WWE News: No More "Sports Entertainment," Umaga's Return
Posted by Ashish on 10.23.2008
Two more Thursday WWE news items...
- Vince McMahon has also now apparently banned the term "sports entertainment" and told all WWE announcers to simply refer to WWE as "entertainment."
- The Izod Center's website is listing an Undertaker, Triple H, & Jeff Hardy vs. Vladimir Kozlov, Big Show, & Umaga match for the 12/30 Smackdown taping.
Well good. His product hasn't been wrestling for years.
Posted By: Scotty Flamingo (Registered) on October 23, 2008 at 06:42 PM
LOL,I knew that was coming.How long before they start calling it "the show" and the boys are "actors".
Now TNA calls 'em "TNA TALENT" and its "SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT" with them too.
Jesus Christ.
Posted By: MacDollarz. (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 06:42 PM
I want to see who violates the new "entertainment" edict first, and what the consequences are gonna be for doing it.
Posted By: BJC (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 06:43 PM
Just like I always said, Wrestling is NOT a sport. Also Wrestling is fake.
Go watch a real sport instead.
World Series tonight!!! Go Rays!
Sunday the Bucs are going to destroy the Cowboys.
Watch real sports people! It's time to grow up and give up on faggat ass wrestling.
Wrestling is dead.
Oh, and Vince, fuck you.
Posted By: Guinness (Registered) on October 23, 2008 at 06:44 PM
Too bad it isn't entertaining anymore.
Posted By: John (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 06:44 PM
"WWE News: No More "Sports Entertainment"
that got my hopes up as i thought that they were dropping the entertainment thing and going back to plain ol' wrestling
Posted By: cj (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 06:45 PM
Thats so lame, like it makes a difference at this point.
Posted By: Guest#8369 (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 06:52 PM
This just in...
Vince changed his mind. He now says 'entertainment' is too strong of a word. He now want his shows to be called 'crap'.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 06:55 PM
OMG I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR RETURN, EEEEEWWWWWMAAAAHGAAAAAAAAH!!!!!
Posted By: bagnar loves umaga (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 06:56 PM
Yep that's going to be the difference maker that is, well done Vince. Watch those ratings sky rocket up to 4s and 5s now they've made that major change in direction
Posted By: Dave (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 06:57 PM
Christ, I'm sick of this shit. All this bullshit just to save a couple of bucks in taxes.
Posted By: Vallejo (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 06:59 PM
Hey Guinness, what is the "definition" of a sport?
Posted By: Whoa (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Yeah, the problem is that they haven't been very "entertaining".... Vince thinks the reason that wrestling isn't "cool" anymore is that its looked at as being "nerdy" when actually, it they book realistic matches and scenarios, and if the guys weren't so scripted, and if they used the guys who can actually work to their full potential, then there would be no need for calling them "entertainers"....
Posted By: Industry (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:02 PM
"Yeah, the problem is that they haven't been very "entertaining".... Vince thinks the reason that wrestling isn't "cool" anymore is that its looked at as being "nerdy" when actually, it they book realistic matches and scenarios, and if the guys weren't so scripted, and if they used the guys who can actually work to their full potential, then there would be no need for calling them "entertainers""
Actually, the whole purpose of this is that billing the wrestling as entertainment instead of a sport helps WWE not have to pay high taxes on their events.
Plus, I looked at WWE.com today, and the word "superstar" is still being used everywhere (even in brand new articles), not "entertainer".
Posted By: Guest#0912 (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Just like I always said, Wrestling is NOT a sport. Also Wrestling is fake.
Go watch a real sport instead.
World Series tonight!!! Go Rays!
Sunday the Bucs are going to destroy the Cowboys.
Watch real sports people! It's time to grow up and give up on faggat ass wrestling.
Wrestling is dead.
Oh, and Vince, fuck you.
Posted By: Guinness (Registered)
well how about you go watch your "real sports" and stop reading about it, if you dont like wrestling why are you posting here
Posted By: Guest#0579 (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:10 PM
Don't forget the new tidbit from yesterday saying that if WWE promotes itself as entertainment and is a show they get out of paying taxes for being a sporting event.
The thing is, pro-wrestling isn't sport and has never been. It's always been a spectacle put on for the masses.
It makes sense even if its a little bizarre that wrestling has to prove itself as not being a true sport.
