Age-limit in wrestling? You thoughts?

[ramachandrabroz]

I've always wondered what the age limit for pro-wrestling media is depending on a country, especially the case in the US: it seems there is a long history of Wrestling being targeted towards pre-teen children, am I correct?
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Anyways, I know that in Scandinavia, and I'd go as far as to estimate approx. the whole of Europe, tends to view pro-wrestling as a form of emulated violence. Another example of this logic would be how soft pornography is considered to be emulated sex. So, in here sex and violence is something the censors won't allow children (under ~17-18) to consume. I was just browsing my wrestling DVD-collection, and just as an example I found my Backlash 2003 DVD being forbidden under the age of five.
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In short: What's the age limit of Wrestling-media in your country? Does this age limit reflect your morals, i.e. are you satisfied/ok with this age limit?
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P.S. I have no ulterior motive other than just being curious about this subject.

[RKing85]

No limits here in Canada. I believe all WWE and TNA dvd's are rated PG.

And you don't have to be a certain age to purchase or rent.

[Gee Hall]

I am a supporter of ratings systems of all media types. There are problems in what constitutes age-appropriate content. Nonetheless, it works as a good rule of thumb for the viewer in question. Being an adult that is not offended very easily, it doesn't impact me much. But when it comes to youth and children, parents should take note of the disclaimers on wrestling, music, movies, video games, etc. If they fail to do so, and allow their children to partake in such content, that is their fault. The onus is on the parents whenever it comes to ratings as long as the provider is responsibly indicating that the content may not be appropriate for little Jimmy.

[danielwilson]

Apr 21, 2012 14:27:18 GMT -5 Gee Hall said:

I am a supporter of ratings systems of all media types. There are problems in what constitutes age-appropriate content. Nonetheless, it works as a good rule of thumb for the viewer in question. Being an adult that is not offended very easily, it doesn't impact me much. But when it comes to youth and children, parents should take note of the disclaimers on wrestling, music, movies, video games, etc. If they fail to do so, and allow their children to partake in such content, that is their fault. The onus is on the parents whenever it comes to ratings as long as the provider is responsibly indicating that the content may not be appropriate for little Jimmy.

I couldnt have said it better myself.

[dombag85]

there aren't age restrictions for wrestling here, unless you count the tv rating, i think it was tv14 or something when i was growing up. i started watching wrestling with my old man when i was 3 or 4, and same for me and my son... i don't see a problem with it being aimed toward little kids, go back and watch old looney tunes(violent and racist), or really any kids show, my only concern is i have moderate insight into the kind of content i expose my kid to.

[Jason X]

Wrestling is a lot like Video Games in that most of us originally liked it as children, then we grew up, and while the content of Wrestling and Video Games in general "matured" with its audience the perception really didn't.

Statistics show that the average viewer of Wrestling and the average purchaser of Video Games are ADULTS (18-35 or whatever) but our Media still perceives BOTH as Entertainment for Children. Whenever a controversial subject matter is presented in either Wrestling or Games you always get the same ignorant refrain:

"Won't somebody please think of the children?!"

As if children were the sole intended audience. Maybe that was more true in the 70s and 80s, but both mediums have grown up since then

[yaknow]

After that story about the 14 year old killing his cousin during Wrestlemania from a choke hold I don't think age matters. Fate will get them one way or the other.

www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/04/destrehan_man_dies_while_wrest.html

A 24-year-old Destrehan man died Sunday night when, authorities say, he stopped breathing while wrestling with a young cousin on the floor. Stephen A. Arceneaux III, who lived at 9614 Red Church Lane in Destrehan, was pronounced dead at St. Charles Parish Hospital at 10:39 p.m. An autopsy was being performed in New Orleans on Monday.

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Stephen Arceneaux III
According to St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne, Arceneaux had gathered with friends at a home on Murray Hill Drive to watch the pay-per-view event "Wrestlemania 28" on television when he and a 14-year-old cousin began to wrestle on an inflated mattress on the floor. The juvenile, who is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 110 pounds, placed his arm around the neck of Arceneaux, who was 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighed 220 pounds, in a move commonly known as a "rear naked choke hold" for 30 to 40 seconds.
Witnesses reported that Arceneaux said he would not give up or "tap out."
But at some point, someone noticed that Arceneaux was turning blue and told the youngster to release the hold. When he did, witnesses realized that Arceneaux had stopped breathing and dialed 911, shortly after 10 p.m.
Arceneaux's girlfriend tried to revive him with CPR. He was transported to St. Charles Parish Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Champagne said the investigation is continuing. No arrests have been made.
"It's bizarre," said Sheriff's Office spokesman Capt. Pat Yoes. "We're still investigating it. But when you have violent horseplay like that, it just goes to show you that anything can happen."

[yesiamaduck]

WWE/WWF went from E (everyone, unrated due to it being sport) to (15/18) in 1999... I think it's now PG for parental guidence (the UK)