Weirder smark obsession: Roman Reigns or Women's hair?

[stro]

Something I've noticed at basically any message board you can find, there are two topics that weirdos are obsessed with. One is Roman Reigns and how EVERYTHING is about him, even on shows he's not on. You go on most boards and they aren't even happy Roman lost, because he was hurt and Strowman "barely" won, and it doesn't matter anyway since Roman will eventually go over at WM anyway. Somehow, everything is a company wide conspiracy to make Roman look strong.

 

The other thing I see frequently is dudes being angry that almost all of the women have colored hair or extensions. For some reason, they think it's super sexist/creepy/or just flat out annoying, and seem to think the women are not allowed to have natural hair as opposed to wanting to have unique looks.

 

Both are fucking bizarre to me, but the hair thing seems to be the weirder of the two.

[WingedEagle]

Sounds like a good thing I'm not going to any other message boards.

[Loss]

Does the hair criticism focus on specific women or all of them collectively? Because that could be pretty loaded depending.

[FMKK]

The hair obsession is definitely a thing and it's really weird, but Sasha for example has had some really dreadful dye jobs.

[stro]

Does the hair criticism focus on specific women or all of them collectively? Because that could be pretty loaded depending.

All of them. But Sasha gets it worse than anyone else.

[goc]

The hair thing is weird. Some dude at 411 wrote a whole article about it: http://411mania.com/wrestling/looking-at-wwes-hair-extension-revolution/

 

[Cap]

Yeah, this is solid motivation to not join a bunch of other message boards. I surf through CSS sometimes but that is about it. I haven't seen much about the hair (haven't really been anywhere but here in a few weeks), but the Roman thing is such a drag. I am so tired of talking about Roman and reading about Roman and I generally like the guy.

[EricR]

I did really like when 2014 Sasha was working with 1995 Stevie Richards style no-offense offense, and also had Stevie Richards' 1995 mullet. I think that's my only contribution to the hair talk.

 

Oh! Phil and I loved the 2014 CMLL women's hair vs. hair match:

 

http://segundacaida.blogspot.com/2014/10/2014-ongoing-match-of-year-list_77.html

 

 

But what is the actual issue with the hair? Are online guys mad because they hate the extensions and want to see their natural hair? Or are they also made at say...Becky Lynch having dyed hair? I'm interested in their issue with it, but also don't want to go to any of these other message boards to see examples.

[stro]

They're mad all of the women have fake hair. They think it's some corporate mandate to make them all color coded and they aren't allowed to change their hair even though they all have and do on a regular basis. Others are just offended at the idea of long extensions making their hair look longer. There's another subset that are mad all the women in NXT do something on the ropes during their entrance.

[Jimmy Redman]

I think when the question is whether some obsession about male wrestlers is weirder than an obsession about female wrestlers...the female stuff will always be weirder.

[The Thread Killer]

The hair thing is weird. Some dude at 411 wrote a whole article about it: http://411mania.com/wrestling/looking-at-wwes-hair-extension-revolution/

I am not saying this isn't a legit thing, but that article was written by Jake Chambers, who has the dubious distinction of being one of the two worst wrestling writers at 411 (the other being Justin Watry). And trust me...that is one hell of a field to choose from.

 

There was a time, long ago, where you actually had to show a degree of ability to have a column and write for a wrestling site. Now, sites like 411 will literally take anybody who is willing to submit a column to them, and Jake Chambers is one such writer. He is essentially unreadable.

 

So I wouldn't necessarily judge what the entire "Internet Wrestling Community" is thinking based on the "writing" of Jake Chambers.

