Scripted hatred

Hello, everyone and welcome back to the Huddle. This week we are talking about what is possibly the most misunderstood form of sports entertainment: pro-wrestling.

I am 28 years old and I am still a fan of professional wrestling. Am I embarrassed? Perhaps slightly.

Pro wrestling is experiencing a surge in recent years, so much that there are now two wrestling companies that broadcast their product nationally. Probably the most wellknown of the two is World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

It’s the home of Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, John Cena, and one of my all-time favorites, Randy Orton.

The ot her is All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Launched January 1, 2019, they offer a slightly different product than the WWE. The WWE will typically lean more into the pageantry and dramatic story telling methods. AEW relies on good old-fashioned fighting (think a bloody nose) to settle scores and tell stories.

I bet I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t that stuff fake?”

Well...yes and no. It’s true that the outcomes of the matches are pre-determined, but that should not be a reason to not tune in. I mean, with that logic, no show is watchable because every show is scripted outside of the news ... and even that has some scripted elements.

The Bachelorette, Love Island, SpongeBob, heck even movies based on true stories have Hollywood twists to add to the story and dramatic effects. Entertainment’s the name of the game, folks.

The same is true for pro wrestling.

The real magic of wrestling happens when you allow yourself to suspend disbelief for a couple of hours.

Sure, it’s unrealistic to watch someone take a chair shot, crash through a table and somehow kick out just before the referee counts to three.

That’s the point. Professional wrestling has never been about realism. It’s about spectacle, athleticism and storytelling.

Behind every match are athletes who spend years training to perform in front of live audiences while putting their bodies on the line night after night.

That deserves a little more respect than it often receives.

So, the next time Monday, Wednesday or Friday night rolls around, give professional wrestling another chance.

You might just reconnect with the same excitement you had as a kid— and discover it’s still a lot of fun.