I have been meaning to make this thread for quite some time, but for whatever reason failed to get around to it. However, Tanner recently tweeted about this same exact topic, looking for recommendations, which led directly to the creation of this thread.

 

Most people on this board, I would think, have recommend something wrestling related to somebody else in the past, whether the other person was someone looking to get into wrestling, a lapsed fan, searching for something new, or completely ignorant to anything wrestling related. My approach has always been to sit (willing) people down and show them a crazy Ishii-Shibata style brawl if they are new and into martial arts for the action, string, and whatnot, or Misawa-Tsuruta if I am dealing with someone fairly familiar with wrestling already.

 

However, I have found that these approaches rarely work (obviously, recommendations can vary from person to person)) and thought that it may be a good idea to create a thread centred around this topic, hoping that it may help someone pass the pro-graps love onto a friend or family member.

My prescription: Watch Chigusa Nagayo vs Dump Matsumoto from 8/22/85, take a relaxant and call me in the morning.

I just show them wrestlers returning or debuting to massive pops, make them think it's a massive star then they're hungry for seeing them more. Perception is everything.

Jimmy Valiant or the Fabulous Ones seem to work when I'm not even trying.

Yeah, people love The Fabs on facebook and stuff for irony and comedy reasons.

The Bret-Austin I Quit match has captivated every first-time viewer I have shown it to.

I'd go for something simple and action-packed such as the These Days, Heartbreak, or Canadian Stampede ten man tags.

If you are showing somebody who has never seen pro wrestling before some pro wrestling, I almost feel like saying go with something like an episode of Lucha Underground or ECW Hardcore TV. Something fast paced, where there are big bumps, good promos, crazy spots, and blood.

Show them Magnum vs Tully I QUIT. Give them a basic explanation of why this is happening and then if they love it, you can introduce more wrestling. If they don't, move on to other possible shared interests.

Show them Magnum vs Tully I QUIT. Give them a basic explanation of why this is happening and then if they love it, you can introduce more wrestling. If they don't, move on to other possible shared interests.

 

I can't decide if this plan is full proof, or if wooden chair spike deal will serve to scare people off. With that said, if someone doesn't enjoy the concept of two men hating each other so much that the one threatens to drive a BROKEN PIECE OF WOODEN CHAIR into the other's eye, is that person really predisposed to liking wrestling?

Yeah, if you're not into mindless violence pro wrestling isn't for you

I'm convinced the only real way for someone to get hooked is by catching a bit of weekly TV and getting invested in what is going on to the point that they want to watch the blow off, or at least what happens next.

 

The closest thing to that would be showing them a PPV. Maybe an early Royal Rumble or Survivor Series that gives them enough of a glimpse of the array of different characters that they think "oh who's that guy? I want to see him again!". I always thought the thirty-minute countdown on the Wrestlemania 9 CHV did a good job of engaging someone who'd know nothing about what is going on. Those Mooney-hosted countdown packages were great and then he left and Pettigall ruined them.

 

I'm not sure that showing a newb great angles or matches in themselves will hook them in.

I'm convinced the only real way for someone to get hooked is by catching a bit of weekly TV and getting invested in what is going on to the point that they want to watch the blow off, or at least what happens next.

 

The closest thing to that would be showing them a PPV. Maybe an early Royal Rumble or Survivor Series that gives them enough of a glimpse of the array of different characters that they think "oh who's that guy? I want to see him again!". I always thought the thirty-minute countdown on the Wrestlemania 9 CHV did a good job of engaging someone who'd know nothing about what is going on. Those Mooney-hosted countdown packages were great and then he left and Pettigall ruined them.

 

I'm not sure that showing a newb great angles or matches in themselves will hook them in.

I agree. I think showing someone a current promotion that they can easily keep up with on a weekly basis is the way to go.

