See, kayfabe is really what kept wrestling legitimate when it first started out. No kayfabe= no wrestling. Plain and simple.
In 2017, the ideas of kayfabe are all thrown out of the window with the advancement of social media, in essence, kayfabe is dead.
You see, let’s take a trip back to the golden era, the 80’s, where kayfabe was used to its full extent.
If two of your biggest stars were locked in a feud, then you would not see them hanging with each other outside of the arena during the time.
Take Hogan and Andre, one of the biggest feud of the 80’s. You would never see them outside in public hanging out. Why? Kayfabe.
Kayfabe is not lying, it is simply acting. It is the same same way your favorite show is not lying to you with the actors, they are simply acting.
West World, Game of Thrones, and Black Mirror are all examples of keeping kayfabe, they’re acting out a character, like WWE. The same way Grant Gustin (TV’s flash) is not the fastest man alive, and Kalisto is not good.
In the age of social media, it is really hard to keep kayfabe, due to constant media and fans with cell phones.
Two guys could be locked in a heated feud and easily be spotted in the same car, on the same bus, or even in the same restaurant and fans would be all over it.
“It’s not the 80’s anymore!” is a phrase every wrestling fan has thought to himself.
And while that is true, it is really hard to keep up. For example, WWE Superstar Titus O’neil posted a photo on to twitter yesterday, May 3, 2017.
WWE is currently doing their much loved Europe tour, and of course before the hellulashous in ring events begin, the super stars took for some fun sight seeing.
This photo was posted onto Twitter from WWE superstar, Titus O’neil
See anything wrong with it? No? Need help?
Your top feud on your top show. Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns. Together. Being just a nice bunch of lads.
On April 30th, Braun and Roman competed in a heavily physical match, that also had a post match destruction from Braun onto the ribcage of Roman.
The next night, both superstars were not at the show due to injures.
Now if you see a photo like that surface the internet, you would do a nice little double take.
Seeing two bitter rivals being all happy together? These kinds of things take the legitimacy out of wrestling completely.
It is no secret that wrestling is in fact scripted and “not real”. But kayfabe had a magic way of making wrestling FEEL real.
But is there any point to keeping kayfabe in today’s modern wrestling? Some would say yes, some would say no.
The idea of seeing Braun and Roman hanging together is not crazy, they could be best pals outside of the ring.
But the fact of the matter is, it’s breaking a wrestling rule that has been in place as the sport progressed.
What do you think? Should we give more of a care about kayfabe the way they did in the 80’s?
Or should WWE wrestlers be able to do what they want to do when they’re not on the clock?
Let me know what you think down below!