean, there are some really hot Hollywood types out there. Like the Rock or Edge and Christian.

Participant C

Researcher: What is your age?

Participant C: 21

R: Where are you from?

C: Arlington Heights, Illinois

R: What is your major?

C: Music Education

R: Do you watch Professional Wrestling?

C: Yes

R: How often do you watch?

C: Twice a week

R: Do you watch WWF, WCW, ECW, or a combination?

C: WWF and WCW

R: At what age did you start watching professional wrestling?

C: 18

R: Do/did your parents and/or siblings watch professional wrestling?

C: No.

R: What do you think motivates you to watch professional wrestling?

C: I find it exciting, it is just good entertainment

R: Do you watch with other people of the same gender, if so how many?

C: um, No.

R: Do you watch with other people of the opposite gender, if so how many?

C: Sometimes I watch it with one of my guy friends.

R: Do you ever reenact/recreate parts of the show?

C: oh, yeah, like the people’s elbow and what the wrestlers say.

R: What do you get out of watching professional wrestling?

C: Um, nothing really, I just watch it for fun and for entertainment. It’s not I want to be a wrestler.

R: Do you have a favorite professional wrestler, and why do you identify with them?

C: Triple H, because he is hot. He is good looking. He is the boss, he is just way up there. I can identify with he because he always wants to succeed and like be the best, and so do I.

R: Do you use any professional wrestling language in your daily life?

C: Yeah a little.

R: Have you ever attended a live professional wrestling event?

C: No, I haven’t. But I would.

R: What is your take on the ‘real’ versus ‘fake’ issue of professional wrestling?

C: Well since a lot of it is fake and some of it is real. And you can usually tell what is real and what is fake. I think its pretty much, I think it is real. I mean I get mad sometimes when people say ‘it’s fake.’

R: What do you think are the reasons why professional wrestling is appealing to its female viewers?

C: I think because, the wrestlers are in their top physical shape, like there physic, and usually girls like that thing, guys that are like big and buff and stuff.

R: What do you think about the way women are portrayed in professional wrestling?

C: I think the women wrestlers, like Chyna and stuff, they get a lot of respect because they win a lot, but she does other things. She is not just a wrestler all the time. But I think the other women that come out with other wrestlers are just look at like sex symbols. Everyone just wants to look at them.

R: How do you think women should be portrayed?

C: I think they should be portrayed as like how the men are portrayed, should be like as equals. I think the men get more tv time and the women don’t. I think it should be equal and they should be treated like the same way as the men. They don’t just let things slide just for the women.

R: If you could change anything about professional wrestling, what would you change and why?

C: Have it be on more often. No. I think, maybe try and get new wrestlers to come into the business. Like it is just the same people all the time. And I would like to see the amateurs wrestling.

R: What do you think are the differences between professional wrestling’s attractiveness toward it’s male viewers and it’s female viewers?

C: I think it attracts the male viewers because, like its their bonding time and I think that they want to be like those guys. They want to reenact what they do and be as strong and as buff as those guys. And I think I think the female viewers watch it because they just want to watch the wrestlers, not just necessarily to watch what is going on, but to see the wrestlers, because most of them are good looking.

C: I think that is true. Because women always, well most of the time, want to see the evil people win. It is not always about the good guy winning. Sometimes they want to, they find it exciting to watch the evil person, and cheer for the underdog.

C: I don’t agree with this theory. I don’t watch it to vent my feelings. I just watch it because I think it is fun to watch not necessarily to let all my anger out. I don’t feel like angry or anything when I watch it. I don’t think it changes their mood to be aggressive or anything like that.

C: I could see how they are saying that, but I don’t relate to that really. Like I think wrestling is exciting, but I don’t get turned on by it. I think it is exciting, and I can see how some might get too excited over it. Like your adrenalin is pumping because your watching this match and it is so exciting, so I can see how that can happen. But in my case I don’t relate to that theory.

C: I could see that I guess. Because like if I think Triple H is hot and my friend would be like he’s ugly, what are you talking about. And like I don’t know. And maybe he isn’t necessarily and I can see how like those people could relate to that. Not the hot wrestlers, but the ones that are like normal or whatever. But I don’t know, I usually go by on just who wins. Who has won a lot of matches not really by like, I mean I do go by their looks but by who wins the match, you know. Doesn’t have to with their looks.

Participant D

Researcher: What is your age?

Participant D: 22

R: Where are you from?

