How the Game Has Changed in the 2020s

By The Armchair Booker

First there was email. Then forums. And now… feeds, servers, and scripts generated by machines.

Fantasy wrestling, or eWrestling, has gone through three distinct evolutionary eras. What started in the ‘90s as a text-based hobby among tape traders and message board junkies has grown into a hybrid social-creative experience — living somewhere between collaborative storytelling and competitive RP sport.

We’re now deep into the age of eWrestling 3.0, and whether you're a veteran handler, an admin rebuilding a roster, or a newcomer trying to make sense of all the terminology, one thing is clear:

This hobby has changed.

Let’s explore what makes the modern fed experience so different — and how it’s reshaping the way we play.

🧬 From Federations to Universes

Feds used to be self-contained. You joined one. You played there. You maybe had an alt somewhere else, but each character existed in their own silo.

Now? Shared universes are the norm.

• Characters bounce between feds with lore intact.


• Collabs stretch across brands, discords, and even social platforms.


• Shows feel more like episodes in a streaming series than isolated cards.

Continuity matters. The modern player often sees their character as a “wrestling IP,” not just a throwaway gimmick for one fed.

Your character is now a franchise.

💬 Discord Changed Everything

eWrestling 1.0 was email.
2.0 was forums.
3.0 is Discord.

Real-time plotting, backstage banter, rapid-response promos — Discord blurred the line between OOC and IC. It made the community always on, and in some ways, that’s good:

• Faster collaboration


• More interaction


• Immediate feedback

But it also brought challenges:

• Harder for introverts or slower-paced writers to keep up


• Storylines sometimes happen “off camera”


• FOMO (fear of missing out) hits hard if you’re not active 24/7

If you’re not in the chat, it can feel like you don’t exist.

The best modern feds balance real-time social energy with structured storytelling clarity.

🤖 AI Is No Longer Sci-Fi

Matchwriting used to be the bottleneck of the hobby. Now, it’s a choice.

AI (like ChatGPT and others) is helping fedheads:

• Write undercard matches


• Draft promos or segments


• Speed up production

For some, this is a dream — finally shows post on time, and writers don’t burn out.

For others, it’s a threat — the soul of the hobby was always in the writing. If AI does too much, does it still mean anything?

The best eFeds in the 2020s use AI as a tool, not a crutch — and keep the focus on human creativity.

🎮 Hybrid Mechanics and Game-Like Systems

The modern handler isn’t just writing promos. They’re:

• Earning points


• Ranking on leaderboards


• Unlocking achievements


• Participating in events, voting, and stats-based bookings

Whether it’s fantasy-style scorekeeping or a pure angle-based game, many feds are gamifying their experience to keep things fresh and engaging.

From power rankings to automated booking engines, 3.0 eFeds borrow from RPGs, social media, and esports to make every login feel rewarding.

🎨 Presentation Matters More Than Ever

In the 2000s, it was all about the RP.
In the 2020s? It’s about the brand.

Modern eFeds now invest in:

• Logos, posters, and arena renders


• Custom site design or skins


• Full-blown “TV-style” shows with graphics and headers


• Theme music, entrance video links, and mock social media posts

Why? Because visual polish keeps people immersed. And with tools like Canva, OBS, and AI image generators, you don’t need Photoshop or a graphic designer anymore.

Every character is a content creator now.

🌎 Community > Competition

Yes, competition still exists. RPs are judged. Titles matter. But increasingly, what keeps players in feds isn’t wins — it’s belonging.

• Factions have private chat rooms


• Characters interact socially, not just competitively


• “Handlers” are friends, not strangers

eWrestling 3.0 rewards people who build relationships, pitch ideas, and help others shine — not just those chasing belts.

The modern locker room values collaboration over domination.

🏁 Final Bell: Adapt or Fade

Some veterans mourn the old ways. And that’s fair — the structure, the longer promos, the creative purity of it all.

But eWrestling isn’t dying.

It’s evolving.

It’s a living world of:

• Narrative drama


• Real-time interactions


• Multimedia immersion


• Player-driven booking


• AI-assisted execution


• And characters that matter more than ever

If you’re feeling lost? Don’t worry.

You don’t have to master it all. Just find your lane:

• Love writing long promos? There’s a place for that.


• Prefer character moments and story beats? There’s a place for that.


• Want to create art, music, or backstage promos? There’s room.


• Want to just chat and vibe IC? That works too.

eWrestling 3.0 is what you make of it.

And that might just be the best version yet.

DISCUSS ON OUR FORUMS: https://ewplace.com/forums