Is Wrestling Real?

The following article was written by former WCW / WWE professional wrestler, Chris Kanyon. Chris originally wwrote this just after Christmas 97 and posted it on his AOL forum. He has republished it each year since with some slight modifications.

Once again, I am writing this while on an airplane. It is 1-2-98. The holidays are over and I am on my way to Savannah, GA for a wedding. I was reading through Delta's "Sky" magazine and I came across an article detailing the question little Laura Virginia O'Hanlon (her mom's name was also Laura, so as a child, she went by her middle name) asked the New York Sun in 1897: "Dear Editor, I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, 'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.' Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?"

Francis Pharcellus Church, in reply, inked one of the most well known and beloved newspaper articles since the invention of the printing press. He spoke in terms of Hope and Mankind. He spoke in terms of love and generosity and devotion. Of beauty and of joy. And he spoke the TRUTH!!!

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."

And now, at 30,000 feet, typing on a palm held organizer/computer, above a snow-covered landscape, some 100 years later, I also "speak" the Truth,

"Yes, Virginia, Wrestling is real."

I've heard "The Question" so many times, it is the one thing that sometimes prevents me from admitting that I am a Pro Wrestler when I am asked. Because when I do answer honestly, "Yes, I am a Wrestler," the questions that follow are so predictable and so repetitive, I could probably answer them before they are even asked.

Now please, don't get me wrong. I love interaction with the fans (obviously…that is why I have this forum on AOL). It's just, if you think you already know the answer, why even ask "The Question?" If you really think you know the answer to "The Question," "is Pro Wrestling real?", then is my answer really going to change your
mind, one way or the other?

However, if you really don't know and you really are curious, here is my answer, once again: "Yes, Virginia, Pro Wrestling is real." The cuts and the bruises are real. The chiropractic and doctor's bills are real. Hitting the Ring mat really hurts and is not as soft as most people think. Believe me, the ring is no trampoline.

But more importantly than all of that, the cheers and the boos and the oohs and the ahhs, they are all real. The emotions of the fans are real. And whether you believe you know the truth or not, and regardless of if you think you know what is going to happen, you must admit, occasionally we do surprise you. Occasionally we do excite and thrill you. Or impress you. And don't think for one moment that we don't notice, appreciate and thrive on that. That is our job - and most of us love doing it.

Do we give it our all, 100% of the time, trying to hurt and maim our opponent? No, but do you think every hockey player skates as hard as he can every shift? Does every football player run as fast or hit as hard as he can every snap of the ball? I mean, sure, there are times when I could probably just grab a front face lock, squeeze as hard as I can and probably get a submission or choke out. But, quite frankly, that would be boring. We are paid to entertain. And, that is exactly what we try to do every time we are out there. Give the fans their moneys worth, get them excited, and send them home happy, if possible.

Do we hate each other? I guess there are guys that do not get along. I do like most of the people that I have met within the Wrestling industry, with only a few exceptions.

But most fans of Wrestling know that DDP and I are friends. And, we wrestled each other last Monday on Nitro. But if you don't think that we hurt each other when the bell rings, ask Dallas what he thinks of that face first powerbomb that I gave him Monday...or just ask his chiropractor about the results of that move. I am proud of the match DDP and I had on Monday. I think he is too. It seems most people on this forum were entertained by that match, and to me, that is more satisfying and more fulfilling than any win, any title or any other "real" acknowledgment that I could ever receive would be.

So as a Wrestler, that is part of what makes Pro Wrestling "real" to me. But is it "real" to the fans?" Is it "real?" I still consider myself a fan, but to be impartial, I will think back to before my first match. I will think back to:

• the crystal clear memory of my Dad taking me to my first live wrestling match when I was 6 years old and how incredibly excited and overwhelmed I was.
  
  
• to being in MSG Jan 24 1984 and my total elation when Hulk won the WWF title
  
  
• to the total fear approaching Andre the Giant in an airport at the age of 12 to ask for an autograph and than my relief and happiness when he gave it to me and was extremely friendly.
  
  
• to my anger and disappointment which almost resulted in a fist fight with one of my best friends when Ric Flair lost his World Title to Sting.
  
  
• to being completely physically and emotionally drained after the Savage vs. Steamboat match at WrestleMania III in front of 93,173 live fans.
  

There is no doubt about it. As a fan, Pro Wrestling can make us very emotional. If we allow it to pull us in, if we suspend our disbelief just a little, it can provide us with some great times, some incredible memories and some huge highs and lows. But does that make it any less of a fantasy? Any more legit? Is Wrestling Real?

Well, all things considered, Wrestling can be as real as the smiles on little children's face's while they are opening up their gifts on Christmas morning. And after all, what could be more real than that?

Share |