The Problems With Wrestling On T.V. Essay, Research Paper

At many sporting events, you can purchase those big foam-rubber hands with the index finger raised to indicate the fan’s favorite team is No. 1. At WrestleMania, you could have purchased a big foam-rubber hand with the middle finger raised to indicate your support for wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Pro wrestling programs are among the most popular shows on TV; they often represent six out of the ten top-rated cable shows each week. In addition to boosting ratings, the WWF’s increased emphasis on violence, raw language and sexual suggestion has made it controversial. Even though the televised events the WWF chooses to put on television may be controversial; the broadcasts should still be considered acceptable on television today. While being scrutinized for it s content, the WWF televised events are no different then any daytime soap opera and yet they are still considered acceptable. Children can turn on the news, hear and see far worse things than what is on wrestling; but yet the news is highly acceptable on today s television. Wrestling has taken notice of the material they put on cable television, that is why they tag their broadcasts with a TV-14 label. This precaution warns parents that the show contains violence, adult language, and adult content. If a parent allows their child to watch the WWF then they are implying that the show, in their eyes, is acceptable.

Many wrestling events today go to the extreme. In a Kiss My Ass” grudge match between The Rock and Mr. Ass, with the loser having to kiss the other’s rear. Mr. Ass brought an overweight woman in a blanket into the ring, and declared that his opponent would have to kiss her backside. She obliged by hiking her skirt and displaying her underpants and a ripped pair of panty hose. However, as Mr. Ass’s antics indicate, there may be other, more draws: sex, violence and occasional racism. Outside the heavy metal music, there is an area of wrestling that is very politically incorrect. If you were to turn on ABC at one o clock in the afternoon, you would see much of what is on wrestling. All My Children, a daytime soap opera, contains some of the most graphic sex scenes possible to put on television. Young teenage girls watching Young & the Restless are getting the notion that promiscuous sex is acceptable in society. In Days of Our Lives a man will rape, kill, and bury a woman; however these shows are fine for younger viewing. These soap operas have the same adult content the WWF contains even in a stronger matter; nevertheless it is still considered acceptable.

In Women Title Matches women wrestlers, Champion Ivory and Tori, perform in flesh-hugging costumes apparently fashioned from a special WWF merger between Victoria’s Secret and DKNY. The match usually ends on a controversial call, after which Champion Ivory unfastens Tori’s top. Tori covers her breasts and scurries off, much to the crowd’s disappointment. In moments of matches, sellout crowds chant in unison “Ass hole! Ass hole! Ass hole!” Sound familiar? You can probably turn on WB and see the same events on Jerry Springer s daytime talk show. How come these daytime talk shows are not being criticized for their content. On Jenny Jones children can see female and male strippers dancing in skimpy outfits to the sounds of cheap porn music. The WWF is not considered acceptable because of its violence, raw language, and sexual suggestion; but all of these daytime shows containing the same explicit material are acceptable to viewers.

The WWF is being highly responsible for an increase in the raw language of children. Children watch their favorite group, Degeneration-X, holler at the crowd and scream out the words Suck it! But as for adult content, children can turn on the news, hear and see far worse things than the WWF acts out. Children can hear on the six o clock news of how a young boy was abducted by two men, raped, and killed. They should hear of these terrifying acts only from their parents, not by two newscasters. Understandably news is to inform the public, but what makes the content acceptable for children to watch. News should be to inform parents of what is going on in the world, giving them a choice whether or not to tell their children. The WWF is screen play and many of the viewers know or realize this aspect, news is real and most news is bad news only scaring children or putting ideas into their heads. For example, the infamous Columbine incident was broadcasted by every news angle possible. Because of the news, the idea of a school shooting was implanted into young children s minds only resulting in more school shootings. Granted, the news was needed to mourn the tragic deaths of the students and also to acknowledge the acts were wrong. However after the news-castings there has been a steady flow of killings or threats of killings throughout the nation s schools.

Two recent lawsuits indicate that wrestling may be pushing the edge a little too far. One, of which was settled, brought by a female wrestler who refused to have her gown pulled off in a match. The other relates to the death of Owen Hart, a WWF wrestler who died when the cable lowering him from the roof for another TV spectacle broke. These incidents may be pushing the edge but they are on television with all other shows containing nudity, killing, and adult language.

The WWF will maintain the tradition, with many fans wearing T-shirts containing Austin’s slogan: Stone Cold 3:16, “I just whooped your ass!” Today it should just be accepted.

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