D: Mishawaka, Indiana

R: What is your major?

D: French and History

R: Do you watch Professional Wrestling?

D: Yes

R: How often do you watch?

D: Once a week

R: Do you watch WWF, WCW, ECW, or a combination?

D: WWF

R: At what age did you start watching professional wrestling?

D: 18

R: Do/did your parents and/or siblings watch professional wrestling?

D: Nope.

R: What do you think motivates you to watch professional wrestling?

D: It is like a soap opera and it is absolutely hilarious. Cause everything is fake on there. It just makes you laugh.

R: Do you watch with other people of the same gender, if so how many?

D: Occasionally, with two or three.

R: Do you watch with other people of the opposite gender, if so how many?

D: Once.

R: Do you ever reenact/recreate parts of the show?

D: No. I don’t go that far.

R: What do you get out of watching professional wrestling?

D: A whole lot of laughs.

R: Do you have a favorite professional wrestler, and why do you identify with them?

D: Yes. I don’t know, I guess cause their interesting. You pick one character that you like to look at, and you follow that particular character through his trials and tribulations. Well I like a couple of them. I like Triple H and occasionally, I like the Undertaker, it depends on what he is doing. Sometimes I like watching the Rock because he is absolutely off the wall and bonkers sometimes.

R: Do you use any professional wrestling language in your daily life?

D: yeah, like when Stone Cold Steve Austin says ‘Laying the Smackdown’ or about ‘candy asses’ those come out quite frequently.

R: Have you ever attended a live professional wrestling event?

D: No, I would love to.

R: What is your take on the ‘real’ versus ‘fake’ issue of professional wrestling?

D: I would say that most of the wrestling they do is choreographed. But I think they do it in a realist way to make it seem real. But I do think that most of it is not. I mean it is not two people who just walk out into the arena and just duking it out with no prior coordination. I mean they know exactly where their body is going to be placed. And if you watch it really closely enough you can see that they really did hit them as hard. Or they went to hit him and it completely missed and it just, the other person reacted just as they were suppose to react.

R: What do you think are the reasons why professional wrestling is appealing to its female viewers?

D: I think the guys. I think it is the body type of the guys. Yeah and maybe some of the attitude they portray. Like that bad boy attitude it is appealing to good people who are ‘nice.’

R: What do you think about the way women are portrayed in professional wrestling?

D: I am not really happy with it. I know that there are some female wrestlers out there that look buff. But if you look at the outfits that they are putting the females in, I mean they are like ‘lets show of how big your bosoms are,’ ‘lets show off your crotch,’ ‘lets show off your ass.’ You know, in that sense I find it degrading, because it puts women it shows women in a negative aspect. It shows them as nothing but a sex object and that is all that they are there for. Even though there are some female wrestlers that are up there wrestling. But even still they are portrayed as a female butch sex object.

R: How do you think women should be portrayed?

D: Well, um, With out taking away from the wrestling factor that is in it, I think that they could do more with having a portrayal of women not so much as like a sexual object. But showing that you can be a female wrestler and be sexy, but sexy in a classy way, not sexy in the trashy way they have them on there.

R: If you could change anything about professional wrestling, what would you change and why?

D: Making it less choreographed, having the element of surprised in there for some of the wrestlers. Changing the way women are viewed. Mainly because the audience that isn’t maybe from the middle class or upper middle class, tend to be from lower economic fields and if they are watching this, and they see how women are treated on the show, then they are going to think that, especially children, that is ok to treat females that way and its not. Or that is or to treat other friends, you know, if they are going out and reenacting parts of the show, its not. I think the wrestlers need to take responsibility for what they are portraying on the shows and say like, ‘Look, what we are doing is job, its not real, we’re not beating the crap out of each other when we are in the ring, because we are all friends. You shouldn’t be doing this outside unless you are monitored by someone who is in the wrestling field or is a professional instructor of some sort. To make is clear, especially cause younger viewers, um, that this isn’t like appropriate behavior.

R: What do you think are the differences between professional wrestling’s attractiveness toward it’s male viewers and it’s female viewers?

D: I think it is less attractive to the female viewers because most of it is geared toward young adolescent males or males under the age of thirty. I think that for guys, it portrays the aggression aspect of their mentality. That they don’t get a chance to normally get to express in every day circumstances. I guess you could say that it is kind of like when they watch it, they are kind living out those actions through the wrestlers. For females, I think it is a completely different aspect. I think they are looking at if more for the fun factor and the sexual attractiveness of the males.

