WWE Superstars: 10 Facets of the Pro Wrestlers

In WWE and pro wrestling, wrestlers are generally associated with the persona they play on screen. However the way we identify and remember our stars goes beyond it.

John Cena, Edge, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, HBK or CM Punk, the moment one takes these names, one associates them with some adjectives. It might be a stale good guy or a moronic narcissist; there is at least one word to define a facet of their personality.

This article tries to highlight 10 such facets of pro wrestlers. These facets lie somewhere in between the real person, and the mask that wrestler wears. Every pro wrestler has at least a few of these dimensions to their personalities, if not all.

Disclaimer: This article contains no breaking news or a rumour. Those looking for it have dialed a wrong number.

With introduction out of our way, prepare yourself for a ride, as “it begins.”

1.A Rebel

One of the most prominent hallmarks of a pro wrestler is attitude.

Society has always frowned upon pro wrestling, and everything associated with it including fans and the wrestlers they worship. To put it into perspective, the industry of pro wrestling has just slightly better reputation than the industry of porn.

It is the very reason because of which Dwayne Johnson wanted to disown “The Rock” as much as possible for the better part of the last decade.

Therefore when people make a decision to become a pro wrestler, they basically decide to swim against the tide. In the process most of the pro wrestlers challenge their surroundings at least once in their life.

It takes a rebel mind to make such a decision, and it takes a rebel spirit to live the decision.

That is the very reason as to why people like me, with white collar drenched in snobbery and butt attached to their couch, become fans of pro wrestling and at the most IWC members, but not a pro wrestler. 

2.A Showman

Most of the pro wrestlers are entertainers at the end of the day. Some of them perform in the arena packed with 15,000 people chanting their name, while some of them perform in a dungeon in front of 50 semi-drunk people. But no matter where they perform, they do their best to entertain us.

Come to think of it, it takes a lot to entertain someone. One needs an ability to act, to make people smile, laugh and cry. One needs an ability to speak, an ability to make people hinge on every word. One needs charisma that mesmerizes the audience. One needs a presence that inspires attention.

To top it all, to be a pro wrestler, one needs wrestling skills and an ability to put body on the line day in and day out. While some of the skills can be learnt over the time, some of these attributes are completely innate.

If we combine all the factors listed above, what we get is an artiste with a fine blend of an athlete and an actor. We get an artiste, who revels in his or her art to entertain audience. We get a showman, who transforms the ring into theatre and enthralls masses. 

3. A Narcissist

A showman loves the audience, and its adulation. The more people admire and adulate a showman, the more he revels in the spotlight.

However, gradually showman becomes addicted to the spotlight and all the love he gets. He begins to admire himself more and more every day, and then someday the world vanishes and all that remains is the mirror.

The very first name that comes to mind is Hulk Hogan here. It seems that the mirror shows him images from the '80s. It is certain that nobody can convince Hulk Hogan that he is not a superhero in real life, and certainly not anymore.

Now not every superstar reaches such a stage, but narcissism exists in variable degree. Someone like HBK turns this ego and self-admiration into motivation to create a spectacle for ages, whereas someone like Hogan draws ridicule. 

4.Someone Craving Time with Loved Ones

This is one rather somber facet. It applies more to WWE stars, rather than other pro wrestlers. The sole reason is long life on the road. A normal WWE superstar ends spending at least 250 days every year in travelling from one city to another for the show.

Many of us don’t particularly like John Cena, but he is the busiest guy in this business. He travels over the US and rest of the world for weeks in weeks out. I remember his tweet to his brother Matt Cena, where he apologized to him for not being able to attend brother’s birthday.

Edge’s farewell speech highlighted this aspect, too. Agreed that Cena or Edge are megastars, and they spend more time for the company than most of the other stars, but to different degrees this craving holds true to each and every superstar.

This is one of the biggest reasons behind many things that happen during the life on the road. One of such things is relations that are formed.

5.A “Brother”

Wrestling is a tough business and a cut throat environment, where every opportunity matters more than the relations. In spite of this fact, there are many examples of friendships that blossomed in this sordid industry.

A lack of time with the family leads to many disasters. One needs a friend to avert at least some of those disasters. The nature of business is sinister. One needs a friend to fall back on, to spend moments of absolute struggle with.

Edge and Christian, Eddie and Benoit or Triple H and HBK, these are the best known examples of the friendships in pro wrestling.

Secondly, as the time goes on, wrestlers form a little family of their own within the company. Remember the farewell of Ric Flair or Edge, those images would explain the point much better than my words ever could.

However, it should not be forgotten that these relations are fragile, or are often formed amongst fragile individuals who sink together.

