Wrestling with Weddings

In my last post I talked a little about storylines so this time I'm going to recap my most favourite type of storyline: the wedding. So I'm sure you're now thinking why would there be weddings in wrestling. Well they're major storylines that always have a huge impact and they are always outrageous. When you know that there's going to be a wedding, it's a must watch situation. The following are my choices for the most note-worthy wrestling weddings:

Billy and Chuck

Chuck was a former WCW Tag Team Champion, but not exactly a big name. Billy, on the other hand, was one half of one of the greatest tag teams ever to grace a WWE ring. When put together as a tag team, they became the ambiguously gay duo of professional wrestling (but it's not like there's anything wrong with that...sorry, I just had to).

Before jumping to conclusions let's look at the facts: they had this entrance theme, they entered diva contests, they had a personal stylist, and last but not least, they planned a commitment ceremony.

As the night of the commitment ceremony came near all sorts of media outlets were picking up on the story. Sadly, as the ceremony was taking place it was revealed that the entire thing was just a publicity stunt conjured up by their stylist and that they weren't really gay.

Dawn Marie and Al Wilson

As you might be able to tell from the photo, this relationship was not exactly normal. Basically, Al was recently divorced and fell in love with Dawn Marie who happened to be a Diva colleague to Al's daughter Torrie. Eventually Al proposed and the wedding was to take place. However, Torrie would do anything to prevent this from occurring--she accepted a proposition of her own from her future step-mother. The deal was that if Torrie "spent the night" with Dawn Marie, she would call off the wedding. Of course this deal didn't go through because Dawn Marie was just that big of a scammer and well, it wouldn't have been a happy ending right?

So, Al and Dawn Marie got married and went to Hawaii for their honeymoon, but the fun stopped there. You see, Al wasn't in the best of shape and was kind of up there in age and Dawn Marie was quite young and energetic. Needless to say, the consummating of the marriage took place a few too many times and our dear old friend Al Wilson "died" of a heart attack (WWE used to enjoy killing off characters).

Triple H and Stephanie McMahon

In November 1999 Stephanie McMahon, daughter of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, was supposed to marry Andrew "Test" Martin on Raw is War. As the nuptials were taking place they were surprisingly interrupted by Triple H--a major rival to the McMahon family. He then proceeded to show a video of himself and Stephanie visiting a drive-thru wedding chapel in Las Vegas and well, getting married (Stephanie was drugged at the time). Of course all hell broke loose after this. [click here for Part I and here for Part II of the entire segment]

At the Armageddon pay-per-view the following month, Vince and Triple H faced off in a match with interesting stipulations: if Triple H was to win, he could stay married to Stephanie, but if Vince won the marriage would be over. Things didn't exactly go the way Vince wanted as doting daughter Stephanie turned on her father to help Triple H win the match and therefore continue with their relationship and begin the McMahon-Helmsley Era.

This relationship made a huge impact on the shows and many storylines during the next few years revolved around Triple H and Stephanie until Triple H tore his quadiceps in May 2001. Upon his return to television the relationship continued with Stephanie announcing that she was pregnant. However, this pregnancy turned out to be a hoax and during their vow renewal ceremony in February 2002 Triple H ended the McMahon-Helmsely Era after its wonderful two-year run.

The Entertainment of Wrestling

The actual wrestling portion of sports-entertainment is meant to be entertaining, but it is the storylines and the gimmicks (or characters) that really give it the entertainment value.

In the past wrestling was only about the action that that went down in the ring, but now backstage vignettes and in-ring promos (that is, when a wrestler is in the ring trash talking another wrestler on the mic) are what contribute the most time in any given weekly telecast. Sometimes this can get overwhelming when you just wanna see some wrestling, but for the most part this adds comedy and drama transforming it from sports to entertainment.

Storylines are necessary because there needs to be a reason for those two guys (or girls) to be wrestling each other--a rivalry that can only be solved by getting into the ring. Wrestling storylines can definitely go from one extreme to another and although they can get predictable, they are still entertaining if done properly.

