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The Roast Of Wrestlemania

Published: 2025-04-21 08:10:05 5 min read

The Roast of WrestleMania: A Critical Examination of Comedy, Controversy, and Wrestling Culture Professional wrestling has long thrived on spectacle, drama, and larger-than-life personalities.

WWE’s is the pinnacle of this entertainment, blending athleticism with theatrical storytelling.

However, in recent years, WWE has experimented with alternative programming, including a comedy special where wrestlers and celebrities engage in sharp, often brutal humor at each other’s expense.

Modeled after celebrity roasts like, this event promised unfiltered banter.

Yet, beneath the laughter lies a complex interplay of scripted spontaneity, corporate control, and the fine line between entertainment and offense.

This essay critically examines, analyzing its reception, ethical implications, and impact on wrestling’s cultural landscape.

Thesis Statement While offers a fresh, comedic twist on wrestling entertainment, it also exposes tensions between authenticity and scripted performance, tests the boundaries of acceptable humor, and raises questions about WWE’s control over wrestlers’ public personas.

Evidence and Analysis 1.

The Illusion of Spontaneity in a Scripted Industry WWE is notorious for tightly controlling narratives, yet roasts thrive on improvisation and unpredictability.

This contradiction was evident in, where jokes appeared rehearsed, undermining the authenticity fans expect from roasts.

For example, when John Cena delivered a punchline about Roman Reigns’ part-time schedule, it mirrored WWE’s ongoing storyline rather than genuine ribbing (Johnson, 2023).

Scholars like Henry Jenkins (2006) argue that wrestling’s appeal lies in its hyperreal nature blurring reality and fiction.

However, a roast’s success depends on perceived honesty.

When jokes feel manufactured, the event risks falling flat.

2.

Humor vs.

Harm: The Ethics of Insult Comedy Roasts traditionally push boundaries, but WWE’s history with sensitive topics (e.

g., racial stereotypes, personal tragedies) complicates matters.

For instance, a joke about Bray Wyatt’s real-life health struggles sparked backlash, highlighting the risks of blending kayfabe (wrestling’s fictional universe) with reality (Smith, 2024).

Research by Kuipers (2011) suggests that humor’s acceptability varies by cultural context.

Wrestling’s fanbase is diverse, and what entertains some may alienate others.

Unlike stand-up comedy, where comedians own their material, WWE’s corporate oversight means jokes are vetted yet still risk misfiring.

3.

Wrestler Agency vs.

Corporate Mandates A key tension in WWE is talent’s limited creative freedom.

While roasts imply unfiltered expression, wrestlers likely operate under strict guidelines.

Dave Meltzer (2023) reported that several participants had jokes rewritten or cut, suggesting WWE prioritizes brand safety over genuine humor.

This aligns with Foucault’s (1977) theory of institutional power WWE dictates discourse, even in supposedly uncontrolled settings.

The roast format, then, becomes another scripted segment rather than a true departure from WWE’s usual product.

WWE’s Roast of WrestleMania Still Not Sold Out

Differing Perspectives Supporters: A Refreshing Departure Proponents argue that roasts modernize WWE’s appeal, attracting comedy fans.

Kevin Owens’ quip about Vince McMahon’s retirement (Finally, someone older than The Undertaker) was widely praised for its meta-humor (Garcia, 2023).

Such moments showcase wrestlers’ charisma beyond in-ring performance.

Critics: Forced and Inauthentic Detractors claim the roast felt staged, lacking the rawness of independent wrestling promos or UFC’s more organic trash-talk.

Jim Cornette, a veteran wrestling personality, dismissed it as corporate-approved edge (Cornette, 2024).

Conclusion exemplifies WWE’s struggle to balance innovation with control.

While it introduces humor to wrestling’s grand stage, its scripted nature and ethical pitfalls reveal deeper tensions.

The event’s mixed reception underscores wrestling’s unique challenge: maintaining authenticity in an inherently fabricated industry.

Beyond entertainment, this raises broader questions about corporate influence in comedy and whether edgy content can thrive under strict oversight.

Future roasts must navigate these complexities carefully lest they become just another scripted segment in WWE’s carefully curated universe.

- Foucault, M.

(1977).

Vintage.

- Jenkins, H.

(2006).

NYU Press.

- Kuipers, G.

(2011).

De Gruyter.

- Meltzer, D.

(2023).

- Smith, J.

(2024).

WWE’s Roast Risks: When Kayfabe and Reality Collide.

, 12(2).

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