I want to discuss how the business of pro wrestling is viewed in today’s society, and how wrestling has reached such widespread notoriety. I mean, honestly. Let’s face it. The vast majority of the American population looks down upon this form of sports entertainment. As a whole, professional wrestling fans are thought to be toothless, sweaty, smelly rednecks with low IQ’s, low morals, violent streaks, and a thirst for blood. Stereotypes of this magnitude are partially to blame for the mainstream media looking at professional wrestling with a condescending eye and, as such, making a mockery of it. Those stereotypes also couldn’t be farther from the truth. Wrestling fans are a surprisingly entity of sports entertainment. The question then arises: What draws us as fans to gather in front of the television every Monday night to watch a group of maniacal brutes wail on one another? What draws us to spend countless hours in line to purchase tickets to a live wrestling event? Everyone has his or her own reasons but more often than not, the reason than I hear most often is that professional wrestling provides a respite from the drudgeries of everyday life. Monday Nitro and Raw is War is the soap operas for those who desire just a bit more action in their story lines. Some view professional wrestling as the apocalyptic adult of good vs. evil, while others immerse themselves in the plot lines. Then, there are yet more fans that enjoy it for the sheer wrestling ability and talent of those in the ring. However, the mainstream media continually refuses to recognize professional wrestling for its true entertainment value and in the process, marks the very business that we so vehemently support. This is wearer people such as Steve McMichael, Mike Tyson, Bill Goldberg, Kevin Greene, and Dennis Rodman come into play. And attempt to further cross the lines between sports and entertainment, the hierarchies ...