Posted By: Scott Rutherford (Registered) on October 23, 2008 at 07:12 PM
So I wonder who will sue the WWE first for calling their product entertainment?...if anyone has watched RAW the last few months, you can hardly call it entertainment?
Posted By: Draxxilla (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:18 PM
Considering how censor-happy WWE is when it comes to their DVD sets, it's a good thing they put out the Rock's set before this happened. Can you imagine?
"The Most Electrfying Man in Entertainment!"
I mean, I guess it works, but...ugh.
Posted By: The Great One (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:20 PM
let's stand on a field for 3 hours wiping sweat off of our foreheadS, woo, I could watch baseball All FUCKING DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
football is even worse. it starts and stops every 20 goddamn seconds.
and people actually bet on sports, GET A FUCKING LIFE, LOL
Posted By: 56789098765 (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:21 PM
"Christ, I'm sick of this shit. All this bullshit just to save a couple of bucks in taxes."
Except dropping "sports" from "sports entertainment" has ZERO do with taxes.
Posted By: Guest#7094 (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:32 PM
FUCK the Rays!......Go Phils
Posted By: Bones (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:34 PM
excellent point guest #0579. spot on
Posted By: pKon (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:34 PM
I wonder how long before JR or King slip up and call them by the forbidden names? Frankly I wouldn't be surprised if they quit after a few months of this. Vince is being nothing more than a cheapass bastard even though he's a "billionaire," like he says he is.
Posted By: Michael (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:36 PM
you heard guinness. come on guys lets watch real sports! let's forget what we like to do with our free time and take stock in what a total stranger has to say! let's watch some baseball, where you never can tell if a player will be relevant the next year. that's excitment people! or football, where the super bowl is sure to be won by an undeserving team because all the good players are injured. what morons we have been. let's take the obnoxiousness a step further. if we elect guinness the president nobody will have to watch gay ass wrestling ever again! that's change we can believe in! we should all line up and spit shine guinness' balls for being our savior. go rays everybody!
Posted By: the dude (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:39 PM
I am not amused by this bullshit, Vince. Stop being a faggot and let the goddamn State Athetlic Commissions or IRS or whoever the fuck you're trying to get out of paying money to just do their job instead of being a fucking faggot about it.
God holy fuck Vince makes me rage sometimes.
Posted By: m8 (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:44 PM
To the guy who said Wrestling is fake:
First off...You know what, never mind. Your right. After all theses years beliveing that the WWE was as real as football and baseball. You just changed my everything. Thank-you
Posted By: Tiger Omar Ali-Bashr Rosenburg (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:44 PM
So this begs the question... If they aren't athletes anymore, will wrestlers be allowed to join SAG, the Screen Actors Guild?
Posted By: Mikey (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:47 PM
jumanga returns.....awesome
Posted By: zxcvxzc (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:50 PM
Hey, yo! Entertainment? What the fuck are you doing, Vince? Entertainment? I will just take your entertainment, roll it up, then stick it up your 63 years old ass! Hey, old man, I know why you let me go: Because you were afraid that I was going to take over the WWE! Well, I'm still alive and kicking! You need to fix the product right now, or I will just come up to your house and smack the shit out of you! *Takes the toothpick off the top of my ear, flicks it at you* Like that? Well, you are going to love this! *Does the crotch chops* Get the hell out of the business while you are still breathing, because you are killing the business! Give the damn ownership to your kids, and, oh, yeah, my boy Triple H! Once they have it, Triple H is gonna bring me back, just so I can have a match with you, then I'll drop your head onto the concrete with my Outsider's Edge! Survey time! Who comes here to see Vince kicks my ass? *Listens to you shitheads, then put my hands up, then down, laughs* Well, who comes here to see me kick the shit out of Vince? Well, well, the survey says one more for the Bad Guy!
Posted By: Scott Hall (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:55 PM
yes wrestling may be predertimed but wrestlers are also on the road more than your so called real atlethes
they get hurt more often than your real atlethes
they are more fun to watch than your real altlethes
besides on tv baseball is the msot boreing sport there is next to golf
Posted By: random (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:59 PM
Vince needs to retire. I mean, it is nice for him to have this empire to "entertain" himself. However, he needs to realize that things have changed...he is out of touch. If you want to be called entertainment, fine, but then you have to get over your "big guy" mentalitly. All good entertaining stories have the little guy winning, atleast once in awhile. I am not saying have Rey Rey beat Taker at WrestleMania. But throw your cruiserweights a bone now and then. Fans are interested in the stories more than the wresling in general. I like a good wrestling match, but if there is a good story to go with it and prolong it until the apex...well there's your entertaiment.
