A theme often portrayed by pro wrestlers is the contrast between a wrestler being covered and exposed. A wrestler may temporarily wear a ring jacket or mask or street clothes, for example, to cover himself, thus frustrating the viewer by preventing an open view of his flesh or face.
Often the wrestler will then be stripped, forcibly unmasked, or will willingly remove his garments to expose his vulnerability and humanity and allow the viewer’s ever-hungry gaze. As discussed in an earlier article, Cody Rhodes’ gimmick in recent months has been to wear a plastic mask to protect and conceal (somewhat) his dashing features.
This recent match from WWE Superstars between former friends Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase plays on the themes of exposure vs. protection in several ways. Cody, for example, wears a black leather vest and a stoic expression to the ring, thus concealing himself (hiding his humanity and emotion).
Ted DiBiase, on the other hand, bursts into the arena bare chested (accessible to our gaze). He smiles, flexes, and flirts, his love for life on display. Concealment and exposure are used to establish hero and villain (and to tease and titillate the fans).
Cody’s face mask is an ingenious and ironic example of exposure vs. concealment. This mask is a security blanket for Cody, who believes he has been disfigured (even though he’s arguably one of the most handsome men in wrestling). He is so deranged, he apparently doesn’t realize the clear mask does not hide his face from our view at all, but perhaps draws our attention even more to his supposedly disfigured face. Does his mask protect or expose him?
Wrestling trunks both cover and expose the wrestler. As the only lick of clothing he wears (unless you count boots and socks as clothing), the trunks conceal the wrestler’s privates. But most wrestling trunks are inadequate — tight and small, actually exposing the man’s body parts as he twists and sprawls and rolls around the ring.
Cody wears black trunks, which are more concealing than many other colors, but they are, at the same time, remarkably tight and skimpy.
Ted DiBiase understands better than most wrestlers how the act of self-exposure — putting his trunks on display — will attract the attention of the viewers and inspire their compassion and support. Seeing a man bent over or with his legs split open strikes a chord in the viewer — a man is not supposed to be put in such humiliating, submissive positions! It’s just wrong!
Wrestlers also cover, and then expose, their bodies to each other. At the beginning of the match, they protect themselves, but their resistance wears down and soon their body is left wide open to the gropes, grips, and caresses of the other man. The gradual exposure of the body to the other man’s touch is symbolic of a seduction.
