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Chyna died yesterday. She was the first female wrestler that everyone knew and she'd fight guys, too. She was awesome. She had also been a University of Tampa student for a time...long before I was there but I definitely spent one afternoon at the yearbook office looking through all the '80s yearbooks, searching for her. She briefly mentioned it in her autobiography...it wasn't flattering, but she always had a hard life.
There was a Tumblr question recently...when did you first start watching wrestling?
The younger of my two brothers was obsessed with wrestling, wanted to be a professional wrestler for many years. There wasn't a time BEFORE wrestling. It was always there and annoyingly, it was always on at 11 AM on Saturday mornings when I wanted to watch Bugs Bunny & Tweety so we'd fight over the tv and sometimes, I won but usually he did...especially if there was Koko B. Ware, the British Bulldog and Jake the Snake because what four year old doesn't enjoy animals? Koko B. Ware was actually my favorite. Later, I would become videographer for half a year at my brother's local wrestling organization.
People don't realize the work that goes into wrestling. Saying "wrestling is fake" is a good way to piss me off. That's not the point. That's like saying ballet is fake. Well, of course it is, they practice their ass off so you're getting involved in the story and artistry. Wrestlers are no different. Especially when they're first starting out, they have to train constantly. They're drinking protein shakes and less legal things and putting on muscle that their bodies might not even be designed for. On top of that, they have to learn acting, choreography and stage fighting. Those ropes that everyone's swinging on and using to propel themselves across the ring? You're probably assuming they're rubber or something flexible, right?
NOPE They are METAL cushioned with or foam or whatever the best padding is that they can afford. You hit that the wrong way and it's going to HURT.
You also have opponents who might follow the script or...they might not. They might decide to "improv" and unless you're quick with your reflexes and your improvisation as well...at least one of you can get hurt. There have also always been cutters. WWE doesn't allow them anymore but elsewhere, some wrestlers believe that the audience wants to see gushing blood so they will deliberately cut themselves on the face or somewhere where it bleeds more...and their opponent has to put up with that!
The worst part is that I'm always sad at the wrestlers dying young but I also completely understand it. They're in a profession where Hulk Hogan is the exception. Hogan is like the chain smoking granny at the family reunion who's also chugging beers and you just don't understand how she's not dead yet. For everyone else, they're basically done at 40 or 45 years old. If they became big enough, they might be able to do an appearance at one of the PPV specials every one or two years, but that's it. Wrestling is like football. You have to invest your money while it's there and a plan for if you make it to retirement.
Yes, they get the concussion disease like football although Chris Benoit is the only proven case so far.
There was a Tumblr question recently...when did you first start watching wrestling?
The younger of my two brothers was obsessed with wrestling, wanted to be a professional wrestler for many years. There wasn't a time BEFORE wrestling. It was always there and annoyingly, it was always on at 11 AM on Saturday mornings when I wanted to watch Bugs Bunny & Tweety so we'd fight over the tv and sometimes, I won but usually he did...especially if there was Koko B. Ware, the British Bulldog and Jake the Snake because what four year old doesn't enjoy animals? Koko B. Ware was actually my favorite. Later, I would become videographer for half a year at my brother's local wrestling organization.
People don't realize the work that goes into wrestling. Saying "wrestling is fake" is a good way to piss me off. That's not the point. That's like saying ballet is fake. Well, of course it is, they practice their ass off so you're getting involved in the story and artistry. Wrestlers are no different. Especially when they're first starting out, they have to train constantly. They're drinking protein shakes and less legal things and putting on muscle that their bodies might not even be designed for. On top of that, they have to learn acting, choreography and stage fighting. Those ropes that everyone's swinging on and using to propel themselves across the ring? You're probably assuming they're rubber or something flexible, right?
NOPE They are METAL cushioned with or foam or whatever the best padding is that they can afford. You hit that the wrong way and it's going to HURT.
You also have opponents who might follow the script or...they might not. They might decide to "improv" and unless you're quick with your reflexes and your improvisation as well...at least one of you can get hurt. There have also always been cutters. WWE doesn't allow them anymore but elsewhere, some wrestlers believe that the audience wants to see gushing blood so they will deliberately cut themselves on the face or somewhere where it bleeds more...and their opponent has to put up with that!
The worst part is that I'm always sad at the wrestlers dying young but I also completely understand it. They're in a profession where Hulk Hogan is the exception. Hogan is like the chain smoking granny at the family reunion who's also chugging beers and you just don't understand how she's not dead yet. For everyone else, they're basically done at 40 or 45 years old. If they became big enough, they might be able to do an appearance at one of the PPV specials every one or two years, but that's it. Wrestling is like football. You have to invest your money while it's there and a plan for if you make it to retirement.
Yes, they get the concussion disease like football although Chris Benoit is the only proven case so far.
