The professional wrestling business is more diverse than ever. Fans have a variety of different promotions (i.e. WWE or AEW) to latch onto.
Whether you watch WWE, AEW, NJPW, ROH, or anything else, everyone has their preferences for wrestling. Let’s step back as fans and focus on what the genre is at its core. Hopefully, in some ways it helps us remember why being part of the wrestling community is fun.
Professional wrestling is arguably in the midst of its most fruitful era across the board. Fans have options, but more importantly, the wrestlers have options. It is always healthy for the industry to have multiple places to work. AEW opened up with a strong episode. The same applies for another alternative product NWA. Reportedly, per Pro Wrestling Sheet, even hip hop mogul Master P will be investing into pro wrestling.
Despite some harsh criticism, especially in regards to the finale of that week’s FOX debut, WWE delivered a top notch “premiere week.” From a business standpoint, being on FOX will bring more eyes to the product. As a fan, this is really a joy to see. Slowly but surely WWE is being recognized as a sport (yes, we know it’s entertainment). Being connected to FOX and ESPN offers the ultimate credibility.
There will always be a percentage of people who don’t think wrestlers are athletes, but its scripted nature doesn’t eliminate it from qualifying as a sporting event. The reality is that it is sports and it is also entertainment. Pro wrestling is sports entertainment and sports entertainment is pro wrestling. Pro wrestling is 40% sport, 50% entertainment, and 10% human comic book. That is the best part of the genre. It is so many things in one!
Wrestling is predominantly entertainment because everything is story driven. The ultimate goal is to create narratives for people to get emotionally invested into. The sport component comes from their conditioning and what their bodies go through. Pro wrestlers have to be in peak physical condition. Moreover, their cardio has to be on point to hang in the ring. These superstars live in the gym. The body was not meant to bump on plywood 250+ days a year. We take these things for granted because the wrestlers make it look easy.
Last but not least, pro wrestling is a human comic book. Both superhero comics and pro wrestling feature larger than life characters that wear elaborate costumes. Both genres are based on a never-ending battle of good versus evil. Despite our love for a great move-set it is the theatrics and characters that captures the hearts of fans. It’s why we fell in love with the sport.
It is important for the wrestling community to remember these elements of sports entertainment. No matter what your favorite promotion is, these are the elements that draw us in. Too many are focused on bashing rather than finding common ground. Ultimately this is entertainment. It will be silly. It will be fun. It will lousy sometimes too. That is the beauty of it all. Whether it is AEW or WWE, remember to let yourself be entertained!