# how many professional wrestling fans actually beleive its for real?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-professional-wrestling-fans-actually-beleive-its-for-real/114114
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 14, 2002, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-professional-wrestling-fans-actually-beleive-its-for-real/114114 "2002-06-14T22:35:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2002, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-professional-wrestling-fans-actually-beleive-its-for-real/114114/21 "2002-06-15T21:33:04Z")
I found a few polls, but I can’t say how scientific they are
[http://www.opendebate.com/msg?topic=208&q=110](http://www.opendebate.com/msg?topic=208&q=110) One percent of all polled believe it’s real.
[http://www.dreamscape.com/throb/qpoll/qp0108.html](http://www.dreamscape.com/throb/qpoll/qp0108.html) Two percent of all polled believe it’s real.
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### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2002, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-professional-wrestling-fans-actually-beleive-its-for-real/114114/22 "2002-06-15T23:58:06Z")
Hey!
> [@](#):
>
> Yeah right you old fart.
Old fart **this** , you pencil-necked geek.
😃 to you too!
Peace,
mangeorge
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### Author:  [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2002, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-professional-wrestling-fans-actually-beleive-its-for-real/114114/23 "2002-06-17T09:52:40Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by bibliophage \*
> \*\*I found a few polls, but I can’t say how scientific they are
>
> [http://www.opendebate.com/msg?topic=208&q=110](http://www.opendebate.com/msg?topic=208&q=110) One percent of all polled believe it’s real.
>
> [http://www.dreamscape.com/throb/qpoll/qp0108.html](http://www.dreamscape.com/throb/qpoll/qp0108.html) Two percent of all polled believe it’s real. \*\*
good polls but of course that is the general computer population responding. One would imagine that the people who watch or go to matches would be a diiferent subsection entirely
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### Author:  [@SpaceDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpaceDog)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2002, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-professional-wrestling-fans-actually-beleive-its-for-real/114114/24 "2002-06-17T11:14:35Z")
I always get twitchy when people start using the words ‘real’ and ‘fake’ when talking about pro wrestling. As mentioned by several people above it is all very real in a danger sense, although scripted and pre-determined. Using the word ‘fake’ cheapens the work that a lot of talented professionals do, and also leads to people injuring themselves trying to copy stuff.
As already mentioned the WWE have moved to acknowledge that it is really just an entertainment show, and are making a big deal of the in-ring injuries to show how dangerous the work is.
Anyroads, the reason I’m posting is 'cos Vince McMahon was on “On The Record W/ Bob Costas” and quoting from the recap [here](http://411wrestling.com/news/newsboard.php?news_id=2392).
> [@](#):
>
> Costas asked Vince how many WWE viewers think wrestling is real. Vince said 2.5%.
Of course, it’s possible – even likely – that Vince just made that number up. It’s a data point from someone who should have some idea, for what it’s worth.
SD
Wrestling fan and proud of it.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2002, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-professional-wrestling-fans-actually-beleive-its-for-real/114114/25 "2002-06-17T14:57:52Z")
I think 30-40 years ago a far greater percentage of fans actually believed that what they were seeing was “real”. I’m trying to remember his name, but at least one wrestler was stabbed by a fan who was upset about the wrestlers in-ring activities.
TV exposure and the general trend of the business has made it pretty hard to stay in the dark about how the show is run. But when TV coverage was much less and the regional promotions still ran the show I think the average fan was a little more willing to believe.
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