Promos and vignettes are used create build up for a match. They make you want to follow the story until it finally ends with the big match up. I think that showing the step by step build up is what makes a rivalry effective. Seeing the depth of the rivalry through dialogue helps establish the point of the feud itself. Also, since not all matches are considered good, it's also nice to have a great promo in between the mediocrity. The best promos are humourous, yet serious. There are certain points that need to be made which coincide directly with the feud , but sometimes statements are made that are so outlandish that they are laugh-out-loud funny. Seriously.

Now, wrestling gimmicks are what truly make the storylines. Sadly, not every wrestler nowadays has an actual character or gimmick. Many of them go by their real names and don't really have anything to set them apart from the rest. Those that do have a gimmick get to put on more unique matches as well as more entertaining promos. A lot of people would rather watch a match than hear a promo, but for myself, if the person has great mic skills and a good gimmick to execute them with I have no problem with promos taking over the show.

--Photos once again from WWE.com

The "Saviour" Has Finally Arrived

In one of my previous posts I discussed a "cryptic Save_Us" video that aired during an episode of WWE Raw. Each week when the video played it was edited to include more clues to help fans figure out who would be the "saviour". When those videos first started airing on Raw a few months ago, I knew who they pertained to, and let's just say they definitely got me excited. Finally, many episodes later, the "source" has been revealed (but it's not like there was actually anyone who didn't know who this was already).

On Raw Monday night Chris Jericho made his return to the wrestling world.

I must say that I had been looking forward to this day ever since he left the company in 2005. Though he wrestled in the now defunct WCW and ECW, I started following his career when he joined WWE in 1999.

At first his character was as annoying as could be, but over the years it developed into something much more. I give him a lot of credit for the fact that he could play such a role so perfectly--he was pretty obnoxious.

What I enjoyed most about his return on Monday was that it felt like he never left. The way he spoke and his mannerisms were just like they always were: over the top and energetic. He didn't skip a beat with his charisma and extreme flamboyance.

The great thing about when a fan-favourite, like Jericho, returns from an extended hiatus is that that person becomes a fresh face to the new wrestling fans but also makes the familiar fans happy once again. No matter which way you look at it, the return of Chris Jericho is beneficial to all.

--Photo from WWE.com

Perfect timing...

Only days after my last post regarding the Talent Wellness Program, CNN aired a special documentary entitled "Death Grip - Inside Pro Wrestling". This provoking documentary mainly focuses on the Chris Benoit tragedy, but also includes discussion on the deaths of many other wrestlers, steroid use in the industry, as well as interviews with the owner of World Wrestling Entertainment.

There is discussion regarding WWE's drug testing policies and the possibility that the company does not take the situation seriously. Over the years wrestlers have gone from having average body types to having bodies of steel. Fans have undoubtedly noticed this change, and perhaps have even adopted it as being a good thing.

What I don't understand is the fact that today's wrestlers see the effects of using steroids yet they often continue on with their lifestyle. It almost seems as though they don't care enough about themselves and their families to make a change. But on the other hand, if they believe they need to be big and brawny to compete in the industry that they love, of course they are going to do whatever it takes.

In order to combat this problem, WWE needs to start bringing in smaller guys and show that a bodybuilder's physique isn't necessary--merely being in good shape and being able to put on the type of show that the fans deserve is what needs to be promoted.

I definitely recommend at least watching the first part of the documentary as it is extremely interesting and gives a an in-depth look into what are seemingly the most important issues for the media to cover regarding the professional wrestling industry.

Part 2--Part 3--Part 4--Part 5--Part 6

A Step in the Right Direction

I knew it would only be a matter of time before I could mention WWE's Talent Wellness Program and have it be a current topic for discussion.

But first, what is the Talent Wellness Program?

