Ready to rumble

I found this poster on a FB group.  (It sure sounds like I spend a lot of time on FB, doesn't it?)  Hubby is a big pro-wrestling fan, so I shared it with him.  He really enjoys the local house shows that pop up in small towns around us, and he would have loved this one.  Especially since he would have been just nine years old.

Hubby loves pro-wrestling but he's not one of the screaming idiotic fans that you see in the audience sometimes (ok, often).  He appreciates the stories that are told, and the characters that tell them.  He's been a fan since the 80's, knows a lot of the history, and enjoys listening to wrestling podcasts about behind-the-scenes stuff.  

Because we've been together since the 80's, I've been exposed (like second-hand smoke) to a fair chunk of pro-wrestling as well.  I wouldn't say I actually enjoy watching it, but I tolerate it for the purpose of marital stability.  My favorite wrestlers:  Al Snow, William Regal, Mick Foley, Edge.  Least favorites: Scott Hall, Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, The Miz.  

And of course, Brock Lesner.  Nearly everyone (except Vince McMahon) hates Brock Lesnar.  And not in a 'hate him because he's a heel' kind-of-way, but hate him because he sucks at wrestling and can't tell a story to save his life.  Literally, he cannot tell a story - because he rarely talks.  It's one of his gimmicks.  When he walks out into the ring his manager comes with him, and does all the talking for him.

It's probably a good thing that Brock doesn't speak.

Hubby likes a good heel almost more than he likes a good face.  Thus his love for Chris Jericho.  Jericho makes a great heel.  He just has so much fun with it.  You can usually tell when the wrestlers are enjoying themselves, and that makes it much more fun to watch.

B is the only one of our sons who shares this appreciation.  He and hubby go to the family-friendly local shows - it's a great outing they can do together.  B's favorite wrestler is one he sees there - Arik Cannon.  He also likes A.J. Styles, and made his own A.J. Styles costume for Halloween one year.  With his long hair and fake goatee, it wasn't a bad likeness.

It's hard dressing like a wrestler when it's 45 degrees outside.

One of the many COVID casualties this year has been the local wrestling shows.  There's one this evening in Ellsworth WI near my sister's house.  Hubby and B would have gone to it in a heartbeat.  But missing the shows is hardly a hardship, just a bit of an annoyance.  They can look forward to going again when this is all resolved.

At a local show a few years ago.  Hubby and B with Hubby's brother and son.  And some famous wrestling guy.  :)