Has the internet helped or hurt pro wrestling?

It's hurt. Kayfabe was killed by the internet. There aren't any surprises anymore, there aren't any big acquisitions, and 99% of the fans online bad mouth the product more than most people who don't even like wrestling.

And while it's linked us all to promotions around the world in Japan, Mexico, Europe, and Canada, along with the United States independent, it's made wrestling crowds more jaded simply because they think they saw the match of the year in some bingo hall in front of a crowd of 20 people in Ohio. It gives too big of a forum for crowds to express their opinion, and after awhile, opinions become complaints, and people quit watching simply because "____ has the title because he's friends with ___ backstage." Then people claim they're not going to watch until things change simply because politics that have nothing to do with them personally have put someone in a prominent position.

So, if anything, it's hurt mainstream wrestling, and when the mainstream hurts, and when things eventually go underground, the entire industry hurts, because some fans wont follow, some fans will want to, but wont be able to, and others will simply forget wrestling because it's not on their television.

Mark my words, if anything kills pro wrestling, it'll be unpleasable fans who'd rather watch Yin and Yang in Japan because, to their "infinite knowledge" they're not banging the bosses daughter or pulling strings backstage, than what's presented to them. I'm not saying it's a bad thing to be open minded, I'm just saying most internet fans become arrogant and closed minded, and if more fans go the way of the IWC smart mark, places like WWE and TNA will sink, and the little mainstream pull wrestling has anymore will deminish, and we'll land in the dark ages. It's happened before, so don't even think about scoffing.

I don't know if it has hurt professional wrestling, I think that they're are ups and downs. For sure, you can't deny that it has caused the believeability to be called into question way more than it already was, but on the other hand, it makes more people, especially those who are really into wrestling, respct the business and the actual wrestlers more. Think about it, without the internet, would most people know that The Undertaker is such a backstage leader and is better than Triple H could hope to be? Also, most people would still revere Hulk Hogan, because a ton of the crap that has come out about him has been leaked through the internet first. Look at the Dynamite Kid. He's practically the scum of humanity, a real asshole. Most wouldn't know that without the internet. I think that having the internet is a good think generally. It allows people who aren't connected with the business other than watching it to become closer to it.

Internet has in essence, ruined pro-wrestling.

We now have spoilers running around, either ruining people's fun, or just making people think that they know something about a wrestling outcome, or who will be pushed, also causing them to feel "super smart". Internet also caused "smarkism" to be born. Once you become an "internet wrestling fan", all the fun of being a mark goes away.

Just look at Yahoo Answers: Everyone started a different person here than they are now. Many were Cena/Batista marks, others did not know what a "good wrestler" was. We simply cheered for our favorites and believed what WWE even told us. Whoever was champion the most or got the most cheers was probably the best. [to you]. We didn't realized the flaws in WWE wrestling or when more technically talented wrestlers don't get a push. Now, we have these people who think they know everything about wrestling and consider themselves to be experts who just WON'T be satisfied with what WWE and maybe even TNA offers them because they are all caught up in just how "amazing" Japanese wrestlers are [to them] who don't pull strings, etc to get a push.

The only way I can think of that pro-wrestling was helped was that smaller independent companies now have a way of getting itself out there through internet, youtube, etc and more fans are allowed to discuss and watch such and connect to each other and these wrestling companies allover the world.

I think it has goes both ways it has helped & caused damage to the business..

For one the spoilers does take away from the show, the backstage dirt also hurts the kayfabe factor, back in the day smarks would have to pay for a dirt sheet newsletter that would have the goods. Its just that its more widespread with it online...

I think it helps the business as far as history goes, how else could fans who are between 12 to 18 in 2008 be able to know about Mr. Perfect, Dynamite Kid, Bob Backlund, and Steamboat for example ?

Youtube is great for that, without that a lot of these older matches would not see the light of day unless WWE puts it out on DVD.

Both.

It has helped because it has more Professional Wrestling fans communicating with each other and giving their opinions about the shows they watch. Companies can learn about what's working and what isn't not just through crowd reaction, but how fans are reacting to it through their comments.

It's bad because a lot of people think they're experts in the business just because of spoiler sites, "news" sites, and the constant rumor mill and "leaked" information. A lot of fans that are on the Internet think they know everything there is to know, and some of them nit-pick every single thing on a wrestling show like they're giving an "expert analysis".

**starred**

HURT NO DOUT, SPOILER RUIN PRO WRESTLING, AND EVERYTIME THERES BIG RETURN YOU ALWAYS FIND OUT ABOUT IT ON THE INTERNET, IF THERE WASENT SPOILER SITES PRO WRESTLING WOULD BE LIKE IT WAS BEFORE!

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hurt, they have made a business out of spoilers. half of the time they arent even right and they are just guessing and some sites offer for a fee "detailed" information. when all we have to do is wait a week to find out what happens, why would any idiot pay for that? its sad they have made a business out of spoilers...

hurt..i mean look at all the rumor and spoiler sites there are....you cant go to any wrestling news site to just see news without spoilers

I think it has hurt pro wrestling.It killed kayfabe and the realness of the sport.