D: That is a possibility, I would say mainly like if I was a female viewer and I was watching maybe with a child. I would watch it more as an example of this is inappropriate behavior, you don’t go out and do this. You don’t just walk up to someone and start beating the crap out the them. And like you don’t this in the backyard when there is no one around, with your friends or anything. I don’t know, I would say in some instances yes, I could see how it would be good versus evil, like if you were taking the good guy versus someone like the undertaker, who is typically portrayed as the bad person. But then again you can also say Star Wars is the same thing. I mean I was raised on Star Wars, I watched Star Wars more when I was little, growing up, than I did wrestling.

D: Once again yes and no. I can go out and vent my frustrations and my feelings, but taking a stick to a tree and beating the crap out of it, that would make me feel a little better, the tree might be a little disgruntled. But, I don’t see it from my experience, as a way for females to vent their frustrations. I think females have a perfectly adequate way of venting their frustrations face to face rather than watching wrestling and saying, ‘Yeah this is awesome, I want to go do that.’

D: On that one yes, I would defiantly agree with it. Like cause I have seen, when I have been in a group or even myself, I would say that defiantly is a yes. Like I think somewhere deep down in your psyche that there is something that there is that thin line between pain and pleasure and that occasionally when your watching it, its and especially when its someone you like or one of your characters that you like. Then yes, I would say that to that one.

D: I think it depends on the female and what her particular body type, facial features, hair aspects, which she likes, if that is the kind of person that she enjoys, then yes. But if she likes the Hollywood look then that is the one she is going to like more. I think it totally depends on the women who is looking at which body type she likes or prefers over the other one. Big and buff versus Leonardo DiCaprio, scrawny and 12ish.

Participant E

Researcher: What is your age?

Participant E: 20

R: Where are you from?

E: Arlington Heights, Illinois

R: What is your major?

E: Speech Communications major

R: Do you watch Professional Wrestling?

E: Yes.

R: How often do you watch?

E: Usually about once a week.

R: Do you watch WWF, WCW, ECW, or a combination?

E: WWF.

R: At what age did you start watching professional wrestling?

E: I started at about five, but then I didn’t watch for a while, and then I recently started watching it again about 6 months ago.

R: Do/did your parents and/or siblings watch professional wrestling?

E: Actually, I started watching it with my grandmother.

R: What do you think motivates you to watch professional wrestling?

E: Um, I have two or three things. The first one is, like I watch Raw which is on Monday nights and I completely do homework and Raw is on at 9:00 p.m., and if you want to watch something that seriously does not make you think at all, that is the thing to watch. It makes me laugh out loud. I mean it is so hard to find a good comic on tv or a good sitcom. I know by the end of the show I will be in stitches. So that is typically what gets me going there. I also find it throughly interesting, especially as a communication major, like to watch it, it is basically a male soap opera. And they pick on us with our Guiding Lights and our General Hospital and for all practical purposes you really break it down, that is what wrestling is for guys. Who’s girl is going to come out with who today, who’s gonna kick who’s butt today. You know it is a soap opera, it is funny to watch to analyze how men must think of our soap operas. And I also watch it because of my boyfriend, he adores it. I must admit it we do have some funny conversations, and he thinks that it is pretty cool that I watch it and can understand it. I will admit that some of my motivation to watch it, is because of him.

R: Do you watch with other people of the same gender, if so how many?

E: Sometimes my roommate or my friend down the hall, but only on rare occasions do I watch it with other people.

R: Do you watch with other people of the opposite gender, if so how many?

E: Um, Sometimes on the weekends when they replay them, and I will be over at Notre Dame and I will watch it. But not usually doing the week do I watch it with guys.

R: Do you ever reenact/recreate parts of the show?

E: Not actual wrestling moves, I leave that up to the guys, they do it all the time. Me sometimes I pick up some of the dialog and I will say something to my friends.

R: What do you get out of watching professional wrestling?

E: Basically what I said before for what motivates me to watch. I get the laughs out of it and it is just something that I really don’t have to have deep thoughts about. I get the entertainment value out of watching wrestling.

R: Do you have a favorite professional wrestler, and why do you identify with them?

E: I have some that I find more funny that the others, but I don’t have paraphernalia from them. I mean, Kurt Angle is really funny and he makes me laugh every time. I really like, my favorite part of the show is when they are not wrestling, but when they are having the dialog with the characters, because it is the worst acting in the world and it just makes me laugh out loud. I really don’t identify with them, it is just a comic relief.

