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Hello, Wrestling-Online fans, and Welcome to the Jumble! As promised, here is my column dedicated to my latest informal survey about disrespect and disagreement.
First, a big thank you to the readers who sent in their replies! I’m always extremely grateful for the messages I receive from the fans! Your support is what makes me want to keep doing this!
So the main question for this latest informal survey was basically “Can you disagree with someone (in this case a wrestler) and still respect him/her?” Incredibly, 100% of the people who responded said yes, you can absolutely disagree with someone but still respect him or her. Trying to persuade someone to think the same way you do about something is not the same as trashing the person and ripping apart their character.
When I made some comments about The Undertaker a month or two ago, I angered a reader who said I should not be badmouthing him and disrespecting him. I was honestly confused as to why the reader felt that way because I was simply opposed to the way things were going on “SmackDown” in regards to his character. I didn’t like some of the things he was doing but knew that he wasn’t the guilty party. The writing team comes up with the storylines and ideas, so if anyone is to blame for Taker’s actions it’s the writers. I never called Taker a bad name or said he was a horrible wrestler, but there I was being accused of disrespect.
Do I respect Taker? You better believe I do! I’ve never met the man but I have the utmost respect for him based on what I’ve read in interviews with him and with his co-workers. He is truly a leader in the WWE and a mentor to the up-and-coming stars. If I was a young wrestler just starting in the business I would definitely seek him out and ask for advice. He’s been around a long time and knows a lot about the in’s and out’s of the wrestling world. That kind of knowledge is priceless!
Have there been other wrestlers I’ve disagreed with in the past but still respected? If you said yes, you would be absolutely correct! You all know what a big fan I am of Triple H but there have been times I’ve not liked something he did or said in the ring. Does that mean I stopped admiring him for his in-ring talent? Not in the least! And I’m not the only fan who has disagreed with a wrestler while still respecting him or her! One reader said he didn’t like some of the things Ric Flair has done in the ring over the years, but that it didn’t take away from Flair as a professional wrestler and as an entertainer. The reader pointed out that some of Flair’s actions were the result of storylines dictated to him by bookers such as Dusty Rhodes, just as some of Taker’s actions are being dictated to him by the writing team or perhaps by Vince McMahon himself. I’m sure Taker does have some creative say in what happens with his character, but ultimately the ideas have to be approved by Vince and company.
Another wrestler that a reader said he disagreed with but disrespected was Stone Cold Steve Austin. My reader disagreed with Austin simply walking out on the WWE when things weren’t going his way, but he still respected “The Texas Rattlesnake” for his in-ring accomplishments. So in this case there weren’t any writers or bosses involved, obviously, because what went on was not a storyline. However, even if you didn’t agree with what Austin did, you can still respect him for the entertainment he provided and for his athletic talents.
A different reader brought up a wrestler who did some things in his personal life that could not be looked upon in a favorable light but was someone he still respected as an in-ring performer. That wrestler was Chris Benoit. My reader said he disagreed (I think he used the word “disagreed” simply because that was the word I was using in the survey) with what Chris did to his family but he said he still respected what Chris did in his career as a professional wrestler prior to that tragic weekend last June. This has been a source of conflict among fans since the day the news broke that Chris was the one who murdered his wife and child before taking his own life. Some fans have said they will absolutely never mention the name of Chris Benoit again, while others can’t believe what he did but will always remember the athlete and performer he was before the deaths.
Yet another fan gave me her opinion towards Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. She respects The Rock for the wonderful career he had as a wrestler but disagrees with the way he has treated wrestling. Some fans have accused The Rock of using wrestling as a platform to launch his movie career but then turning his back on the company that made him a star after he achieved Hollywood success. Could that be how my reader also feels? She didn’t go into details so I can’t say for sure, but it is a possibility.
I think one reader summed up the “disrespect vs. disagreement” issue very well when he told me, “You don't have to LIKE a wrestler's character in or out of the ring necessarily, but it doesn't tie in with whether or not they earn or deserve your respect. Respect is both EARNED and GIVEN.” Well said!
Take care, everyone, and I’ll see you in The Jumble!
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