Bang Bang: Professional Wrestler Mick Foley, Persona and Hitting the Mark

Abstract

The purpose of writing this paper is to discover how one can use Reader Response and Reaction Theory while viewing the many personae of professional wrestler Mick Foley. I define for the reader what persona is and discuss what Reader Response and Reaction Theory is. I discuss the history of professional wrestling to give the uninitiated reader some background information on the topic, so they may be better equipped to understand the terms, as well as the ideas being disseminated. Then I detail each persona and the reaction and response the persona got from the fans. I did this by watching Mick Foley’s wrestling matches on DVD. The method I used was by watching for cheers, boos, gestures, chants, facial expression, and no reaction. The paper also breaks the audience down into sections such as, social class, families, women, and the elderly, so the reader can understand the response that is given for each demographic.