R: Do you use any professional wrestling language in your daily life?

E: I think recently I started referring when my friends get into fights, I refer it to ‘laying the Smackdown.’ But that is about it.

R: Have you ever attended a live professional wrestling event?

E: Never.

R: What is your take on the ‘real’ versus ‘fake’ issue of professional wrestling?

E: I know it is fake, and I think most everyone else out there knows it is fake. And I think it is fun because it is fake. It doesn’t bother me. I am not so wrapped up in it, that I am hurt by the fact that they aren’t real people. I think because it is fake it is safer. If it was almost too realist, you might start getting into legal issues by people doing things that they shouldn’t be doing.

R: What do you think are the reasons why professional wrestling is appealing to its female viewers?

E: I know at least for myself and my friends that watch we started watching it again because our boyfriends. Because it is so popular among 20-something guys and they think it is funny and start reenacting it. We are their girlfriends so and we are like sure we will watch it, and then we get so wrapped up in the plot. Like I said, it is a male soap opera. I think that there is also a certain kind of violence to it that we don’t normal express in the female soap opera and other tv shows we watch. I watch Felicity all the time, but there is not a lot of ‘Smackdown’ going down on Felicity. So sometimes you want a little bit of violence. Sometimes you want to get really mad. It kind of lets you live out that whole naughty girl thing.

R: What do you think about the way women are portrayed in professional wrestling?

E: It is obvious to say that they are sex objects. And that they are basically at the mercy of their guys. When I watch though, I know it is so fake, it does not matter to me. It is a professional life they have for crying out loud. These women chose to do this because they want to, they are not sold into doing it. I don’t feel that it is degrading to women. It ads to the whole wrestling experience. If you look at a regular soap opera, they same things are going on.

R: How do you think women should be portrayed?

E: You know. Since wrestling is a male dominated sport and the viewers are so highly male. If that is how they are going to be portrayed in order to make the money, which it is all about, who am I to tell them differently. So, I don’t think they should come out and be all like, ‘I am gonna be the pro.’ I mean with the women’s title when they have the women fight. I mean obviously that is two women out there and they are like ‘we can do this’ and ‘we can do just what they can.’ So I think in that respect I don’t think that is a bad thing.

R: If you could change anything about professional wrestling, what would you change and why?

E: I really don’t understand, I find it when they bring out all the tables and chairs and hit each other, that just blows my mind, I have no idea why that appeals to them. It was maybe fun the first time, but you see them go through about eight tables, it is nothing funny anymore. So, I would say they need some new tricks, gimmicks because the tables and chairs just don’t do it for me. Maybe different sets or stages. We as women I think are visual people and with the same stage settings all the time, it gets a little old.

R: What do you think are the differences between professional wrestling’s attractiveness toward it’s male viewers and it’s female viewers?

E: Men are attracted by the sheer kind of violence of it. I mean men like that in the movies they like action movies, not saying that women don’t, but in general men are totally ‘it’s ok yeah lets go beat their friends.’ But come on, the environment that we are in at college, I don’t think the rectors at Notre Dame are going to appreciate if they are going to be jumping people down the hall. I just think it is a release for them. But at the same time they know it is fake and they know tat it is not really happening. Men won’t admit it but they also I think like the whole saga and story line stuff as well. And as for the women, I have talked to some of my friends and one of the things that we watch it for is the whole saga story lines in between the actual wrestling. I think we are still associating it with other dramas on television. We want the storyline and guys want the action.

E: Well that is interesting. We always want to see the good prevail. Except that on occasion that if the character, is of the certain negative type the antagonist character types, that are sort of more well written. That I am not so sure that good always wins or they choose the good person to win. We are more apt to look at it like, ‘oh that character is not written as well as that character.’ I would say that that is an interesting theory that we want to see the good prevail. They are fighting anyway, like is there an ultimate good here?

E: Yeah, I would say that is pretty on target. I don’t want to pound on anybody and I don’t want to get into a ring and put a chair in some ones back. But you know, every once in a while I feel like that would be something we are not suppose to be watching so buy turning it on it is like taking a step and just saying, ‘So there, I am watching it anyway.’ So yes, I would say that is pretty on target with that idea.

