Do you find yourself liking wrestlers you can relate to more?

Question

This question was somewhat inspired by the user 'resident Y2J evil'.

Fans take to wrestlers for many different reasons. Often, fans like wrestlers that they can relate to on a personal level, because, well, they are like that wrestler in some ways. Now, everyone knows by now I dont like Jeff Hardy. There are MANY reasons why I dont like Jeff Hardy. One solid reason, is because I cant relate to the guy. Im not being a hater on him, Im speaking the truth here. I cant relate to his emo/goth like persona of 'live for the moment'. I cant relate to a guy who dyes his hair all different colors, and for wrestling matches, flip flops around the ring like a wet seal. When was the last time you saw Jeff Hardy wrestle a FULL technical match? He doesnt LOOK like a wrestler. He looks like a lanky guy who walked out of a punk pit where a bunch of mis-understood skateboarders hang out and b*tch about their lives. I cant relate to a guy who paints his fingernails black and paints his face. I cant relate to that at all. Thats not the only reason I dislike him, but its one of them.

Steve Austin became VERY popular because MANY people could relate to him. Who doesnt admire a loner bad@ss who gets things done his way? He was almost like Clint Eastwood. And who doesnt take to a guy who tells his boss to f*ck off because he doesnt like the way hes being disrespected?

So my question is, do YOU ever find yourself take liking to wrestlers that you can relate to on a personal level sometimes, and if so, who and why?

Answer 1

For me it happens all the time. The wrestlers I have liked the most, or have been my favorites is basically because there was a little bit of me in that character.



I can relate very well to Stonecold's character, and that had the most signifigance as to why he's my favorite of all time.



I like Rob Van Dam, I like the ECW version of him but I can really relate to the WWE version of a laidback cool person. I'm basically that person. It's when I get mad, which isn't often that I'm more like the Stonecold character..I related to him well especially when I was younger. But I can relate to the RVD laidback character because it takes a whole lot to really piss me off, most of the time I just take things in stride.



I can totally relate to CM Punk, he's straightedge...I'm straightedge. His father was an alcoholic, my father was an alcoholic. Because of that reason he doesn't smoke or drink, or do drugs, because of that same reason I don't smoke, or drink or do drugs. If they totally let his character show on WWE tv he'll become my current favorite wrestler.



I've liked Mr. Perfect a lot, because he was basically cocky, I was cocky during my late teenage years.



I could go on, but yeah that's basically the reason I like certain wrestlers...because I can relate to them.





As for Jeff Hardy, I'll just give you something that I heard Jim Ross say once on a WWE Roundtable on Classics In Demand. He said, in a complimentary way, that Jeff Hardy isn't a wrestler, he's a rockstar...and that's basically what his fans connect to. That rockstar persona shines through easily out of him. The whole look, his black nails like you said..is all rockstar-esque. I'm into music a lot, and have gotten into rock more the past 6-7 years (I grew up liking hip hop & R&B)..but I'm really into music so I feel that out of Jeff. It's more of a grunge/punk rock look though rather than emo.



So, yes, to answer your question the reason I, and most fans like the wrestlers they do is because they can relate to them.

Answer 2

About time someone asked this question. I may not relate to Hardy much, but i like taking risks, and hes a risk taker which is why he's my 2nd fav. However, I find myself more linked to Jericho. Jericho states that he is the best at what he does, and he is right. And sometimes, I feel like i do the same. I know i can be funny, come up with funny nicknames, be loud and entertain people alot, but then there are times i get really serious and too mature much like how Jericho has done with y2j onto his save me gimmick. Since realizing Jericho and I can be the same, he's become a role model to me because i want to be exactly how he is outside of wrestling, a fun entertaining superstar

Answer 3

Hmm. Good question.

Let's list out my favorite wrestlers and see..



1. Randy Orton.

-I am kind of like him, actually. There are days where I just want to punt everyone in the head. I've gotten in physical fights before and then right after though, Holy crap, what did I do?



I've been told I get the same look on my face that he does when he gets pissed. Unlike a lot of other people, I actually enjoy his mic skills and promo-time. Maybe it's because I relate to how he talks? He doesn't suck up to the crowd like Mysterio and he doesn't tell them their favorite city sucks all the time. It does get old after a while. Randy just comes out, says what he needs to say, and usually gets interrupted. He's not extremely charismatic and he's not a guy who uses metaphors. He's straight to the point. I'm like that as well.



2. Shawn Michaels.

He has his serious sides and his goofy sides. More goofy around Triple H than anyone. I get like that when I'm around my friends.



Like him, I turned my life around and got saved through Jesus. We're both Christians. He has a reputation as Mr. Wrestlemania. That would be a dream for me. Even if I never won. [Near impossible for me since I'm a girl.]

He loves San Antonio. Same here. Always wanted to live there. He's from Texas. Same here.





I guess I am like my favorite wrestlers in a way!

Answer 4

Yes,that's why Shawn Michaels is one of my favorites.It really helps a wrestler get over with the fans if they can relate to them,instead of having some over the top super human gimmick(John Cena)

Answer 5

YES DUDE I totally agree

the only wrestlers I like are the ones I can relate to that's why most are heels lol.

You just opened my eyes haha.

You are totally right t like people are fans of wrestlers from their hometown because they can relate to them since they grew up in the same place.

Answer 6

Actually, now that you mention it.

That could be why I like Raven.

And went through a phase where I liked Jeff Hardy.

It makes sense. :/

Answer 7

me and MVP are alot alike, same ethinicity too (both black and white, like obama) and he's a great worker like i've been told i was.



jeff hardy i can relate to cause my house burned down and my dog was in there, he survived, but still.



undertaker idk, but my 2nd favorite, shawn michaels is awesome. i read his book and realized how much we're alike. he went from my 6th favorite, to my 2nd favorite like that i even question why he was so low (yes 6 out of all the wrestlers in the world is LOW for hbk)

Answer 8

My favorite wrestler is Jeff Hardy. I know what it's like to be misunderstood and rejected. He has shown me that there is beauty in imperfection. Also, because he's real...what you see is what you get. He will forever be my all-time favorite!!!

Answer 9

chris jericho some motives have been the two from winnipeg a pair of years in the past i grow to be going to the comparable severe college has him we the two have the comparable zodiac sign the scorpio and on the age of 12 is the age jericho wanted to grow to be a wrestler thats the comparable age i wanted to grow to be a wrestler to boot

Answer 10

Wow, you know i've never really thought of it like that! I guess i do. I like Kurt Angle. Like in his WWE/F days. He was just a regular down to earth good American. But i totally agree with stuff on Jeff Hardy. I don't like that kind of stuff. Same with Jimmy Wang Yang (Idk). Now i'm just rambling.

Answer 11

Jeff Hardy? How can anyone relate to a meth-head? Unless that person that relates to Jeff is Lindsay Lohan.



I could relate to Rob Van Dam, because I like pot too (potheads are not drug addicts)

Answer 12

acutally to the honest i like the undertaker he is my favorite wrestler and part of that is because like him i have knee problems