We the Pro Wrestling Fans: Our Constitution

We the fans of professional wrestling, in order to become more informed, establish our position, insure superior knowledge, provide for the common love of the business, promote passionate debate, and secure the blessings of others to ourselves and our reputations, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the true pro wrestling fan.

 

Article I

We will not settle for cheap labels. The term “smart marks” does not apply to us and is not necessary.

A mark in professional wrestling is someone who believes what he or she is seeing, someone who accepts whatever the promoter tells them and tries to sell them. A mark hates the heels and loves the faces. Without marks, the business of professional wrestling would have never succeeded, and would not continue to exist.

There is no shame in being a mark, for the truth is, we have all been one at some time in our lives.

The word smart denotes a certain level of intelligence that many want to feel they have attained. A smart mark is supposedly a fan who is really a mark of the sport, but is more wise than other marks.

The truth is, though we consider ourselves knowledgeable about the business, our collective level of intelligence is always in question.

Pro wrestling is a work, and the promoters responsible attempt to work their fans on a daily basis. There is nothing, no information on television, no breaking news online, nothing, that can be trusted.

We are not on the inside, not privy to the inner workings of any promotion that occur behind closed doors. This will not change.

 

Article II

As knowledgeable pro wrestling fans, we will be more mature and more civil than others.

Our opinion is important to us, and though it will be criticized, we will not seek to demean or destroy the character of those who do not agree with us. Our arguments will not be personal or laced with expletives, as we have risen above those ignorant, adolescent notions.

Our opinion is not always popular and often draws major heat from those readers who seek to reply numerous times, vainly searching for a way to change our position.

Though the comments are unintelligible and sometimes unnecessarily cruel in nature, we will not respond accordingly.

If others do not agree with us, so be it. Life goes on. Our job is not change minds, our job is merely to present our own views of the business.

 

Article III

We hold high standards for the promotions that seek to entertain us.

We do not settle for lackadaisical performances in the ring and often state our case for those who feel the same. We expect the wrestling to be sharp, the wrestlers focused, and the match psychology deep and intense.

Professional wrestlers are individuals who are schooled in the basic techniques of the sport and have expanded to include their own signature moves and holds. These individuals fully understand the impact of those who came before them and have taken that respect, ring training, and concentration on character to a level that sets them apart from sports entertainers.

Sports entertainers are people who may have learned the basic techniques of the sport but do not employ them. Flashy moves and ridiculous grandstanding are used as substitutes and are obvious in their execution. These people care more about their own personal gain from the business than actually pleasing the fans who have made them a success.

Professional wrestlers and sports entertainers are two different breeds and we understand the difference.

 

Article IV

We the fans, while expecting greatness from our chosen sport, will not always receive it.

But, we will not be moved and we will not change or lower our expectations. We will be accused of complaining, of whining, of constantly bashing the business. We understand the accusations but we will not be swayed.

The sport of professional wrestling can be five star and present monumental moments in the fans’ lives. We will continually strive to find those moments and will be satisfied with nothing less.

 

Article V

Finally, we the fans will have fun.

Our love of the sport is profound, our expectations high, our passion intense, but we are all kids at heart. We remember, or imagine, ourselves as children in front of the TV, riveted by the in ring drama and characters like a colorful comic book come to life.

We carry that feeling with us now and want to love the business as much today as we did then. We want to have fun with the business and enjoy every moment of it. Because we are demanding in our nature, does not change that.

After all, it’s just a bunch of guys and girls jumping around in tights.