E: You know I look at wrestlers and there is not one thing about them that remotely turns me on. Like, I am not big on big muscles and they look all sweaty and eewww. But I can see where women might have that whole, there are a lot of women who really want a bigger stronger man, this protective nature thing. If they win the match, you know in the ring, he is going to be a champion, and what women wouldn’t want a champion, whether it be in the business world or in the wrestling ring. So, I can see where that notion would fit there. I can’t say that version is what pops into my mind when I watch it, but I can see a lot of women out there where that would be in the back of their psyche.

E: I go for more of the familiar look whether it be a wrestler or whether it be some kind of television, just a general show. I have never been one for the playboy look or something that looks unattainable. So, women finding sort of ‘oh he has dark hair like my husband.’ Also I think it is kind of an underdog type thing. Women generally go for an underdog attitude, whether it be a sporting event or whatever. I can see where women want to go for that naturalist sort of realism thing.

Participant F

Researcher: What is your age?

Participant F: 20

R: Where are you from?

F: Traverse City, Michigan

R: What is your major?

F: Undecided

R: Do you watch Professional Wrestling?

F: yes

R: How often do you watch?

F: Not as much as I do at home, but usually once or twice a week.

R: Do you watch WWF, WCW, ECW, or a combination?

F: WWF

R: At what age did you start watching professional wrestling?

F: 18

R: Do/did your parents and/or siblings watch professional wrestling?

F: Yeah, my dad sometimes watches it

R: What do you think motivates you to watch professional wrestling?

F: My friends motivate me to watch, I am very much one of the guys at home, so watching wrestling is just another way of being with them.

R: Do you watch with other people of the same gender, if so how many?

F: There might be one other girl friend that watches with us, but only on occasion.

R: Do you watch with other people of the opposite gender, if so how many?

F: Usually there is about 5 or 6 guys.

R: Do you ever reenact/recreate parts of the show?

F: Yeah we actually have done Smackdown before. Everyone including myself partake in the theatrics. We don’t take on character names, but we just do holds or just mess around.

R: What do you get out of watching professional wrestling?

F: Wrestling is just one of those things that you just don’t really have to think about, you know it is just purely entertainment.

R: Do you have a favorite professional wrestler, and why do you identify with them?

F: Well when we watch it there is this one Wrestler name Lita. That is one of my nicknames at home, because I watch it. So I guess I identify with her in that way.

R: Do you use any professional wrestling language in your daily life?

F: Um, When I am on instant messenger with my friends I do. My friends screen name is the Rock so I always make comments to him.

R: Have you ever attended a live professional wrestling event?

F: I don’t think so, that is crossing the line for me.

R: What is your take on the ‘real’ versus ‘fake’ issue of professional wrestling?

F: I mean, it is real because there is the risk of getting injured, but it is fake because of the fact that it is choreographed. They know how the moves are going to go, how to get the crowd to get excited, what props they are going to use. It is very theatrical.

R: What do you think are the reasons why professional wrestling is appealing to its female viewers?

F: Well for a lot of girls that I know it is because it is an easy way to get boys to notice you. Like if you can rattle off the names of wrestlers and stuff. I mean that is one of the main things.

R: What do you think about the way women are portrayed in professional wrestling?

F: It is degrading to one sense, I mean their outfits are very suggestive and they are very much silicon. But I mean on the other hand if you look at it from they’re woman of obvious strength who are competing with men on the same level, it might over rule it for some, like Chyna.

R: How do you think women should be portrayed?

F: I don’t know, because with it being such a physical sport, they have to muscular and have to be athletic, but since it is also entertainment they also have to be sexual and have to be appealing. So I don’t know you can’t be physically engaging and dominating others with out having sexual connotations about it.

R: If you could change anything about professional wrestling, what would you change and why?

F: Well my mom does preschool and works at an elementary school and she gets a lot of kids that watch it and think that it is real and see the wrestlers beating up on people so they think that it is ok to do that on the play ground. So I think they should emphasize that it is not real and not to try the stuff they do at home.

R: What do you think are the differences between professional wrestling’s attractiveness toward it’s male viewers and it’s female viewers?

F: I think on one sense it is primal for them it is getting up and fighting and finding out who is stronger and being very flamboyant. For females I think we know that it is not real and something we can watch to make us laugh. We can also get into the think intricate plot while the guys are into the action.

F: I think that is going a little deeper. I mean at least not when I watch it I’m not like who are the forces of good and who are the forces of evil. I mean there are defiantly are but I think everyone of the wrestlers has both sides to them. So every viewer might see the wrestlers differently, like one viewer might see a wrestlers good side and someone else would see his bad side.