[fakeplastictrees]

My brief take on the hair thing is this...WWE is both directly and indirectly communicating to its audience that long flowing hair is standard in presentation of its female performers which really steams from outdated (and sometimes racist) sexist attitudes towards women and the definition of beauty. This may not mean anything to some people but the euro-centric focus and application of that standard to women of color is pretty damning. I don't have an issue with wigs, hair pieces, etc. However, when a POC is told his/her entire life that his/her hair is wrong, nappy, and a host of other names--it leads to a culture of bad weaves and low self-esteem. A lost of oneself. Blackness hidden underneath 12 pounds of horse weave and all for what? To uphold one person's standard of beauty? One perspective? I would say talking about hair is less 'creepy' and more a topic worth discussing especially as it relates to how we perceive some of these women. Are we REALLY going to ignore the fact that WWE (at one time) wanted the majority of its female talent blonde? Are we going to ignore that naturally short haired women of color went on tv week-in-and-week out with hair flowing pass their ass and in part helping to continue to create that divide of young women being able to fully see themselves in their own heroes. And lord forbidden women of color had natural hair on TV...the insults were tossed around like water.

 

I know a woman is more than her hair, however WWE has been sure to go out of its way to communicate that the hair is not only important, but very central to a woman's worth and positioning. The long flowing hair is a hold-out from the old Diva days with the overly done makeup and porn star like aesthetics applied. I think it goes without saying that I and others understand that pro wrestling is a cosmetic business and I am not 100% against wigs, etc. (as mentioned earlier), but to ignore and even pretend that the patriarchy sexism and gender relations in pro wrestling can just be excused as 'weirdos being upset'...well...its just not honest.

 

 

Re: Roman Reigns

 

Charles touched on this in the Payback thread and perhaps I should bring it over here as I would like to try my best (as best as I can) to ensure the Payback thread is mainly left to discuss the PPV. There has been a lot of talk recently about the fans reaction to Reigns at Payback in the days of his brother's passing. I'll get all my thoughts out in an upcoming podcast, but in short:

 

I can think Heath Ledger is a fantastic actor and super cool dude, but that doesn't mean I want The Joker to blow up Gotham city. From the little I know about Roman Reigns, he seems like a cool guy. I have no problem with "Joe". I will go out on a limb and assume that well over 95% of the fans have no problem with "Joe". However, "Roman Reigns" is a different story. While we can sympathize with "Joe" and appreciate the fact that "Joe" showed up to Payback with his working boots, we as fans do not have to want him ( Reigns) to beat Braun clean, win the title the next night on Raw, and go on a 300 fight win streak. Now whether Reigns is Joker or Batman in your world, is up to you. I view him closer to Nolan's Dark Knight in terms of the shades of grey aspect. I am not going to bore everyone with a novel here and will go into more detail in a future episode of my podcast.

 

The fact that Roman Reigns was booed on the post-Mania Raw and Vince McMahon was cheered has shown me that some of these 'passionate' fans have allowed themselves to be kayfabed into a work-shoot while thinking its a legit shoot. It really is fucking insane.

[El-P]

I know a woman is more than her hair, however WWE has been sure to go out of its way to communicate that the hair is not only important, but very central to a woman's worth and positioning. The long flowing hair is a hold-out from the old Diva days with the overly done makeup and porn star like aesthetics applied.

 

We should do a whole thread about WWE makeup. Really, we should. It's pretty awful. I'd bet my ass all those girls look better without the WWE makeup.

 

The hair. Interesting point you make there. However, and funny as it is, I saw Princess Nokia on stage the other day and she got that song about "do not question black women about their hair and how it's fake or not, it's prejudice and offensive and we do what we want about our hair". Well yeah. Princess Nokia, as talented as she is, is also a bit annoying with the constant moralistic stuff at points too. And she raps over her own voice, which is really lazy, especially when you don't need it, because she could kill it without a net. But anyway. That made me think about that song from a artist witha strong feminist stance.

 

On the other hand, I totally agree that the image of the woman-with-the-long-flying-hair forced by the WWE totally comes from a stereotypical, patriarchal representation. When was the last time you saw a black girl with some kind of afro or dreads or whatever style a man worker can wear, without it being a gimmick too ? Or a very short hair girl that wasn't some kind of "freak" ?

