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Gone are the days when Monday nights had must-watch TV. Wrestling’s glory days are far behind us and the older wrestling fans can hardly find the things that made them fans of the spectacle of professional wrestling in the first place anymore, within the current product.
Little wonder then that they have moved to other forms of entertainment, trying to match the glory days of professional wrestling with TV shows or video games. We have one alternative suggestion for them – MMA!
Mixed Martial Arts brings to life many components of the bygone era of professional wrestling that we adored. Here are 5 reasons why disillusioned WWE fans can now immerse themselves in MMA.
#5 Babyfaces and heels exist
Across different promotions, MMA fighters have picked up several traits from WWE. One of them is character development, to stand out as a unique individual in a sea of fighters. As a result, we have seen several babyfaces, heels and tweeners emerge in MMA.
The promos they cut to promote a fight are downright condescending at times and make you want to see the fighter in question get beaten up. At the same time, we have genuine babyfaces such as Miesha Tate and Dominick Cruz who people genuinely root for at all times.
Also read: 5 Reasons Conor McGregor is more popular than all WWE stars
While this is not a general dynamic across all fighters and promotions, the most talked about fighters are those who have a distinct persona. Which is why Conor McGregor and Michael Bisping are spoken about with greater fervour in the MMA world, because of their borderline heelish tendencies.
This is also why Yoel Romero’s cheating tactics earn him ridicule and make the audience cheer for his opponent. Good vs bad is a time-tested formula and one that has made people millions of dollars across many forms of art, MMA is no exception.
#4 Reality
Admit it. Somewhere in the absolutely deepest, darkest, most perverse part of your brain, you enjoy a real fight. Which is why combat sports hold such appeal for you.
In today's WWE, blading is illegal. As a result, all the classic matches where blood was used to tell compelling stories of retribution, perseverance and commitment are far behind us.
UFC and other MMA promotions have no such inhibitions of course. Blood is a constant feature of many fights, and through blood, the audience becomes invested in fights to the fullest.
The sterile environment of WWE where blood is wiped away even when it trickles or the massacres that happen within the octagon in real combat? You decide!
#3 Crossover moves
Many professional wrestlers these days have backgrounds in MMA. Little wonder then, that we see a lot of MMA based offence used in professional wrestling, be they super stiff kicks, or even a variation of genuine MMA based submission holds on the mat.
When the professional wrestling fan switches to MMA, he/she will find a lot of moves from wrestling being used here.
Conversely, many MMA stars have started doing flips and other flashy moves, in the vein of professional wrestling. These are mostly to get a reaction from the audience and to pump them up during a fight. The new professional wrestling fans will find familiarity galore here.
#2 Speaking without censorship
Compare any WWE promo to that of a top UFC star. Not only is it fake, because of the nature of professional wrestling (this cannot be helped), it also passes through many corporate filters to make it palatable for a mass family audience.
Conversely, UFC and other MMA promotions have no such restrictions at all. Sometimes the things that are said are so politically incorrect that they make us wince. Ultimately, they all serve their purpose and make us more interested in the match at hand.
When WWE was a company fighting to survive, they unleashed the Attitude Era. Now that they’re on top, the company has mellowed down. Sometimes, the nature of the programming is so weak and tepid that it’s an insult to intelligent adults.
#1 No over exposure
WWE gets a much better reaction for the part-timers than they do for the wrestlers who perform on a weekly basis. This is because familiarity breeds contempt. This is the sad but true fact for any form of entertainment.
The wait for something big creates the necessary hype that draws people to watch it.
UFC fighters, because of the damage their body endures, fight only a few times every year. Thus, there is always anticipation for the next pay-per-view or show. Unlike Raw and Smackdown which happen on a weekly basis, these grand events, therefore become must-watch television.
Do you agree/disagree/agree somewhat? Let us know in the comments.
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