Looking through the keyhole of sport behind closed doors

As professional sport begins to take its first steps towards a return to action in a post-corona world, it’s a fascinating time- not only for fans of sport as their blue-balled appetite for some live action will be satiated, but also to see how the various sports fare when playing behind closed doors. On top of the logistical and testing considerations necessary for the actual participants to return safely and morally, the most startling difference will be the lack of fans in attendance.

Up until now, our only experience of live sporting entertainment in an empty arena has been The Rock vs Mankind on Halftime Heat, football matches played due to punishment against racist transgressions from supporters, or Manchester City trying to fill the Etihad for a Champions League group game. But this will become the new norm, at least for now, and on top of the gargantuan financial implications of lost revenue, sports collective challenge will be to adapt and overcome the loss of that intangible x-factor that a live crowd delivers, so as not to provide a sanitised, wash your hands and sing happy birthday twice version of the sport that even the most ardent fans eventually can’t endure.

This challenge will be met and adapted to with varying degrees of success, and much will depend on the role that fans have previously played, both in presentation of the product delivered, and their effect on participants. Let’s begin our run-through.

Football

As the leading sport (particularly in England), Football is exported around the world for enormous fees due to the passion of its supporters. The live crowd is essential for the theatre of it all, creating at times a spine-tingling, hair-raising, almost tribal atmosphere that no other sport can compete with. The Bundesliga has already returned with fans, doing about as good a job as possible with social distancing employed on benches, and more reserved celebrations. To the players’ credit, the standard and intensity of the games played have been exemplary, but at times it can still be a difficult watch. Because of my relative ignorance of the German top flight, I would rely on a symbiosis of sorts between myself and the atmosphere on TV, allowing me to become invested in the game because of the clear passion that it inspires in its watchers. Without that element, it’s been hard to get too excited and no amount of cardboard-cut-out fans in the stands or sex dolls (Korea, you kinky bastards) can fill the void.

The Premier league, at least for me, may be an easier transition because I have an in-built knowledge of and relationship to the tapestry of the teams, leagues, players, and stakes. Minus the raucous crowd, it may even be interesting hearing every single shout and instruction from teammates and coaches, and the expletive, laden nature of what’s actually said on the pitch being audible will have some humorous novelty once laid bare. What’s starting to become apparent based on the first few rounds of fixtures from Germany is the effect this new reality will have on the competitive edge of the sport. Home advantage quite understandably seems to have eroded, and those clubs that rejected the Premier Leagues’ proposals of neutral ground venues may be starting to regret their bluster. What advantage does a Watford or Crystal Palace nowhave playing in a tight, compact stadium with their home fixtures no longer buttressed by a partisan, intense crowd that gets on top of their opponents? So, too is the question raised about the different styles of teams that may be able to excel more comfortably in this new environment than others. Will a team like Liverpool, who benefit from the roar of an Anfield crowd spurring their high intensity, pressing game to an even higher–level fare worse than a more technically based team like Manchester City? With the title all but confirmed this year, these questions will have less of an impact on how the honours are settled for this season, but could play a much bigger part should large portions of next season be played under the same restrictions. One thing it will put a plaster on (but in no way solve) is the reemergent trend of racism amongst the terraces. Players will also be spared their weekly subjections to vitriolic and vituperative abuse from the stands, and whilst some may welcome the respite, others who use it as fuel and motivation may also miss it. The referee will no longer be a ‘wanker’ (at least audibly), and little old ladies won’t give the finger to serial cheaters.

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Verdict

Football at the highest level, is absolutely the one sport that must return amid this pandemic to avoid its financial implosion and the collapse of the football pyramid that gives the game its integrity. The rabid tribalism that permeates the live experience, whilst on occasion problematic, is the very fabric and procession of what makes the game what it is and will be sorely missed. Some football is better than no football, and we will watch but it will be nothing more than an appetiser for the eventual return of football with fans.

