MEDICAL STUDY TIES VIOLENT TEENAGE BEHAVIOR TO PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING TV VIEWERSHIP
by Mike Johnson
The Wake Forest University School of Medicine issued a study this week finding that adolescents who watch wrestling on television are more prone to violent behaviors than other young people, according to a report in today's edition of The Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina. The study was released in the latest edition of Pediatrics, a medical journal.
The study, which took place over seven months, using a random sample of 2, 228 North Carolina High School students. According to the article, "adolescents who watched televised wrestling fought more with dating partners and exhibited other violent behaviors. Young people who watch wrestling are also exposed to a high frequency of violence between men and women, alcohol use and derogatory terms for women, the study said."
WWE Spokesperson Gary Davis commented, "From a real-life perspective, we know the brand can have a lot of positive impacts on society...There are lot of good studies out there, but unfortunately, I think this study has a lot of flaws." The article didn't note what those flaws might be, however.
I expect coverage of the study will pop up in other markets over the next several days.
To read the complete article on the study, click here. You may be prompted to sign up in order to read the article.
WWE RESPONDS TO WAKE FOREST STUDY LINKING WRESTLING WITH VIOLENT BEHAVIORby Buck Woodward
WWE has issued a short, but very clear, statement regarding the Wake Forest study released this week finding that adolescents who watch wrestling on television are more prone to violent behaviors. Here is the WWE press release:
WWE(R) Refutes Findings of Teen Study
Monday August 7, 10:49 am ET
STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 2006--World Wrestling Entertainment® (NYSE: WWE) issued the following statement today in response to a study documented in the August issue of "Pediatrics":
"We find the study flawed and ridiculous and we are contemplating legal action."
Trademarks: The names of all World Wrestling Entertainment televised and live programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves and all World Wrestling Entertainment logos are trademarks which are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
VINCE MCMAHON SAYS WAKE FOREST STUDY ON WRESTLING AND VIOLENCE IS 'SEVEN YEAR OLD JUNK SCIENCE'
by Buck Woodward
WWE is definitely going on the offensive following the Wake Forest study finding that adolescents who watch wrestling on television are more prone to violent behaviors. WWE has issued a second press release on the situation, this time featuring a direct quote from Vince McMahon. Here is the release:
Vince McMahon Responds to Teen Study
Monday August 7, 2:34 pm ET
STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 2006--In response to the study involving the relationship of watching wrestling on television and engaging in date fighting, Vince McMahon, Chairman, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE), issued the following statement:
"We regret that this seven year old junk science was re-issued. It was junk science then, and is junk science now. It took them seven years to get someone to actually read it and it hasn't even been subjected to a peer review. There is nothing new in the study, and we think it is recycled garbage put forward by some obscure professor who finally got someone to read his paper and is trying to get his name in the media."
Vince McMahon