F: I agree with that one a little bit. Like when we play it out we sometimes, it will go that step further and we will dominate. Where as usual it wont go over just pushing your man down on the couch and pinning him down. It is a way to vent that on kind of a conscious level.

F: I would think so a little. Because some wrestlers can be very aggressive and attractive. There are a lot of sexual tones to it, where I guess 30 years ago you wouldn’t be able to watch action like this and be able to get excited about this stuff and go ‘woo’ and get into it and go screaming, you know, get into a frenzy when watch it. Where as now you can.

F: Oh yeah, defiantly I think so. I mean you will always go after the one that is my attainable. The less attractive one you might have a chance with and the more likely you might know someone that is like them rather than someone with the Hollywood look.

Participant G

Researcher: What is your age?

Participant G:18

R: Where are you from?

G: South Bend, Indiana

R: What is your major?

G: Nursing

R: Do you watch Professional Wrestling?

G: Yes, I do.

R: How often do you watch?

G: I’d say at least twice every two weeks

R: Do you watch WWF, WCW, ECW, or a combination?

G: WWF, only.

R: At what age did you start watching professional wrestling?

G: I was in elementary school, but there was a gap between sixth grade and junior year in high school, where I didn’t watch it, but I started watching it again when I got into my junior year.

R: Do/did your parents and/or siblings watch professional wrestling?

G: Yeah, everyone in my family did.

R: What do you think motivates you to watch professional wrestling?

G: Well in the beginning in elementary school I started watching it because I was a tomboy. Me and my brother did everything together from playing football to climbing trees together to watching wrestling together. So it was like the cool thing to do. Now I watch it pretty much for the Rock. Cause he is fine. It is like different things, like now, you understand the drama in the middle of it when you get older. It is more a soap opera, you are following a story.

R: Do you watch with other people of the same gender, if so how many?

G: No, actually usually it is with my brother. But sometimes if someone is walking down the hall and I am watching it, they might stop in, so it would be only one other person besides me.

R: Do you watch with other people of the opposite gender, if so how many?

G: One, usually.

R: Do you ever reenact/recreate parts of the show?

G: Yes, well it is more or less the catch phrases for each of the wrestlers. Like the Rock’s ‘Can you smell what the Rock is cookin.’

R: What do you get out of watching professional wrestling?

G: It is funny. Most of it is pure comedy. I mean really, that is probably the main thing. The other would be like what I said earlier, the Rock.

R: Do you have a favorite professional wrestler, and why do you identify with them?

G: Well, the Rock. Because, you know what attracted me to him was the fact that he wasn’t just white, he is a mix of races. You rarely see that in the WWF. He gets all the attention, he is the main man. I think that is cool. He is different than any of the other wrestlers. He has his own style and his own way of talking, his own way dressing. He is just different. I think that is what makes him stand out.

R: Do you use any professional wrestling language in your daily life?

G: I would say no, not in my daily life. Its like if I was joking around with somebody, I might say something.

R: Have you ever attended a live professional wrestling event?

G: No, I want to though.

R: What is your take on the ‘real’ versus ‘fake’ issue of professional wrestling?

G: It’s fake, I mean everyone knows it, if you don’t too bad. The fact is that it is a real sport and they do do real activity that does take real physical exertion out of you. And they have to train for all the physical activity that they do. I do realize that some of them do really get hurt, so that is the real part of the wrestling as far as the scenarios and the marriages, that is all fake, it is just part of the industry.

R: What do you think are the reasons why professional wrestling is appealing to its female viewers?

G: Well, the Rock... ha ha... I can’t lie, the man has it going on. I mean, I’d say the body of the male wrestler attracts females a lot. Chyna is also really cool for the females. She is a good representative, at the same time she has the glamor and the strength.

R: What do you think about the way women are portrayed in professional wrestling?

G: You got the two different sides. You got the Chyna and there is the Cat. Chyna represents the whole wrestler look and powerful and then there is Terri she is like slut city. It is just two total different things.

R: How do you think women should be portrayed?

G: In every respectful way possible. I mean I believe that a woman was created in God’s image as much as man was. I feel like your body is the temple of God. So, you should always keep respect every way possible. I realize that the WWF, you know, they dress pretty skanky. But when it comes down to it, you see these women doing interviews on talk shows and stuff and they will be covered up. I mean they still hold their own in a respectful way in the real world.