 

Well, this probably has its place in the M.I.S., it's actually fascinating when you think about it.

 

Anyway, I had no idea this was an obsession of crappy boards. Glad I'm not going anywhere else. As far as Roman goes. Well people do seem to be obsessed with Roman here too, with the whole boring "damn those idiots WWE fan" routine that has become incredibly tiresome in the last few months. Get over it. Accept the fact the company is rigid and could do much better with this guy with a wee bit of creativity. But anyway.

[stro]

 

I know a woman is more than her hair, however WWE has been sure to go out of its way to communicate that the hair is not only important, but very central to a woman's worth and positioning. The long flowing hair is a hold-out from the old Diva days with the overly done makeup and porn star like aesthetics applied.

 

 

 

On the other hand, I totally agree that the image of the woman-with-the-long-flying-hair forced by the WWE totally comes from a stereotypical, patriarchal representation. When was the last time you saw a black girl with some kind of afro or dreads or whatever style a man worker can wear, without it being a gimmick too ? Or a very short hair girl that wasn't some kind of "freak" ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alicia Fox has done afros, braids, undercuts, pompadours, amount 30 other hair styles. Naomi has her hair in braids or rows every other week. Kharma had braids. Jazz had braids and rows. Tamina, while not black, wore her hair natural for the first few years of her career and, when she's been on TV, is regularly seen with braids or rows. Jackie had braids. Layla didn't straighten her hair for years. Jojo doesn't straighten her hair. So...you see it all the time.

 

As for short hair, Ruby Riot is getting a big push in NXT, has a short undercut, and isn't a "freak". Just because one CAN have their hair one way doesn't mean they have to or want to. Plenty of women outside of the world of wrestling color or add extensions to their hair, women of all colors, because they like the way it looks. My mom had extensions that she wore regularly because she liked how she looked with longer hair and the different styles she could do with them, but didn't want to mess with actually having hair that long because she had two kids and a busy job where having very long hair is kind of impractical.

[El-P]

Well, I admit I probably didn't pay attention to most of these people. I did learn some vocabulary I don't even know in my native language. Braids, rows, undercuts, pompadours…

 

Isn't Ruby Riot kind of a "goofy girl", though ? (true question, I've seen her twice)

[Jimmy Redman]

She's presented as a punk rocker type.

[stro]

Well, I admit I probably didn't pay attention to most of these people. I did learn some vocabulary I don't even know in my native language. Braids, rows, undercuts, pompadours…

 

Isn't Ruby Riot kind of a "goofy girl", though ? (true question, I've seen her twice)

 

Then why did you ask the question?

 

Ruby is a punk rocker chick and is essentially the second top female babyface in NXT, feuding with Nikki Cross, who has an actually "goofy/weird/crazy" chick gimmick. She's certainly not portrayed in anything even approaching a negative light for her looks, tats, or hair.

 

The idea that black women should have black women hair/styles is just as weird as implying that they shouldn't have "white" hair styles. Not directed at you directly, El P, but that seems to be to what a lot of it breaks down to in these discussions. And no one ever takes the time to consider that these women might actually choose their hair styles and enjoy how they looks and aren't doing it because they're being forced by the company or the patriarchy.

[El-P]

Ruby is a punk rocker chick and is essentially the second top female babyface in NXT, feuding with Nikki Cross, who has an actually "goofy/weird/crazy" chick gimmick.

 

Ok, so I mixed up the two I guess. Yeah, I remember liking both of them in the pre-Mania Takeover.

 

The idea that black women should have black women hair/styles is just as weird as implying that they shouldn't have "white" hair styles. Not directed at you directly, El P, but that seems to be to what a lot of it breaks down to in these discussions. And no one ever takes the time to consider that these women might actually choose their hair styles and enjoy how they looks and aren't doing it because they're being forced by the company or the patriarchy.

