Showing posts with label Pro-wrestling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pro-wrestling. Show all posts

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you're probably wondering why I'm promoting DVDs in the age of digital streaming and downloads. In this post, I'll explain why you should watch films and movies on DVDs for the best results.

I'll compare DVDs with streaming sites first then compare them with digital downloads and theater versions. 

DVDs vs. streaming services: 

DVDs are cheaper - Streaming sites are a waste of money. When you compare the time you're not using your monthly subscription to the time you are, you'll see you're not getting your money's worth. It's worse if your internet is poor to where your movies buffer. You're wasting money paying monthly fees. If you pay more for better internet, that's even worse. With DVDs, you only make one-time buys which save you a ton of money long-term.


DVDs have tangible ownership, streams don't - When you buy DVDs, you technically own them. With streams, you only pay for permission to watch them. If a company no longer wants to have its content in say Netflix's library, the company can request Netflix to remove it. You won't be able to stream it anymore. If a company stops selling a movie on DVD, that's the worst thing they can do. The company won't bother to confiscate your DVD. Even if you lose it, you can just buy used copies at affordable prices.       

DVDs have exclusive content, streams don't - DVDs (namely special editions) have much more content than streaming services such as extended editions, unrated editions, deleted scenes, interviews, "making of" documentaries, etc. Movie streams don't. Typically, streaming services play only standard editions of movies. 


Streaming libraries can be limited, unlike DVDs - If a streaming service hasn't updated their libraries, you can't watch everything you want. With DVDs, you can watch anything you want as long as there's a copy of the movie. 

You can resell DVDs but not streams - You can resell DVDs since you have tangible ownership of them. With streams, you don't own them so you can't. Once again, you save a ton more money buying DVDs than streaming. 

DVDs have better quality than streams - Quality is determined by bitrate. Higher bitrate means higher quality video and audio. Quality can also be affected by codec encoding and compression techniques. Regular DVDs run at 6-8 megabits per second. Streams usually play movies at lower rates. Netflix for example plays movies at around 5 megabits with a standard connection. 

DVDs don't require Internet, streams do - If your internet connection or streaming service fails, you won't be able to finish watching your favorite movies and shows. Nothing is worse than watching one of the most critical and intense scenes in a movie only to be interrupted by say internet lag. It ruins the viewing experience. With DVDs, you don't have those problems. 

DVDs vs. digital downloads:

DVDs are easier to resell than digital downloads  - You can't really resell digital downloads as you don't own them. 

DVDs have better quality - Whether we're discussing legal digital downloads or illegal ones, DVDs have consistently better quality. I used to torrent a lot and I noticed you aren't guaranteed high-quality content with torrenting. Sometimes, one movie came in two parts. That interrupts your viewing experience. The picture and audio quality can be terrible as well. Other times, the movie has a company logo on the lower far right corner of your screen which is annoying. You don't have those issues with DVDs if you buy them brand new. DVDs run at higher bitrates than even high-definition digital downloads.  

Digital downloads can be limited - If streaming services offering digital downloads have a limited library, you can't download your favorite movies and shows. Even if you try to download movies illegally, the same could happen. I tried to torrent some of my favorite pro-wrestling matches and couldn't find them. This is because they were rare, old, and not very popular. That's why I could find DVD versions of them.                

DVDs have tangible ownership, digital downloads don't - When you buy DVDs, you technically own them. With digital downloads, you only pay for permission to watch content. If someone removes the content from the streaming service's library, you can't redownload it.    

You can resell DVDs but not digital downloads - You can't sell digital downloads. You can resell DVDs easily.  

Now let's compare DVDs to movie theaters. 

DVDs are cheaper - You can watch movies at the lowest price if you rent them. You can't with theater tickets. 

DVDs save a ton of money - You can watch movies on DVD as many times as you want once you buy them. If you want to watch movies in theaters, you have to keep paying money to buy viewing rights and gas to drive to the theater. Movies are available in theaters for a limited time. After that, you have to pay a huge amount of money to watch them again if you're even fortunate enough to have that chance. 

DVDs are portable - As long as you have a DVD player, you can watch movies anywhere. You can't with theater versions of movies. 

DVDs have better quality - Based on my research, you're not guaranteed high-quality movies at your local movie theaters. Movie theaters aren't doing much to ensure people watch movies of their best quality. Projector brightness and screen masking can ruin picture quality. You don't have those issues if you buy DVDs brand new.    


DVDs have exclusive content - Movies in theaters don't have extended editions, deleted scenes, uncensored editions, etc. like DVDs do. Theaters play movies in standard editions.  

DVDs are more customizable - You can add subtitles to DVDs, pause them, play them at different speeds, play them in different languages, etc. There's no customization when you watch movies in theaters.     

