Women in Pro Wrestling

Zer0E

Last week on Raw, Santino Marella cut a promo that participating in the Bunnymania match at Wrestlemania was "demeaning" and that WWE Divas should be at home instead of in the ring. Although some people disagree, there are a lot of wrestling fans that don't. What do people honestly thing of women's wrestling in general (WWE, TNA, ROH and other indies)? Are the matches "demeaning" to the female talent and reflect badly on the male wrestlers? Or do these views have no place in today's day and age?

Griff0rd

TNA Moderator

It depends on the show we are watching. WWE I can't stomach for the most part because their women are more eye candy and like on the skills. They do try so I'll give them that, but to try and to deliver are 2 different things.

TNA I love as much as the guys. The story lines are better than just being slutty. I'm digging the Angelina Love/Velvet Sky gimmicks as the evil popular girl kind of gimmick. Kong is Kong. Gail Kim sounds like a cartoon duck, but she can go in the ring. ODB is the best thing since sliced bread. Roxxy can go. The action and the overall talent of that group is legit and they aren't all barbie doll figures and TNA doesn't do the Bra and Panties kind of junk. They treat them like other indy promotions do for the most part and that s like any other wrestler.

God

Super Moderator

Its mainly WWE that does the lame matches that degrade female wrestlers. SHIMMER & now TNA have actual womens wrestling being portayed as equal to the men. Most Indies will have talented females who can entertain the majority of the audiance, but stick them infront of a bigger crowd & that'll fall to pieces.

Dakstang

WC's Resident Redneck

I have no interest in women's wrestling.

I don't see a problem with the way WWE utilizes the women on their roster.

I'm a good old rebel, now that's just what I am.
I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.

Griff0rd

TNA Moderator

WWE's use of the women are in a complete different manner than others use them. Basically in WWE they are eye candy. For some people that is fine, but they can put on just as good of a show as the men. TNA womens wrestling is a perfect example of that.

If you want good wrestling action out of the women, then WWE is abysmal outside of a mediocre match here and there. But if you want eye candy and not so great action, WWE Divas should do the trick.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

You guys are simply generalizing. Yes, they have eye candy such as Kelly, Layla, Maria, and so on.. but how it is demeaning? They love doing what they do and the fans love them for it..

On the flip side, Mickie James, Beth Phoenix, Candice Michelle and others wrestle.. The matches aren't given as much time as the TNA knockouts, but they are still there.. Back when Trish and Lita were around the Women's title was pretty well respected as well..

barfly467

I tend to fast forward through the majority of the WWE women's matches. I can watch the TNA matches as long as ODB, Kim or Kong is in them. WWE is all about the B&P. While it's nice on the eyes, it is boring as hell to watch.

Griff0rd

TNA Moderator

Mickie and Beth may be the only Divas that can be used in TNA. The wrestling quality of the Diva line up compared to the Knockout line up is different as nice and day. It may be "generalized" but when you are talking about the overall product you can't say that WWE womens wrestling is great or even good when there are only a small handful of their members that can actually go. TNA's aren't the most beautiful, but the majority there can put on a legitimate wrestling show.

As far as demeaning goes... when you are talking about the context of wrestling, and the staple match for your group is a bra and panties match, it is demeaning as a stand point of a wrestler, maybe not so much as a woman. To play the opposite side of things, the second we have a Angle vs Joe thong match, is the second that I quit watching wrestling.

Burzudeath

Well American female wrestling has always lagged behind Joshi. Japanese women's wrestling has produced some of the best matches in the history of the industry bar none, and some of the best wrestling in the history of the industry bar none (Aja Kong, Kansai, Toyota, Hokuto). But if we're talking about America, women still have a place in wrestling.

Mainstream women's wrestling in the States is pretty terrible with women like Stacy Keibler, Torrie Wilson, Kelly Kelly, and Ashley Massaro dominating TV screens. Even the ringside babes are nothing but eye candy nowadays. Women like Christy Hemme, Torrie Wilson, and Kelly Kelly are at least expected to be able to hold the audience's interest with a well executed promo but can't even manage to do that.

The last few years have seen somewhat of an improvement while the same old crap is still repeating itself. We still have the diva search, and the horror that is Kelly Kelly introduced herself to a worldwide audience. But we've had the introduction of Queen Sharmell, who is one of the best promos in the buisness ATM bar-none. And also the introduction of the TNA Women's division. Such talent hasn't been shown by women anywhere for years in the US except for in the indies. With Awesome Kong, Gail Kim, Jacqueline, ODB, The Beautiful People, Roxxi Laveaux, Daizee Haze, and Cheerleader Melissa all showing their stuff, women's wrestling is looking up in the states. Hopefully WWE will follow suite.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

What about Victoria, Nattie, Melina.. They have others. They just happen to have a lot of women who are incompetent..

but then again, as much as I like the Beautiful People, their matches haven't been classics lately, either..