On February 27, 2006 WWE instituted a program that involves "an aggressive substance abuse and drug testing policy" as well as "cardiovascular testing and monitoring". This came only a few months after Eddie Guerrero's sudden passing in November 2005 due to heart failure that was contributed to by his previous history of drug and alcohol abuse.

Important points:

• "The non-medical use and associate abuse of prescription medications and performance-enhancing drugs, as well as the use, possession and/or distribution of illegal drugs" as well as the "use of masking agents and/or diuretics to conceal or obscure the use of prohibited drugs is also prohibited
• All talent underwent initial testing that was used as a "baseline" for future tests--a positive test was not disciplined at the time
• Future positive test results would be disciplined based on the number of offenses a Talent has previously had
• A first offense would receive a 30-day suspension without pay
• A second offense would receive a 60-day suspension without pay or an in-patient stay at a substance abuse facility, also without pay
• A third offense would result in termination

Now, the reason I've decided to bring up this topic is the fact that as of November 1 any wrestler who violates the program will have their name made public. On November 2, two wrestlers were revealed as having violated the program. Chris Mordetsky (A.K.A. Chris Masters) and Harry Smith (A.K.A. DH Smith) were the first victims of the spotlight. This was Mordetsky's second offense, while it was Smith's first (Smith debuted on WWE Smackdown less than a month ago) and both have been suspended for the appropriate amount of time. Smith's suspension comes as a surprise since his father the late great "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith passed away at the age of 40 after suffering a heart attack who according to his brother in-law, had "paid the price with steroid cocktails and human-growth hormones".

One of the most common reasons wrestling has appeared in the news in recent years is due to the deaths of young wrestlers and the fact many of them have been caused by steroid and other drug abuses. I definitely think it is time for WWE to step up with the testing and attempt to show that there is some effort being made to put an end to the abuse. Taking the wrestlers off the road who have violated the policy, and now publicly identifying them, are definitely fair punishments. The new addition of making their names public creates a great deal of embarassment for those who have spoken out stating that they don't use any drugs or that they don't believe in the use of them. This is definitely a step in the right direction.

I totally support what is being done to correct the problem and hopefully the Wellness Program will further develop into something with more power to change how things are done.

My Favourite Matches--Vol. 2

Since the last installment of My Favourite Matches was about the first Pay-Per-View I ever watched, I've decided to continue on with another first.

Wrestlemania X-Seven was the first Wrestlemania I ever watched and it is still probably my favourite one to date (with the exception of the one I went to of course). The main event, one of my most favourite matches, saw Stone Cold Steve Austin face off against The Rock for his WWE Championship--the most prestigious title a wrestler can hold in WWE. This show took place in 2001 at a time when I was a different kind of a wrestling fan than I am now. At this point I was literally obsessed with wrestling. Seriously people. Anybody who knew me at this stage of my "wrestling fandom" probably thought I was absolutely insane.

Why it's one of my faves:
I was not only obsessed with wrestling in general in 2001, but I was also obsessed with The Rock. I thought this guy was pretty much a god. There was nobody better than him, not even Stone Cold Steve Austin--the guy who had been WWE's leading man for several previous years. I knew this match would make an impact and it certainly did.

Normally wrestling matches are between a heel and a babyface for that good vs. evil effect. But on that night the ultimate battle of the babyfaces was taking place. The Rock and Stone Cold were the two biggest fan favourites at the time so the fans were torn on who to stand behind. This is what made the match so electric. People didn't want to see either guy lose.

Thoughout the entire match the control went back and forth like I had never seen before. It was impossible to say who would be the winner. They put on one hell of an entertaining match that would end with a major twist that left me with a kind of bittersweet impression of it all.

Part 2---Part 3---Part 4

The Power is in Your Hands

In less than a week Cyber Sunday will be airing live on Pay-Per-View.

