It’s hard to think of professional wrestling without the WWE. It’s been a long road, but what set the WWE apart for kids? Well, this is going to be a fun post.
As a kid growing up in the 1980s, I was attracted to colorful things. It didn’t matter if it were cartoons, movies, toys, or shows. If something was presented colorfully and energetically, I would pay attention.
It’s funny when considering my introduction to professional wrestling was WrestleMania 1 that my uncle had purchased as a pay-per-view, or maybe it was a rented video tape? It’s been a while, but I remember he said he couldn’t stop or rewind it. Anyway, it was lackluster in its appeal, but it had Mr. T and as a huge fan of the A-Team, I was there.
There was something about it that captivated me and my parents were soon renting video tapes for me right and left. When those weren’t available, I’d faithfully watch Superstars, or whatever incarnation they had on Saturday afternoons as well as Hogan’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling cartoon. Then I was introduced to Saturday Night’s Main Event by a friend and I was hooked for life.
I was so enamored with the WWE(known as the WWF at the time), that I looked for any wrestling shows on, and that included the NWA on Saturday afternoons.
Color can make or break it
While the Road Warriors were my instant favorites and their feud with Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen was legendary, it was bland. Despite being every bit as impressive as the WWE, the NWA lacked the same color. I don’t mean personality-wise or even ring attire, but the ring ropes.
The WWE had red, white, and blue ropes that stuck out on the TV while the NWA had black ones. But more than that, the WWE programming came in strong and clear. For me, it was channel 29 out of Philadelphia. It was always one of our clearest channels and was right up there with ABC, CBS, and NBC. Sometimes better.
The NWA was on channel 15 or 17. Both were just as close, but their reception came through grainy and when you add that with the lack of color around the ring, it looked ragtag when compared to the more cartoonish aspect of the WWE. Basically, the colorful WWE was more fun to watch as a kid. To give you a better idea, the WWE’s steel cages were painted a bright blue and like squared bars you could reach through instead of the chainlink fencing others used and what’s currently used.
Vince McMahon’s first public glimpse of genius
While the NWA was a more realistic style of show with more blood and gritty matches, the WWE targeted kids like myself. It was the first glimpse into the marketing genius of Vince McMahon as he targeted his future audience with the colorful imagery and cartoonish characters like Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, Doink the Clown, Kamala the Ugandan Giant, and KoKo B. Ware.
It was easier for everyone as instead of taking me to matches and explaining how it worked, a kid’s parents could stay at home explain how it wasn’t real and why we shouldn’t do the same things.
We had, unwittingly, become fans of the Golden Era, and it was a fun time. It’s what set the WWE apart from their competitors for years to come. Is there any surprise they’ve grown to be the Disney of professional Wrestling?
We all have our memories. What are some of your favorites? What drew you into watching the WWE and professional wrestling?