Combat sports

The return of the UFC has created a successful blueprint for boxing to follow suit. For some reason this is a sport that really works behind closed doors and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Ferguson vs Gaethje on PPV, although I still wish it had taken place on Fight Island. Fans are missed to a degree; the sense of occasion and pandemonium in the air when particularly good entrance is made, along with the reactions to what is going on in the octagon. It does somehow feel less significant and grandiose, as there isn’t that pomp and circumstance that adds to the presentation of live combat. But conversely, there are elements that have been added to the viewing experience. Fighting is a sport best viewed on TV anyway, with a multitude of camera angles and the benefit of expert analysis, plus now we can hear every single corner instruction and, every unforgiving smack of a punch or kick to the flesh. It also opens some interesting and possibly positive effects on performance and outcome. Whilst fighters won’t be able to be stirred by a partisan crowd, they’ll also now no longer be booed by an ignorant blood-thirsty crowd who frustratingly view long periods of technical ground work as periods of inactivity. There has also been a tendency in combat sports for judges to clearly be swayed by acrowd’s reactions, perhaps subconsciously awarding erroneous points for flurries of inaccurate activity that engender a crowd response rather than more precise striking.

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Verdict

The UFC has done an excellent job in producing events behind closed doors so far. Fighting is one of the best- placed sports for these restrictions as it’s a more visceral, intense and personal form of entertainment than  many others. With creative lighting, darkening the empty seats and the added effect of hearing every corner instruction and talk between fighter and trainer in between rounds, the sport has somehow become more compelling than ever, and it could be argued that it has become a truer representation of what the sport is truly about: two fighters getting in a cage to prove who is the best martial artist. I’ve no doubt boxing will follow the template and Eddie Hearns’ plan to stage fights quite literally in his back garden, is one of the most hilarious yet fantastic things to come out of this whole pandemics effect on sport.

Golf

Golf is one of the sports that does have a real opportunity to grow in popularity in this new climate. Constantly fighting a battle to attract new fans, keep ratings up and attract new youthful sponsors (thanks, Happy Gilmore) one of its key advantages is that social distancing is really not an issue. There is no close quarter combat or jostling for position in penalty boxes. It’s an incredibly individual pursuit, where often you are not playing your opponent, you’re simply playing yourself and waging an internal battle. In the few incarnations we’ve already seen played out, featuring the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory Mcllroy, Payton Manning and Tom Brady, we’ve seen some excellent TV innovations implemented that have really added to the viewing experience. Players have been mic’d up and connected to the commentary feed, so we’ve been able to hear the constant chatter and banter among the pro’s that we’d normally think just takes place on recreational courses. There has also been a novelty in seeing players have the humility to carry their own bags and be on flag duty sans the help of their usual caddies. Live spot betting on individual hole and shot outcomes was introduced, also helping to increase (if not slightly unscrupulously) the live actions appeal. The overarching point is that the sports intricacies can function perfectly in a post- corona world, and the innovations put forth to the TV viewer could actually broaden the appeal of a sport that is often compared to watching paint dry by its most ignorant detractors. As ever there is definitely something lost with the absence of a crowd, the gallery erupting at a put sinking, the spectacle of a player pairing attracting a large following and dividing allegiances, the sight of Tiger Woods being followed en masse on the 18^th. However, it will be nice to not have some twat yelling ‘get in the hole!’ after every half-decent drive on a par 3.

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Verdict

Golf does face challenges playing behind closed doors but also has an opportunity to get more eyes on it than ever. Again, it will be interesting to see if some players fare better in the new environment, with those more prone to the pressuring enormity of a packed gallery and following crowd being able to relax. Conversely, will crowd favourites who clearly draw on the partisanship they inspire suffer? Its real challenge will be leveraging the TV innovations and creating a raw and authentic product that will compel viewers. So far, many of these innovations have worked due to the more casual, celebrity/charity mix of participants with far less at stake than professional tournaments. If players can avoid becoming self-aware that their every word is being broadcasted, and television coverage can get out of its own way and allow more risqué language to become the norm in the name of competitive spirit, golf could well enter a completely new era, freeing itself of its previously fuddy-duddy shackles.

