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ProWrestling View

ProWrestling View I want to discuss how the business of pro wrestling is viewed in today’s society, and how wrestling has reached such widespread notoriety. I mean, honestly. Let’s face it. The vast majority of the American population looks down upon this form of sports entertainment. As a whole, professional wrestling fans are thought to be toothless, sweaty, smelly rednecks with low IQ’s, low morals, violent streaks, and a thirst for blood. Stereotypes of this magnitude are partially to blame for the mainstream media looking at professional wrestling with a condescending eye and, as such, making a mockery of it. Those stereotypes also couldn’t be farther from the truth. Wrestling fans are a surprisingly entity of sports entertainment. The question then arises: What draws us as fans to gather in front of the television every Monday night to watch a group of maniacal brutes wail on one another? What draws us to spend countless hours in line to purchase tickets to a live wrestling event? Everyone has his or her own reasons but more often than not, the reason than I hear most often is that professional wrestling provides a respite from the drudgeries of everyday life. Monday Nitro and Raw is War is the soap operas for those who desire just a bit more action in their story lines. Some view professional wrestling as the apocalyptic adult of good vs. evil, while others immerse themselves in the plot lines. Then, there are yet more fans that enjoy it for the sheer wrestling ability and talent of those in the ring. However, the mainstream media continually refuses to recognize professional wrestling for its true entertainment value and in the process, marks the very business that we so vehemently support. This is wearer people such as Steve McMichael, Mike Tyson, Bill Goldberg, Kevin Greene, and Dennis Rodman come into play. And attempt to further cross the lines between sports and entertainment, the hierarchies of the booking committees bring “sports” figures into our world of “entertainment”. Thus far, there has been an approximately 50/50 success rate in this rationale but despite all the attempts, Wrestling fans have not been 100% successful in attaining the respect of the general public. This is also sometimes the inspiration behind some of the wrestling talent branching out into a part-time acting career. They hope against all hope that someone watching “Baywatch” may be so interested in the character of Shawn Michaels that they will attempt to ascertain where else they may be able to catch this person in action. Perhaps a glimpse of Steve Austin on “Nash Bridges” will get people to tune into Monday night Raw to see more of Austin in action. Maybe, just maybe, some actually sat through an entire episode a “Thunder in Paradise” and became so enamored that they simply couldn’t rest until they knew where they could get a dose of Hulk Hogan on a regular basis. Nevertheless, the fans out professional wrestling today are an extremely diverse bunch. Within these broad circles you will find people from every walk of life. Personally, I’m a highly intelligent and strong woman who happens to be a fully functional member of society. I work hard and make a good living for myself. I know die-hard pro-wrestling fans through owned businesses and others who are very active in their communities. I have seen gray-hared grannies screaming their hearts out at live events while seated beside the conservative gentlemen who turn out to be an attorney. Every Monday night, we witness the “Gen-X” teenagers marking out for D-X while the blue-collar working class loudly supports the actions of Stone Cold Steve Austin. Then the question remains, if professional wrestling is so frequently looked down upon, how has it achieved the notoriety it has today? Tickets to attend pay per-view events sell in a matter of minutes. Wrestling the merchandise is being purchased at a record-setting pace. The revenue that is being generated within this business is astounding within recent years. How has professional wrestling achieved such grandiose notoriety? Quite simply put, professional wrestling has evolved. The constant changing plot lines, awe-inspiring showmanship and introduction of new cast character is have greatly aided this evolution. It is easy for those who don’t understand the attraction in professional wrestling to demoralized it, by dismissing its as nothing more than a glorified version of the Hatfields versus the McCoys, punctuated with fireworks, and the occasional obligatory buxom babe sporting less cotton on her unmentionables than that found in aspirin bottle. However, the wrestling establishment is more than that….much more, and the people who support their favorite federations and promotions understand this. It is only those with extremely closed minds who see professional wrestling as socially unacceptable, politically immoral, logically inexcusable and morally unconscionable. It is these same beings who would never allow themselves to watch professional wrestling with wide-eyed innocence and a pure heart simply for the entertainment value it provides. They don’t know what they are missing. Professional wrestling is athletic ability coupled with performance art. The most intense actors where they intense and dramatic personalities involved in nail-biting conflicts are the crux of the business. Professional wrestling has revolutionized itself by bringing in characters that many out of the fans can relate to rather than look up to as heroes. We no longer live in the 1980’s when good was good, evil was evil and never the twain shall meet. In the 1990’s, the message is clear that only the strong survive those with a strong attitude and the sheer will to get things done at whatever the cost are those who receive the most praise. While wrestling fans of the past put their faith in the Hulk Hogan way of life – the prayers and the vitamins, brother – fans of today live by a creed of distrust and “opening a can of whoopa—“ on those who present opposition. Society has changed drastically and children of today are much more cynical and distrustful. While Hulk Hogan was revered as an idol to be held in the highest respect years ago, today that same idol has also found it necessary to change his own persona into a “bad guy” in order to get himself over with the fans. The much-heralded red and yellow hero of yester-year found himself appearing in the face of loud “boos” and constant chants of “Hogan Stinks”. Some viewed it as the end of an era. Hogan and the WCW saw it as it was…an opportunity to make a necessary change in order to stay popular in the 90’s. Face it, many of the characters that we see every Monday night parallel many people we know in everyday life. I’m sure everyone knows someone who has an attitude like Stone Cold, someone who is self-absorbed like The Rock and perhaps even the shrewd yet somewhat cowardly businessman like Vince McMahon. Professional wrestling has changed drastically over the years. An era that focused more on showmanship and less on talent gave the fans characters such as Doink, The Red Rooster, Chief J Strongbow. Today’s product is geared toward a more mature, adult-oriented venue which gives the fans the best possible product. I’m proud to be a part of this fascinating establishment. Mainstream media be darned! To heck with those who look at professional wrestling through condescending eyes. Think what you will about wrestling fans. Personally, I hold them in the highest regard…and so should you because you never know when you’ll happen to run into one. Remember, lurking behind the most loyal, die-hard professional wrestling fan are some of the most incredibly amazing people you’ll ever meet. Get to know them! You’ll be glad you did. Bibliography:

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