Posted By: SuperJeff (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 08:00 PM
I feel for you guys. I used to be a huge wrestling fan for years, but caught on to how stupid and gay it was years ago. It will eventually go under. I suggest you all start watching UFC, because that is where the real "Entertainment" is at and it is a real "Sport". And you won't have to tell all your friends that your favorite "entertainer" of all time is Chris Benoit.
Posted By: Captain Patterson (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 08:03 PM
Next step for Vince is to change it from WWE World Wrestling Entertainment its going to be WWE World Wide Entertainment. When Vince McMahon SR. started this how long back then passed it on to his son the "brillian" **cough** **cough** idiot retard fucked up penis wrinkle **cough** **cough** didn't see his son changing the very buisness he created. Vince McMahon SR. is spinning in his grave!
Posted By: Lucid (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 08:03 PM
dats right Bones Go Phils!!!!!! and as for wrestling (ehem) I mean Entertainment I need to see the
FU and RKO back may b even the Green Bay Plunge n defintly the Edge-Ecution to be Entertained again
Posted By: Takedown da Rays (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 08:24 PM
Here we go again, more complaining. All you guys do is bitch. So what if Vince wants to take the sport out of wrestling? So what if he wants to replace true talent with homogenized guys trained in-house? So what if the product is dull and I pay money to bend over and let him fuck me? At least I don't do something terrible, like open my mouth and raise an issue about how I spend my very limited time and hard-earned money.
Unlike SOME people around here...
Posted By: Real Wrestling Fan (nyah) (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 08:28 PM
"LOL,I knew that was coming.How long before they start calling it "the show" and the boys are "actors"."
NEWS FLASH! The Boys have ALWAYS called them "shows". As in a COMMON sentance used in ANY Indy locker room, "Yeah Im workin 3 SHOWS this weekend, gonna be a SORE monday!"
Any worker will tell you ACTING is a HIGHLY important part of PRO wrestling. As honorable a history wrestling has, its been A FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT FROM THE BEGINNING! Forgive Vince for FINALLY OPENLY acknowledging that FACT!
Posted By: CM Wolf (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 08:33 PM
This makes sense because wrestling's origin comes from traveling carnival's and it basically hasn't gone too far from that origin.
Posted By: Richard (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 08:36 PM
Damn that headline got me thinking that Vince wants to promote his company as "wrestling" again. He has some great young talent to do so.
Am I the only one that thinks that CM Punk, John Morrison, Kofi Kingston, Evan Bourne, Shelton Benjamin, Brian Kendrick and Chris Jericho are some of the best in ring wrestlers the WWE has seen had collectively in a while? If not, then why do people never seem to give them credit for being so good.
"TNA has the best young roster..."
True to an extent, but those WWE guys are no slouches either. Just sayin.
Posted By: bighustle (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 08:43 PM
U-U-Umaga
Posted By: William (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 08:59 PM
"Considering how censor-happy WWE is when it comes to their DVD sets, it's a good thing they put out the Rock's set before this happened. Can you imagine?
"The Most Electrfying Man in Entertainment!"
I mean, I guess it works, but...ugh.
Posted By: The Great One (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:20 PM"
Well, the Rock was calling himself "the most electrifying man in allllll of entertainment" during his last "movie star" heel run, so it works.
Everyone was always complaining about how stupid "sports entertainment" sounded, so I think it's a good move. Ultimately, the product is all that really matters.
Posted By: Guest#2531 (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Good point Mikey. The SAG is very strong in some states and any "entertainment" not call a sport can fall under thier work rules.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 09:19 PM
Good point Mikey. The SAG is very strong in some states and any "entertainment" not call a sport can fall under thier work rules.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 09:27 PM
"Ultimately, the product is all that really matters."
OH SHIT! You mean we need to work on fixing "the product" too?
