Sunday, April 14, 2013

Some people hate wrestling. Why?


Last weekend, I went to WrestleMania. Now, granted, I would have preferred to go as a kid. That was when I watched wrestling, and when I had more of an idea of what was going on. A friend of mine who never stopped watching, asked me if I wanted to go as it was in New Jersey this year. Even though I haven't watched wrestling in years, I agreed. I started watching again so I would have some idea of what was happening at Mania. It's not like NASCAR. There are storylines.
"Hey, why is number 49 trying to drive faster than number 17? Did 17 sleep with his wife?"
"I don't think so. He has to drive faster to win."
"Huh. I find the wife-sleeping story more interesting. Drive, number 49! He really gave it to her!"
WrestleMania was an amazing time, but since then, I've heard a lot of people say they hate wrestling.

One of the main arguments towards why people don't like it is that it's fake. People like to say that as if it's the first time you've ever heard it.
"Why would you watch that, man? He's not actually hitting him. Don't you know this is staged?"
Buddy, it's 2013. Everyone knows that wrestling is fake. To tell someone that they shouldn't like wrestling because it's fake today? You're the idiot here. It's like telling someone magic isn't real.
"Tada!"
"You didn't ACTUALLY make that card disappear. It's probably in your sleeve."
"... Your imagination is awful."
Who cares if it's fake? Is everything you watch real? Are you actually at war when you play Call of Duty? Is the Phantom of the Opera REALLY in that Broadway show? Is Dr. Who a documentary?
"Man, I love Dr. Who. The way he destroys these daleks. I'd love to meet him one day."
"...You mean the actor who plays him? He's not real, man."
"WHAT!? Actor? No! But he's right there! I can see him! Look, he's right there!"
Why is it so hard to suspend disbelief when it's wrestling? It is theatre with fighting. That is all.

People have no problem telling fans of wrestling that they're stupid. A lot of people feel that they are above wrestling, while there is a lot worse entertainment out there.
"Wrestling? That's insane. I watch The Voice, Can You Cut, Splash, Can You Splash, So You Think You Can Weld And Skateboard At The Same Time, Dancing With Eagles, Cook Your Face, Single Moms Of Kentucky, Wal-Mart Wars, and The Bachelor, but wrestling? That's just stupid."
Some people really don't like wrestling fans, but just about everyone likes at least ONE wrestler. You'd tell a guy wrestling is dumb, but see a wrestler you like and freak out.
"You like wrestling? That's some of the stupidest junk that ther... wait, is that The Rock? Rock! You're the best, Rock! I've seen like four of your movies!"

Why are wrestling fans thought of as some of the worst human beings on the planet? Because of how they dress? Just the simple fact that they like wrestling? Have you looked at EVERY fan of ANYTHING else? If you did, you'd probably be embarrassed at what you like.
"Oh my God. HE likes basketball? I can't be seen watching this junk. Guess I'll have to watch professional glass eating. Something only real cool guys watch."
If you went to hear an amazing lecture, one that was really intelligent and captivating, would it be deemed useless if the person who delivered it was a wrestling fan?
"Wow, that was really smart and engaging. I'm happy I got to hear it."
"Yeah. You know he's a wrestling fan, right?"
"What? A wrestling fan? Well, that changes everything he said. What a complete idiot!"

One great thing about wrestling, if you like it, and you go to it live, you get to experience it with thousands of screaming fans. No joke, live, wrestling is fantastic. People are yelling, chanting, screaming. And I would bet that it almost never turns violent. Why? Because people know it's fake! There's nothing to get serious about. It's fun. I went to a Devils game the night before Mania in Jersey and watched two guys argue with each other until they got kicked out. Why? Because apparently, hockey is a deadly serious issue.
"You don't like my team? You're a piece of trash and I wanna fight you."
"Oh yeah, man? Why don't you drop your foam finger and come say that to my face!"
No reason for that to happen at wrestling. And if you are just interested in TV shows, you will NEVER get the experience of being in a stadium with tons of fans to see them. Will Breaking Bad ever be shown to 80,000 people live?
"Ladies and Gentleman, thank you for coming to Breaking Bad live!"
"Get him, Walter! You're the one who knocks!"
"Shhhhhhh!"
"Shut up, loser! I'm trying to watch the show! And hey, buddy, can you put down your sign that says 'Jesse Forever!' I can't see! Oh, God. The wave? I'm trying to concentrate."
You can't chant at someone else when they invite you over to watch a show.
"Thanks for coming, guys. Oh! The show's starting!"
"LET'S GO, GAME OF THRONES! <Clap, clap, clap clap clap> LET'S GO, GAME O... nobody?"
"...Please leave."

ANYTHING you like is considered stupid to somebody else. That's just how things work.
"I love Breton crackers."
"What are you, dumb? They're too big. They don't make cheese in a shape that would go on a Breton cracker. Round cracker, square cheese. Honestly, it's insane."
Everything is stupid to somebody, but you have to like something.

Twitter @nathanmacintosh

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