MARCS THOUGHTS ON PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING

 

You hear it all the time. "Isn't it fake?" "Don't you already know who's going to win?" "It doesn't hurt." Well, I'm here to tell you that:

a) it isn't fake;
b) not always;
c) yes it does!

What am I talking about, you ask? I'm talking about the ridiculous comments ignoramii make when you mention you're involved with professional wrestling. It continues to amaze me how people can sit and watch a couple of minutes of wrestling, and then, all of a sudden, they can answer all of life's little questions.

I have been "in the biz" for about 4 years now, and no, I haven't been able to be seen at times, but yes, I have always been there. I have had several roles, from commentator to booker to agent to sales rep to webmaster to writer to editor to wrestler. I have seen quite a bit, and I will never say I've seen it all.

Friday night, June 27, 2003, I made my Elks Lodge debut as the Motivator. I went out there and gave my all, and I don't regret a single second of it. Well, maybe I regret that I was pinned by the scrub known as "Bison" Johnny Bravado (just kidding Big Vinny, take it easy), but other than that I regret nothing. I got some offense on the outside, but once I hit the ring I was dominated. Now, I know all 3 of the wrestlers whom I squared off in the ring with, and it was indeed an honor to be their whipping boy for the minute or so I was in there. Ralph, mad love brother, great job. Bravado, thanks for turning me into a blown spot. And Prince Nana, a man above all others when it comes to class and dignity, it was my greatest moment in wrestling to date working with you. Thanks to all three of you.

What the hell does this have to do with anything? Well, I'll tell you. These and many many other wrestlers put their dignity and even their health on the line every time they step into that ring. It DOES hurt to be bodyslammed, it DOES hurt to be piledriven, and it DOES hurt to lay there and allow another man to make you a loser in front of hundreds or thousands of people. It takes years to perfect this unperfectable craft. The balance of putting your ego in check and keeping your body physically fit is an oxymoron in itself.

With every backbreaker, spinebuster, and German suplex, a pro wrestler puts his neck in a position where it can easily be broken, leaving him paralyzed, or worse, dead. They say respect is earned, not given, and when I stepped into that ring, my respect level (I already had a ton) for pro wrestlers went up to the maximum level. I've served in the US Marines, and I respect every one of them, and I would put pro wrestlers on the same tier.

So, the next time you tell someone you watch wrestling, and they respond with one of the three phrases I mentioned at the top, hit them with a sidewalk slam and ask "does that hurt?" I guarantee the answer you get back is "yes," and wrestling will have gained another fan.

 

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