For the fourth straight year WWE is holding an interactive event in which every match on the card has been influenced by the fans in some way. The concept behind this unique show is that the fans are given different options for each match and then get to vote for what they want. Voting is easy--just go to the Cyber Sunday website and click on the match you would like to vote for.

This year's card includes matches for the main championships of each brand (the WWE television shows--Raw, Smackdown, and ECW). Title matches are supposed to be the most important of matches, so having three of them on a card that the fans get to choose is fairly exciting. For two of those matches the fans get to decide on the opponent for the current champion (Raw Champion Randy Orton is pictured at left). There are three possible opponents to choose from with two actually being potential candidates and one being someone who really isn't main event material. But hey, tt's all up to the other fans to make the decision on that one. The third title match gives fans the chance to choose the guest referee. Again, two out of the three are actual contenders.

The other three matches give options for the type of stipulation fans want to see in a match. For those three I really can't predict what the majority of fans will choose because, quite frankly, all three choices hold a relatively equal entertainment value.

I think that perhaps the most interesting idea about this kind of show is the fact that nobody knows for sure what the outcome of the voting will be. Sure, we can all have our predictions about the most likely candidates but there's still always the chance for a little surprise.

Giving the fans the opportunity to decide what they want to see is probably the easiest way to give back to them. Since the fans are what keep wrestling alive it only makes sense to let them have some solid input into what they are so diligently following. If there was more input allowed in other areas of wrestling there might not be so many people turning away from it.

--Photo borrowed from WWE.com

No Fans = No Wrestling

One of the most important aspects about wrestling thats makes it different from every other sport is the importance of the fans. A professional baseball or football game could still be played without any spectators present. The only difference that a lack of spectators would make in theory would a lack of noise. Athletes in popular professional sports don't technically need people to watch them play their chosen sport.

The following statement comes from a blog entry that was part of the MIT course that I mentioned in a previous post:

"Professional wrestling, like theatre, relies on an unwritten social contract. Simply stated, that contract concerns the obligations of both audience and entertainer: the entertainer is expected to give a satisfactory performance and the audience is expected to respond accordingly."

I think that the author has made a really great point here. Wrestling relies on the spectators. If there aren't fans present to watch a match, it's simply like a practice or rehearsal. An actor can't perform without an audience, and neither can a wrestler. The goal of a wrestling match is to draw a reaction from the audience with each maneuver that's performed. "The audience rewards the effort by applauding or energizing their response in other ways : smiles, oohhs and ahhs etc.". Whether that reaction is positive (known as a "pop") or negative (known as "heat"), that part really doesn't matter. A wrestler's character predicts what kind of a reaction they will receive from the crowd, they just need to concentrate on making that reaction happen.

It's also important to put the fans first in both theatre and wrestling because they are "economically driven entities". Both businesses "need a cash flow to stay afloat". For the most part we are given what we want, with the exception of a few (...okay more than a few) storylines that just weren't up to par for most people. In my next post I will be discussing one of the ways in which WWE is trying to reach out to the fans and give them what they want.

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As an added bonus, I've included the first part of the Empty Arena match which aired during Halftime of Superbowl XXXIII in 1999 between Mankind and The Rock. How ironic...

Wrestling vs. Comics: The Ultimate Showdown (Or Not)

One of the main qualities about wrestling that makes it so appealing to so many people is that it tells the story of "good guys" vs. "bad guys". The majority of matches put on feature the fan favourite vs. the guy fans love to hate. It's not hard to tell who is who--fans are in unison as they show their support for the "babyface" (good guy) and their displeasure for the "heel" (bad guy).

Now, what other type of entertainment features an ongoing battle between the forces of good and bad (well, evil)? Comic books!

I can't pretend that I am a comic connoisseur (like this guy), but from what I do know about them, they have a lot in common with wrestling. Comic books tell a story about a superhero and their attempt to defeat an evil force and as I already said, wrestling tells the story of the babyface vs. the heel.

