Am I the only person in the world who gets emotionally attached to Wrestlers? + BQ?

A little true-life story if I may:

My younger brother and I were close when we were kids and our favorite thing was watching Saturday afternoon wrestling on TV then going out to the lawn and wrestling (even better when we had a couple of other boys with us; then we could do tag team matches. That was a blast!).

John Tolos (RIP, John) had invaded the "territory" and he was the most despicable heel imaginable. This was in 1970; no internet, no "smarks" ruining everything, no Vince McMahon Jr around to idiot up pro wrestling, and kayfabe most definitely intact and jealously guarded by everyone in the business. To a bunch of 10-12 year-old boys in 1970 who loved it, pro wrestling was real. Tolos came in and immediately topped our "most hated" list. After one particularly horrendous act committed by Tolos (I don't even remember what it was he did that got us so upset), we were furious. So we decided that we needed to tell John Tolos off. We called the number on the TV screen ("call for tickets for this Saturday's show!") with the intention of cussing out Mr Tolos. We didn't know, of course, that the shows were taped a few days before they were broadcast. Anyway, the, no doubt amused, lady on the other end informed us that the "wrestlers have all gone home". We had to settle for asking her to give Tolos the message that "he sucks". Tolos didn't change (God bless him, he was a great heel!) and we still hated him. When the phone bill came, with a few long-distance charges (we did try a few times to talk to Tolos), our parents were angry, of course. Our punishment was "no wrestling for a month". To my brother and I, the world just ended.

We were very definitely emotionally attached to the wrestlers. We HATED John Tolos and Killer Kowalski, and we loved Freddie Blassie and Earl Maynard.

Over the years, my brother lost his passion for pro wrestling (thanks to Vince McMahon Jr and his ridiculous cartoon characters and storylines). That sucked; as adults my brother and I are very different people but pro wrestling was something we still had in common and we discussed it kayfabe. Not anymore...

I can still tune out all the negativity I read here and other places on the internet, and watch wrestling through the eyes of that 10-year-old that got hooked by Freddie Blassie (THE greatest heel who ever lived) all those years ago. I used to think (and still do, really) that I had the advantage of becoming a wrestling fan when wrestling was real...or at least presented as if it were.

Nowadays, we have the internet, "smarks" infesting said internet and forums such as this one, spoiler/gossip/rumor sites all over the damn place, and the most powerful man in the wrestling business telling the world that wrestling is fake (to avoid paying some taxes, of all things). We have the vast majority of so-called "fans" more interested in backstage gossip than they are in the show itself...no, that's not fair or accurate. The Internet Wrestling Community is more interested in who's screwing over who backstage than they are in the televised product (what does THAT say about the TV shows?). The average fan really doesn't care about that backstage stuff; they just want to be entertained.

My passion, my emotional involvement in the performers, has definitely been put through the wringer by all of this overwhelming negativity by all these people (in this forum and other sites on the internet) who claim to be wrestling fans. A lot of them like to consider themselves "above" wrestling by claiming to be "smart" (or infinitely worse, "smarks", the bane of pro wrestling). They KNOW "wrestling is fake" and if they get any enjoyment from a wrestling show they hide it, deathly afraid of being called a "mark" (a very misunderstood word). The average fan just watches to be entertained. The IWC are the ones afraid of being labeled "gullible" (by their own kind, strangely enough).

Knowing there are people like you in this section keeps me coming back. You are a wrestling fan, somebody who unashamedly suspends your disbelief, goes along with the storylines, cheers and boos according to your heart, and does get emotionally attached to the performers. There aren't a whole lot of us left. WE are who the wrestlers risk their well-being for, not that self-important "smark" who goes on the internet and whines about everything just because he can and then shows his "smark" buddies how clever he is because he whined about everything like THEY do. "Smarks" aren't wrestling fans.

I HAVE become jaded due to the overwhelming negativity in this section and other parts of the internet. A lot of times, this section forces me to become an anti-"smark", debunking their over-blown self-important whining over trivial things. But I can still set that aside and watch wrestling (especially those promotions who aren't under constant negative fire by the "fans" on the internet) as a die-hard wrestling fan, who willingly suspends his disbelief, cheers and boos with his heart, and does get emotionally attached to the performers.

You aren't "crazy", you're a wrestling fan. I hope you never lose that.