Posted By: Vince McMahon (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 09:29 PM
Vince has officially lost his mind. Next thing you know they'll replace the ring with a stage. The 2 hours will consist of nothing but the "entertainers" cutting promos on one another. They do it for a half an hour each show anyway, might as well fill the rest of their shows with it. ;)
I sure as hell hope ROH gets a tv deal soon so I can quit watching WWE/TNA weekly programming all together. ROH is the only company that matters to me nowadays. Wrestling isn't dead as far as ROH is concerned. That's for damn sure.
Posted By: Vince's Midget (Registered) on October 23, 2008 at 09:31 PM
R-O-H! R-O-H! R-O-H!
Posted By: The Time Has Come... (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 09:39 PM
Now that they're live performance "entertainers", how soon before they band together and decide to join AGVA - especially if that proposed law ever passes that lets a union form at a location if half of the employees merely send in representation requests?
Posted By: ThatDonGuy (Registered) on October 23, 2008 at 09:54 PM
Guinness, if it is so "faggat ass" why are you posting on a wrestling thread. Also, who are you to say wrestling fans don't like real sports? Baseball sucks just to let you know, hardly even a real sport either. Now hockey and football, THOSE are real sports
Posted By: Jones (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 10:03 PM
"Just like I always said, Wrestling is NOT a sport. Also Wrestling is fake.Go watch a real sport instead.World Series tonight!!! Go Rays!Sunday the Bucs are going to destroy the Cowboys.Watch real sports people! It's time to grow up and give up on faggat ass wrestling.Wrestling is dead.Oh, and Vince, fuck you.Posted By: Guinness (Registered) on October 23, 2008 at 06:44 PM "
And lets pretend to like sports in order to feel more like a man.
You are a sheep dude.
Posted By: The Diceman (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 10:14 PM
The funny thing is look at the marquee...World WRESTLING Entertainment! The Wrestling is still in the comapny name! Why don't they call it "World Entertaning Entertainment" so they can officially be called WEE!!!
Posted By: Joe K. (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 10:24 PM
To the person complaining about Rey Mysterio never beating the big guys, did you happen to catch Rey pinning Snitsky in 2 minutes Monday or the previous 13 weeks in which he repeatedly came out on top during every altercation with Kane?
Posted By: Gus Neidhart (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Congratulations to everyone above me for whining and arguing about Vince dropping one word from a description that has nothing to do with the actual product on TV. Way to go.
In other news, the WWE is no longer a "Federation". Noooooo!!!!
Posted By: Steve307 (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Anyone here ever grabbed Stacy Keibler's ass?
Posted By: Guest#0728 (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 10:45 PM
I know it's fake but i still say it's a sport. I mean they call poker a sport. How can a card game be a sport?
Posted By: Tom (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 10:49 PM
hmmm.now if they can just figure out how to get rid of the "wrestling" in the WWE....World 3rd Rate Entertainment?
And what to do with all of those people in tights performing "sporting like" holds and moves on each other?
Posted By: Luthor (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 11:07 PM
NWA, ROH and IWGP may be the only real "wrestling" organizations left. Vince M. has destroyed what his father created and Vince R. is just a fuckin idiot who had something special and fuckin ruined it. Sports entertainment needs to be buried once and for all.
Posted By: Raoul Duke (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 11:33 PM
I'm gonna laugh if they call it "WE" World Entertainment
Posted By: Tom (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 11:35 PM
I guess soon it will simply be "WE", World Entertainment.
Posted By: Shaun (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Who cares its called, Umaga's cumming back!!
Posted By: christiansbale (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Fuck the WWE. I'll continue buying the DVD sets, but will not waste money on the current product. I like *wrestling* not sports entertainment, and I wonder how long before the WWE loses all semblance of wrestling entirely? Fuck this... I'll stick with SHIMMER.
"
To the person complaining about Rey Mysterio never beating the big guys, did you happen to catch Rey pinning Snitsky in 2 minutes Monday or the previous 13 weeks in which he repeatedly came out on top during every altercation with Kane?
"
Prime example. I said it earlier today, but Rey Mysterio is not a wrestler. He's an acrobat. He doesn't do wrestling moves. Evan Bourne is an aerial wrestler. Big difference.
"Any worker will tell you ACTING is a HIGHLY important part of PRO wrestling. As honorable a history wrestling has, its been A FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT FROM THE BEGINNING! Forgive Vince for FINALLY OPENLY acknowledging that FACT!"
