Is Wrestling Boring?

[BenEClone]

Not to insiders and aficionados, but to a potentially wider fan base? Two take downs in an entire dual? Inactivity? Per Andy Hamilton, the entertainment value is too low to garner support. I think he may be right and wonder what can be done. Take away riding points; more points for a take down; aggressive stalling calls placing more emphasis on aggressiveness; Greco Roman rules?

 

[SoapyCy]

I never got into wrestling because I didn't understand the rules and point system. Also, having a team of individual athletes competing separately seems odd to me - much more fun to unleash 6 of them in a huge ring at the same time - last team standing wins!

 

[Mr Janny]

If the goal is to attract new fans, then yes it's too boring. For the casual observer, it's just not a great spectator sport. The average match doesn't have enough action. Informed fans find the excitement in the sparring, but to the uninformed it looks like stalling.

 

[buf87]

Definitely not Greco rules. Lots of upper build positioning and pushing.

Not sure what needs to be done. Is RT causing more stalling on top?
Would push outs help or hurt? I think push outs from neutral position would good when an opponents leg isn't controlled.

 

[MNCyGuy]

Yes, sorry. But if it makes wrestling fans feel any better, I don't think that makes it any different than most other sports past the big 2. I had friends in college make give it a chance, but I think it's just one of those things you either grow up with, or you'll never understand it well enough to enjoy it.

 

[MartyFine]

Wrestling needs to stop competing with college basketball, and move to being a Spring sport. You could have the NCAAs the last weekend in April, and there would be much more interest. Also, you could have a fall workout period with duals sort of like what Spring volleyball has.

And for cryin' out loud, move the Nationals around the country more (PHX, Vegas, San Fran, Portland). I like that MSG will host in a couple years.

Let's try to create some buzz among the fans before we start changing rules.

 

[3TrueFans]

I'm not a wrestling fan and I'm mostly bored by it, a lot of that probably just comes from the fact that I don't get the strategy or really all of the rules involved, but overall I think it's not that exciting.

 

[SpiderClone]

It's right down there with

Soccer

 

[Mr Janny]

One problem is that the "two men locked in single combat" genre is done other places, and done better. MMA, boxing, etc. Wrestling looks slow, boring, and timid by comparison.

 

[SoapyCy]

I'm not a wrestling fan and I'm mostly bored by it, a lot of that probably just comes from the fact that I don't get the strategy or really all of the rules involved, but overall I think it's not that exciting.

I agree. I would understand if the goal was only to pin the other guy by any legal means necessary it would make it more simple to watch.

 

[3TrueFans]

One problem is that the "two men locked in single combat" genre is done other places, and done better. MMA, boxing, etc. Wrestling looks slow, boring, and timid by comparison.

I agree, boxing is terrible too though.

 

[BBHMagic]

I'd rather watch women's basketball and volleyball. There is too much standing around or laying around. I wouldn't necessarily call it boring though.

 

[DantheFan]

Yeah, I've been a lifetime fan of the sport. Always been around it, but I can see where others not exposed to it come from.

First, I think the singlet needs to go. Fight shorts and a tight underarmor style shirt or something to that effect I think would help participation in the schools. With more participation I think you get a wider fan base simply by informing people how things work.

I like marty's idea of shifting the season. I would be nice for the NCAAs to not compete with March Madness.

Not sure on the rules.

All that said, it's my favorite sport and that will never change. I'm all for change in order to find a way to expand the fan base though.

 

[ThurgoodMarshal]

Yes, yes it is. I used to wrestle and understand the points system and it is still incredibly boring to watch. I put it in the same category as Golf and Baseball. All three are very fun to actually play but, watching these sports is about as boring as watching paint dry, in my opinion.

 

[3TrueFans]

I'd rather watch women's basketball

Whoa, whoa, don't say something you'll regret.

 

[WooBadger18]

I think it is, but like others have said I don't really understand the point system. And every sport is going to be boring to some people, so I don't think it's really a problem for wrestling. I also think Hamilton put too much emphasis on how wrestling is now boring as to why it was almost cut from the Olympics. He said if you take out the arrogance, disregard for public relations, and the rules, the reason the sport was almost cut was because it's becoming boring. But the arrogance and lack of public relations was at least 85% of the reason the sport was almost cut, so you can't just dismiss those reasons.

 

[Judoka]

I think it is. Refs are afraid to call stalling until the last 30 seconds unless it is egregious and the risk/reward of taking a shot is tilted far to much towards the defensive wrestler.

The answer to the first part doesn't require any rule changes. Just get refs to enforce the stalling rules on the books. Including when a guy is riding and not actively working to score points.

I'm not sure of the right answer to the second point. But something needs to be done to make it so shots aren't a 50/50 proposition. It's a tough answer though because you don't want to just kill scrambling. Scrambles are some of the most exciting parts of the sport. But a shot followed by 30 seconds of slow motion scrambling is just boring, and also rewards the defensive wrestler far too much.

 

[cloneswillwin]

Don't post often, life long wrestler / fan. ISU season ticket holder.

I think adding freestyle out of bounds would help the scoring along and make the matches more exciting.

 

[Judoka]

First, I think the singlet needs to go. Fight shorts and a tight underarmor style shirt or something to that effect I think would help participation in the schools. With more participation I think you get a wider fan base simply by informing people how things work.

I don't think getting rid of the singlet would have much of an impact. Anybody who doesn't want to wear a singlet is going to have the same issues with wearing a rash guard. The whole point of a singlet it to not give your opponent anything to grab on to. Look at matches from decades ago and guys are just wearing a pair of tights, or shorts over a pair of tights. Singlets are a big step up from that.

I wouldn't be opposed to fight shorts and a short sleeve rash guard. I just don't think it would change much. A lot of wrestlers are wearing that in practice already.

 

[im4cyclones]

I definitely think that its popularity has waned a bit. But once it lost Hulkamania, it was bound to lose some.