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SnoHo24
joined wrestlingmarks.com on 11/13/07
Kayfabe vs. Reality
by SnoHo24 on 6/9/08 11:54 AM
Lately, alot of superstars have been "leaving" their shows, or "retiring", or even "banished" from the business. In response, I see alot of blogs popping up about how mad people are about these "firings". Even the people I talk to on a regular basis are starting to get a little annoyed by the actions they see on television.
Here are a few things to clear up this ever growing mess:
1) Undertaker is NOT banished from WWE. It is completely kayafbe. Taker is simply taking time off, very similar to when he left WWF and came back as "The American Badass". Whether he will change his character again or not is all up to the writers, but he is not gone from the WWE. So anyone who thought that they had seen the end of The Phenom can think again.
2) Ric Flair DID retire. There's no other way to say it. His body is beat to hell and back. I seriously doubt he will ever come back as an active member of the roster. I believe he will do what Stone Cold has been doing for the last few years and what Rowdy Roddy is doing right now and return for certain periods of time just for screentime. Hogan and The Rock do the same thing. Flair is finished as an active competitor, but not with the WWE.
3) 95% of these "firings" never last. Here are some memorable examples:
-Mysterio d. JBL; JBL forced to retire; comes back as commentator, than as active competitor again.
-Umaga d. Kane; Kane forced to leave RAW for good; everyone thinks he will retire; comes back on Smackdown, then ECW.
-Lashley d. Big Show; Big Show "retires"; comes back at No Way Out the next year; active competitor again.
-Cena d. Jericho; Jericho forced to retire; comes back 2 years later; active competitor again.
-Stone Cold fired by WCW; shows up on ECW, then WWF; active competitor; fired numerous times by McMahon; returned as competitor after every instance; still makes appearences.
There are many other instances like this, dating back to the beginnings of pro wrestling. Its all in the storyline. While it may be hard to tell whether its real or not sometimes, its quite easy to tell that it was time for Flair to retire, while Taker is still competing at a decent level, and still a draw for thousands upon thousands of fans. Reality vs. Kayfabe right there.
Any thoughts on this?
Comments
(4 total)
From FLCchampRUSH on 6/9/08 1:25 PM
My opinion, and just an opinion, is that Taker really DID decide to call it quits. No fanfare, no tears, no celebration or milking it. He's had a legendary run, nothing to complain about, beloved by millions. If he does come back, I will lose interest in his character. Bow out gracefully, and let fans miss you.
From jeff on 6/9/08 1:45 PM
If Taker ever calls it quits then he would retire at Wrestlemaina or the other 3 major pay-per-views not at One Night Stand. I was impressed with the Undertaker in that TLC match. I didn't think he would be as good as he was. I think Taker might eventually end up on Raw. If so then someone like Triple H or Shawn Michaels should go to Smackdown.
From DaneBramage on 6/9/08 3:04 PM
Taker is going out with the SmackDown crew for their tour of Australia this week. Time to lose faith in him then FLC.
From FLCchampRUSH on 6/9/08 10:55 PM
... smh... Maybe I'm too pure a fan? I don't know... I mean, let's be honest with each other. We've been watching, virtually, the EXACT SAME GUYS wrestle since we were kids! I remember Taker's debut at SummerSlam in 88. I remember "Terra Ryzing" in WCW in the late 80's-early 90's. I remember watching Shawn Michaels B4 the HBK persona, b4 the Kliq, when he was a midcard jobber and tag team specialist no one thought twice about! I'm not saying that it isn't nostalgic to see these guys still competing and performing well into their late 30's and even 40's and 50's. But I also know that it looks a little lame to me that some of these guys cling to glory LONG past. Flair and Hogan doing it into their 50's, near 60?!? Hogging spotlight (and I mean Hogan with this statement) that is better suited for an up and comer that is getting no push due to some "legend" taking up airtime. I know, I know, Terry Funk did the same in ECW, BUT, he wasn't being pushed as the FACE of the brand... Sandman, Dreamer, Raven, Shane Douglas, and the Dudleyz WERE! Vince, Jarrett, etc. (I really can't name Gabe Soplosky becuz ROH is full of untapped talent) are smart people, and capable of coming up with ways of getting talent over without resorting to bringing back Jake Roberts, Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, Sgt. Slaughter, or any other near senior citizen to face, or star in an angle with them... Case in point: What wrestling fan, younger than 35, knows the accomplishments of or significance of Hector Guerrero with LAX?