 

Some anecdotal evidence, I got a text from a friend of mine last night saying that he was flipping through channels and came across The New Day and was blown away. He had never really watched wrestling as a child and thought it was really complex and artistic. He watched the rest of the show and was asking me about different characters stories and backgrounds and wants to follow along now.

A non-wrestling fan friend asked me who my 5 favorite wrestlers were the other day. Instead of boring him w/ my top 5 from the GWE project, I told him about Kamala: How Kamala was a truck driver turned African savage, how he sometimes didn't understand how to pin his opponent or tag in a partner, how he always patted his belly because he was hungry for human flesh.

 

My buddy said he YouTubed Kamala for an hour and was entertained.

I've never been able to make anyone a full convert but, I have been able to get friends and family to watch a match or two once in a while.

 

I enjoyed showing people Joe vs Kobashi for awhile. I think it helped teardown the WWE = pro wrestling ideology for a couple friends.

 

The best luck I have had is to go back to a period of time when that person was originally into or aware of wrestling. Then, show them a match with someone they liked but, in a different setting or time period. Guys like Flair, Foley, even the Steiners have helped bridge the gap.

 

For someone who wants to get into puro or joshi, I would recommend watching the Liger-Sano feud, Jumbo-Tenryu, and the Lioness Asuka vs Jaguar Yakota -Chigusa vs Devil Masami from'85.

 

If that's too far back to start then, 2005 Noah, Michinoku Pro from '96, or umm maybe AJW from '97 would be good periods to dive into. I like '97 for LCO bringing brawling back into Joshi plus, watching Into foot stomp people is always gnarly.

 

Maybe recent NJPW is an option as well... I don't know. I got tired of the requisite elbow exchanges. There was a Shibata vs Sakuraba match from a couple years back that I thought was amazing and felt like a perfect example of Inoki strong style. That might be a good new one to show people...probably a Nakumura vs Goto match for the IWGP IC title as well...

..watching Ito foot stomp people is always gnarly...sorry...typo

My prescription: Watch Chigusa Nagayo vs Dump Matsumoto from 8/22/85, take a relaxant and call me in the morning.

I believe 8/22 is her match with Devil. 8/28 is the hair v. hair match. Both must sees.

I'd go with Rey/Eddy from Halloween Havoc. It has basically everything you want a match to have-good psychology, great athleticism, and strong character work. And it's short enough that a newbie won't be intimidated by the length.

I would think the episode of Mid South with Flair Dibiase. All time Great angle, and a great match. Also would recommend the Money in the Bank 2011 match with Cena and Punk as well as the angle and promo leading into the match. That was probably the best promo on WWE TV in 5 years, the best angle in 2 years, and the best match in 10 years. Shame they went nowhere with it.

The "I'd Like To Talk To Tom" angle works sometimes too.

The "Monster" video package and Daniel Bryan vs HHH from Wrestlemania 30.

The "I'd Like To Talk To Tom" angle works sometimes too.

 

I don't get the hype over the I'd like to talk to Tom angle... I don't mean to knit pick buuuut, Mystic comes out who obviously doesn't have a black eye, its shoe polish or paint, or something, its not even a good job with make up. It doesn't look anything like a black eye... I guess it would look like a black eye to somebody who has never seen a black eye before... But I'm a wrestling fan I can suspend my disbelief. Then Dirty White Boy attempts to lynch Tom Prichard. Which would be amazing except there are armed police officers working security 5 feet away who see Prichard struggling to breath but keep to their job of keeping an eye on the audience. I can't suspense my disbelief when 2 cops just walk by an attempted murder and are like "yeah, this is just part of the show, everybody in the front row settle down now"

Hoodslam. Anything. They've already made a solid go for themselves while attracting plenty of non-wrestling fans and the absurdity is a good jab at the dumber things that plague every promotion.

On an ROH kick...Generation Next vs The Embassy...especially the tags Fun stuff esp Abyss vs Matt Sydal encounters... Classic junior vs heavyweight