I liked the good 'ol days when guys like Gordon would at least pretend that it was real.
Me too! Wrestling used to be more fun, I think, when they didn't try to be funny but just were funny. Contrast that with the modern vision of wrestling where they are clearly trying too hard - the result is flat.
The distinction is a minor one, but it's important, I think. In the old World Class promotion in Texas, for example, 'Your Texas Champion' Gino Hernandez would call himself 'The Handsome Halfbreed from Highland Park.' Now, that's just damn funny, without trying too hard to be funny! Haha!