When does WWE insult your intelligence?

[Guest Redhawk]

A lot of people said Smackdown's whole "Mr. America" thing is insulting the audience's intelligence. While I can't say one way or another, since I missed Smackdown, I was wondering what angles/storylines/aspects of pro wrestling actually do insult your intelligence, or have in the past.

 

For example, I hate when a wrestler is fired/suspended/etc. (for storyline purposes), and WWE acts like wrestling is the guy's only option to make money. "He's got to feed his family," is the staple comment. Then they act like the only job former wrestlers can get are menial jobs like "flipping burgers" or janitorial work.

 

I also feel insulted by some of the backstage skits in which a camera has no business being somewhere or a wrestler has no business revealing some master plan when a camera is right there.

 

Any others y'all can think of?

[Guest tank_abbott]

When Angle gets hit with a sledge hammer in the skull and doesn't die

[Guest Memphis]

When an over-roided health hazard of a human being reigns as champion for the better part of a year when I know for a fact even *I* could out-wrestle him.

 

M

[Guest DerangedHermit]

Ok, this is a better question.

 

When DOESN'T WWE insult your intelligence?

[Guest evilhomer]

I also feel insulted by some of the backstage skits in which a camera has no business being somewhere or a wrestler has no business revealing some master plan when a camera is right there.

That's because it's a tv show as well as a wrestling program. Of course the wrestling program aspect is becoming a debatable point, but it's like a drama or a sit-com, people just going about their business and the camera captures it. It doesn't seem weird to have a camera in the briefing room on an episode of Law & Order, wrestling goes for the same effect.

 

 

As far as Mr. America, the insult depends on how you look at it. It's not insulting in a manner of them trying to hide his real identity. Mr. America displayed all of the classic "Hoganisms" so they're making it very obvious who he really is. However, the angle itself can be considered insulting. Why the fuck am I supposed to believe that Vince doesn't want Hogan on tv, they've still never given me a single compelling reason in the storylines. So they're insulting me there by giving me no reason to believe the story, then they're further insulting me by bringing in this character who is obviously just being used to cash in on patriotism and Hogan's popularity.

[cawthon777 0]

I'm not insulted by the whole Hogan issue. They did the same thing with Andre in 86 when he was Giant Machine and if he were to be unmasked as Andre he'd be suspended (like no one knew who it was).

[B. Brian Brunzell 0]

I feel insulted every time I watch RAW. With the way Smackdown! seems to be going as of late, I'm kind of glad that I don't have a UPN affiliate.

[Guest papacita]

Blatant gimmick changes (like Chuck Pulumbo's change from the gay tag wrestler to mobster) without any real explanation always annoy the hell outta me.

 

When writers don't acknowledge history/past storylines when writing their storylines (for example, how the fuck did Kane meet Katie Vick when he was locked in a basement until 97?).

 

Doesn't really insult my intelligence, but I hate wrestler promos/dialogue that's OBVIOUSLY been written by the McMahons. I can't think of a specific example out of the top of my head, but there have been a few instances over the past year.

[Guest notJames]

Guys that hate each other one week, then team up and act like they're buddies the next. Change in philosphy or not, guys who hate each other should retain some of that animosity. Case in point: Jericho and HHH. They both acknowledge their past mutual hatred, but also realize their goals are the same, hence the cooperation.

 

Anything involving Nathan Jones. Okay, Vince. You realized you screwed up by signing him. Just fire him already. Why bother using the FBI for damage control? Everyone knows he sucks. Just do the deed and move on.

 

Even-Steven booking, especially of the "loses on PPV, wins on the next free TV match" variety. If one guy is better than the other, that should be the end of it. OR, if they really are evenly matched (like Angle and Benoit) draw it out over weeks and months by having them prove their abilities by wrestling!

 

Constantly pitting hosses against cruiserweights. Need I get into how counterproductive this is on both ends? It's like the old big bully vs. wimp double-edged sword. If the bully beats up the wimp, it's seen as an act of a coward, picking on someone who couldn't possibly put up a fight. If the wimp ekes out the ass-whooping, the bully looks like a complete pussy for getting his ass handed to him. Either scenario leaves me dumb as rocks.

 

I could name more, but it will just make me more angry. I need to go lie down.

 

[Guest areacode212]

The only thing insulting about the Mr. America angle is that we're expected to believe that Stephanie signed someone, sight unseen, to a contract that states that he can never be fired. If they had made it so that Stephanie knew all along that Mr. America was Hogan, then it would've made sense, but as it is, it's really half-assed writing. Still, except for that, I enjoyed the hell out of that segment. You're supposed to know that it's Hogan. That's the point.

 

I also feel insulted by some of the backstage skits in which a camera has no business being somewhere or a wrestler has no business revealing some master plan when a camera is right there.

 

This is my #1 pet peeve with the WWE. For me, wrestling has always worked best when it at least tried to make it seem "real". Where backstage segments were made up of interviews, and not ridiculous comedy sketches. It's not supposed to be like a sitcom; wrestling supposedly takes place in the "real world".

[Guest THE MIGHTY THOR]

When an over-roided health hazard of a human being reigns as champion for the better part of a year when I know for a fact even *I* could out-wrestle him.

 

M

You could out-wrestle Brock?

[Guest Dmann2000]

I also feel insulted by some of the backstage skits in which a camera has no business being somewhere or a wrestler has no business revealing some master plan when a camera is right there.

 

Any others y'all can think of?

I'm waiting for the day when two wrestlers are plotting something (hopefully Edge is one of them)

 

Rey: That's a good plan let's do it. I got just one question.