The superheroes in comic books go by a 'cool' alias, rather than their real name. Back in the 80's and even in the 90's there were wrestlers with names that could be fit for a superhero. Andre The Giant, Hercules Hernandes, Macho Man Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior (pictured on left)--okay, they aren't the greatest superhero names, but they are definitely better than what we have today. Wrestlers usually keep their real names (or names that could be real) rather than using a ring name or alias. Brian Popkin, a guest columnist for SlashWrestling.com, made a great point when he said, "their names make them sound like guys I went to high school with". I couldn't agree more.

"The comic books that sell all have characters with superhero names. Do you think a comic book called "The Adventures of Clark Kent" or "Legends of Bruce Wayne" would sell? They tried using a real name for a comic with Luke Cage instead of Power Man. It didn't sell."

Another similarity between comic books and wrestling is that the superheroes and wrestlers each have their own "superpower". A wrestler's finishing move is equivalent to the amazing powers a superhero can exert on his foe. Sometimes, however, a wrestler has his own move put on him. Popkin compares this to "Spiderman getting beat by his own webbing or the Iceman getting beat by water".

I think that the huge fan base that both comic books and wrestling have is what truly makes them similar. Comic book fans and wrestling fans get the same type of entertainment from both products and entertainment is what they are all about.

My Favourite Matches--Vol. 1

As a way to give everyone a better look at wrestling--since it appears that nobody in the class is a fan, I've decided to share some of my favourite matches with everyone.

This week's clip is from the TLC match (tables, ladders, and chairs) at Summerslam 2000. The point of the match is for one of the participants to climb the ladder and grab the Tag Team title belts for himself and his partner. The tables and chairs come into play because it's entertaining for wrestling fans to see someone get slammed through a table or hit with a chair (or at least it is when it's done right...some wrestlers don't do it very well).

Why it's one of my faves:
Summerslam 2000 was the first Pay-Per-View event I ever got to watch, so there's no doubt that I would include a match from that show. The match is loaded with high-flying moves, and plenty of examples of wrestling's wonderful use of tables, ladders, and chairs. I'm a sucker for matches that involve what wrestling fans generally call "Holy Sh!t" moments, and this match definitely has some of those. The good news is that I'm not the only one who enjoys this kind of match--just listen to the crowd reaction in the arena!

Note: This is only a small portion of the match (Part 2). If you are interested in seeing what else happens you can view the rest of the match at the following links:
Part 1---Part 3---Part 4

The Downfall of the Women's Division

In the past few years WWE's Women's Division has become downright embarrassing. There have been so many women come and go from the roster, but few have made an impact where it counts--in the ring! Now, before anyone gets offended I do have to say that there have been some great women wrestlers in recent years (ie. Trish Stratus , Lita and Victoria), but there have most definitely been more duds.

I think that the creation of the Diva Search a few years ago has a lot to do with the division going down hill. First of all, let me explain what exactly the Diva Search is. As a way to attract women to become a part of the wrestling world and therefore attract more male fans, a contest was held in which the winning contestant would receive a $250,000 contract with WWE. This of course sounds like a grand plan, but in addition to the winner of the contest, 5 out of the 9 previously ousted contestants were also hired to be a part of the company. Sure, WWE felt they needed to add more women in skimpy clothing in order to gain higher ratings, but come on.

To this day only 2 of the 6 women originally hired as part of the 2004 Diva Search are still employed by WWE. What pleases me most about this is the fact that they are not simply eye candy anymore--they have actually been training and have greatly improved since they were first introduced to the actual wrestling ring.

Thankfully, WWE still has 2 of the contestants from the 2005 Diva Search--the winner and the 3rd runner up, as well as the winner of the 2006 Diva Search. Only the 2005 winner has actually ever wrestled. On a side note for any Survivor fans out there, the winner of the 2005 Diva Search (Ashley) was cut from Survivor: China after just 2 episodes/6 days. While Ashley was away in China, Krystal (the 3rd runner up) was "marrying" Smackdown General Manager Theodore Long (I will discuss the wonder of wrestling weddings in a future post).