The last reason DVDs are superior to movie theaters, digital downloads, and streaming services is DVDs look great in your library. You can proudly display your favorite DVDs on your bookshelf or wherever. You can appreciate box artwork. You can't do the same with digital downloads and streams. In conclusion, you're getting better value with DVDs than other forms of digital cinema.  
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Image result for Jon Moxley vs Darby Allin Aew

I was asked to review the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, namely the match between Jon Moxley and Darby Allin. I watched almost the entire match myself. I wasn't entirely impressed. I mostly saw what i expected to see in a typical pro-wrestling match. The only things that stood out to me was when Allin bit his fingers. He also tried jamming them on the ring post before attempting to flip him over and possibly break his hand. It's not everyday i see pro-wrestlers work the fingers. I also loved how Moxley took his time in beating Darby. What i loved most about this match was Moxley's beautiful counter to Allin's coffin drop. Rather than roll out of the way or put his knees up, he puts him in a sleeper hold. Allin amazingly counters by flipping himself over and pins Moxley. It was savage how Moxley bites Allin's face and goes for the avalanche paradigm shift from the top post. The move looks very devastating. I loved how energetic Moxley was after the match as if he's ready for another one.
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Ever since i became a fan of pro-wrestling, i have always loved staredowns between two wrestlers. I think many fans don't realize just how special staredowns are. Why do i love staredowns? Because staredowns are what create emotions and make a storyline feud all the more intense. Want to know one of the things that makes a match memorable? Staredowns. It's not the moves or the athleticism. Why is that? When wrestlers do staredowns, it gives the fans time to soak in all the emotions and fierce rivalry or bitter hatred the two wrestlers share for each other. Staredowns make feuds all the more believable when you think about each wrestler's skill level and history with the each other, the pain they caused each other, the intimate moments they shared with each other in the ring, their characters, what they've done, who they are, their fearlessness and recklessness, list goes on. Staredowns show that neither wrestler is willing to back down from a fight. Staredowns show that two rivaling or feuding wrestlers want to beat each other and that's what makes matches memorable.

Staredowns are what makes me as a fan want to pay to see the show in person and watch how a storyline ends. 
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The Alpha Male Monty Brown made his debut on NWA TNA in 2002. He's been a die-hard passionate fan of pro-wrestling since a child and has undergone training in Football just to get into a pro-wrestling ring.

Monty Brown is what made TNA truly unique as a home grown talent. His dominant often aggressive character reflected utter chaos and the lawlessness found in what he called the Serengeti. As soon as Monty Brown made his entrance, he was a hungry predator on the hunt for prey. Monty Brown energy and fire didn't just dominate the ring, but also our televisions. He would obliterate anyone whether it was a wrestler, a fan, or the cameraman. From every pound of his chest to every devastating slam, Monty Brown challenged anyone regardless of who they were to wrestle against him and that is the epitome of dominance.

His most devastating move is "the Pounce" which was probably taken from his training in Football tackles. When he drives into his opponents, the brute force sends them flying across the ring and leaves them a broken mess. His character is true to his competitive nature to ruthlessly achieve his goals in real life. What makes Monty Brown stand out from powerhouses like "the Animal" Batista is the sheer animal energy he brings whenever the camera rolls. He trash talks into the camera, the fans, wrestlers, and so on.

Monty Brown's promos are full of aggression, raw energy, passion, but also humor. He's had some outstanding matches full of adrenaline rushes and anticipation.

Monty Brown truly established his dominance during his time at TNA and i would've hoped he didn't retire but left a long lasting impact in TNA history.
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The Barbed Wire Massacre match at TNA Turning Point 2005 was considered one of the most violent matches in TNA history between the hardcore legend Sabu and one of TNA's hardcore icons - the Monster, Abyss. I will never forget this brutal, bloody, and barbaric match for the following reasons:

* The brutality - This match is absolutely not for the feint of heart and automatically dispels all talk about pro-wrestling being "fake." I don't think anyone in his or her right mind would agree to participate in a match where the ring ropes are replaced with barbed wire and wrestle in that. Sabu and Abyss are the only ones crazy enough to do such a thing. It's not about championships. It's just about sheer bloodshed and who is the most hardcore of them all.

* It had a backstory - While many hardcore matches are thrown out there for the sake of blood and gore, this one had an actual story behind it. The feud began around TNA's Unbreakable where Sabu and Abyss began a series of matches in an attempt to outdo each other using various weapons including thumbtacks. Finally, Sabu found that despite how destructive Abyss was, he had a weakness - barbed wire. They engaged in brawls in the following tapings with Sabu interrupting his matches by wrapping barbed wire around his arm and a steel chair. When Abyss finally used a steel chair on Sabu during one taping, Abyss finally found the courage to overcome his fear.

* It used story-telling and ring psychology - This match dispels the myth that hardcore wrestling takes no skill. There is a build up to the final act and a progression. When you see both men battered and bloodied, you can't help but wonder "what's going through their minds? How far are they willing to go to win? How much pain can they tolerate? What will they gain after the match?" This is what creates drama and drama is what draws.

* It bridged a gap between old and new school hardcore wrestlers - Sabu will always be a hardcore legend for his contributions to hardcore wrestling so when they held this match, it gave Abyss the chance to make his name known among younger fans. Not to mention it was a blend between two highly athletic wrestlers of two different and compatible styles.

Words cannot describe how brutal this match was. This was TNA's first ever Barbed Wire match and what a way to begin!
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While pro-wrestling is scripted, you can still glean from it self defense tips unlike highly choreographed and exaggerated fight scenes that you see in many films or UFC fights. Bear in mind that it's the ideas pro-wrestling tries to convey that are useful in a real fight not the actual moves themselves. Of course performing a tombstone pile-driver won't ensure you win every fight so you should not attempt to use any wrestling moves in a fight. Assuming good ring psychology is in place, you can learn alot just by watching pro-wrestling.