Across the spectrum there are sports whose inherent practicalities will allow for safer resumption. Similar to golf, tennis relies on as much silence as possible from its viewing crowd as players are taking shots and will at least be rid of idiots who still shout ‘come on Tim’ or miscreants like myself who, on my only visit to Wimbledon, indulged in a juvenile game of ‘who can get the last clap in between points’ with my fellow booze and sun-addled viewing party. But so much of its drama is predicated on the reactions of the crowd during a seesaw point, and iconic moments of grand slam wins where crowds explode after an almost tantric build up of suspense will be lost. Rugby will lose many of the same intangibles that makes the atmosphere at football so electric, though it will be a more good-hearted, convivial sense of fan rivalry that is in abeyance as opposed to the tribal forces at work in football. The likes of snooker pretty much remain in–tact, with the former watched primarily by those in the live crowd who tune into the TV commentary on headsets anyway. Perhaps a player might also welcome the absence of a wretched cough or mobile phone alert during a shot. F1 will suffer, despite the live crowds experience essentially already being limited to a car occasionally zooming past. So much of the sports symbiotic appeal is founded on the boujee elements, celebrities inhabiting the paddock, oversized champagne soaked podiums and the osmosis of yearning for the high life that occurs when watching something like the Monaco GP on TV. Cricket will have to borrow many of the innovations used on twenty20 coverage with players mic’d up to cover for the lack of atmosphere. But no innovation can replace the thrill of seeing if that bloke in the crowd can catch the 6 that’s just been hit, the irreverence of a crowd snake of plastic pint glasses or fancy dress outfits at a test match. Cricket has always been one of those comforting sports to watch, either on TV or at the ground, a constant hustle and bustle of noise around the ground even during a lull in action, with some sport to occasionally glance at as you get drunk in the sun. 

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There are other sports I could analyse but I think an overall verdict has been reached. People are yearning for sports’ return, and I am glad it’s on its way, even if it will be a slightly sanitised version of what we’ve come to know. It will be fascinating to see if any trends emerge in terms of effects on performance while athletes will be challenged to recalibrate themselves back to the days when they were burgeoning stars on the rise, competing in front of limited crowds and without an atmosphere to feed off. Starting with footballs return on June 17^th, millions of fans will reembrace the comforting familiarity of their calendars and weekends revolving around the fixtures that are on, bets will be placed again, and even more lockdown beer will be drunk. That will be perhaps the most egregious thing missing, not only will crowds not be allowed in stadiums, crowds will not be allowed to congregate over a day’s action of football, beginning with the 12:45 kick off, moving through to Jeff and the boys whilst frantically checking their accumulators and finishing the evening game off amidst a comforting haze of pint-fuelled football euphoria.

Now, if we can only get the pubs opened again.

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Mayweather vs McGregor: Foregone Conclusion or Combat Watershed Moment?

Well, it’s almost here. A fight that at times been described as more of an ‘event’ or ‘spectacle’  rather than a sporting contest, other times much more dismissively labelled a ‘farce’ or a money grab by ex-fighters, pundits or fans. But the time has arrived. Floyd Mayweather, arguably the best boxer of his generation will face Conor McGregor, unarguably the most ‘notorious’ mixed martial artist and UFC fighter of all time.

It’s an event built on the brash, polarising personalities of both fighters. Mayweather, a man of questionable morality and domestic abuse history has built a career on being the archetypal professional wrestling ‘heel’ people want to pay to see get beat, not just because of his outlandish trash talking but because of his increasingly pragmatic and defensively genius boxing style. McGregor is a man who divides opinion with some repelled by his ostentatious, flashy and loudmouth Ric Flair esque persona, others inspired by his rise from rags to riches and his utilisation of Law of Attraction principles.

The riches on offer are of incredible magnitude. The PPV buy record of 4.6 million is expected to be beaten, over a billion people worldwide may watch and both fighters are expected to pocket over $100 million each, Mayweather in his position as the A side likely much, much more. In all of the preamble and hype, the money and freak show aspect has been the dominating line of discourse. The fight will take place as a boxing match and it is expected that McGregor, a ‘boxing’ novice has little chance of denting Mayweather’s 49-0 record that has been built on the defeat of world class boxers such as Canelo, Cotto, Hatton, De Lay Hoya, Gatti, Corralles, Castillo, Maidana and Pacquiao. If these men couldn’t crack the Mayweather code, just how does McGregor stand a chance? Similarly it has been widely agreed that were this fight taking place in an Octagon, under MMA rules, Mayweather would be dispatched with ease under an assault of kicks and takedowns he isn’t trained for. The Boxing match therefore is seen as a complete mismatch.

Another strand of the storyline that exists is the battle between Boxing and MMA, a debate oft had for years since the emergence of MMA into the mainstream consciousness over the last decade or so. This battle finally comes to a head as two of the sport’s biggest stars square off. Boxing, a sport that has seemingly been around since the dawn of time has often seen MMA as an unruly and unrefined threat to its combat sports supremacy. Traditionalists and purists purport that Boxing is the sweet science and more of an art then the crash and bang of MMA. A somewhat snooty narrative of barbaric cage fighting with blood thirsty fans emerged whilst Boxing was held up as a paragon of artistic and stylistic virtue.