BQ: "Smarks" ruined pro wrestling...or they damn sure try to! Those self-important know-it-alls who THINK they know how the wrestling business works because rasslinspoilers.com tells them "secrets" and "insider info". And because people are deathly afraid of being labeled "dumb", "stupid", "gullible" (coincidentally, the "smark" definition of a "mark"; "smarks" are wrong...as usual) they follow trends and whatever is "cool" this week. It's "cool" now to know everything that goes on in the wrestling business, because we all do sit in with Vince and Creative when they write the shows, or at least we're on the email list to get the "scripts" when they're finished writing them. Only idiots and small children believe wrestling is real, according to "smarks" and the wannabes. Why get emotionally attached to something that isn't real, they ask, seeming to forget that latest "summer blockbuster" superhero action movie they discuss in the same manner that real wrestling fans discuss wrestling.

Simple answer: you're just a dumb gullible "mark", and they're above that sort of thing, even those who claim to be "wrestling fans".

Boy, it must suck to not get any enjoyment out of pro wrestling, and spend all that time sneering at, looking down on, those who are wrestling fans.

Who's the real "mark" here? Those who are entertained by pro wrestling, or those who spend enormous amounts of time watching and reading about it and then whining about wrestling "sucks" to anybody who will listen, and laughing at those who do enjoy pro wrestling?

Sorry, didn't mean to write a novel...

No, your not the only one. I get emotionally attached to wrestlers and whether they WANT to admit it or not, so do most wrestling fans. Even though I have been watching only since I was 7, which was December 2003 and that doesn't seem long compared to how long you've been watching but when Edge is injured or takes a hiatus, it sucks. Last Summer when Edge got sent to "hell" and took a 3 month hiatus, I was mad because without Edge, SmackDown wasn't entertaining. Because those 3 months it was the same thing every week on SmackDown. WWE Champion Triple H will come out and talk about how Jeff Hardy comes so close to being champion, then they'll start to brawl and then at the PPV Triple H beats Jeff.I was so bored with SmackDown which made Edge's return at Survivor Series make me feel like "Oh Boy SmackDown's getting interesting!". So I know how you feel.

I've been taking cr@p for years about watching wrestling, so I understand. The funny thing is, after they watch it a couple times with me, they get addicted. We all at some level get attached to some superstars. Some have the ability to touch each fan, others you can sympathize with. Wrestling's unlike anything else on the planet. People enjoy letting go of their problems and worries and just enjoying entertainment. That's what WWE does for me and I bet it does the same for many people. I enjoy watching a face destroy a bad mouthing heel(like Orton/HHH at WM). I also enjoy(ed) the wry humor of Eddie, Cena, Matt Hardy, Austin, The Rock, Kennedy, Trish, Jericho and many others who made/make you feel personally connected.

BQ. Because they just don't understand. They can't get the fantasy/reality of it. They don't get it that it's like a movie. Watching both the actors and the action. It's much more involved than most forms of entertainment because not only do most people follow what's shown on TV, but behind the scenes as well.

Nah , I've seen Lots of people get Attached to Certain Performers. It's just like people Who get Attached to Celebrities. Hell , I've seen people LITERALLY CRY at WWE Events when a Certain Performer Loses.

Don't Feel Bad , it's just some people are more Emotionally Involved with people (Wrestlers) than others. You seem to be one of these people. It's Ok. No Worries. =)

Personally , I don't get Attached to Specific Performers...but the Product as a Whole. Professional Wrestling IS MY LIFE. The Business is...Not the Specific Performers.

For Example , if My Favorite Performer (Cena) went down , and Never Returned , CM Punk (My #2) would Move to #1 on My List. If Both went down...Edge (My #3) would Move to #1. Etc...

Performers come & go...The Business is Forever.

BQ - Because You're SO Over the Top , and Loyal. Actually , that's a Very GOOD Quality to have in a Person. People think talking about ONE Performer A LOT (like asking more than ONE Question about them) , is Weird. IDK Why. They just don't Understand Your Past or History. Don't Worry about those people. They're just Ignorant...

Maddy. Wrestling needs more passionate fans like you. That's all.... You have a passion for the business and it's Superstars (well some of them at least), and that is something that makes you such a great contributor to the Wrestling Section.

I was absolutely shocked and saddened with the news of Kennedy's release. I, like yourself, was a fan of his since the beginning. I hate...hate...hate his shitty luck with injuries. But what can we do? With or without the WWE I will always be a Kennedy fan. Hopefully he'll go the TNA route and we can see him back in the ring...SOON!

I am glad to hear you say that wrestling is a part of your blood. I grew up with it as well. Been watching since I was a youngster...I'm 24 now and I am still a huge wrestling fan! And I like yourself, am looking for a career with the WWE! But I'm going a different route then you (I think). Hopefully, I can squeeze myself into the WWE creative team someday soon. I'm crossing my fingers on that....