* It's not always about size and strength - After watching many pro-wrestling matches with wrestlers of all shapes and sizes wrestle each other, i've noticed that they all managed to work well with each other despite their differences. There's even an instructional video on how small wrestlers can wrestle larger ones. Quickness and agility also serve as equalizers against a very large and powerful opponent.

* Capitalize on your opponents mistakes - When you or your opponent makes a mistake whether it's missing an attack or not committing to an attack, it can cost him or her. You can notice this in pro-wrestling when a wrestler moves out of the way after his or her opponent jumped off the top ropes or when they perform a counter-attack at a critical moment. Capitalizing on an opponent's mistakes can help you in winning a street fight.

* Learn from your surroundings - I've noticed especially from watching hardcore matches that pro-wrestlers are very aware of the environment around them and take advantage of it. They pull out all sorts of weapons and utilize them in devastating ways. By learning from your surroundings, you will be better equipped to survive in a situation requiring self defense.

* Learn to adapt - Pro-wrestlers especially in barbed wire matches or inferno matches adapt to the changing situations as the match progresses. Pro-wrestlers will often use their balance and speed to avoid getting thrown into a flaming table. The ability to adapt to each situation is an essential skill in self defense because if you can't, your opponent will have the upper hand.

* Immobilize your opponent - Sometimes you have to wear out an opponent's arm or leg if he or she is too powerful to defeat single-handily. A great example of this is seen in when Kurt Angle faced the Undertaker at No Way Out 2006. Kurt Angle realized that the Undertaker was superior in terms of striking and strength so he resorted to strategically wear out his legs to render his moves useless. This weakened the Undertaker significantly to where Kurt Angle could wrestle against him more easily.

* Psychology - There is also a psychological aspect in pro-wrestling that is often overlooked in self defense. Confidence, emotions, and perceptions all play an important role in whether you win or lose. This can be seen in staredowns or when a pro-wrestler cowers when he or she realizes his or her opponent is seemingly unstoppable.

In conclusion, the pro-wrestling business isn't just for pure entertainment. It can teach us many important skills that can be applied in daily life even in self defense.
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There's a confusion between pro-wrestling being a sport and sport's entertainment in this generation of fans that seems to changing the wrestling business at least in WWE for the worst. Learning the history of pro-wrestling and how it transitioned from a sport to sports entertainment will not only help fans understand where it came from but also potentially help companies understand how to succeed.

Pro-wrestling began in the post Civil War period in the late 1860's where wrestlers were trained in amateur wrestling to compete in carnivals. Gradually, pro-wrestling became entertainment orientated and drifted away from scientific based wrestling to keep the interest of fans. Because of the media's refusal to write on pro-wrestling's athleticism, three wrestlers - Ed Lewis, Billy Sandow, and Toots Mondt formed the Gold Dust Trio promotion to modify the product using flashy moves in an attempt along with tag team wrestling in an attempt to make pro-wrestling more interesting. They also introduced the concept of feuds and storylines by having pro-wrestlers in cards as opposed to having them travel around. 

After pro-wrestling became televised, Gorgeous George was the biggest star to use a charismatic and narcissistic character.
Since then, pro-wrestling has thrived on Kayfabe and entertainment. As a sport, it died off. 

What does this mean for pro-wrestling today? What does this teach us about pro-wrestling today? Everyone should know pro-wrestling is entertainment rather than a sport although there is athleticism involved. If pro-wrestling is to survive, it must adapt to each generation. It must continually reinvent itself and become far more entertaining than it was in earlier generations while refusing to abandon the foundations it was built on.
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As i watched Sabu wrestle, i noticed the striking similarities between him and his trainer - the Original Sheikh. The Original Sheikh is considered one of the pioneers of hardcore wrestling as he was famous for using pencils and fire in his matches. Similarly, Sabu is often known for his usage of a spike to stab his opponents in hardcore matches like his trainer did while reinventing hardcore wrestling with his own high flying moves.

It seems that modern fans and even pro-wrestlers are forgetting the traditions of the past. There is a lack of respect and admiration for the pro-wrestlers who helped set the foundation for pro-wrestling.

It is precisely for these reasons why i cannot respect some modern pro-wrestling promotions due to the lack of appreciation and knowledge that they have for their traditions. Modern pro-wrestling fans and pro-wrestlers have seem to forgotten ring psychology and what memorable matches look like. I noticed that the very best wrestling legends took inspiration from their trainers and incorporated it into their matches while bringing something freshly unique to the business. This is why i completely admire pro-wrestlers like Sabu because his approach is "how can i hardcore wrestle like my trainer and how can i do it better?"

My concluding advice is for pro-wrestling fans to research the old school legends of professional wrestling if not watch their matches. Respect those who paved the way for pro-wrestling to flourish and left their marks in history. If pro-wrestling is to evolve, we must learn from the veterans and from ourselves to create an outstanding product.

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After watching pro-wrestling for over so many years, i've come to realize that it has many similarities to organized religion. As a matter of fact, i've come to see pro-wrestling as another religion to me behind Christianity. I've come to note many similarities between the two down below.

Similarities:

Both have congregations - Church members put money in the offering and wrestling fans pay for events. There's fellowship with like-minded people of similar interests who unite to accomplish the same goals. Both wrestling fans and Church members put so much effort into making it to their destination.

Both play music - Both wrestling fans and Church members are accustomed to playing music as a devotion to whatever they hold dear.