 

I did drop that Princess Nokia reference before I said anything else, so yeah, maybe.

 

That being said, there's an issue with WWE's makeup department. A real issue.

[stro]

Yeah, I can't believe they let those uggos The Ascension go out in front of people looking like that.

[fakeplastictrees]

I do not believe that people should be forced to 'be themselves' and should instead have the choice to do so and the support as well. Pro wrestlers have had different hair styles over the years that (more often that not) were/are influenced by culture. I don't have a problem with that 100%, however, I feel as though some of the 'choices' made are rooted in oppression. I will go into further detail on a future episode of my podcast, However, I want to be clear that I am not advocating the 'policing' of anyone to do something deemed 'more natural' if its against that person's natural choice(s). At the end of the day, the women choose what to do, I just wonder how much of the choice ( obviously within the context of a work environment) is really limited due to the alternative thinking of most at the top.

[stro]

I would say probably not that much, as the women of color in WWE in particular change their hair all the time and you never hear stories about management getting mad at any of the women changing or coloring their hair something new like you hear guys getting put in the doghouse for cutting their hair without telling management first.

[Zenjo]

The whole women's division hair extension thing is a hangover from the Diva era. In terms of the in ring abilities of the roster the situation has improved a great deal. The opportunities to have good matches have increased massively of late. The days of Torrie Wilson and Kelly Kelly are hopefully long gone. Back in the John Laurinitis catalogue model days wrestlers were often selected on looks rather than in ring abilities. Now in ring abilities come before good looks. But does this mean that looking pretty doesn't matter anymore? Far from it.

 

All the women are made to look as attractive as possible. Being plastered in makeup every week. And in WWE world female beauty also necessitates having long, straight hair. And because everyone has the same hair it makes sense to have different colour dyes and hair extensions. That way you can colour code the wrestlers. Traditionally that would be done with ring attire, but outfits change more frequently now.

 

Of course you want some of the girls to appeal to the demographic, but to put everyone into the same mould is counterproductive. Take Nia Jax for example. Here's someone who's supposed to be a monster heel. She's supposed to look intimidating. Instead they try and make her look as pretty as possible. Just imagine if Bull Nakano had taken the same approach. No face paint, no scary hair. She'd have just looked like everyone else, except a bit bigger.

 

Compare it to women's MMA. It's not become popular by having hot girls play fighting. Lots of the fighters look like the most badass bitch from a women's prison. They don't make themselves look glamorous before a fight. They put their hair in cornrows because it makes them look tough. It's a combat sport. Wrestling is a combat sport. They should at least make some of the competitors look like warriors about to enter battle.

[stro]

Lmao women's MMA has ONLY pushed attractive fighters, even if they don't have the talent. UFC won't promote their current champs because they aren't conventionally attractive women. UFC also does this with male fighters as well, although to a lesser degree.

 

 

 

One of those fighters is 7-3 and not the champion. One is 13-0 and champion. I'll let you guess which one UFC pushes hard in the media and which one they ignore despite the 7-3 fighter not being champion.

 

 

 

vs

 

 

Guess who got ignored in the promotion of those fights? Before Ronda, Gina Carano was the biggest star in women's MMA entirely because she was super hot.

[rzombie1988]

My brief take on the hair thing is this...WWE is both directly and indirectly communicating to its audience that long flowing hair is standard in presentation of its female performers which really steams from outdated (and sometimes racist) sexist attitudes towards women and the definition of beauty.

There is not one girl I can name who looks better with short hair than long hair and I've seen thousands of women. Especially not Asuka, whose haircut I'm still not over.

 

Also, sex appeal has always been a huge part of women's wrestling and always will be. There's no changing that, it's never going away and it's a losing battle in an age where people are fantasizing over Vickie Guerrero, and yes, that happened.

[EricR]

I thought Molly Holly looked pretty terrific with short hair. Also, my girlfriend has short hair, and she looks gorgeous with it.