R: If you could change anything about professional wrestling, what would you change and why?

G: I would take out the way the women dress. I mean because it is distracting. But hey that is the WWF, they pull in huge amounts of money and huge amounts of fans. That is what the public wants but I defiantly don’t like it.

R: What do you think are the differences between professional wrestling’s attractiveness toward it’s male viewers and it’s female viewers?

G: I want to touch on the similarities first. The similarity would be like the men tuning in to see the girls and the women tuning in to see the guys, to see how hot they are and whatever. But on the difference side, the guys look at it like, ‘Oh, did you see that move, did you see the way he hit him.’ But on the other had, girls look at it like, ‘I can’t believe he cheated on Stephanie and I can’t believe he did that.’ It is more of the drama type of deal.

G: That is interesting actually. I see this in wrestling too, women are kind of devious, they are sneaky. People will sometimes go as far as saying that Eve took the apple. I don’t know, I have never really thought about it that way before. I do see that in myself a lot, like Triple H is bad, the Rock is good. So I would say yeah, I agree with it to a certain degree. I just never thought about it in that way.

G: Totally, totally true. I mean, it has always been said buy mothers and grandmothers, ‘Be a lady, don’t kick, don’t hit, don’t fight, be lady like.’ You can just get it all out when you watch.

G: Wow, that was weird. I don’t know maybe in your subconscious, that is the only thing I could say. If anything it is totally the opposite. Like ew, he shouldn’t be holding him that way, let him go. But hey, in your subconscious, I think that is gross. Not consciously would I think of it in that way.

G: I understand that, but I don’t agree with it. It is like when it comes to tv and entertainment stuff it is the cute, hot body guy that gets the attention. I mean, there is always a minority, and there is always an exception. And that is what they touched on there. Women are attracted to the less popular, but that is a small percentage, I’d say. Most of the girls like the Rock and I am one of them. So I would say I understand what they are saying and it is most likely true, but it is not what I go for.

Participant H

Researcher: What is your age?

Participant H: 18

R: Where are you from?

H: Buchanan, Michigan

R: What is your major?

H: Double major in psychology and art.

R: Do you watch Professional Wrestling?

H: Yes.

R: How often do you watch?

H: I try to watch all of the shows, but sometimes only make it to Monday night Raw

R: Do you watch WWF, WCW, ECW, or a combination?

H: Just WWF.

R: At what age did you start watching professional wrestling?

H: 17.

R: Do/did your parents and/or siblings watch professional wrestling?

H: Yes, my dad and brother.

R: What do you think motivates you to watch professional wrestling?

H: I like the Rock.

R: Do you watch with other people of the same gender, if so how many?

H: No I watch with my dad.

R: Do you watch with other people of the opposite gender, if so how many?

H: Yes. My dad

R: Do you ever reenact/recreate parts of the show?

H: No.

R: What do you get out of watching professional wrestling?

H: Entertainment value.

R: Do you have a favorite professional wrestler, and why do you identify with them?

H: I like the Rock. I like him because, outside the ring he is just a really good guy.

R: Do you use any professional wrestling language in your daily life?

H: Not everyday, but sometimes.

R: Have you ever attended a live professional wrestling event?

H: No. I would love to though.

R: What is your take on the ‘real’ versus ‘fake’ issue of professional wrestling?

H: I think it is fake. They have biographies, and if you watch it, they are all friends with the people that they are fighting with.

R: What do you think are the reasons why professional wrestling is appealing to its female viewers?

H: To watch the guys. To see them in there little shorts.

R: What do you think about the way women are portrayed in professional wrestling?

H: I don’t like the way they are portrayed. But the woman that participate, I think, set themselves up for that.

R: How do you think women should be portrayed?

H: Well, I don’t think that they should be portrayed as hoes, like with the Godfather’s hoe train. But, I really, for the entertainment I don’t think there is any other way to portray them, to make it interesting.

R: If you could change anything about professional wrestling, what would you change and why?

H: I don’t think I would change anything. I like it the way it is.

R: What do you think are the differences between professional wrestling’s attractiveness toward it’s male viewers and it’s female viewers?

H: I think a lot of guys watch it to see the girls come out in their little outfits. I know a lot of the time they have striping contests. I think they get entertainment out of that. I think the women get entertainment out of watching the guy wrestler bodies.

H: I really don’t look at it like that. I just see it as entertainment. I really don’t get into it like that.