This has dissipated somewhat in recent years as the popularity of MMA has grown. But within boxing circles there still exists an ignorance around the varied skill set of the fighters and this has been no more evident in the complete dismissal of any threat that McGregor may pose Mayweather in a boxing ring. It may be the very reason this fight was made in the first place, Mayweather is known for being calculated in his choice of opponent and one would think at 41 and on the brink of retiring with a perfect boxing record he would have picked a sure thing in much the same way his 49th opponent Andre Berto was viewed. However had he done that it would have been viewed with tepid levels of interest and likely cynical derision. In McGregor, in Mayweather’s eyes at least he has the perfect opponent. A man who will bring unprecedented levels of attention and economic benefits the ‘business’ portion of the bout, but a man who in skill set won’t pose a serious threat. It’s a unique way to get to 50-0 and there is no professional boxer out there who would have garnered the same interest or intrigue. The Mayweather Boxing gym will have seen many MMA fighters pass through its doors to train and spar and it is likely that Floyd is confident based on what he’s seen that a mixed style fighter just won’t be able to compete with a specialist Boxer. That same ignorance from the boxing community regarding MMA may be the fatal underestimation that has put McGregor in a position to shock the world.

It’s a big ‘may be’ though. Let me first state I am a massive fan of Mayweather the fighter. I marvel at his defensive abilities and elusive counter punching. What many deride as a boring ‘running’ style I enjoy watching. I think there is a tremendous art to the way he boxes. However, even though he has been the standout performer in his generation of fighters his skills are at an elevated level in the context of the refined nature of Boxing. The sport has been going for so long now that it has established rituals, rules and rhythms to the way it’s combatants participates. Boxing is coached in a certain way, with fundamental do’s and don’ts on technique, positioning and defensive and attacking methods. Whilst you see some nuanced stylistic differences within this framework, Mayweather himself a fantastic example of this, ultimately you will see the same general rhyme and rhythm in boxing and little deviation from this. Boxing is such a well-established almost cultural past time that no one has truly come along and tried to flip that script.

That is until Conor McGregor. Many of the cynics regarding this fight, such as Max Kellerman whose boxing analysis and opinion I often agree with are missing the entire point of what’s going on. You only have to listen to McGregor himself. Like many of his success in his career he’s telling us before the fact. Boxing purists are analysing boxing skill vs boxing skill within the narrow and refined framework of what ‘boxing’ is. If we do this, of course Mayweather wins. But McGregor is not approaching this fight as a boxing match. He is approaching this as a fight, as a Martial Artist vs Boxer. McGregor is a mixed martial artist with primarily a striking style, the reason this fight has been made, but he’s also well rounded in kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu, Karate and Capoeira. Like many MMA fighters these styles fluidly interlock and interchange into the all-round fighting style you see in the Octagon. But McGregor is unconventional in even these terms, blessed with a very long reach for his size, genuine knockout power and utilising a wide Karate based stance, as well as strange Ido Portal inspired movements.

“You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.” – Bruce Lee

McGregor has referenced the above quote in numerous interviews in the lead up to the contest. This is what McGregor ambitiously plans to do. It’s been obvious ever since he decided to not bring in a specific boxing coach to his camp. This was absolutely deliberate. McGregor will not follow the established rules and rhythms of boxing as we know it, and he didn’t want the influence of a coach of those rules and rhythms muddying his mind-set. He will approach this like the martial artist that he is, utilising numerous different styles, stances and movements. It will be a completely unconventional and unorthodox contest and this is what from a sporting perspective intrigues me much more than any of the pomp and circumstance. But I hear you say- McGregor can only use his fists in this fight! Well that’s absolutely correct. But at the same time he doesn’t have to worry about being kicked, elbowed, grappled or taken down. In limitation, McGregor may find freedom. He may become like water and whilst hyperbolic he could change the fight game forever.

