Twitter, Instagram and Vine provide sports entertainment fans, and the media, an excellent sneak peek into the lives of the WWE superstars we love and love to hate. Tweets of gym workouts, Instagram photos of hiking with loved ones helps bridge a connection between fans and talent. Social media is currently a vital component of the WWE’s communication and marketing plan; providing information to fans about live events, pre-sales and other business and philanthropic initiatives. But what happens when these tweets and posts turn kayfabe? Does social media really have a role to play within WWE programming and storylines?
New Age
I understand the WWE’s perspective on this. They are moving with the times in terms of how they communicate to their audience, and how to engage a younger demographic who have taken a huge interest in social media. After all, the youth of today become loyal fans in the future. The beauty of Twitter is the fact that fans can partake in a conversation instantly, with other fans from around the globe about a live match taking place; which is why the Twitter accounts for WWE, WrestleMania, Monday Night RAW, and so on, add great value to those who want to participate in the action – but cannot be at the event live. But what about incorporating social media into WWE storylines? Does social media really enhance the WWE experience?
No! No! No!
I try to hop onto Twitter as much as I can. When I am on, I do enjoy perusing the WWE superstars’ tweets, photos and Vine videos. I find in general, Facebook is used as more of corporate communication tool, to bring fans back to WWE.com; so while Facebook does fall under the social media umbrella, in terms of storylines, I feel it is irrelevant. I remember catching some tweets from Summer Rae and Fandango in April, and feeling a bit confused over the ordeal; only later to realize that they had apparently ‘broken’ up on Twitter. Of course, the Bella Twins love to mix their own reality, with WWE storylines on Twitter too: which keeps me guessing on whether what is being posted is for personal fun or storyline fiction. At times, storyline injuries will be updated on Twitter, which again, comes off in such an inorganic way. Still, call me a bit cynical, but as a long-time fan, I find these kayfabe tweets/photos/videos, to be a bit insulting to the wrestling fans’ intelligence and ultimately lose a tremendous amount of validity in the process.
Fine Line
Still, if done correctly, there are a lot of beneficial uses to social media for the WWE and fans alike. Many times, things are posted on Twitter before anywhere else; the Rock gave his Twitter fans a heads up before his return to the ring on the October 6 edition of Monday Night RAW by tweeting, “Let’s have some fun. LIVE in 3…2… #IfYaSmell #Surprise #RockOnRAW #BROOKLYN”. Real injury updates, like those from Satino Marella and Daniel Bryan in the past, provide a genuine connection and filter of information between the talent and their fans. But when you mix storylines into social media, not only do you alienate various demographics, who may not be interested in Twitter or other forums, you take the true spirit of real-time spontaneity from the social media platform itself.
