You Had to Be There…

I recently was in a small town on the night of a pro wrestling event, so I bought the $10 ticket and checked out the show.  I haven’t gone to a live wrestling event in years.

I must say, it was an entertaining, enoyable event!  The wrestlers did a great job convincing us to suspend our disbelief and join in the fun. I loved it.  I paid far more to see an NFL game recently, but had a more enjoyable time at the rasslin’ show.

By the way, none of the photos in this article were taken at the event I attended.  I don’t have a nice camera and am too shy to go around snapping photos of the wrestlers.  But these images remind me of sights and scenes I witnessed that night, so I included them to help tell the story.

I arrived about 10 minutes late and the moment I entered, a wrestler walked past me wearing just a t-shirt and blue spandex trunks.  Damn, I knew right away I was in the right place.   I like how the wrestlers just walk around the venue dressed in their gear, showing off their spandex before they get in the ring.  It prevents people from leaving early I suppose, to give them a sneak peek.

One reason the live wrestling show is more exciting than televised wrestling is the shock of blatant, exposed nudity of the athletes.  On tv, the camera focuses on the ring where all the wrestlers are equally undressed, so their near nudity seems to be simple happenstance, nothing out of the ordinary.

But at the live show, everyone in the room is fully clothed except the wrestler, so he seems so amazingly naked and exposed.  You can’t help but stare.

And many Indy shows are in small venues where the wrestlers have to practically give you a lap dance to get in the ring.

A bare chested wrestler will walk right up to you, sometimes offering you a High Five or calling you out, making eye contact with you, giving you a good look at his body.  They are so matter-of-fact about it, like: “Hey, here I am, nearly naked in just trunks…”

Now let me be honest: their timing wasn’t as crisp and perfect as the big stars on television.  Their moves weren’t as death-defying (I did see a few wild acrobatic dives.)   But these guys had a ton of heart.  They sincerely wanted to entertain us, and for that sincerity, we loved them and played along.  We didn’t point out if a punch was pulled or a move was mis-timed.

And not every wrestler on the Indy scene is buff and muscular.  There is more variety in their sizes, shapes, and ages compared to the big federations.  But all of them sincerely want you to have a fun night and get your money’s worth.

And at every Indy wrestling show I’ve ever attended (including this recent event), there are always a few wrestlers who burst through the curtain and your heart skips a beat.  Whether he is the Heel or the Jobber, you think to yourself: “Damn, is he really going to wrestle in those little trunks?!  Check out those biceps!  I’m gonna sure enjoy watching this match whether he wins or loses!”

I think the Indy federations are wise enough to know that a percentage of the crowd are there for the sex appeal.   So they set up the cards, I believe, to feed us a little eye-candy to enjoy during each match.

And yes, some of their acting was not great, and their story-lines were far-fetched.  All the villains were hateful and insulting for no apparent reason, mocking the small town and local populace without provocation, starting name-calling arguments with children.  But in most cases, we knew the local hero would defend our honor and enact revenge on our behalf, teaching the asshole some respect.

Like Joe, who writes the Ringside at Skull Island blog, I need to make a resolution to go see as much Indy pro wrestling as I can!  In person, the action does seem fake and heavy-handed, but also somehow more dangerous, more passionate, more captivating.

One aspect of live wrestling that I had forgotten was the loudness of their slams.  When their bodies strike the mat, the effect is explosive.  You actually flinch when someone crashes down as if a bomb went off.

The loud thuds, perhaps amplified by microphones under the ring, add to the drama, the impression that these poor men are hurting one another.

And one of the best things about live wrestling is you can stare at whatever or whoever you wish. You don’t need to wait for the camera to focus on your favorite — you can just gawk at him the entire time.  Go ahead, that’s what he wants you to do!   And if you want the seat right behind the Tag Team partner waiting outside the ropes, better get there early to claim it.

So support your local Indy wrestling promotion.  If you’ve never gone to a live event, go check it out soon.  It’s cheap and, to me, highly entertaining.  The performers I’ve seen will almost kill themselves to please you and entertain you.

Just go with an open mind.  Be prepared to enjoy yourself and to see something different from what you see on tv.