CityBeat - Te Waha Nui Online

by Niko Kloeten

The fights are scripted, the acting is cheesy and the lycra speedos are vomit-inducing.

But millions of people worldwide still tune in to watch WWE, the world’s largest professional wrestling brand.

WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) is a billion-dollar corporation that owns the Raw and Smackdown television franchises, as well as ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling).

According to the latest WWE annual report, these shows are broadcast in over 100 countries.

Scripted action

What you see in the wrestling ring on these shows is closer to theatre than real fighting.

The outcome of each match is decided beforehand by the show’s creative department, which also decides what sort of character each wrestler will be and what other events besides wrestling will happen on the show.

Feuds between wrestlers are often created as a way of increasing interest in match-ups and ensuring there aren’t just meaningless fights.

Wrestlers are given specific roles to play, either as a ‘face’ (the popular good guy) or a ‘heel’ (the nasty villain), and sometimes both within the same show.

If a particular ‘angle’ (storyline) isn’t creating much interest, it is either dropped or changed, usually with the addition of other characters to the mix.

If a wrestler is injured in real-life, this is written in to the script, usually in the form of another wrestler giving him a bashing.

Injuries can sometimes force a dramatic re-write of a show at the last minute.

Taking its toll

The show these wrestlers put on is fun and entertaining, as evidenced by the millions who watch it.

But there is a darker side to wrestling, which was exposed this year when wrestling superstar Chris Benoit murdered his wife and daughter before killing himself.

Many commentators blamed steroid abuse for the tragedy, saying he was suffering from “roid rage”.

But whatever the reason, it put the WWE under the spotlight.

Benoit is not alone, however.

Here’s an extensive list of pro wrestlers who have died young for various reasons:

Imagine if that many NBA players or football stars had died before reaching old age; there’d be an outcry.

But professional wrestlers continue to have to perform week after week with no real time off.

Some become steroid users; others become addicted to painkillers.

But rather than reviling them, maybe we should look at constructive ways to improve their working conditions so that we can continue to enjoy their product and they can live to bounce grandchildren on their knees.