Of course, whilst all the above may hold true and McGregor in my opinion will give Mayweather more trouble than many are predicting it is entirely possible that it won’t actually be enough to win. Mayweather is an imperious boxer and despite his advanced years in age, beneath that heel persona lies a consummate athlete and professional and I don’t expect him to have missed a step. This is why if the seemingly impossible occurs I hope that there are no excuses trotted out whether they be aimed at a lucky punch narrative or that McGregor caught Mayweather on the decline. There are some genuinely fascinating implications to August 26th’s bout, ones that could reinforce the conventions of boxing or potentially change them forever. If McGregor’s intoxicating confidence is to be believed he will at the very least be competitive and shut the particularly vociferous critics up, if his true mission is realised he will spread his philosophy of true, varied martial arts in the most shocking of practical demonstrations imaginable. He will cement legendary status and be remembered as a true combat savant. Should Mayweather, as conventional wisdom will tell you, emerge victorious he will retire with an unblemished record, go down as perhaps the greatest ever and ensure boxing’s conventions and disciplines remain reverentially steadfast.

The world is waiting. The world is watching.

 

Wrestling with Hypocrisy

I’m a fan of professional wrestling- there I said it. And no before you get too alarmed, I don’t think it’s real. Astonishingly that still seems to be the stock response when I tell anyone I’m a fan of wrestling. ” You know that stuff’s fake, right?”. I do, indeed, though I disagree with your phrasing- but thanks for the clarification, captain obvious.

Wrestling, for whatever reason , seems to get a raw deal in comparison to other forms of entertainment. The mainstream media still is unable to cover it with any levity or respect, and when the odd article does appear on a mainstream site, it’s sure to be granted with swathes of comments mocking those who watch or enjoy it. Wrestling is a strange business, granted. Perhaps the attitude towards it comes from the fact that until recently, protecting the integrity of the business was still seen as paramount. It was presented as real and legitimate( and still is to a degree), and when it became apparent that the outcome was scripted and predetermined, many levelled the claim that wrestling had deceived its fans, by fixing results. The business didn’t help itself, with instances such as David Schultz slapping reporter John Stossel for questioning him over wrestling being ‘fake’ or not.

While Schultz’ reaction was inexplicable, and only served to reinforce the notion of a wrestler as a steroid enhanced, meathead neanderthal, his anger was understandable. To call wrestling ‘fake’ is an insult to those who perform what is at its essence, a form of art. Tell Adam ‘Edge’ Copeland, who retired recently due to neck issues how ‘fake’ Wrestling is, or how about the wrestler Droz who is now consigned to a wheelchair after an accident in the ring? Mick Foley, also a multiple New York times best seller, is short on a couple of teeth, half an ear, and an ability to walk properly after having brutalised his body in a ‘fake’ sport.

My stock response when greeted with someone’s incredulity to my fandom of wrestling is to question whether they have ever watched a movie or television show. Sopranos? Breaking Bad? Game Of Thrones? How about any of the Godfather movies? Do they enjoy summer blockbusters like Avengers or the recent phenomenon Jurassic World? These too are scripted shows or movies, with actors, directors and producers all coming together to create a product for your entertainment. Yet no one ever seems to question their legitimacy or the feel the need to remind us that they aren’t real. For some reason Wrestling is the exception, yet I see little difference. In fact, I would go as far as to argue that Wrestling’s execution of its script can actually be far more impressive. Yes the acting can sometimes be incredibly campy, and even in ring choreography can require perhaps too much suspension of disbelief at times, but it is all invariably done live, with the luxury of only one take before, a live, raucous audience. Performers don’t have the option of being able to ‘cut’ or redo their lines. If something goes awry in a match, they will have to improvise, unlike a stunt or fight team in a movie who will dispose with that take and start again.

That covers my rationalisation of why Wrestling deserves more parity in relation to other forms of entertainment media, yet I’m also not blinkered enough to not see that at times it doesn’t help itself. Before the WWE’s recent shift towards PG Programming a few years back, and up until Chris Benoit’s notorious murder suicide of his family in 2007, the business was stuck in the dark ages. Storylines could be uncomfortably sexist, violence against female competitors by the men was allowed and often cheered by the audience, and there was an over reliance on shock value or being edgy for the sake of being edgy. At the time of Death, Benoit was discovered to have a brain equivalent to that of a 70 year old Alzheimers patient, along with copious amounts of steroids in his system. This, along with more awareness being gained on the severity of concussions and their long term affect, has led to a ban on unprotected chair shots to the head, and also the implementation of stringent impact testing as well as a wellness policy that is purportedly zero tolerance against performance enhancing drugs. The WWE, at least, has tried to clear its act up somewhat and I believe it’s getting there, though steps do still need to be taken, perhaps most importantly against the ‘independent contractor’ status that employees of the company are classified under, and its tendency to overwork its talent with ridiculous schedules which can amount to over 250 days on the road.