Now, I totally understand the purpose of the Diva Search but I guess I just don't agree with what it has done. There was once a time when women in the wrestling world were actually wrestlers or at least valets who had an actual role. I'm looking forward to seeing more of a balance in this aspect--something it seems might actually be happening as more of the divas have been training and having more matches. The downside though: the 2007 Diva Search is now in full swing.

Save Us

I hated wrestling the first time I tried watching it.
It's hard to believe that this could be true, but it definitely is. I knew what wrestling was, but I had never actually seen it (hey--I didn't have cable TV). I'm not sure whether it was seeing big brawny men hitting each other (err...performing choreographed moves) or strange looking characters talking about stuff I had no idea about, it just wasn't appealing. With that said, I totally understand how people feel when they attempt to watch wrestling for the first time--especially now.
As a dedicated fan I intend on standing behind what I enjoy, even if the quality can be somewhat lackluster at times. And I'm pretty sure that WWE is quite aware of the quality problem.

This week during Raw, a "cryptic" video appeared featuring a graphic saying "Save_Us.222". If watched in slow motion it's possible to pick out references that would make it seem as though the video pertains to Chris Jericho (a popular wrestler who took a few years off to tour with his band and write a book).

It's a known fact that WWE enjoys parodies and poking fun at situations, so why not make fun of themselves. The Creative Team knows that something needs to be done in order to gain new fans and especially to keep the current ones. Of course it will take more than bringing back a familiar face, but at least there's some effort being made to "save us".

The "F Word"...Fake That Is

The term sports-entertainment was coined in order to give a fresher feel to the evolving product of professional wrestling. By creating this new definition it was hoped that a wider audience would become interested. As a fan, it really doesn't matter what it's called--it's all the same to me.

From what I've seen, those who strictly believe that wrestling is FAKE tend to think that sports-entertainment is a more suitable term for it. However, the argument is still present that it shouldn't even be classified as a sport at all.

If you've ever actually watched a wrestling match you would know that it isn't simply two muscle builders rolling around in skimpy outfits. Strength, balance, and agility are necessary in order to put on the best possible match. Athleticism is required to pull off many of the most entertaining moves, as well as a lot of practice. With that said, I see it fit to compare wrestling to something as basic as gymnastics. It takes time and plenty of practice to perfect the various types of flips that gymnasts perform, so it is no different for wrestlers. They should be considered athletes.

The "fakeness" obviously doesn't come from the wrestlers not being good athletes, but from one of the following points: 1) The predetermined outcomes of the matches or 2) the choreography in many of the moves performed by the wrestlers. Two concepts which I have no problem standing behind.

I'm certainly not the naïve type of fan that proclaims to the world that wrestling is real, nor would I ever flat out say it is fake. The best way to describe it would be that it is staged, with real injuries.

20 Years Later

People often tell me that they were once wrestling fans, a statement I usually question. Wrestling fans are very passionate so I always find it hard to believe that someone could just fall away from something that keeps evolving. It happens to be the fact that it has changed that has caused the majority of those people to turn their backs on wrestling. I think it might just be an excuse! All forms of sports and entertainment need to change as time passes. Without a doubt professional sports such as hockey and football have undergone modifications, so why can't wrestling change too?
I won't deny that certain aspects of professional wrestling have changed, but some things never change.

This year marked the 20th anniversary of Wrestlemania 3, the event which still holds the world record for the largest indoor attendance for a sporting event. 93,173 fans packed the Pontiac Silverdome on March 31, 1987. This was at a time when Vince McMahon's (then) World Wrestling Federation was at it's peak, so there's no reason why such an event wouldn't draw like it did. 20 years ago there were still "babyfaces" (the good guys) and "heels" (the bad guys). Fans erupted with cheers when the babyface made their way down to the ring, and booed their hearts out when the heel did the same. This is simply one of the main components of professional wrestling that will never change.