Both have believers and non-believers - There are pro-wrestling fans who suspend disbelief and organized religious members who believe that their religion is the right one. The non-believers are the ones who refuse to acknowledge pro-wrestling as legit entertainment and organized religion as a guide to life.

Both give testimony worldwide - Pro-wrestling promotions and organized Churches go all around the world to spread their influences. Pro-wrestling's goal is to provide quality entertainment for people. Organized churches travel worldwide to preach the Gospel while installing their buildings in the area. Both wrestling fans and church members give a testimony of how their organizations impacted their lives.

Both donate to charity - pro-wrestling promotions like WWE and organized religious institutions have donated to charity with the money they earned.

Both have authorities and social hierarchies - Pro-wrestling companies like Churches have similar social orders. In pro-wrestling, there's a manager, executive producer, music crew, producers, ring crew, pro-wrestlers, investors, promoters, writers, clean up crew, and so forth. In churches, there's pastors and other spiritual leaders, a choir or worship group, sound guys, clean up crew, deacons, and so on.

Both preach on good and evil - In the Church, there is a celebration of all that is good in God and a hate of what is evil. In pro-wrestling, there are heroes and villains.

Both use catchphrases - Churches often uses catchphrases such as "God is good all the time" while pro-wrestling has some catchphrases of it's own given by pro-wrestlers.

Both perform "miracles" - The definitions of what is considered a miracle in pro-wrestling differs from that in the Church at times but it's almost the same concept.

Both take the time to make themselves presentable - Pro-wrestling employees take the time to make themselves look good for the crowd much like organized religious members for their congregations.

Both hype up the crowd - In pro-wrestling, pro-wrestlers get the crowd excited with their moves and such. In religion, pastors and other leaders use similar tactics to intensify the audience such as shouting.

So far, those are all the similarities i have noticed. Let me know what you have observed in the comments below.
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I have never been into purely athletic wrestlers because they are generic and out of place in an environment where it is about gimmicks. The pro-wrestling world surrounds entertainment not sport. While sports are certainly the means to gain entertainment, it's not legitimate. There's no appeal to pro-wrestlers who treat it as an athletic sport and dress like any other athlete. There are some exceptions like CM Punk but only because they have character which is what i look for. I love wrestling characters such as Stone Cold, the Rock, the Undertaker, Kane, Mick Foley, Raven, Sabu, Jeff Hardy, the list goes on. They have their own style of dress, mannerisms, beliefs, attitudes, goals, and personalities. They are more of entertainers who are very successful in comparison to those who are simply there for athleticism. Wrestling characters are memorable because they are known by fans for their entertainment value and style of wrestling. Athletes on the other hand would do well in the Olympics rather than a pro-wrestling ring.
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In the pro-wrestling world, faces and heels are the ideal part of a storyline feud. Faces and heels are what spark conflict between pro-wrestlers. You can have some of the best feuds involving faces and heels but sometimes they don't always work. Why not? Because believable characters are essential to every aspect of pro-wrestling storylines. I will explain what i mean in further detail. 

I think many fans can agree that pro-wrestlers such as Stone Cold, Jeff Hardy, Sting, and so forth didn't make it as heels. Why? Because they were pushed as faces to the point where they lost the impact to anger fans as heels. They had no motivation for turning heel. Why would Jeff Hardy work so hard for the fans only to turn on them? He had potential but it was very difficult to make the fans hate him because he had built such a solid loving relationship with them. 

It also makes no sense for a face to turn heel or vice versa if there is no motivation, tragedy, or any justification to do so. Believable characters are what matters most. Being consistent with a character's attitudes, beliefs, weaknesses, strengths, actions, words, and so forth is the key to making a successful heel or face turn. It's putting yourself in the position of the character and asking "what would said character do in this situation?" Eddie Guerrero and Mick Foley were some of the few pro-wrestlers who were able to make successful face or heel turns consistent with their characters. Randy Orton was arguably one of the best heels in the WWE because he was consistent with his character from the start. If a pro-wrestler cannot create a balance between good and evil enough to make a successful heel or face turn, he or she shouldn't risk it. 

Faces or heels - it makes no difference. What fans should be looking for is believable characters who are able to develop or suffer tragic falls.
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From the reports i've heard, big companies such as WWE and TNA are removing their copyrighted material from the Internet in attempts to prevent copyright infringement and piracy. If they could file at least one lawsuit, they'd win a court case and cash as a recompensation for it.

I think this hurts their businesses and could be using Youtube for more profitable means rather than restrict content to viewers. This is my argument for why piracy is beneficial to the pro-wrestling business. 

From experience, i became a TNA fan when i freely watched copyrighted material through YouTube and later a fan of many pro-wrestling promotions. This however did not mean that i was not willing to pay for any pro-wrestling products as i ended up buying merchandise as i got older. Had it not been for piracy, i would not have been exposed to big promotions like TNA. 

Financially speaking, how does piracy end up helping pro-wrestling? Here are some pros and cons: 

* It can get pro-wrestling more exposure - Websites allowing free access to pro-wrestling content are more likely to generate a vast audience than if they didn't do it at all. This is because users rely on file-sharing through social media and torrent sites. If people can get freely watch PPV's through the internet, what's the point in having them? This brings me to my next point. 

