“Pro wrestling isn’t just body slams and violence — it’s also art”

[Pat]

Pretty interesting article I read this morning:

Pro wrestling isn't just body slams and violence -- it's also art

Professional wrestling is known for its over-the-top theatrics and choreographed violence. But a new wrestling and art journal, "Orange Crush," pushes the sport's creative merits and positions it as an cultural force.

www.cnn.com

I appreciate that there are at least some people who understand it to be more than just simulated violence, or the normal “you know that’s fake, right” response you get when you tell people you watch it.

 

[Chris]

The next time someone tells me wrestling is fake I think I might just act like they shattered my whole world with that revelation just to see how they react.

 

[Deezy]

Hence the term sports entertainment that some people take such umbrage with.

It's live theater where the story is told in simulated violence.

But anything considered art....so it's not much of a distinction.

 

[RLStern]

I was a wrestler for years until 2018 and while it is indeed an art...

It’s still fake, it requires physical conditioning and skill but there’s zero combat, zero hits, zero competition.

Its cooperative choreography the same exact way an NSYNC dance routine is.

The term Sports Entertainment accurately describes it, but folks like this get offended by it:

 

[Shane]

Well sometimes wrestlers stiff each other but they’re not supposed to

 

[Deezy]

And sometimes an actor actually hits their costar or during live theater.

 

[Shane]

And sometimes an actor actually hits their costar or during live theater.

Sometimes the wrestlers hit each other for real to prove a point or if they're assholes. Dynamite Kid broke Mick Foley's jaw with a clothesline

 

[Deezy]

Sometimes the wrestlers hit each other for real to prove a point or if they're assholes. Dynamite Kid broke Mick Foley's jaw with a clothesline

And Seagal would break stunt doubles noses with punches.....

What are we doing here? Trying to pretend entertainment isn't entertainment?