Pro wrestling. That unique hybrid genre that bends the
conventions of melodrama, sporting competition, live entertainment, comedy,
theatre and even sadomasochism. Despite its many complexities, pro wrestling
has often been met with the ire of non-fans due to the fakery involved with the
production of storylines and the attempt to dupe fans through pre-determined
match ups. Nevertheless, chances are you’ve seen at least some wrestling action
in your lifetime.
Indeed, as a lifelong pro wrestling fan with a knowledge of
the ins and outs of the business I may be a little biased but, in my opinion,
pro wrestling is one of the worlds greatest art forms. You haven’t really
experienced the charm of the craft until you see it live and there’s ample
opportunity to see pro wrestling events all year round. While the larger WWE
and TNA promotions visit the UK maybe once or twice a year, there are numerous
independent UK wrestling organisations nationwide that put on entertaining
shows at a fraction of the cost of the two major companies. Honestly, I’m here
to tell you that a wrestling show is a great idea for a social event. A day or
night out at a show will be more than satisfying for a fan and will be a great
experience for a non fan. So, whether you’re a fan who’s never been to a live
event or a non-fan that is more than sceptical, here’s five reasons for you to
consider attending a pro wrestling show.
As I have mentioned, pro wrestling is a hybrid genre, yet,
at the heart of a live show is melodramatic theatre. Wrestling is the ultimate
battle of good vs evil and lets face it, who doesn’t like seeing the bad guy
get his comeuppance? The theatre of live professional wrestling can act as an
escapist activity whereby one can imagine ‘becoming’ the often oppressed
‘babyface’ and overcome the evil ‘heel.’ Or, you may indeed favour the bad guy,
and that’s fine too. Unlike other sports, wrestling offers a vast array of
characters to win your affection and in a live setting emotional investment in
the characters is key. Whether you identify with CM Punk or John Cena or detest
The Miz, the live experience fully immerses you in the theatre of pro wrestling
and it is hard not to emotionally invest.
The ‘sports entertainment’ universe of pro wrestling creates
a bridge between sport and melodrama. All too often, non-fans criticisms are
aimed at the pre-determined nature of the match ups. To them I say… don’t be
foolish. The superstars of the WWE perform night in and night out with no
off-season, often working through incredible pain while being on the road,
making various media and charity appearances in addition to training. Wrestlers
do suffer injuries and the toll of taking bumps is often debilitating.
Therefore, the athletic moves the wrestlers perform are truly spectacular to
see in person. The technicality of pro wrestling is a joy to see live while at
the other end of the spectrum, how often do you get to see people dive onto
each other from great heights or clatter one another with steel chairs? As a
live experience, I’d wager that nothing is more engrossing than a wrestling
match and that is reason enough to attend a show.
Where else but a pro wrestling event can you be shouting
‘What?’ one minute, ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ the next and round it all off with a
chorus of ‘you suck.’ Live events have that unique atmosphere unlike any other
product out there where fans are encouraged to voice their opinions and
generally become part of the show themselves. At a large arena packed full of
wrestling fans, the sheer volume coming from the crowd as they cheer, boo and
chant is an experience in itself. That’s not to say audiences at small
independent shows aren’t just as endearing as they can sometimes be more
‘anything goes,’ with amusing yet explicit chants breaking out. If you’re in a
large group of friends, the freedom to chant and yell is somehow incredibly
entertaining and definitely a merit for attending a pro wrestling event.
Community
Wrestling fans are genuinely some of the nicest people you
will meet. Not only that, wrestling allows for a diverse range of opinions on
the product. Yet, at a live event there is a great sense of community. The
crowd are united together to bare witness to the event in what one might argue
as a collective dismissal to what the naysayers say about their beloved
product. That’s not to discourage a non-fan from attending, quite the opposite.
It is hard to not to be enticed and charmed by the sense of togetherness.