A Mutli-Million dollar corporation, the WWE has branched out from its wrestling roots in recent years. It has a film division, produces its own reality shows and has created its own monthly pay subscription service as a replacement for traditional pay per view. Its empresario Vince Mcmahon, undoubtedly a genius, is still regarded as a carny at heart. There are strange, infamous stories of Mcmahon’s quirks and odd demands backstage. He has tried to replace the term wrestling with ‘Sports Entertainment’, has banned on air talent from referring to a championship ‘belt’ as a ‘belt’ and wouldn’t allow his then WWE Champion CM Punk, to walk to the ring with UFC fighter Chael Sonnen a few years back, because he thought the sport was too barbaric and that someone was going to die in the octagon eventually, despite the litany of health issues that many of his wrestling talent have experienced throughout the years. Mcmahon’s odd behaviour however, is also part of his genius, and informs much of the outrageous creative direction throughout the years that has at times legitimately been captivating, yet also so ridiculous it’s led to hilarity. In what other form of entertainment would you see a man crash another man’s fathers funeral and attach the coffin to his car, driving off whilst said man chases after the coffin jumping onto it, before hilariously losing his grip and falling off in classic slapstick style. Where else would you see a storyline where one man accuses another of necrophilia and murder, and in order to try and get into his adversary’s head simulates sexual intercourse with a mannequin at a funeral home( fun sidenote: the performer in question here was Triple H, Vince Mcmahon’s real life son in law, and this scene was shot with a real life funeral taking place next door, all the while McMahon maniacally barked at Triple H, trying to direct him to make it look more convincing, in his own inimitable style).

That’s the bad side of things( though often it’s so bad it becomes ironically good on reflection) yet when done well wrestling can be so, so very effective. Humour is done with a knowing wink to the audience, who are all, save for perhaps the kids in the audience, all aware of the fundamentals about how wrestling works, and the actual in ring physicality can be brilliant to watch. I’ve often heard it compared to physical ballet, and I don’t think it’s far off. It’s two people, working together to produce something that is almost akin to dance, and when done well can take you on a ride of emotions that gets you lost in the spectacle. I implore everyone to watch either of the Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels matches from Wrestlemania, or any work from the likes of Kurt Angle, Adrian Neville, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, or Brock Lesnar and not be seriously impressed with the athleticism and storytelling abilities that can encompass a well done professional wrestling match.

Having once done one 3 hour session learning the very rudimental basics of Pro wrestling, basic holds, how to fall or take a ‘bump’ as it’s known I will always have respect for the crazy, wacky world that it offers up. For the entire week following the session I was in agony and that was after one introductory session, not putting my body through the rigours of life on the road at least 4 times a week. With the proliferation of ‘geek’ becoming more and more mainstream; comic books are as popular as ever after all, I do see wrestling becoming more and more accepted as time progresses. Rolling Stone magazine has started to cover it as well as AVclub, and we are in the era of once ‘nerdy’ & ‘geeky’ things being what it is actually cool. One of the worlds biggest movies stars in the form of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson still occasionally shows up in cameo appearances because he can’t shake the bug that performing in the ring or in front of a life audience gives him. Wrestling to me has always been something of a live action comic book, and that’s probably why it grabbed me as a kid, and despite a long absence from watching it, it’s hooked me back in, and I enjoy it like any other T.V show, getting interested in certain characters or story developments and not enjoying others. Oh and I mentioned Brock Lesnar earlier, he’s also the former UFC Heavyweight Champion of the world, a legitimate beast, if this article has done nothing to convince you about Wrestling’s place in pop culture and entertainment then just YouTube Lesnar and watch a few clips. Or if pure brawn won’t convince you, look up Xavier Woods, a WWE performer who is currently studying for his PHD in Educational Psychology.

But like I said at the start, the next time someone tells you they like Wrestling, don’t be all high and mighty and think you know it’s fake and they’re stupid because they think it’s ‘real’. They’re probably smarter than you, because you’re busy watching Made in Chelsea, Keeping up with the Kardashians or any number of those awful pseudo scripted ‘reality’ shows, that aren’t actually about anything other than a bunch of vacuous, vapid, attention whores whose heads are full of nothing but empty. I’ll take my ‘fake’ wrestling over that, thank you very much.