The Ring, The Roar, and the Reason We Care: Why Pro Wrestling and Its Fans Matter More Than Ever
By Matty Hawkins
Introduction: This Is Wrestling
Let’s get one thing out of the way: if you’ve ever rolled your eyes at someone saying “Wrestling’s fake,” please understand that pro wrestling fans have heard that about 16,000 times—and each time, we react with the same collective sigh. Because what we’re watching isn’t a lie. It’s a live-action morality play, an adrenaline-fueled opera, a chaotic ballet where punches fly, villains rise, heroes fall, and emotions boil over in front of millions.
Wrestling is storytelling in its rawest form. And behind every suplex and steel cage match is a heartbeat—ours.
This blog is a love letter to pro wrestling and its fans. Buckle up, because we’re diving deep into the world where body slams meet soul slams.
Chapter 1: The Spectacle
Wrestling is a spectacle like no other. The fireworks. The larger-than-life entrances. The music that cues goosebumps before a single lock-up happens. From the booming arenas of WrestleMania to the gritty atmosphere of your local indie gym, wrestling commands attention.
But it's not just the pyro and lights. It's the pageantry—the way a performer walks to the ring like a superhero. The way the crowd builds anticipation with every chant, every cheer, every shared breath. Wrestlers are rockstars, gladiators, artists, and warriors all in one.
Moments like The Undertaker's eerie entrance, Becky Lynch walking into WrestleMania as "The Man," or Sting descending from the rafters aren't just cool—they're iconic. They're designed to stir something deep inside of us. Awe. Excitement. Hope.
Because when that bell rings, the show isn't just on the screen. It's in our hearts.
Chapter 2: The Moments We’ll Never Forget:
Wrestling is a highlight reel of emotions. We measure our fandom not just by time, but by moments. Those unforgettable seconds that become etched into our personal history.
Who could forget Mick Foley being thrown off Hell in a Cell by The Undertaker? Or the spine-tingling return of Edge at the 2020 Royal Rumble, his face brimming with gratitude and disbelief as the crowd exploded?
There was the time Kofi Kingston finally became WWE Champion at WrestleMania 35—a moment that meant everything to fans who had waited over a decade for Kofi to get his due.
And then there's Daniel Bryan. WrestleMania 30. The YES! Movement wasn't just about one man's triumph. It was about all of us who had ever been told "you're not the one."
These aren't just wrestling moments. They're life moments. We remember where we were. Who we watched it with. The way we shouted or cried or jumped off the couch.
Chapter 3: The Emotions We Don’t Talk About Enough
Wrestling goes beyond adrenaline. It reaches into grief, sorrow, and healing.
When Brodie Lee passed away in 2020, the entire wrestling world mourned together. AEW's tribute show wasn't just a program—it was a communal funeral for someone we all loved. Grown men cried. Wrestlers wept in-ring. Fans hugged each other online.
It reminded us that this world, though scripted in combat, is genuine in connection.
Think of the raw emotion when Roman Reigns revealed his leukaemia battle. Or when Shawn Michaels put down Ric Flair's career with a whispered "I'm sorry. I love you."
Wrestling gives us permission to feel. It taps into emotions other media only dares to scratch. It's catharsis with a 3-count.
Chapter 4: The Fans Are the Foundation
Without fans, wrestling is just noise.
The fans are the soul of the spectacle. They bring the volume, the energy, the passion, the pulse. They're the ones holding signs that say "My Wife Let Me Skip Our Anniversary for This." They're the reason a babyface gets over. They're the ones who chanted "CM Punk" for years until he actually returned.
When COVID hit and empty arenas became the norm, wrestling changed. Matches were still good, but something vital was missing. The fans. The chants. The rhythm. The call and response. It wasn't just a missing crowd—it was a missing partner.
Because the ring is only half the equation. The other half is you and me.
Chapter 5: Wrestling Is Art (Yes, Really)
Let’s set the record straight: wrestling is art. Period.
Like ballet, like opera, like cinema—wrestling tells stories. There’s structure, psychology, pacing. A face and a heel. A beginning, a conflict, a climax, and a resolution.
Great matches aren’t just spots. They’re stories told through sweat and choreography.
Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13? Art. The double turn that redefined two characters in a single match.
Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi's "Golden Lovers" storyline? Art. A tale of love, loss, and redemption told through tag team turmoil.
And yes, even Orange Cassidy lazily tapping his opponent's shin is a form of satire—a comedic deconstruction of wrestling tropes.
Wrestling is art. Sometimes subtle. Sometimes loud. Always powerful.
Chapter 6: The Healing Power of Wrestling
Wrestling helps us heal.
For kids who felt invisible, wrestling offered heroes who overcame. For adults navigating divorce, death, or depression, wrestling provided distraction, escape, and occasionally—a voice.
I've seen fans say wrestling saved their lives. That the community pulled them through dark times. That watching their favorite star fight back against the odds helped them do the same.
Wrestling shows up for people when nothing else does. It's a familiar comfort in an unfamiliar world. A space where, no matter how bad the day, you know someone is going to drop a pipebomb or hit a moonsault and make you believe again.
Chapter 7: Humor, Chaos, and Glorious Absurdity
Pro wrestling is absolutely ridiculous. And that’s why we love it.
From Mr. McMahon's genetic jackhammer promos to R-Truth defending the 24/7 Championship in an airport, wrestling can be as silly as it is sincere.
Where else can you find:
A demon wrestler who fights with fireballs?
A wedding segment that ends in a steel chair brawl?
A man declaring, "It was me, Austin! It was me all along!"
These moments are chaotic and cringey and glorious. They give us memes. They give us joy. They remind us not to take life too seriously.
Because sometimes, life is better with a little kayfabe.
Chapter 8: Community, Connection, and Convention Floors
Wrestling is a global language.
At conventions, meet-and-greets, and even online, fans connect across borders and backgrounds. That guy from Scotland loves the same Lucha Underground match you do. That woman from Tokyo ships the same tag team. That kid from Texas just taught his grandma the Shield entrance.
We bond over who we boo and who we cheer. Over our takes on long-term booking. Over the match that made us fall in love with the art.
Wrestling brings people together in an age where division is the norm. We chant, we cosplay, we share tears and triumphs. We're a family—albeit a rowdy one.
Chapter 9: Grief in Wrestling
Wrestling doesn’t avoid grief. It meets it head-on.
When tragedy strikes, wrestling honors its fallen with tributes that are often more heartfelt than those of mainstream media. Ten-bell salutes. Career retrospectives. In-ring speeches filled with tears.
Eddie Guerrero. Owen Hart. Jay Briscoe. Brodie Lee. These names aren’t forgotten. They are carried in chants, in gear, in the moves passed down by those they inspired.
Wrestling teaches us to mourn together. And more importantly, to remember.
Chapter 10: Why It Will Always Matter
You can say wrestling is scripted. But so are movies. So are plays. So is Hamilton.
The truth is: wrestling is real in the ways that matter. The emotion is real. The impact is real. The connection is real.
Pro wrestling is a world where justice (eventually) prevails. Where the villain gets what’s coming. Where the underdog defies expectations. Where moments are born in blood, sweat, and cheers.
And it never ends. There’s always another match. Another promo. Another chapter.
We don’t grow out of wrestling. We grow with it.
It’s messy. It’s weird. It’s beautiful. It’s home.
Thanks for reading. Now go hit life with a metaphorical chair shot and remember—never count out the underdog.
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