Do you still defend wrestling?

[saintpat]

When I told some people at work that I was going to WM30, the only reaction I got was along the lines of "Really, that's cool." Then when I got back pretty much everybody asked me about it.

[HMARK Center]

It depends on what I'm "defending", I guess.

Like, I don't know anybody who pulls the "you know it's fake, right?" card, because, well, duh: everybody knows it's scripted. It just goes without saying.

I'll defend it when people say it's just stupid and pointless, etc., by saying that it's capable of being much more than that, and very worthwhile when it is.

I won't defend it if people bring up stuff like so many wrestlers dying young, poor treatment of wrestlers, sexism/racism/etc. in storylines and characters, all that stuff.

[Deleted]

Non-fans don't understand the angle adult wrestling fans who are fully aware that it's fake are coming from. And it's really, really hard to explain. So I don't really do it, unless they ask specific questions. Like a friend asked one time "why's this guy wearing pink?" referring to Sandow, I told him his function is to be hated and wearing pink is a way to show what a prissy little bitch he is, in the parlance of our times, man.

Now when people say shit like "the ring's basically a trampoline, I could take a Jackhammer from Goldberg 10 times in a row and it wouldn't hurt at all", I just shake my head and say "no". Then I silently judge them forever.

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

I don't feel a need to anymore. I'm 28, I'm in the middle of a divorce, and I work at (well, head manager) McDonald's, I really don't have time to give a single f*** about who does and doesn't approve of what I choose for entertainment

[Dat Dude]

Funny enough, it's been easier to "defend" going to women's wrestling shows (like Shine or Shimmer) to friends than it has been for going to WWE house shows.

[Deleted]

Most people I know are pretty much fans, or know about it, are jealous of me traveling miles and making mini-holidays of seeing live events, or are respectful but jokily criticize the more bizarre logic of it all.

Some people probably talk smack about it when I'm not around but that's life, if anyone is a clutz enough to think it'll bother me if they say 'y'know it's fake, right' or such in person, they know I'll drop them in a heartbeat for not being able to understand fiction rather than their besmirching of the good ship 'Rasslin'.

Truth be told I've encountered more wrestling fans in person who make me want to defend pro-wrestling than I've encountered non-fans who've made me want to defend pro-wrestling.

[Nickybojelais]

I tend to come across three responses generally when the subject of wrestling comes up

-Older people reminiscing about the days of Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks on World of Sport

-Parents tend to mention how their kids watch it and love it (inadvertently making me feel slightly immature!)

-And people around my age tend to watch or watched it at some point (Usually asking if Rock, Austin, Mankind, Undertaker or Kane are still going)

Thankfully the "F" word doesn't tend to crop up too often and on the whole I experience positive conversations about it.

[The Ichi]

Getting upset about it is the stupidest thing ever. Just say "Yep. I still enjoy it". That's the only defense you need.