This commentary is for the rare viewer who has been under a rock since "Gorgeous George" graced the squared circle! Let's quickly bring you up to speed! Regional wrestling promotions have taken a back seat to national promotions that are consistently televised. The two largest American promotions are now The World Wrestling Federation and the Time-Warner owned World Championship Wrestling, which arose when media mongul Ted Turner bought most of the old National Wrestling Alliance!
The McMahon run World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the early to mid 1990's was losing talent and viewers and money to the "Turner Wrestling" Both WCW and the WWF have gone cable, and the hottest shows on cable are "WWF Raw is War" and "WCW Monday Nitro". Other shows on cable don't even come close! The Turner Wrestling aired Monday Nitro in response to "Raw". Until 1998 "Raw" was a taped show, while Nitro aired live in the same time slot. The peace was disturbed when Rick Rude appeared on both programs. So now Raw is a live show. In addition to airing it live Raw regained the top cable rating by resorting to more rancid plotlines. Now on to Smack Down!
Vince McMahon and his World Wrestling Federation diversified their portfolio by not only having three cable shows:"Raw is War","Sunday Night Heat", "WWF Live Wire"; But also the syndicated show "Jakked". For the first time in more than four decades, pro wrestling has returned to prime-time network television. So in 1999 "WWF Smack Down" aired on recent upstart: United Paramount Network (UPN).
Once you're tuned in you will notice that the WWF fans think that olympic style wrestling is boring! So there are less headlocks and arm drags, and more:drop kicks, hooks, jabs, pedigrees and chair shots than ever before! In terms of plots there are no longer good guys and bad guys! The wrestler that portrays the dutiful, compassionate hero one minute can easily be evil, despicable and heinous the next! Also like "Raw" ; during the first hour of "Smack Down" you will see fourteen minutes of actual wrestling matches! The remaining 46 minutes consists of commercials and trash talk!
The old wrestling programs were more suitable for family viewing! Writers appeal to the lowest common denominator with: profanity, scantily clad women, and rancid plots! Something to think about; how often does Joanie Laurer; that leather clad powerhouse of a woman get hit in the jaw or with a chair, or with a guitar by her hulking male counterparts?
Continuous exposure to this type of action could possibly desenitize young male viewers against domestic violence!
It would be safe to say let the kids watch the Disney Channel during Smack Down! The competitors are still tremendous atheletes, but their "show" is no longer suitable for younger or more sensitive viewers!
The McMahon run World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the early to mid 1990's was losing talent and viewers and money to the "Turner Wrestling" Both WCW and the WWF have gone cable, and the hottest shows on cable are "WWF Raw is War" and "WCW Monday Nitro". Other shows on cable don't even come close! The Turner Wrestling aired Monday Nitro in response to "Raw". Until 1998 "Raw" was a taped show, while Nitro aired live in the same time slot. The peace was disturbed when Rick Rude appeared on both programs. So now Raw is a live show. In addition to airing it live Raw regained the top cable rating by resorting to more rancid plotlines. Now on to Smack Down!
Vince McMahon and his World Wrestling Federation diversified their portfolio by not only having three cable shows:"Raw is War","Sunday Night Heat", "WWF Live Wire"; But also the syndicated show "Jakked". For the first time in more than four decades, pro wrestling has returned to prime-time network television. So in 1999 "WWF Smack Down" aired on recent upstart: United Paramount Network (UPN).
Once you're tuned in you will notice that the WWF fans think that olympic style wrestling is boring! So there are less headlocks and arm drags, and more:drop kicks, hooks, jabs, pedigrees and chair shots than ever before! In terms of plots there are no longer good guys and bad guys! The wrestler that portrays the dutiful, compassionate hero one minute can easily be evil, despicable and heinous the next! Also like "Raw" ; during the first hour of "Smack Down" you will see fourteen minutes of actual wrestling matches! The remaining 46 minutes consists of commercials and trash talk!
The old wrestling programs were more suitable for family viewing! Writers appeal to the lowest common denominator with: profanity, scantily clad women, and rancid plots! Something to think about; how often does Joanie Laurer; that leather clad powerhouse of a woman get hit in the jaw or with a chair, or with a guitar by her hulking male counterparts?
Continuous exposure to this type of action could possibly desenitize young male viewers against domestic violence!
It would be safe to say let the kids watch the Disney Channel during Smack Down! The competitors are still tremendous atheletes, but their "show" is no longer suitable for younger or more sensitive viewers!