 

Edge: What's that?

 

Rey: (points to camera) why is there a camera here?

 

Edge: Dude, that's simple. It's there so that everyone asks "why is there a camera here".

[Guest Dmann2000]

When an over-roided health hazard of a human being reigns as champion for the better part of a year when I know for a fact even *I* could out-wrestle him.

 

M

Now now, Brock has been improving a lot.

[Guest Goodear]

I thought he meant the other "over-roided health hazard of a human being" ... you know, the one everyone hates?

[Guest Fook_Hing_Ho]

I thought he meant the other "over-roided health hazard of a human being" ... you know, the one everyone hates?

Scott Steiner?

[Guest The Amazing Rando]

no no no...he's talking about the Big Show....

 

you know he is on Roids.... ya know...the kind they use for fat fucks...

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

No mention of necrophilia? If you want to really see an insulting angle that was seemingly designed to cause anybody with an I.Q. over 50's head to explode, then there is no other one suitable unless you wanna go back to the Ministry/Corporate Ministry days...

 

::: shudders :::

[Guest Luke Cage]

There's a perfectly good reason why WWF tv makes no sense. Each week you get a look at an alternate WWF dimension. Vince is the Monitor, Shane is the Anti Monitor. Stephanie is Harbinger and Jericho is Pariah. Crisis on inifnite Works!

[Guest Downhome]

Necrophilia didn't insult my intelligence, it just downright made me ashamed. The only time that they truly insult my intelligence is when law enforcement is brought into storylines in the buildings. This is about the only time I'm not able to TOTALLY suspend belief.

 

I personally love the Mr. America bit, a lot.

[Guest El Psycho Diablo]

No mention of necrophilia? If you want to really see an insulting angle that was seemingly designed to cause anybody with an I.Q. over 50's head to explode, then there is no other one suitable unless you wanna go back to the Ministry/Corporate Ministry days...

 

::: shudders :::

Don't forget the "Vince McMahon Kiss My Ass Club".

 

That singlehandedly made me stop watching for about nine months.

[Guest The Amazing Rando]

What insults my intelligence?

 

 

HHH dropping 50 feet in a car... and surviving....

 

And the electrocution of Goldust...

 

And of course...Vince wanting to destroy his own company...

[LooseCannon25 0]

Kane and Undertaker shooting lightning at each other...........the 94 Undertaker Royal Rumble casket ceremony............When a guy like Chuck Palumbo goes from being a total flamer to a mafioso in a matter of weeks

[Guest jester]

The only thing insulting about the Mr. America angle is that we're expected to believe that Stephanie signed someone, sight unseen, to a contract that states that he can never be fired.

Actually, this is art imitating life. After all, this is the company that, with no evidence that they'd be a succcess, signed Nathan Jones Mark Henry, and Big Show to giant ass contracts that they can't easily get out of without paying through the nose...FOR REAL.

 

So signing Mr. America isn't much of a leap.

[Mecha Mummy 0]

Kane and Undertaker shooting lightning at each other...........the 94 Undertaker Royal Rumble casket ceremony............When a guy like Chuck Palumbo goes from being a total flamer to a mafioso in a matter of weeks

I'm gonna disagree with youuuu! Palumbo joined the FBI early this year, didn't he? That would be MONTHS after the Billy and Chuck 'wedding' where he and Gunn revealed that they are actually straight and were never gay in the first place. He went from being some guy to being a mafioso thug, not from being gay to being a mafioso thug.

 

Oh, and I love how ridiculous Mr. America is.

[Guest Corey291]

When does WWE insult your intelligence?

Between the hours of 9pm and 11pm every Monday night.

 

-Corey

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

When a 50 year old dresses up like Captain America on Crack and says that he has signed a contract that says he can't be fired. WTF? I want to go to my boss and demand that I sign a contract that says I can't be fired.

[Guest Lightning Flik]

When does WWE insult your intelligence?

Insult it? Never does, it never does.

 

Assumes I have no intelligence at all? That's another story.

[LooseCannon25 0]

You know what really insults my intelligence?

When a guy like Bart Gunn who had been knocking everybody out goes out at WMXV and gets his head knocked off by Butterbean within seconds of the start of the fight. It's just.......uuum........err.....wait a minute. Oops, that was a real fight wasnt it? nevermind. In that case it was insult to try to make Bart Gunn look like a real bad ass

[Guest papacita]

Kane and Undertaker shooting lightning at each other...........

I still say it would've been cool as hell to see them actually do that in a match.

[Guest evilhomer]

The only thing insulting about the Mr. America angle is that we're expected to believe that Stephanie signed someone, sight unseen, to a contract that states that he can never be fired. If they had made it so that Stephanie knew all along that Mr. America was Hogan, then it would've made sense, but as it is, it's really half-assed writing.

They can still save that aspect of it by handing out some sacraficial lamb. It would have to be someone with known backstage power, right now I can't think of anyone who would qualify, anyways, have Stephanie blame this person for the hiring. He/she made the reccomendation and Steph acted on it.

 

Of course that would demonstrate great stupidity and poor business sense on her part, but hey, art imitates life sometimes.

 

how the fuck did Kane meet Katie Vick when he was locked in a basement until 97?

 

That falls under the dropping of kayfabe, then the dropping of storylines. Glen Jacobs met Katie Vick in his real life and HHH was telling the story of this. Glen Jacobs was never burned in a fire, he was never locked in a basement, etc. HHH was telling a "real life story". Later when they dropped the storyline, Glen Jacobs no longer existed, there was only the monster Kane who we all know the history of.

 

Definately one of the worst examples of an insult to our intelligence.