The hitman retiresA series of concussions has forced professional wrestler Bret (Hitman) Hart to end his 22-year career today.
posted by riley370 (17 comments total)
dominic, i take it your ellipses are a sign that you don't approve of this post?
riley370, 2 comments but 5 links (and you've been here since 1999) ? do you actually visit mefi any other time than when you post these? =)
(sorry, i'm in a bad mood tonight) posted by pnevares at 12:27 AM on October 28, 2000
You do realize he will be back in about a month as another "character". posted by brian at 2:49 AM on October 28, 2000
character? what are you talking about? Is this that stuff that wrestling is Fake? No way man! No fuckin way man! WWF FOREVER! whoo.. heh.
no. j/k. posted by tiaka at 6:02 AM on October 28, 2000
Actually "The Hitman" was let go because he's a crappy wrestler. He has zero mic skills, his in ring presence is crap. Wrestling is an engrossing, engaging, theatrical form of entertainment - try watching it some time... posted by owillis at 9:41 AM on October 28, 2000
It's live cartoons for adults. posted by Jeremy at 10:11 AM on October 28, 2000
Does that make it "bad"? Couldn't tell the tone of your comment... posted by owillis at 10:32 AM on October 28, 2000
Television wrestling shows such as "WWF Smackdown" are nothing but testosterone circuses that glorify violence, objectify women and thrive on stereotypes. They teach adolescent boys that violence is the solution to any problem. And yes, owillis, that makes it bad. I don't want to be unclear. posted by brian at 2:50 PM on October 28, 2000
Aw c'mon. Wrestling is fun, outrageous entertainment much in the mold of superhero comics and their ilk... posted by owillis at 9:11 PM on October 28, 2000
Owillis you should have your mouth washed out with a bar of soap for that remark. To compare graphic novels about costumed vigilantism with the depraved commercialization of sweaty hulking mammoths prancing about a boxing ring like ballerinas on steroids is a terrible comparison.
Jack Kirby spins in his grave.
Actually I'm surprised anyone can notice the difference between a wrestler with one too many concussions and a wrestler without too many. They all sound like they were recipients of frontal lobotomies to me. I can't tell the difference between one spitting sweaty moronic buffoon and another.
Oh wait.. Jesse Ventura's the sweaty moronic buffoon disguised as a politician, right? I can't tell them apart either.
Wrestling is entertainment pure and simple. It's got drama, action, romance and comedy all mixed into the one show, what more could you ask for. posted by Zool at 1:36 AM on October 29, 2000
The WWF’s current reputation is not undeserved, obviously. But while the WWF is pro wrestling, pro wrestling is not just the WWF. As with other types of performance, there are many, many different genres of pro wrestling. The most popular pro wrestling in Japan, for example, puts an emphasis clearly on athleticism and in-ring psychology. And Mexican wrestling is a whole other thing entirely.
Whatever else it might have become over the past twenty years, pro wrestling has always been about telling stories inside the ring, and Bret Hart was one of the best at doing that. His is a sad story. To anyone who thinks they know wrestling, I suggest you watch the documentary Wrestling with Shadows.
"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That'll be the beginning." -- Louis La'Amour bret hart's column in Saturday's Calgary Sun.
I saw Wrestling with Shadows. Even though I'm not a wrestling fan at all, I was fascinated by the film. It goes behind the scenes and shows how involved these wrestlers are in their stage image, and promoter Vince McMahon plots an incredible screwjob that results in a real fistfight with Hart.
At least I thought it was real. That's one of the best things about the film -- you get worked up in the story about these people and because it's wrestling, there's always a doubt about any of it being real.
Wrestling is contrived, sexist and dopey, but is it really a worse pastime than pro football or comic books? posted by rcade at 9:06 AM on October 29, 2000
It sure isn't any worse than football. posted by tranquileye at 5:01 PM on October 29, 2000
If the Hitman left the WWF because of dissapearing family values, then is there a chance that he has retired due to the WCW going in much the same direction? posted by Zool at 6:16 PM on October 29, 2000
It's got drama, action, romance and comedy all mixed into the one show, what more could you ask for.
Er, good drama, action, romance, and comedy? :) posted by daveadams at 9:04 AM on October 30, 2000
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posted by dominic at 12:11 AM on October 28, 2000