* Pro-wrestling strengthens consumer relationships - If people enjoy PPV's and other main events, they are more likely to attend house shows (non-televised events). The advantages of house shows is that they are not aired on T.V, they cannot be found online so easily. From personal experience, i have found that promotions put fancam matches in their DVD's which could boost sales for diehard fans making collections. Fans are more likely to buy Merch, DVD's, T-shirts, action figures, and so forth. This is how according to Vince Russo, TNA initially gained fame by doing house shows and selling their products at each one. To gain the people's favor, you must gain their trust.

According to a study done by the Swiss government (link posted below), it was found that the entertainment business overall wasn't losing money from pirating. Plus, people who illegally download products end up spending more money on them than those who legally purchased them. If only Vince McMahon would realize this, he could possibly allowing YouTube users upload WWE content on the condition that they'd advertise his products. Piracy would ultimately help his company flourish than diminish it.

http://disinfo.com/2011/12/swiss-government-study-online-piracy-benefits-artists/
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What makes a pro-wrestler a legend? Many fans use the term "legends" all too often to describe their favorite pro-wrestlers but there's not many who meet beyond the standards of a wrestling legend. Modern pro-wrestlers like Roman Reigns unfortunately don't equate to the legends of the past.

Pro-wrestling legends are unlike any another pro-wrestler in the known world of pro-wrestling. They are absolutely amazing. Pro-wrestling legends have these must-have traits:

* Passion and character - Pro-wrestling legends have unbelievable passion for the pro-wrestling business and it shows. They have highly built athletic bodies, wrestling styles, charisma, drive, the list goes on. Most of all, they have believable characters. Creating an unforgettable character begins by unleashing the deepest sides of yourself in the ring. Legends also make the promotion they work for their home. They give their best in everything that they do both in the ring and locker room.

* Solid promos - Outstanding promos consist of a beginning (a strong hook), a middle (build up to an event), and end (concluding remarks). Highly successful pro-wrestlers cut memorable promos. They don't just scream "i'm gonna win!" They all have their own emotional appeal, gimmicks, characters, catch phrases, and so forth. Take Raven for example, he almost always shares a deep philosophical insight on life during his promos. He starts by stating an interesting thought then sometimes goes into comparing his opponent to himself before listing the qualities that make him superior. Promos are delivered effectively with intensity and assertiveness. They're never rushed, but perfectly put together.

* Creative in-ring performance - Just because pro-wrestling is scripted, doesn't mean there's no creativity or athleticism involved. Pro-wrestling legends blend the two together, creating unforgettable matches. Kurt Angle is very athletic in the ring executing intense signature amateur wrestling moves at a fast pace. Why do you think pro-wrestlers like Sting and the Undertaker are entertaining? Because they have various types of moves: Power moves, high flying moves, submission holds, etc. However they don't just wrestle, but entertain the audience by doing something unique to their character and building anticipation in the crowd. For instance, John Cena likes to do his "you can't see me!" hand gesture before executing a finisher. Most of all, pro-wrestling legends sell (make pro-wrestling look realistic) like no tomorrow. One example is when the Undertaker limped on one leg after Kurt Angle put it in an ankle lock.

* Storytelling - You can have outstanding signature moves, but you will bore people if you do not tell stories. Storytelling is when a pro-wrestler builds drama during a match. How do you tell a story? Using your body. The Undertaker, arguably one of the greatest storytellers in pro-wrestling, is the finest example of how story-telling is done. He sometimes begins by having a staredown with someone he's been feuding with like his brother Kane. He then begins by fiercely attacking a pro-wrestler he's been feuding with more than the average opponent. When he gets locked into a chokehold, he sells and leaves you asking "how is he going to get out of that hold?" He also builds anticipation and plot twists by sitting up after a devastating finisher. Great stories happen when there is something at stake such as the Undertaker's streak at Wrestlemania. Just watch the Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 25. What made the match so great? Storytelling. It was the way Shawn Michaels put everything in his being to defeat the Undertaker and how the Undertaker gave everything to defend his streak.

* Strong fanbases - Stone Cold, Jeff Hardy, Hulk Hogan, and Sting are all examples of pro-wrestlers who built a strong interaction with their fans. Building a strong relationship with fans starts by creating slogans, hand gestures, catch phrases, or naming fans. For example, Jeff Hardy often refers to his fans as "creatures" and vouches for them in the face of adversity. Gimmicks can also inspire people to dress up as their favorite pro-wrestler, giving him or her further exposure. Legends (heel or face) almost always make their fans apart of the action.

* Revolutionary accomplishments - Every pro-wrestler has contributed in some way or form to the success of a particular set of moves or company. Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, the Undertaker, and others have popularized the WWF/WWE with their entertainment reaching beyond the ring. They've dominated the entire promotion and that's what led them to revolutionize pro-wrestling. Only legends can leave long lasting impact on the pro-wrestling business.

If pro-wrestlers today would be inspired by all-time wrestling legends and learn what made them so successful, pro-wrestling talents would be more than athletes. Pro-wrestling legends go far beyond the norm and that's why they'll forever be engraved in the hall of fame.
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Championship titles are apart of almost every athletic sport. Championships in non-scripted competitions are typically won through skill. In Pro-wrestling, championships work in a slight different fashion and there are a few misconceptions of it.

People commonly make the mistake of calling championship titles "belts." The proper term is simply a title because it signifies that the pro-wrestler is a champion.