In order to celebrate the anniversary of Wrestlemania 3, WWE held Wrestlemania 23 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Just as it was expected a record number of fans packed that venue just as they had 20 years earlier at the Silverdome. 80,103 fans were a part of the biggest show of the year. It was astounding to see this many people in one place. Yes, I was there! I have watched Wrestlemania 3 enough times to know that what I witnessed for my own eyes was just as comparable. Many of today's fans wouldn't be interested in the type of show that was put on in 1987. Fans thrive for the most extravagant entrances, death-defying moves, and overall shock value--something we definitely received at Wrestlemania 23.

The important thing to remember is that at a time when "critics" claim that wrestling just isn't the same anymore, vast numbers of fans are still willing to fill the seats at shows. The individuals responsible for putting the shows together need to please the fans, so the product needs to change in order to accomodate their changing preferences. So, for all of those people who claim that wrestling isn't very "good" anymore, it might just be that they haven't been willing enough to update their own tastes.

--Photos borrowed from WWE.com

A Course Dedicated to Professional Wrestling? No Way!

Today I stumbled upon something I never thought I would find: a course dedicated to professional wrestling! MIT offers a program entitled Comparative Media Studies in which last year a course was offered called Topics in Comparative Media Studies: American Professional Wrestling.

I was excited about this discovery because it shows that professional wrestling, a topic that holds such a stigma, can be taken seriously enough for a certified post-secondary institution to grant its students credit for learning about it. Out of all of the potential topics regarding the media, professional wrestling certainly holds enough of an influence to be a prime candidate for discussion.

As a wrestling fan I was very intrigued to find out exactly what would be taught in a course about wrestling to a class of university students. The introductory blog posting mentions that the course examines the evolution of pro wrestling style and promotion and "how shifts in wrestling characters demonstrate changes in the depiction of American masculinity". Wrestling style and the characters wrestlers portray are undoubtedly the main aspects of the industry, or at least that is what the typical bystander tends to see. This leads me to question whether or not someone who has never been a fan of professional wrestling can be successful in a class dedicated to it. There is a lot about the industry that those who aren't fans would not have a clue about, yet actual fans would think that same information is mere common knowledge.

I believe that it would be beneficial for students to take the class, even if they aren't fans. Sure, fans would already be familiar with many of the topics and would probably have an advantage, but for those who were never fans, it would be an exciting learning opportunity. The world of professional wrestling has a lot to offer, it just takes some time to gain an understanding of why it appeals to millions of people around the world.

So, What's Your Guilty Pleasure?

Everyone has that one television show, song, or hobby that they just can’t get enough of. It’s often hard to explain to friends and family members that you can’t leave the house on a certain night for fear that you will miss something important . Or even worse, you need to listen to the same song every single time it comes on the radio much to the dismay of the other passengers in the car who are ready to rip out the stereo—or maybe their eardrums. Life would be inadequate if we didn't have something to be passionate about and rely on to bring at least a little happiness after a long day.

For myself, sports-entertainment seems to be my guiltiest pleasure and it has been for the past 8 years. Whenever I let that little secret out I am generally bombarded with the same kinds of responses over and over again. "Yeah, right" followed by "you're a girl" and "aren't you a little old for that?" are the most frequent comments I receive. However, the funniest and yet most popular reaction I get is the "don't you know that stuff is fake" response. After being such a die-hard fan for nearly a decade I'm pretty sure I know and fully understand what's behind sports-entertainment and how the industry works. What I don't quite understand is how something that so many people around the world love can still garner such a lack of respect.

There is a lot of information regarding my guilty pleasure that the majority of people (those who aren't fans of course) don't know or don't care to know and that is what I believe has lead to most of the negativity. Over the next several weeks I hope to shed a light on the subject of sports-entertainment for all of those people who are in the dark when it comes to the phenomenon of professional wrestling.