It should not be forgotten that for every DX, there are Hardy brothers, who take me to the next slide.

6.A Crumbled Spirit

As I said the earlier slide, this business by nature is sinister. For every glorious story, there are many tragedies. For every Undertaker, there are Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair. For every HBK, there are Scott hall and Marty Jannetty.

The life on road is tough. Family remains distant and elusive. Relations are fragile, and adultery is common. It is way tougher to make and maintain friends, than creating enemies. To add to these woes, body has own pains to bear. The lottery of push and burial do not make things any easier.

These factors are enough to break one down. These factors well enough to force someone to lay hands on drugs, painkillers and in some cases, even a revolver.

I have only highlighted WWE cases here; rest of the scene offers even more horrendous sagas. The history of pro wrestling is filled with tragedies, crumbled spirits and sins they have committed. The history of this business is crimson and grim.

I understand that, the picture I have painted above and the words I have used, are both grotesque. However, they are reality.  

7.A True Fighter

The earlier slide described the grim reality. This slide depicts the second side of the coin.

Pro wrestlers, contrary to what general society may believe, are true fighters. They are the real brave souls who fight both psychological and physical demons.

There are many cases where the wrestler has return from injuries, which could have handicapped normal individuals both physically and mentally. Wrestlers have healed themselves miraculously at times to return much earlier than what medical science had predicted.

There are many cases, when wrestlers have fought mighty trauma to continue. A lady like Mildred Burke took on entire chauvinistic industry and heinous husband in his quest to shape the history of women’s wrestling.

Someone like HBK had to deal with demons of his own mind, but in due time, he truly found himself.

These battles are scripts worthy of novels. These stories are really a stuff made of some divine elements. 

8.A Compassionate Human Being

Perhaps it is because of the battle scars of the mind, wrestlers tend to be a kinder spirit. They appreciate someone who fights for a country, or someone who fights with injustices of life.

It is inspiring to see when these wrestlers go all the way to Afghanistan or Iraq, to entertain the soldiers who are fighting in most hideous climates.

It is simply amazing to see the smile on the face of an ailing child when the superstar it craves for come to meet. This link here is a video of The Undertaker, who met a little girl on the eve of WrestleMania. If you are human, it will certainly make you feel better about the world.

This sole facet is enough for me respect stars like John Cena or Eve Torres, who will each and everything in their capacity, to make sure that they spread some smiles.

I can confidently claim that WWE stars do more for their society than average movie stars or sports person. They do care for their fans, and it might be because, most of them themselves are a…

9.A Fan

Almost all of the wrestlers still remain fan of the business. They breathe it, they live it and they love it. Unless and until people love what they are doing, they cannot entertain others with it. That is why some wrestlers fail to connect with us, and some do instantaneously.

Those who have attended the house shows can testify my claim that it is at the house show where the fan within our stars comes out freely. Someone like CM Punk ensures that he and his fans have a gala time together.

His passion becomes infectious, and before you know it, the smark within you dies and all that remains is a simple fan. Such interaction, although indirect, reignites the passion that lives within us, and we are reborn as a fan.

To put it simply, it takes a fan to connect with a fan. It takes a fan to make someone hop on the wagon and enjoy.

There is another amazing dimension to this particular facet, but I kept it for a different slide since it deserves one. Let us have a look at it next.

10.A Child Who Lives the Dream

There are many reasons why people become a pro wrestler. Some become one because of a heritage they carry. Some become one because of the attractive although elusive career, WWE offers.

But there is one more type, which is the most special. Let me tell you a story, a proper bedtime story to highlight this facet.

Once upon a time there was a little boy. He was a Hulkamaniac. Finally there came a day, when he saw his hero in person and in flesh at the grandest stage of them all, the WrestleMania. A dream was born right there.

Through adversities, through pains, through endless wilderness and shelter-less night that dream lived on. It went on to win countless championships. It went on to main event the WrestleMania. It went on to become stupendously popular, and to mesmerize a millions.

The boy was Adam Copeland, and today we know that dream as "Edge."

Epilogue

This article was just small attempt to put things in a new perspective.

Some of you might remember that long time back I had written a similar article, "WWE Panorama: 10 Aspects of Pro Wrestler's Life."

I just want to clarify that the first article dealt with aspects of the lives of wrestlers, they are a state. Whereas this article deals with the personal traits of the wrestlers. This article is a long-due sequel of the first article. I hope you have enjoyed both the articles. 

Now it is your yard. Shred me into pieces if you will, but your feedback in appreciated as always. 

Thank you very much for reading, and cheers...