BQ: It doesn't matter what other people think Maddy. You are a fan of Kennedy and you are standing by him.... That's all. As I said, WWE, and professional wrestling in general, needs more fans like you! Nough' said...

WQ: yes I do call me crazy if you want i don't care

BQ: You are not crazy you have a passion for wrestling much like I do.

I read the whole thing and with that kind of attitude I'm sure you'll be in WWE. I to was upset about Mr. Kennedy he has really bad luck I can't help but feel sad for all his injuries and now this. I just hope he gets to do what he loves in TNA or someplace else.

I don't think you are the only one that is emotionally attached to certain Superstars.. I actually do feel the pain when one of my favorites gets hurt.. I do admit I don't feel THAT bad when the ones that I dislike get hurt, but I do feel a little bit bad..

Honestly, I cried myself to sleep when Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit died.. I couldn't believe they had died.. When Cena got injured like last year, or 2 years ago, I was very sad too..

I think if you have watched WWE for a long time already, you do feel a lot of emotion towards the wrestlers EVEN if you don't agree with what the WWE is doing..

Now with the Kennedy problem, I was VERY UPSET.. I sent WWE.com MANY complaints with a lot of cursing from my part, but that is because we SHOULD have as much passion as the entertainers themselves have..

BQ: No, you are not crazy.. As for me, even if I don't show it much in here, I could go INSANE for wrestling.. No joke.. It's become my religion, and as part of it, I have passion for it..

I read what you had to say and although I don't COMPLETELY understand where you are coming from, I do know what you are talking about. There are a lot of wrestlers that i really do care about but there is only one person that i ever REALLY cared about and that's Lita. I have NO idea why. It has nothing to do with her looks, I'm not some creepy stalker type it's just, for some reason i felt so protective of her. It used to break my heart when people used to call her a slu+ and stuff and it literally made me angry to hear people talk about her like that. Although some people may think its "weird", there is nothing wrong with feeling a passion and kind of befriending characters of any kind, whether a tv character, movie character or even a video game character. When you watch and "follow" a character through a journey, its normal to feel a certain closeness to them. As long as you don't escalate to stalking or an obsession of that form, there is NOTHING wrong with it :)

I love wrestling and love watching it. I love HHH and HBK and Sting and a few others, but I love them in a different way then say my husband and kids. I don't think you are crazy, but I think that you need to realize that wrestling is just entertainment and no one should get so obsessed and live every moment for a sport. Meet some people that you have some things in common with, even if that common trait is wrestling. Separate yourself a little from wrestling, little bits at a time, and become a person on your own. Good Luck.

You're not the only one.

But after reading up a lot about wrestlers, what goes on inside and outside the ring, hearing shoots, skimming through articles, witnessing the highs and lows, and finding out what a lot of wrestlers think of fans on the Internet like you and myself, I personally can't be attached to them like that anymore. The scandals, the backstabbings, the terrible happenings and deaths, and just reading about those who work hard and never get anything because of those who shortcut through whatever promotion they're in makes me not want to be attached to it like yourself. I look at Professional Wrestling as more of a job as opposed to a passionate way of life now that I've read and listened to a lot regarding it, though I know there are still people who attach themselves to their favorites.

I have my personal favorites in Professional Wrestling, and I have my list of people I don't like. However, I don't really get very emotional about much in the business like I did when I was younger, as I tend to look at it more like a business since I know there are some who could care less about being part of it forever and just see it as a way to make money. A few things rile me up here and there, but for the most part, I just progress on and not make it part of my everyday routine.

BQ: Crazy? No, I've seen crazier in other sports. Have you crossed football fans, especially in the NCAA, or even Soccer fans come FIFA time?

i do get emotionally attached to wrestlers. i really feel attached to hbk because he's been through a lot and he over came alot. we are both spiritual people. if i ever meet him one day i will tell him how much he's inspired me. when he injured 11 years ago, i felt very bad for him. wrestling is his life and i thought i wouldn't be able to see my favorite wrestler wrestle anymore. it hurt me to see him in agony because he thought after all those years of hard work were gonna go down the drain. that was an emotional roller coster for me. when eddie and chris benoit died, i felt an emptiness. it's like when i'm having a pissy day, i turn to wrestling and it cheers me up. wrestling is my life and i will always have wrestling in my mind. people say i'm crazy because god come first, family, friends, then wrestling. people always judge and ask me why i have wrestling a part of my life,i tell them to mind their their own damn business and worry about their life, but anyway, i love wrestling and wrestling will always be a part of my heart. - straight simple

and no you're not crazy for loving wrestling the way you do. who cares what people think? do you.