"I think a lot of people are embarrassed about pro wrestling and I don't think they should be. I wanna make this shit cool again."
When I heard CM Punk say that on the podcast, I immediately tweeted it because it resonated with me. I mean, how many times has someone you’re talking to discovered you like wrestling and their only response is “It’s fake?” Yeah, I’ve heard that one a lot too. It’s an answer usually backed up with absolutely zero knowledge of the craft or any desire to listen to what you have to say about it. However, how many times have you or other pro-wrestling fans covered up the fact that you like and follow the sport as if you’re an MI6 agent and you’re life depended on it? The answer to that is probably a whole bunch of times too. CM Punk summised how a lot of pro-wrestling fans feel in just that one sentence, embarrassed.
The column I was reading referenced the ‘Attitude Era’ and the ‘Monday Night Wars’ as primary examples of when people WEREN’T embarrassed about wrestling. Now, I’m not from the United States and I was only 8 or 9 years old when this occurred, however, I remember every single one of my school friends liking WWE and/or WCW and following them religiously. I remember wrestling merchandise being everywhere you looked, whether it be t-shirts, posters or trading cards the ‘Attitude Era’ boom was evident even over here in the UK. The WWE was so huge that it successfully put on special PPV’s exclusively in the UK, namely Rebellion from 1999 – 2002.
That’s when it ended however, ratings declined after Vince McMahon bought WCW both in the US AND over here. Wearing a wrestling t-shirt became un-cool again. Merchandise (especially in the PG era) is now designed and geared towards younger audiences, top sellers John Cena and Rey Mysterio especially. Wrestling changed once again. As I grew up, I was forced to stop watching wrestling partially, because my friends stopped watching. The only way I could see Raw and Smackdown was at a friend’s who had Sky Sports and after Channel 4 (can you believe WWE used to be on free tv!?) stopped showing Sunday Night Heat and Pay Per Views (another victim of post-attitude era) the only source I had was results on wwe.com. That was until I got Sky Sports myself and began watching again as HHH dominated every show to the point where I wanted to smash his big ass nose in myself. Anyway, I digress…
I was now one of only two people (that I can remember) watching wrestling regularly. Everyone around me now used that phrase “its so fake.” I didn’t give a flying fuck… and I still don’t. I’m PROUD of the fact that I love this craft, I love analysing it, I love getting frustrated with it and most importantly I love the fact I’m entertained by it.
What does that phrase even mean? “It’s fake.” Yes, its scripted, but the sacrifice, bumps and torture that these men put their bodies through almost every single night of the year is immense. You don’t like it because its not ‘real’ fighting? MMA fighters fight every couple of months… these guys are bumping their ass off 365 days a year with no rests or off-season. They work through injuries and only take time off when their injuries are near debilitating. Take a look at a guy like Hulk Hogan who has had around 9 back surgeries all because of the bump he took from delivering his patented leg drop night after night…”its fake” …please.
I’ve heard from people who read this blog and say they don’t comment on it because they have “a reputation to uphold.” Yet again, please. Why be so concerned with what other people have to say, especially when it's just something you're watching on television? All you’re doing is watching a product that you love. If a fan of rugby took the piss out of you for preferring football, what would you say? You’d say fuck off. It’s the same principle. If you’re entertained by it and enjoy it, tell people. I constantly see facebook updates about buses, work, and other ailments. Why not update your status with something that you love instead and tell people what you thought about a pro wrestling show?
That brings me back to CM Punk. I absolutely 100% unequivocally agree with him, I think a lot of people are embarrassed about pro-wrestling and bow to peer pressure regarding how ‘cool’ it is to like it. Come on people, if we were all made the same the world would truly be a horrible place to live. Treat wrestling like you treat you’re favourite sports team. If you have wrestling merchandise, don’t be afraid to wear it, show off your favourite superstars shirt! You know those ‘rainbow coloured’ tops that John Cena has? Yeah, I have the purple and red one and I don’t give a damn about wearing them in public because he is one of my favourite superstars in the WWE and I’m proud of that fact. I’m proud of wearing my old school Austin, Hogan, DX and Rock shirts… fuck, I’m even proud of wearing my TNA shirt, most of the time.
The best thing about pro-wrestling is that it’s FUN, and if CM Punk stays true to his word then this ‘pro-wrestling isn’t cool’ stigma may just be broken once more. Everyone will be seen in John Cena, Miz and CM Punk t-shirts and WWE will once again be one of the hottest topics at school, university and even the office water cooler. In the mean time however, be proud to be a supporter of the most entertaining craft on this planet, don’t hide it for the sake of giving a damn about what people think.
Richard McMaster
Leave me some feedback! The blog is called Lets TALK Wrestling after all, and hell, that’s what the column was all about!
Thank You for reading.
Twitter: @crapminitweets
Facebook: facebook.com/Richard.mcmaster3
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