The allure of a live performance is something so captivating and exhilarating that I have a hard time not enjoying myself whenever watching, regardless of the actual quality of the on-stage action.
The knowledge that the performance is live, that there are no do-overs and that one misstep could destroy the fragile illusion that exists between the stage and the crowd is a sort of thrill that must be comparable to the thrill of giving said performance.
This suspension of disbelief allows the audience to forget that they are watching a performance and instead embrace the story being told and emotionally invest in the stakes of the narrative.
All of this and more is magnified exponentially whenever I watch professional wrestling.
Pro wrestling is one of the oldest forms of entertainment in America. What started in carnivals and circus acts, designed to get one over on the ‘marks’ in the audience who truly believed they were witnessing a physical confrontation, has since evolved into the pinnacle of live theater.
Real dramatic stakes and emotional storylines playing out over weeks, months and even years. The thrill of live performance where one mistake can shatter that aforementioned illusion that allows for that suspension of disbelief.
Larger-than-life characters that embody universal human experiences. The epic triumph of victory and the crushing blow of defeat are present within all professional wrestling shows–when done right.
There is bad professional wrestling, no doubt. In the same way that bad theater can come about as a result of bad acting, writing or directing, the same can occur in wrestling. A poor storyline can limit fan interest, bad actors can remind you that you are watching a performance and a bad ‘finish’ or ending of a match can drain all of the energy from the crowd.
Some wrestling replaces story-telling with violence and dramatic performance with high-flying stunts and this can get old very fast. For every bad instance of pro wrestling, there is a magical moment of it being done right that reminds you why you still invest your time and attention and keep watching.
When done right, professional wrestling is the greatest live theater imaginable. It has made me seethe with anger and cry tears of joy and it has been the one of the only constants in my media consumption since I was seven years old and first saw “The Undertaker” on television.
It captivated me then and from time to time, when done just right, it captivates me now.
And for a brief moment in time, I am completely engaged, the illusion has worked its magic and I am seven years old again, on the edge of my seat, hoping that one of my favorites like “CM Punk” hoping that my hero overcomes the odds and triumphs over our shared enemy.
There is nothing quite like professional wrestling, for better or worse. Whether done poorly or superbly, it stands alone as a strange mix of performance art and athletic competition that can capture your imagination like nothing else.
So give pro wrestling a shot and you may just find yourself captivated and never stop watching.
But of course, that’s just one man’s opinion.
Categories: Opinion
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