I.D.U.T.C.H.

Why are wrestling fans often ridiculed?

Especially by fans from other combat sports. How often haven’t you heard it? “fake!” , “he didn’t even touch him.”, “my 4y old punches harder!” and so on… Perhaps in some degree even true, but is that the meaning of professional wrestling? Just to see some guys or girls beat the crap out of each other?

No, wrestling fans watch it to be entertained. Of course, the fighting is the main bit, but it is the buildup and the events that lead to the march that matters. Unlike boxing, martial arts and almost all other “officially accepted” combat sports, wrestling tends to give you a story about why these fighters are in the ring and it gives you a reason beyond him or her being a good fighter to yell in support for someone. Sometimes because you share views on how he or she was treated in the storyline and sometimes just because the other guy or girl was being a punk and needs to get his or her ass kicked to set her straight.

It’s the story lines combined with the show element of high-flying acrobatical moves and unrealistic powerhouses and characters that create the attraction of professional wrestling. It’s the whole package.

For myself, sure i can watch boxing or UFC or any other combat sports, but i always think “why are they fighting?”. Usually they fight to show who is better, sure in their minds that is a legit reason and i can follow it to a certain degree, but to be honest, it doesn’t entertain me. I just can’t get into it by that reason alone. It just doesn’t make me care…

Of course those people are athletes, of course those people are (usually) at the thrive of their game. But they and their way of sports just doesn’t give me the connection that entertains me. I do like a storyline, a setting of events that builds to a climax of a special event like for example Wrestlemania.

And don’t make the mistake of saying that wrestlers are not athletes at the thrive of their game. Just for a change watch a show and see what those guys and girls do in and outside of that squared circle. Even if most of it is show and moves are not truly as hard-hitting i would like to see non-wrestling athletes try to do the same stuff. I’m more then a 100% certain that you will find almost no-one that can do it. These guys and girls may not be sports-men and women in the traditional way, but they are 100% modern day athletes and their performances should at least deserve respect.

Unfortunately in countries like the Netherlands, wrestling never got big, it was undermined by voting boards of people who decide what will and won’t be on television. Nowadays we do have wrestling on Eurosport once a week, but the channel ridicules the fans by doing voice-overs on the original commentary (which is a big part of the entertainment value) by two dutch guys who don’t give the impression they know what they are doing and are making a joke of the whole thing.

And no, if you’re wondering, i’m not gay nor do i have a thing for men in tights. Altho i would like to see some the women back in the old wrestling suits instead of the garbles they wear in the ring nowadays..

Tags: ECW, entertainment, eurosport, Opinion, SHIMMER, TNA, WCW, Wrestling, WWE