Armchair Quarterback: The Super Bowl of the squared circle
Laugh if you will, but tonight I will be enjoying the greatest spectacle in sports entertainment on the grandest stage of them all. I’m talking about WrestleMania.
That’s the thing about wrestling, you either love it or hate it. You either believe it’s a great mixture of athletic prowess and theater, or it’s simply — as my wife calls it — a redneck soap opera. A lot of folks dismiss wrestling fans as ignorant brawlers who are dazzled by the lure of fake violence. However, many wrestling fans are quite educated and intelligent and are able to see the athletic artistry and the subtle storyline which can be told in the squared circle by experienced wrestlers.
I’ve been watching wrestling all my life, right on the heels of my father who used to be glued to the television every Saturday for Georgia Championship Wrestling. I knew not to linger too long between my father and the television while wrestling was on. Now, I’m carrying on the tradition with my son, who, much to my amazement, was even able to tell me who won the opening match of WrestleMania last year and what finishing move he used.
Wrestling has come a long way since the old days, with folks like Vincent McMahan pulling together major federations to get the best wrestlers in the world in one ring. The matches have also become more athletic with high-flying moves and innovative styles. In the old days it was mainly two big guys acting like they were hitting one another for 15 minutes. Now you’ve got folks doing backflips off the top rope, wrestlers doing choke slams from the tops of ladders and impact moves which make the viewer cringe.
Yes, wrestling, except for some shoot matches, is somewhat scripted, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t impact. Last time I checked the laws of gravity still apply in a wrestling ring. A small bit of padding isn’t enough to completely cushion the blow of a body slam or a frog splash from atop the ropes. I’ve messed around in a ring before and it isn’t a trampoline. Landing on the surface incorrectly will knock the breath out of you.
This is why professional wrestlers are constantly having to have various surgeries to repair broke necks and blown-out knees. Just a few months ago I saw Shawn Michaels work an entire match with a torn meniscus in his knee, barely able to stand during the bout. He had surgery the next day.
Myself, I respect a person who will put his or her body on the line to provide a spectacle for my enjoyment. We praise football players who give up their bodies to make a hit for the team. Therefore, I find it odd how the same folks don’t respect a wrestler who gives up his body for about 20 minutes during a match.
Of course, a lot of the allure comes with the personalities of the wrestlers. The most successful ones like the Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan, had great microphone skills and personas. They were able to get their audiences excited. Hey, Hogan didn’t have but a handful of moves in the ring but he will still always be remembered as the man who made wrestling. That’s because of his ability to motivate his audience.
These are just a few reasons why I will be watching WrestleMania tonight. Also, it gives folks a legitimate reason to go to Hooters once a month. since they show the pay-per-views there.