Championships are designated by several factors such as weight, height, gender, wrestling style, and other qualifications such as the audiences view on the title's value.

Bookers decide which pro-wrestlers deserve championship titles in accordance with what is most profitable for the company and high interest with fans. Pro-wrestlers as a result from being champions become famous, gain a higher pay raise, sell merch., have a higher chance of being used in a storyline, and noticed by other promotions.

Now one would ask "If Pro-wrestling is scripted then what then is the point of being champion?" which is a great question. The purpose behind giving pro-wrestlers championships is a sign that the company and fans favor him or her. A pro-wrestler becomes champion when he or she demonstrates outstanding qualities in terms of work ethic, in-ring performance, ring psychology, and so on.

In summary, championship titles aren't just shiny belts that pro-wrestlers wear around their waists. They are the mark of a pro-wrestler who won the audience's favor through his or her skills to entertain and other factors.
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The match between the Undertaker and Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania was the most shocking match in the WWE universe. When Brock Lesnar broke the Undertaker's undefeated streak, it was perhaps the biggest upset among WWE fans. The crowd was left speechless and disbelief. It has been lingering in some of the fans minds including my own: "Was this pre-determined or was this an accident?"

Vince McMahon stated that it was his decision to book the Undertaker to lose against Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania. This was due to a lack of potential candidates available for a main event. It's rumored that the Undertaker himself agreed for Brock Lesnar to end his undefeated streak. Others say that it was Brock Lesnar himself who changed the script. What is the verdict? Who should've been the one to defeat the Undertaker at Wrestlemania? Was Brock Lesnar the right choice for the Undertaker? Why or why not?


I used to believe that Brock Lesnar was a terrible candidate for the job as he seemed no where near the Phenom's level. The Undertaker deserved to face someone who was at the top of a major wrestling promotion. Nevertheless, i have come to realize that Brock Lesnar was the ideal wrestler to break the Undertaker's undefeated streak. In recent matches, i've watched the Undertaker grow old and sluggish. He began making more mistakes and became easily exhausted. During his match with Triple H at Wrestlemania, he suffered a concussion and injuries to his lower back. According to the storyline, he suffered humiliation despite gaining a victory. I would imagine that the Undertaker reflected on his age and retiring long before Brock Lesnar. If he made a huge mistake losing against a superstar that most fans despise at Wrestlemania, there would be a huge uproar. His entire career would end in disaster and his streak being broken by the most unfavorable superstar would cause such a great disappointment. The Undertaker could not let all of his fans down which is why he chose to take action. What set Brock Lesnar apart from the other superstars? He wasn't boastful. He was humble and didn't act as if he was better than the Undertaker like others. He didn't do any promos emphasizing the ending of the Undertaker's streak. Brock Lesnar faced the Undertaker as any other competitor.


Both the Undertaker and Brock Lesnar are MMA fighters. Both are aggressive, ruthless, and dominant in the ring. Brock Lesnar has defeated the Undertaker before under his American Big Evil gimmick and badly. Brock Lesnar is the beast incarnate and for good reasons. Both had an epic clash at Wrestlemania and when the Undertaker performed Hell's Gate on Brock Lesnar - He performed one of the most amazing counters. Brock Lesnar rather than tap out, picked up the Undertaker and slammed him against the canvas. Hell's Gate became the Undertaker's destructive finisher next to tombstone piledriver and favored in later years. Most wrestlers who faced the Undertaker would pass out, tap out, or go for the ropes. Brock Lesnar was demolishing the Undertaker already delivering three F-5's in a row.

By the time Brock Lesnar finally pinned the Undertaker, the referee counted "1! 2! 3!" and it was over. Paul Heyman was so shocked along with everyone in the room. Brock Lesnar had beaten the Undertaker and barely broke a sweat in doing so. Some booed the Undertaker but most fans nevertheless cheered him on as he exited the ring.

Brock Lesnar has caused many injuries in MMA and pro-wrestling alike. He has shown to be a ferocious opponent time and time again. Brock Lesnar is a 5-time world champion and one of the best paid athletes in history. It's finally time for the Undertaker to push a new pro-wrestler unlike pro-wrestlers such as CM Punk and John Cena. Brock Lesnar was the best candidate for the job being a pro-wrestler who reflects the new face of a revolutionary era in WWE and UFC entertainment.
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I grew up with a difficult childhood. I suffered at the hands of my abusive father until my parents divorced. I curiously watched TNA Impact and stumbled across Raven who became one of my favorite wrestlers. I admired his style of fashion, his poetic promos, his ambition, and his ruthlessness. I could relate to his dark character expressed through his bizarre and gloomy make-up. I was shocked by the brutality of his matches as he wrestled with many weapons such as chairs, trash cans, shopping carts, and barbed wire. Even more surprising was when he sacrificed his own body if it meant inflicting pain on his opponents. He viciously wounded them, often causing serious injuries. From the time i watched Raven walk to the ring to the time he won a match, i looked up to him. According to his heel character, he also suffered from an abusive father. Since my father failed me as a parent, Raven became my role model. I wanted to be as fearless, as powerful, and as reckless as Raven was.