Yeah, it has always been "entertainment" to an extent, but it at least tried to give the illusion of being an athletic contest. Everyone watching knew it was worked, but it's all about the suspension of disbelief. They don't even fucking try now. My husband feels the same way, but he gave up years ago, right around the time of the InVasion debacle. How long before they get rid of the ring and make the entire show about fake-looking backstage bullshit?!
Posted By: MissyNEVERWearssocksWithShoes (Registered) on October 23, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Rauol, SHIMMER is like RoH, only with female wrestlers.
"Who cares its called, Umaga's cumming back!!"
Uh, I don't want to see "Umaga" and "cumming" in the same sentence. Now, if it was CM Punk, then I wouldn't mind ;)
Posted By: MissyNEVERWearssocksWithShoes (Registered) on October 23, 2008 at 11:55 PM
So if the best entertainer is going to become the WWE Champ does that mean that Peter Kay is going to become the next champ and that Bob Hope is going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame next year.
Posted By: Tony McAndrew (Guest) on October 24, 2008 at 02:45 AM
What's nex... World Wide Entertainment?
Wrestling after all... implies sports and athletes.
Posted By: Jimmy (Guest) on October 24, 2008 at 02:48 AM
THE SKY IS FALLING! Oh no wait, it isn't, I just got caught up in the fanboy baaawing for a second...
Posted By: King Nikolai (Guest) on October 24, 2008 at 04:43 AM
"Hey Guinness, what is the "definition" of a sport?
Posted By: Whoa (Guest) on October 23, 2008 at 07:00 PM"
Not Golf, and not NASCAR.
Posted By: McLovin (Registered) on October 24, 2008 at 09:29 AM
I'm waiting for Vince to forgoe even "entertainment" and just settle on the all-encompassing terms "existance".
Posted By: Retuy (Guest) on October 24, 2008 at 10:27 AM
i like sport... is 'wanking' a sport???
Posted By: Guinness (Guest) on October 24, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Here's what 2 do:
Drop the kid fanbase, bring back steel chairs and flaming tables, and then make ECW back to what it was.
Posted By: Andrew (Guest) on October 24, 2008 at 12:22 PM
epic (not-so) entertaining
Posted By: tyronewashington (Guest) on October 24, 2008 at 02:37 PM
this is ridiculous.
all of this just to put more money in his already overwhelming bank account.
something needs to change, managerial-wise, cause this, along with the sub-par wrestling, is gonna kill what's left of the old school WWF/E fans.
that is, if there's still some around.
Posted By: Thomas (Guest) on October 24, 2008 at 02:49 PM
I'll tell you what entertainment is: watching guys on the internet get worked up over nothing.
Posted By: Gerald (Guest) on October 24, 2008 at 04:44 PM
Just like I always said, Wrestling is NOT a sport. Also Wrestling is fake.
Go watch a real sport instead.
World Series tonight!!! Go Rays!
Sunday the Bucs are going to destroy the Cowboys.
Watch real sports people! It's time to grow up and give up on faggat ass wrestling.
Wrestling is dead.
Oh, and Vince, fuck you.
Posted By: Guinness (Registered) on October 23, 2008 at 06:44 PM
HEY BUDDY FUCK YOU AND YOUR "REAL SPORTS". WRESTLING DOESN'T HAVE A SEASON, THEY ARE ALWAYS ON THE ROAD AND WRESTLERS TAKE JUST AS MUCH IF NOT MORE PUNISHMENT THAN YOUR "REAL ATHLETES". WRESTLING IS GONNA MAKE HUGE COMEBACK IN A SERIOUS WAY WITH WHAT NEW LIMITS TNA HAS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.
Posted By: Ej (Guest) on October 24, 2008 at 05:10 PM
fuck...no wonder why wrestlings dying lately..
its all tha' bitch ass cry babies on the internet..
Cena was basically our last hope at becoming popular again..but all the net-nerds ruined that...
Y2J's title reign ain't raising ratings at all...
and TNAs an Epic Embrassment to watch...
so basically..."bleh".
Posted By: Jake (Guest) on October 24, 2008 at 07:53 PM
It wasn't really sports (not in the last few years certainly)...and isn't entertaining...so...
Posted By: Guest#7395 (Guest) on October 24, 2008 at 11:58 PM
