The mainstream media is known for frequently looking down at the pro wrestling industry, but every once in a while, it is wrestling that gets the last laugh.
A press conference for the Australian Hulkmania tour turned into an angle Wednesday, as opponents Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair staged a brawl for the live crowd–it ended with Hulk Hogan bleeding profusely in front of the on-site media.
Though it was clearly a work, a number of mainstream media sources ran stories under the impression that the “brawl” was legitimate.
“Pro-wrestling has a long history of orchestrating rivalries between crowd favourites and villains…Bouts are often staged with the outcome preordained…This track record has led to speculation that today’s events are nothing more than a promotional event,” said ABC News Australia, acting as if those dismissing the events as storyline are merely “speculating.”
Perez Hilton covered the story from a similar perspective, acting as if it was going out on a limb in saying, “we don’t buy it.”
One similarly cannot ignore MTV Australia’s take on the story: “While it’s unclear whether it was a publicity stunt or a bona-fide brawl, there’s little doubt the scene upset onlookers.”
Though the most recent mainstream takes on the issue are coming to the realization that the brawl was staged, many are still treating the storyline nature of the attack as a news story in and of itself.