My article “Not Alone” posted on March 12th stirred up some “me too” responses from readers who felt the same way — intrigued and turned on by pro wrestling from a young age and convinced that nobody else in the world felt the same.
So to reassure other wrestling lovers out there that you are truly not alone, I want to post some of the feedback I’ve received. See if any of these memories sound familiar to your own life. The remarkable thing is how amazingly similar our early life stories all sound…
“Truer words not spoken… When I was a kid back in the 60′s, running up to “My” room, door closed behind me ( and locked ) volume so low on the T.V. so “parents” couldn’t hear. NEVER understanding ( or wanting to ) my so called Odd interest. Watching matches on T.V. and buying magazines, my LifeLine to MY world of Loving wrestling.”
“Trying to “talk” pro wrestling with my buddies ( football & basketball jocks ) who laughed like hell and teased as best they could. ALONE ?? You bet your butts I felt alone. Then enter the age of Technology….I can stand proud as can the millions so much so, like myself…. WRESTLING FAN’s and Not ashamed to say it !!”
Received by e-mail:
“Your ‘Not Alone’ post describe my pre-teen, teen and young adult life. Nobody I knew was into Pro Wrestling like I was and I knew to hide the fact that it was a turn-on for me. I was glued to the TV for Saturday afternoon ‘Studio Wrestling’ in Pittsburgh.”
“I would sneak peaks at the wresting magazines in the drug store but could never, ever buy one. I scheduled my Saturdays around when wrestling was on. I would scour the TV guide to see when it was on late night and then get up and watch it (with the sound very low) in the middle of the night.”
“When VCR’s finally became affordable I bought one and I would set it to record and could finally go out on a Saturday night. Then I discovered people selling compilation VHS tapes on ebay and it opened my world to wrestling from all over the country and the world.”
“And it let me know that I was not alone in my fetish!”
“Everything you said, Wrestling Arsenal! Just, wow. Yes.”
— From the Inner Jobber blogger
“I just wanted to say that Never Alone was probably the most beautiful (and accurate) reflection of what it feels like to have decidedly unconventional taste in a world that mercilessly jams boobs, cars, beers, and football down men’s throats from birth. Bravo!”