Should We Respect Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestlers? Essay -- Expository

Pro Wrestlers – Why Can’t They Get Any Respect? Time to point out the obvious: pro-wrestling is not a sport. Why? Because pro-wrestling involves no sport[ing]. Wrestlers do not show up to work every day trying to do all they can to win; they show up to work trying to do all they can to do their job, which is entertain the fans. However, this line of thinking often leads to another conclusion: If pro wrestling is not a sport, then wrestlers are not athletes. This could not be further from the truth. What pro wrestlers do in the ring day in and day out may not be sport, but it is athletic activity on the most demanding level. It is high time that the men and women who work harder than any other professional athletes got a little respect. Think about the four major sports in America: football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. Football players perform once a week. Hockey and basketball players work from 2-4 times a week. Baseball players may play up to five games a week, but the physicality of that sport is much lower than the other three (especially football and hockey). Now, how often do professional wrestlers perform? Well, for example, the World Wrestling Federation performs three weekly shows: Raw on Mondays, Smackdown! on Thursdays, and Heat on Sundays. In addition, each month there is a Pay-Per-View event on a single Sunday. Now, that means 3-4 times per week, already even with hockey and basketball players. However, wrestlers also work what are called House Shows: non-televised "events-between-events." They can do up to 3 a week in addition to their already[-] busy schedules. Not wrestling today? Get on the bus and travel to the next town. Not travelling today? Get in the gym and train. The work never ends. Take ... ... millions watching around the world. Hart fell from rafters 40 feet above the ring, hitting his head on a turnbuckle on the way down and snapping his neck. He died on impact, during what was a common way for him to enter the ring as his "Blue Blazer" persona. Knee and back injuries plague wrestlers from Hulk Hogan to Steve Austin and all the way down, and always have. Pro wrestling is just as dangerous as pro football. And wrestlers get paid a whole lot less, on average. Pro wrestling is not for everyone, and I would be naive to think I could change a lot of minds with this piece. However, I hope I have given sufficient examples as to why pro wrestlers should be given more respect as athletes. A final thought: many pro athletes cannot speak straight when interviewed after a game, but pro wrestlers have to be passable actors, in addition to their athletic prowess.