I’m 37-years-old, have a Masters Degree in International Relations, and am an IT systems test manager. And I’ve taken up watching World Wrestling Entertainment a lot in the past few months. So much so, in fact, I simply had to purchase and record the Pay-Per-View broadcast of WWE Summer Slam! yesterday. I’m saving Summer Slam! for an evening of professional wrestling enjoyment tomorrow, when I’ve got less to do and as part of the build-up for my week off to blob on my rear in Amsterdam with the Bean and Tamboosh.
I was big fan of the, then, WWF (now, WWE) and its competitor World Championship Wrestling in the mid-to-late 1980s and early-1990s. The era of Rowdy Roddy Piper, the Iron Shiek, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Andre The Giant, and the Road Warriors, among a huge pantheon of others. But, living in The Netherlands between 1994-2005, watching wrestling wasn’t really an option (terrible cable options). Since moving to the United Kingdom in 2006, however, I’ve rediscovered the over-the-top muscle-bound soap opera that is WWE. Now, the past few months I’ve been recording huge chunks of wrestling every week and watching it while engaging in other activities. I’m talking about Raw, Smackdown, both recaps, Vintage, Afterburn. Anything that starts with WWE on the channels in the satellite sports channels. And, this time around, I’m enjoying it on a whole new level, doing reading into the business, production, history, and the lexicon of wrestling. This stuff is both fun and fascinating.
I’m not really sure I can say I’ve got a favorite wrestler. I’m still getting up to speed with all the storylines and characters. Though I know I shouldn’t – he’s almost too corny – if pressed I’d have to say I’ve been enjoying former champion John Cena in the build up to his Summer Slam! title match against Randy Orton. I asked myself why and, to be honest, I think it has to be his entrance theme, “The Time Is Now”. I’ve got a thing for grand entrance anthems and this one flips all the right switches. For those unaware, Cena performs his theme himself and I think that makes it all the better.
You can’t see me!
Filed under: Guilty Pleasures, Music, Some Other Stuff Tagged: | Hip Hop, John Cena, WWE
Dude, I am the EXACT same as you. I was home sick on a Friday night (I’m 36) and watched the WWE wrestling two weeks ago and was drawn in by how these themes of loss and betrayal are so old, and yet the fans are drawn into them. I never even noticed wrestling as a kid. I’d love to write the story lines for these shows.
Ryan
I also am a “mature” 43-yr old professional, in a technical field, who grew up with with wrestling in the Memphis area. I attended a few live shows at the Mid South Coliseum in college (late 80′s), but my interest slid, and I can’t remember watching any more of it until about 6 months ago. Now I am back into watching it and I cannot get enough of it. I attended a RAW taping in LA a few months ago and it was amazingly entertaining and fun. I also have been caught up in the history, nomenclature and stars. I’ve found http://www.pwtorch.com to be a great site, and I’ve gotten as much of a kick out of reading about matches as watching them. The fact that it is “scripted” is beside the point, so are movies. The fact that these guys perform so well in front of a live audience, with few mistakes, and are willing to risk great harm to make people happy, is most of what draws me in. I do feel a bit guilty watching it, in front of my wife and 8-yr old, but it’s my guilty plesure and I can’t kick the habit. Haven’t bought a PPV yet, but we’ll see.