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A new era in wrestling has begun and as the industry has changed over the years, so has people’s perception towards it. Gone are the days when being a wrestling fan was considered ‘cool’ among peers. For example, wearing an 'Austin 3:16' shirt made you a fashion icon back in the day.
It’s certainly a lot different nowadays as existing die-hard fans of the sport are often ridiculed and interrogated as to why they still enjoy it so much. The fact of the matter is, wrestling is no longer a hot topic of discussion anymore as it once was.
While pro wrestling does have its ups and downs, it is certainly a global phenomenon that deserves the utmost respect. The Superstars put their bodies on the line day in and day out to entertain their fans.
It's fairly easy to say that they 'do it for the money', but is all the money worth risking lives, jumping off a steel cage and getting hit in the head with a steel chair?
It never ceases to amaze what these phenomenal athletes can do, beyond their outrageous amount of hard work and dedication. So why shouldn't they receive the same amount of respect as other athletes?
Like a broken record, here are some quotes that us wrestling fans are very familiar with and tired of hearing over and over again.
#7 “It’s not real blood”
No, it’s not ketchup running down the superstars’ faces - to be honest, I'm not sure how some people can even make that assumption. Shouldn’t people be able to tell the difference between blood and ketchup?
Although blood is a rarity in the current era of WWE, that wasn’t always the case. Bleeding during matches happened very frequently back in the day and to the surprise of many non-wrestling fans, it was actual blood.
Apart from occasions when wrestlers actually get cut wide open unintentionally, there also used to be a technique called 'blading', which is a process in which wrestlers subtly use a razor blade to make a small incision into a wrestlers’ head.
The razor is usually hidden in the wrist tapes or gear so not many people can see it. It is completely safe, and they are taught where exactly to cut so they not only bleed easily but also heal fast.
#6 “You still watch that?
If people are talking about it, they’re still watching it. Once you get hooked on a product, it’s hard to snap out of it. For the longest time, wrestlers were often seen as larger than life superheroes that can do extraordinary things.
They are inspirational role models that people can look up to. Beyond that, there are storylines that are engaging and that’s what makes people tune in to each episode to see what happens next.
Wrestling is also an escape for most people, as tuning in to or attending a live wrestling show brings them joy for the duration of it. Being asked “you still watch that?” in a sarcastic tone is blatantly disrespectful. There is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping up with a show that gives you happiness and entertainment.
#5 “They’re all on steroids”
If you see how big and muscular some of the guys in the industry are, steroids almost certainly come to mind. However, not many are aware of the outrageous amount of hard work that these athletes actually put in at the gym.
Not only that, but they also maintain a high level of discipline when it comes to controlling their meals. Former WWE superstar The Great Khali’s diet consisted of having cheese, legumes, vegetables, 10 wheat breads, brown rice, chicken, 6 eggs, 2 litres of milk and ice every night for dinner to sustain his large physique.
Also read: The Great Khali diet and workout routine
It may seem like these wrestlers need the help of steroids to enhance their bodies, but that surely isn’t true. Since the tragic deaths of Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit, WWE has become very strict about their wellness policy and they conduct frequent random testing on their employees.
The testing was designed to detect the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs and illegal recreational drugs. Although there may have been a few that have been suspended for violating the wellness policy, the use of steroids certainly isn’t a common practice in the locker room anymore.
#4 “It was way better during my time”
Pro wrestling was highly successful in the 90s. The Attitude Era in the WWE was known as the 'golden age' of professional wrestling and unfortunately, many in the wrestling industry today are forced to live in the shadow of the past.
Many loyal fans from that period have outgrown their wrestling fan phase, which was a time when WWE aired a lot more edgier and violent segments.
A lot changed not only when Linda McMahon pursued a career in politics, but also when WWE became a publicly shared company, whereby the owner Vince McMahon had to also satisfy other shareholders, by offering a more family-friendly product.
Let’s face it, no matter how much criticism and how many comparisons modern-day pro wrestling gets, it will never go back to how it was and that’s because times have simply changed. Besides that, the truth is that most people, who continuously use this quote, are the ones that have never given today’s wrestling a proper chance.
#3 “The current wrestlers suck”
When you grow up watching the likes of The Rock, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold Steve Austin and many more, it’s hard to top that list. The Attitude Era in WWE was filled with a star-studded roster, whereby almost every wrestler had a unique gimmick that got over with the fans.
Although this era of wrestling does has a plethora of amazing wrestlers that can do incredible things, people will still find a way to tie it back to the 90s and draw comparisons. The current roster places more focus on technical wrestling, as opposed to the Attitude Era, which focused more on appearance, aggression, and having a distinct character.
Are the wrestlers today more entertaining than the ones from the Attitude Era? No. Are they better technical wrestlers? Yes. Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn are just a few from a long list of wrestlers that can blow the minds of fans with their athleticism and talent.
Unfortunately, they can't catch the attention of the former fans as they don’t have the generic ‘tough’ look, that people came to expect wrestlers from wrestlers in those days.
#2 “I prefer real fighting, like MMA!”
Often people say this because it seems like watching MMA is the ‘cool’ thing to do these days. Professional wrestling and MMA are similar in that they are combat sports, but also very different in many aspects.
Pro wrestling places focus on entertainment and showmanship, whereas MMA fighters are trained to compete with and defeat their opponents. Both sports have their own distinct strengths and uniqueness, and both, wrestlers and MMA fighters, deserve all the respect in the world for doing what not many people can do.
WWE still has a larger following than UFC, which is one of the top MMA organizations in the world, mainly because it’s been around much longer. However, MMA has been known to be one of the fastest growing sports in the world today and their top fighters are paid big amounts of money.
Which one is better? That really comes down to personal preferences, but you should at least watch either or ideally both sports to be able to back up your opinion, rather than just jumping on a bandwagon.
#1 "You know it’s fake right?”
‘Fake’ is a taboo and almost non-existent word in a wrestling fan’s dictionary. 'Scripted' is a term that is preferred instead. After all, pro wrestling is indeed mostly scripted. The outcomes of the matches are predetermined and the storylines are planned.
It showcases elements of drama, humor, romance, friendship, betrayals and overcoming all odds. But how is that different from all other forms of entertainment that people watch on television? You don’t hear people saying, “You know Game of Thrones is fake, right?”.
It’s the 21st century, and it’s a no-brainer that pro wrestling isn’t ‘real’ in that sense and most fans are well aware of this fact. However, the hazards are real, and the moves you see being executed are about as genuine as it gets. There is absolutely no way to ‘fake’ a body slam or a chair shot to the head.