After school, i rushed to watch pro-wrestling rather than deal with the stress of academics. Pro-wrestling was my way of rebelling against society and all of the expectations people put on me. When i saw all of the pro-wrestlers, the chaotic violence, and hear the crowd roar – i knew what true freedom was. Freedom from reality and morals. When i was bullied, i was hurt and afraid but when i watched Raven wrestle, i learned how to fight. When i saw him feud with other wrestlers, i learned that only you can stand up for yourself. When i watched him endure agonizing pain, i learned that suffering was inevitable but what mattered most was the will to fight and vanquish your obstacles. In the face of adversity, i learned the importance in claiming what is yours in spite of suffering. Once i did that, the insults and the fear of pain disappeared. I stopped seeing myself as a victim of abuse and more as a fighter. When i saw him finally fulfill his destiny to become NWA World Heavyweight champion, i was inspired to fulfill my own destiny.

Since then, pro-wrestling has become my passion. I appreciated the art more than ever before. Pro-wrestling goes beyond the ring and gives wisdom that fans can apply to their lives. I still carry the lessons i've learned from watching my favorite wrestlers. Pro-wrestling will never die and as a loyal fan, i will continue to support and share my passion for this phenomenal sport.
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While the winner is determined in pro-wrestling and the matches are scripted, this does not mean that there is no legitimate fighting involved. Some pro-wrestlers such as Brock Lesnar apply real mixed martial art techniques to their pro-wrestling maneuvers. Many people including wrestling fans sometimes fail to understand how pro-wrestling matches go about. Pro-wrestling still goes by a logical approach in order to be entertaining and realistic. To start, a wrestler's skill is determined by his or her skill to make moves look realistic and painful without actually hurting an opponent. 

The rules to a pro-wrestling match are usually simple. Pro-wrestlers can win either by pinning an opponent or make him or her tap out through a submission hold based on a referee's decision. If a referee gets to a three count when an opponent is pinned, the match is over and the opponent pinned loses. If a pro-wrestler is in a submission hold, the referee will raise his or her arm and drop it until the count of 10. If he or she does not keep the arm in the air by ten counts, the referee will assume he or she is unconscious and therefore the loser. A pinfall or submission cannot be done under the ropes or if an opponent is touching them. Neither pro-wrestler can stay out of the ring too long. The referee will count to ten until one or both pro-wrestlers loses due to forfeiting the match. Illegal moves such as biting or low blows will result in a disqualification on behalf of the pro-wrestler.  

When pro-wrestlers enter the ring, they are presumably pumped up and ready to wrestle. They must be in a certain position as soon as the bell rings. If either one fails to react to attacks, this gives an opponent the upper hand to strike. The pace of the match is usually quick at first but slows down. Each pro-wrestler will continue to deliver blows, signature moves, submissions, etc. to wear down opponents and causing strain or injury to certain body parts. Ultimately, one pro-wrestler will execute a finishing move which will incapacitate his or her opponent thus allowing for the opportunity to win by pinfall or even KO.

What makes pro-wrestling matches exciting? There are many factors involved such as the size, power, strength, agility, experience, stamina, cleverness, unpredictability, and abilities of each pro-wrestler. Each of them can use almost anything as a weapon even gravity and momentum. There is no telling if a pro-wrestler will cheat to win or if outside interference will cost one the match. There's no telling if a pro-wrestler will flee from the match or continue fighting. The questions "How will my favorite pro-wrestler handle such a situation? How will he or she survive this?" lingers in the minds of the viewers. One weakly delivered finisher can cost a pro-wrestler the match. One slight miscalculation can lead to loss or worse, serious injury or death. Ultimately, there's no way to know how far each competitor will go to win. 

I've seen many pro-wrestlers perform the most outrageous and extreme moves just to win a match or a title. It's led me to the edge of my seat. It is for these reasons and more that makes pro-wrestling entertaining and intense for me. Most of all, what draws me is the passion and the will-power to thrive in the ring. 
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I suffered through many violent episodes in the past from suicide to angry fantasies. I was involved in politics, war, and many other societal problems. The evil in the world was overwhelming me and the pressure was too much to take. I've personally grown from being an individual plagued by violence and rage to one who is calm. I no longer the need to act out in vengeance be it through war or self defense. I have become more peaceful and artistic through pro-wrestling. Violence shouldn't exist in real life, only in art. Precisely why i chose to be ignorant to many national call to arms. Sometimes the real heroes are the ones who entertain others alongside those who fight to defend us.

Pro-wrestling has become an outlet for negativity. It's become a way to reconcile with the past. Pro-wrestling has become an escape from reality and the art that transforms violence into a creative form of expressing human nature.
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While Pro-wrestling is mostly choreographed and pre-determined, the fighting aspects of it are real. Critics will say "oh it's fake! It's not based on any real fighting! It's too violent!" Tell that to the Undertaker and Brock Lesnar who are legitimate MMA fighters. In any case, i'm not here to write about whether or not wrestling is a realistic technical system of fighting. People argue that violent media may set a bad example for kids to follow but not for me. What truly inspired me as a kid was the message pro-wrestling sent. Before martial arts, pro-wrestling was the first to teach me how to defend myself. When i looked deeply into the art form, i realized how realistic it was from an abstract point of view. To the outsider, two pro-wrestlers feuding is full of meaningless jibber-jabber and drama. That's because they don't understand what exactly going on. In order to comprehend Pro-wrestling, you must look at it from an artist's perspective.

