As wrestling fans we tend to complain a lot. We complain about the direction our favorite star is going in. We complain about belts. We complain about how wrestlers talk. We complain about entrance music. Hell, we even complain about the sets! When you sit back and look at all the things wrong with wrestling eventually you have to ask yourself why you still watch. Me, I watch for those few minutes where someone shines. Not that it’s too hard nowadays. If someone makes it through a match with a minimum of three missed spots I am satisfied. Yeah, I know that sounds sad but its true. Out of all the free American wrestling TV I get to see every week (about 6 hours by my count) I pray that I can see at least 15 minutes of good wrestling. Not great…good.
What keeps me watching is old tapes since we’re being honest here. I can pop in my old ass King of the Ring and cheer for Bret Hart (sorry B.D Donnie) as if it were my first time watching. Don’t think I had parents that would just up and order PPV’s just because I wanted to see one. It took lots of cleaning, begging, and whining for me to get my Mama Ross to plunk down that $29.95 for a PPV. Back then if you missed a PPV it felt like you were completely out of the loop. Nowadays you can find out results just by going online. Jesus, I sound like an old man. “Back in my day…”
Sometimes I think that fans watch wrestling just to have something to bitch about. There is no shortage of people that claim to be fans of wrestling but do nothing but sit around complaining about it. After a while you see enough bad about something you start to believe it. You start to question exactly why you still watch. It is up to you, a wrestling fan, to keep your love for the sport (not “sport entertainment”) alive and well. Stop feeding the beast. There are more than enough sites and articles you can see that speak negatively about wrestling. You wanna know what I like about wrestling?
- High spots. You call them spot monkeys? I call them daredevils. Fuck you, I like 450’s. If I could find some way to squeeze Shooting Star Presses into my daily life I would.
- I love that wrestlers are incorporating MMA into their styles. Always been a fan of submission grappling since before tapping out existed in wrestling (thanks Kanyon!).
- Elijah Burke. I have come close to giving up on him only to bring him back home. Dude has a great future as soon as he gets a chance.
- Second chances. Wrestling is one of the few businesses where you can talk shit about your former employer, do drugs, injure a co-worker for life, and still be employed.
- Awesome Kong. Need I say more?
- Comedy. No, not Hornswaggle. Jeff Hardy makes me laugh. When he came out in that day glow stuff I could just imagine being upset about having to wash it off after a match with him.
So why do you still watch a sport that gets shit on by so many? Is it because you’re enjoying it because its good or enjoying it because you have nothing better to do? Are you waiting for it to get better or do you think its fine just the way it is?
3 comments: on "Quit Yer Bitchin!"
Interesting article, I think it can be better, anything can. But I try not to complain too much, I do like to speculate on how *I* could make it better though.
It's strange to me that so many, so called, fans shit all over it. Aren't there enough people doing that already? I mean how many times have you told a non-fan your favorite show is Wrasslin' and gotten that look. You know, the one like you live in a trailer park and date your sister. Like your IQ is lower than your belt size. Personally I like to launch into a tirade comparing Shakespear's works to Vinny Mac's and end with how I prefer my violence to be staged rather than real, but that's me.
Reasons why I watch...
-I have the utmost respect for anybody who chases their dreams. I'm chasing my dream, trying to make a living as a card player, so I understand the ups and downs of chasing down a dream. The looks people give you when you tell them what you do, the nights where you cant win, the nights where you cant lose. Chasing a dream isn't an easy thing to do, and I enjoy seeing a group of people on TV every week who've succeeded.
-I feel like I am part of a culture of wrestling fans. I'm talking about people who stick by and give a business ratings even when it hits all time lows (Benoit). I enjoy sitting through the ups and the downs, and calling myself a true fan.
-I like to have faith in this business. I am often disappointed in little things, like match outcomes, payoffs, bad workers succeeding, good workers not succeeding or jobbing, this list could go on for days. Whether it's remembering the good old days, seeing a young worker get a little shine, sitting on the edge of my seat for 5 minutes over the course of the whole week, theres always something that makes me think things will get better. I've always been critical in an optimistic way, and enjoy doing so.
Good article, it got me thinking. I'll always be critical of the product, because nothings perfect, but at the same time, I'll never give up on being a mark, i mean fan.
Finally, something positive. I've been saying this forever. It's good to remember why we love this and have enough passion to watch, then bitch every week.
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