Real

 

I think fans of professional wrestling want what they are seeing to be real or they want to be drawn in by it.   Why else do fans talk about and get excited about a so called “shoot” promo because they are not used to it?   But the so called “smart marks” will not admit that.   That is why talent when they go to the ring they must believe what they are saying which I know is not easy because the events are usually live and they only get one shot.   I think in professional wrestling the promos are more important than the in-ring performances because the promos are what give fans a reason to care.   In the history of the business the talent who drew the most money was not always the best bell to bell in ring performers.   I have absolutely no problem calling myself a mark instead of a fan because the term mark goes all the way back to not just professional wrestling but carnivals circuses and fairs.   My  philosophy of professional wrestling that the talent are not characters I am not suggesting that they should act the exact same way when they are performing remember it is a light that goes on and when the light goes off so does their projecting and reacting.   Thank you Jim Cornete for your column: Character Actors for giving me a completely different prospective on what this has always intended to be.   I have the up most respect for Jim Cornete.