When two opponents stand face-to-face, this is where the real battle begins. It is not as many believe just for show. This is a test to see how brutal each wrestler is physically, mentally, and emotionally. They want to see how psychologically strong both of them are. They want to see if just one person will crack under pressure or show any sign of weakness or fear. They want to see just how far each of them are willing to dominate one another. A skilled fighter knows just how important psychological warfare is. Everyone has pride regardless of whether or not they believe in violence. Everyone has something to protect be it life, friends, family, a reputation, and so on. Everyone has enemies whether it's the Devil, the self, and so on. Pro-wrestling inspired me to stand up for myself and value what truly matters.

That being said, there will be pain and agony. There will be people who will try to steal what is rightfully yours. It is one of life's greatest tragedies. When i saw multiple opponents ganging up on one wrestler, one tag team partner betray his own for a title, cheating during matches, i realized how realistic it was. I realized that's how vulnerable we are to the circumstances in life. Ultimately, it is you who must fend for yourself because no one will always defend you. Do you realistically believe that security is going to step in between two wrestlers who weigh more than 300 pounds? How would you fight against multiple attackers in prison? How would you handle someone who bypasses the law and robs you? Pro-wrestling creatively depicts these situations because that's how life is.

People protest "I don't want to watch two men get it on in the ring! It's disgusting the way they feel each other's blood and sweat!" It should disgust you. Violence is brutal, bloody, cruel, painful, and depressing. Your are going to be hurt and you are going to be hurt bad! In any fighting competition, you are going to be badly injured and suffer the most tormenting agony. That is the reality of violence. No one wants to suffer. It's inevitable but that's not the point. The purpose of suffering is the choices we make in spite of it. Are we going to allow ourselves to be downcast, beaten, tortured, humiliated, and defeated? Or are we going to defy our own fate and embrace our destiny? This is what ought to inspire people to lift more weights than they did their last work out session and push themselves to their limits. This is one of the reasons i watch wrestling - to see how each competitor overcomes each obstacle in the face of excruciating pain and dismay. The real questions we ought to be asking is how far will each one of us go to succeed in life? How much will we sacrifice to grow and become what we are destined to be? Do we have what it takes to do more than just survive, but thrive as individuals?

And after we put our best in everything that we did, we win and reach our end goal. We reap the rewards in spite of what we've endured. We finally reach our utmost potential and continue to reach it because there is no limit as to what we can do. This is what is symbolized to world titles and battle scars. This is what inspired me to love pro-wrestling and carry these lessons with me to my adulthood.

Pro-wrestling is a vicious, violent, brutal, bloody, and dangerous sport but it is very rewarding. It is what entertains us but also what motivates us to accomplish what everyone said we couldn't. This is how pro-wrestling has taught me how to fight in all aspects of my being with passion, purpose, and power.
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If you are interested in getting into pro-wrestling but have no idea how to start, this guide should help. It might surprise you to know that when i was younger i used to have a love/hate relationship with pro-wrestling. I thought it was nothing more than senseless violence. I thought "what's the point in watching this?" until i learned more about it and ended up loving it.

What are some things that make wrestling unique?

* Theatrical performance - Unlike a movie or a show, it's not scripted. Sure the promos and backstage segments are, but not the action. No stuntmen, dialogue, etc. are given in the ring. It's all done by improvisation. Pro-wrestlers must rely on their creativity to entertain the crowd. Unlike other sports, pro-wrestling on gimmicks, dialogue, and other entertaining features.

* Fan/wrestler interactions - The downside to many t.v programs, games, and movies is that you have no control over what goes on. If you dislike an ending, you must deal with it. In Pro-Wrestling, you have a say on what goes on. You vote for who you want to be the next champ to hold a title and the wrestlers entertain you. In a live wrestling event, you can get close enough to touch your favorite pro-wrestlers. You interact with them. This doesn't happen as your seated in a cinema.  

* Never ending storylines - Movies and shows eventually come to a close. Pro-wrestling is forever. For as long as a wrestler lives, the storyline will continue until he or she dies. After that, a new generation of pro-wrestlers will appear on the screen. The cycle continues and that's what makes it so great.

* Real violence - While most actors practice safety first, wrestlers don't. Sure, much of what you see in wrestling is exaggerated but injuries still occur. There's also a diversity of match types and entertaining situations (ex. tag team matches, hell in a cell, last man standing, etc.). There is also much at stake such as careers, championship titles, streaks, etc.

Unlike most programs in which you must watch season after season to catch up with the story, you don't have to watch pro-wrestling every week to be devoted to it. You can choose to watch as little or as much as you want - period. Here's three easy steps to get into pro-wrestling.

1. Find a spark of interest - Research something that might interest you. Perhaps it's a favorite band, a wrestler, blood, politics, women, etc. Find a pro-wrestler that appeals to your tastes via fashion, personality, entertainment, etc. Pro-wrestling has a diversity of cultures, modes of fighting, and races so take your time exploring.

2. Distinguish fact from fantasy - It's easy to heed myths on pro-wrestling and get discouraged from watching it so it's important to discover the Truth for yourself. Do your research on whether pro-wrestling is real or not, the mechanics of a match, the ring, and so forth.

3. Build a suitable environment - You can choose to watch pro-wrestling on sites like YouTube or subscribe to WWE Network. Be sure to also connect with other pro-wrestling fans by socializing. Over time, you will want to keep up with wrestling events. No matter who you are, there's always a place for you when it comes to pro-wrestling.
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