Professional Wrestling has been around for more than 100 years. Whether it was at a carnival, a small venue, an arena, or on TV, professional wrestling has been around.
Now, it remains as one of the few sporting events left in our country amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. If there’s one thing that has provided an escape from the real world for the past 50 years, it’s pro wrestling.
Even in the face of this time of great worry, wrestlers are still there to perform.
All Elite Wrestling’s “Handwash” Adam Page reminds us of that. The fact is wrestling is one of the few sporting events left to distract us as an American people.
On Friday, World Wrestling Entertainment held its usual Friday Night Smackdown on Fox. Unusually, it was fanless from their Performance Center in Florida.
It kicked off surprisingly as WWE legend Hunter Hurst Helmsley (HHH) introduced us to the program.
“Sit back. Relax. And if you can, forget about the world around you and let WWE do what we do. Let us put a smile on your face.”
Those poignant words from “The Game” felt almost needed as a way to comfort those at home in a confusing world. Seeing professional athletes willing to go above and beyond in this wild time gives us all some solace in these rough times.
Smackdown won’t be the only wrestling show still going on this coming week.
WWE will also still broadcast Monday Night Raw on #3:16 Day on USA network. That will also emanate from their Performance Center.
That Wednesday, AEW will broadcast their weekly TV show, Dynamite, in Jacksonville, moving from Rochester, NY.
Wrestling has always been about the good guy versus the bad guy, the face against the heel. What bigger heel in the world is there right now other than the Corona Virus? No one…ok maybe Maxwell Jacob Friedman.
It’s time to bond together indoors around a TV and on social media about professional wrestling. Let’s give the COVID-19 a Stone Cold Salute and drop-kick it right in the mush.
Hopefully soon, the pandemic will be put down for the 3-count. For now, let the true athletic performers of WWE and AEW give us a 5-Star Frog Splash of serotonin.
Even if you’re not a wrestling fan, give it a shot. These men and women are risking travel to entertain you. The most we can do in return is watch and give our support through social media.