H: I agree with that a little. I don’t agree with the part that says women are trained. I don’t think in society they are trained, but I do see where, I do see myself yelling at the tv and getting into it. I agree with that part of it, it does let out frustrations.

H: I agree with that. Because I know that is a lot of the reasons why I watch it. I really like the Rock and the muscles and all that, makes me want to watch it more.

H: Yeah, I kind of agree with that. I mean I like Mankind, and he isn’t the most attractive guy, but he is really funny.

Participant I

Researcher: What is your age?

Participant I: 21

R: Where are you from?

I: South Bend, Indiana

R: What is your major?

I: English Literature, French Literature and Secondary Education.

R: Do you watch Professional Wrestling?

I: Yes.

R: How often do you watch?

I: Usually once a week.

R: Do you watch WWF, WCW, ECW, or a combination?

I: WWF.

R: At what age did you start watching professional wrestling?

I: 20

R: Do/did your parents and/or siblings watch professional wrestling?

I: No.

R: What do you think motivates you to watch professional wrestling?

I: The storylines mainly.

R: Do you watch with other people of the same gender, if so how many?

I: No, not usually.

R: Do you watch with other people of the opposite gender, if so how many?

I: Yes, and one.

R: Do you ever reenact/recreate parts of the show?

I: Nope.

R: What do you get out of watching professional wrestling?

I: Pretty much for the entertainment value.

R: Do you have a favorite professional wrestler, and why do you identify with them?

I: Well my favorite is Edge and Christian. Just because they are so funny. And they are hot.

R: Do you use any professional wrestling language in your daily life?

I: Yeah, Like ‘laying the Smackdown.’

R: Have you ever attended a live professional wrestling event?

I: No.

R: What is your take on the ‘real’ versus ‘fake’ issue of professional wrestling?

I: That it is pretty much fake, basically. But people might actually get hurt.

R: What do you think are the reasons why professional wrestling is appealing to its female viewers?

I: Because it is more like a soap opera than watching other shows.

R: What do you think about the way women are portrayed in professional wrestling?

I: I think it is probably some what negative most of the time. But like some women just dress fine. I don’t think it is good how they are sometimes portrayed.

R: How do you think women should be portrayed?

I: I think that in that context that’s they way they should be because, that is what you want from them right then.

R: If you could change anything about professional wrestling, what would you change and why?

I: Um, I really don’t think I would change anything. I like it the way it is.

R: What do you think are the differences between professional wrestling’s attractiveness toward it’s male viewers and it’s female viewers?

I: I think men watch it for the fighting and things like that. I watch it for the storylines. I think guys also watch it for the girls on their and the same could be said for the women watching for the guys.

I: That could be, but I really don’t see it like that. Everyone is slightly good and slightly bad.

I: Yeah a little, I can see how women would do that. But not apply to me as much.

I: I’d have to say that this one out of the ones read so far is the most out there. We are obviously not middle aged. And sex has always been out there for us. So I really don’t believe that one to be true.

I: I don’t think that sounds plausible. I can’t see that to be true.

Appendix E

The Variable List

Variable

Description

Definition

Influences

male,

female

male: dad, brother, boyfriend, guy friends

female: mom, sister, grandmother, girl friends

Motivators

soap opera storylines,

drama,

guys

soap opera storylines: intriguing conversations between friends and enemies

drama: the dramatic effects of the shows plot

guys: guy friends, male wrestlers, boyfriends

What one gets

out of watching

entertainment,

laughs,

mindless fun,

relaxing

entertainment: the value of entertaining oneself for a period of time

laughs: hilarious, good times

mindless fun: no deep thought process to watch, it is something to do and not think

relaxing: escape from reality

Reenact/

Recreation

catch phrases,

hand gestures,

wrestling moves or holds

catch phrases: “Can you smell what the Rock is cookin”, “Laying the Smackdown”

hand gestures: the people’s elbow

wrestling moves or holds: piledriver, spear, body slam, headlock

Appeal to Female Viewers

body type,

soap opera storylines,

breaks mold

body type: big, buff, muscular bodies

soap opera storylines: intriguing conversations between friends and enemies

breaks mold: breaking feminine molds, not acting like ladies

Appeal to Male

Viewers

aggression, action, wrestling moves

aggression: violent acts towards others

action: death defying tricks, not stop adventure

wrestling moves: piledriver, spear, body slam, headlock