wrestling / Columns
Why I Love Wrestling 07.29.07: Something For Everyone
When I agreed to cover Jordan’s column this week, I did so rather blindly. It’s taken me until midday on Saturday (a mere 12 hours before this thing had to be in the system) to decide what I wanted to write about. Why do I love wrestling? Is it the tremendous athleticism on display every week? Is it the larger than life characters and crazy gimmicks? Is it the unparalleled charisma guys like Christian Cage, John Cena and Mr Kennedy show week in week out? Perhaps it is the bright lights that accompany the breathtaking production of a show. And then I realised that it could be any of those things. And therein lies my answer.
Whether you’re talking about the edgy Raw, or sometimes frustrating Impact, or the hardcore ECW, or the “wrestling show” SmackDown or the indy show that you pay $5 to get into, when it comes to professional wrestling, there is something for everyone.
Different wrestling fans like different things when it comes to what they see on TV. Many fans watch the shows for the wrestling and the outstanding physical abilities of the wrestlers. For a lot of wrestling fans, there is no greater thrill than seeing Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit in a ***** mat classic at Royal Rumble 2003. Nothing gets their heart racing like watching Eddie Guerrero come off the top and Frog Splash Brock Lesnar, capturing a well-deserved WWE Championship in the process. These fans watch in awe when two guys like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels go 60 minutes at WrestleMania XII. For these wrestling fans, everything else is eclipsed when two unbelievable performers step into the ring and tear it up for the sole purpose of finding out who the better man is. For these fans, it’s matches like that that make wrestling real to them.
For the types of fans I have just mentioned, we honour some of the best performers in the history of the sport.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match – Edge and Rey Mysterio vs. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit – No Mercy 2002
Shawn Michaels vs. Shelton Benjamin – Raw 2005
Submission Match – Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Bret ‘The Hitman’ Heart – WrestleMania 13
As I said, the fans like different things. While some may like the sort of wrestling displayed above, others just like to see two big guys hitting the crap out of each other. These are the kind of fans that loves seeing a wrestler like Umaga physically dismantle some poor kid. These fans would rather a watch two big behemoths like Kane and The Undertaker go at it tooth and nail. These are the fans that enjoy CM Punk and Samoa Joe kick the shit out of each other to entertain. All of these fans enjoy the physicality that comes with a wrestling match, be it stiff kicks that echo throughout an arena or Undertaker throwing right hands like only he can. They are more inclined to this type of wrestling.
Umaga takes out Jackasses Steve-O and Pontius – Raw 2006
Undertaker vs. Kane – Summerslam 2000
KENTA Shibata vs. Misawa Shiosaki – NOAH, December 2005
But for some fans, it’s not about what happens inside the ring – it’s about those larger than life characters. It’s about the personas that an individual takes on before he walks through the curtain. It’s about the Ric Flairs and Hulk Hogans of the world as far as these fans are concerned.
Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant – WrestleMania III
Ric Flair Interview – 1988
The Undertaker Debuts – Survivor Series 1990
And then of course, there are those who watch for the high spots. These are fans of Tables, Ladders and Chairs matches, and of the X Division. Their idea of a dream match is Rob Van Dam vs. AJ Styles or The Hardys, Dudleyz and Edge & Christian tearing it up in one more match.
Ultimate X Gauntlet Match – Victory Road – July 2007-07-28
Rob Van Dam vs. Jeff Hardy – Raw – 2002
Highlights of Undertaker vs. Mankind (Hell In A Cell) – King of the Ring 1998
So there we have. So why do I love wrestling? Because there’s something for everyone. Next week, you’ll have another fill in as Jordan is still away but I’m sure you’ll have a good time all the same. So until then, drive home safely.
Wait!
I almost forgot. There is just one more thing. Some fans don’t watch for the mat classics or the ladder matches or the physicality or the larger than life characters. They watch for the two most important things in the world. Tits and ass.
You know who you are.
