When the average Joe walking down the street is asked about professional wrestling, often a look of utter disappointment berates him. What is it about wrestling that people get offended by? Could it be the constant stereotype of it being a male soap opera?
Technically yes, but the normal civilian fails to grasp the true essence that is the WWE. Men from the older generation often talk about their experience with pro wrestling.
Conversations usually go like this, “I remember back in my day when I watched Rowdy Roddy Piper and Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka wrestle.”
They say it is nothing like it how it used to be and now it is all a bunch of garbage. So, it is not just the adolescents who disagree with it, but rather the middle-aged men. They look at the men with just spandex on and they immediately judge.
Society practices the art of “judgment” and it is vibrantly portrayed through everyday experiences. We may judge the NFL for being too macho or the MLB for being too boring. Giving something a chance cannot take more than a few minutes.
Possibly sitting down to watch Monday Night Raw at 8 p.m. on USA Network, wouldn’t be much too ask (Cheap plug, my apologies).
On every Monday and Friday night, natural athletes grace the stage and “wow” the fans. That is each wrestler’s vow to Vince McMahon when he or she signs their papers–I want to wow the audience.
From Backlash to SummerSlam and then to Survivor Series, which then transitions to the Royal Rumble and then the Grandest Stage of them all.
WrestleMania defines professional wrestling.
That is every wrestler’s dream when he starts. All he wants to do is main event WrestleMania. Only 54 men have the privilege of noting, he was in the main event at the biggest event in wrestling history.
It isn’t easy being on the road almost all year; being away from their family can eat at the core, I’m sure of that. But the commitment each person brings to the table is uncanny.
In every other sport, there is an offseason. In the illustrious world of a professional wrestler, there is no offseason.
When a superstar wins a title, whoever is next to you is cheering right beside you. Being a part of the WWE Universe is like one big family. Through thick or thin, I love this business and it is in me ’til the end.
Professional wrestling is an art. The actions these superstars perform week in and week out beyond amaze me and other die-hard fans. People would kill to do the things they could, just on instinct alone.
With each match, a story is told and with no understanding, it will be a lost art, in this case.
Every move is calculated and each action commands a reaction that will circulate through the crowd in a chant for good or bad.
Pro wrestling is something you like or do not care for. Maybe a family member or close friend turned you on to the idea and you were hooked ever since that moment. Possibly you did watch an episode or pay-per-view and decided against the idea of men grappling.
My advice to you: when you hear the term professional wrestling, think not of a soap opera, but of a story. A story that will captivate the audience, young and old, is its true essence.
That, my friends, is “art.”
I hope you enjoyed my brief story. I appreciate any comments and reads I receive. Everyone have a great evening.
Follow me on twitter at: @JonFisher_EWN
