BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
(FOUR) FANTASY BOOKING
In other sports you can be an “arm chair coach”. With wrestling, everyone has their own dream matches and ideas on how a story should go. It could be simply be wanting to see your favorites win in a big fashion or it could be intricate with the purpose of telling a good story. It’s kids on a playground, fans at an indie, fans at a WWE show, older folks, writers, casual fans, other wrestlers, and even celebrities. Everyone has their own version of wrestling. It’s a testament to the passion a fan of the art has and one of the most popular and best forms of discussions a fan can have.
(THREE) THE BEER DRINKERS
I’m not a beer guy myself. I’ll drink one every so often, but it’s not my first or even fifth drink choice at a bar or gathering. Still, I’ve always enjoyed watching wrestlers drink on a wrestling show. I don’t know why I dig this, but I do. Maybe my inner-alcoholic is living through them, but Austin, the APA, and especially Sandman always seemed a little cooler and a little more “hardcore”, a little more “stiff”, and a little more “bad ass” when they were casually drinking on the job.
(TWO) THE BITTER RIVALRIES
Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart. Bret Hart and Vince. Vince and Ted Turner. Russo and Cornette. Hogan and self-respect. There are some really hateful rivalries in wrestling history. There are so many enemies and crazy stories from wrestling. The rivalries don’t end with the scripted show. There are people who just don’t like each other, screwed each other over, or were in direct competition. It happens in all walks of life, but in wrestling we get shoot tapes and folklore. I’d like everyone to get along behind the scenes, but if not I love hearing the dirt. It eventually gets turned into a storyline and all is okay. Fun times.
(ONE) PLAYING ALONG
There are always going to be party poopers, negative nancys, and dickheads. Do these same people watch movies and look at comic books and say “that’s fake!” No? Why not? It’s entertainment, right? The whole “fake” thing only bothers those who don’t get it. Despite the fact you insist on bringing up that it’s “fake”, despite turning your nose up to it, and despite you saying it’s for kids… we play along. We KNOW its “scripted”, but we appreciate the athletic story being shared. It’s part of the fun. You’re allowing yourself to be swallowed up into a world of heroes, villains, warriors, and characters. If you’re not part of that world then I truly feel sorry for you.
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