WWE’s WrestleMania 32 is headed to AT&T Stadium Sunday, April 3, and it’s set to be the largest, most awe-inspiring edition of the spectacle to date.
For the uninitiated, wrestling may seem like an inferior “sport.” When I tell people I’m a wrestling fan, there is, almost without failure, a snicker and a “what, really?” to follow.
Yes, really. And you should be too.
Here’s why you should, if you haven’t already, pay your hard-earned money and head to Jerry World in a couple weeks.
First of all, professional wrestling is not what you think it is.
“You know it’s fake, right?”
Sigh. Duh, but it’s more real than most TV shows.
Trust me, wrestling fans get this all the time.
The common misconception is that wrestling is a fake sport masquerading as a real one. The truth is it’s not supposed to be real. It’s theatrical. Just like Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead, the characters are fiction and the storyline is pre-determined. But the body slams, high-flying maneuvers and chair shots – those are all real. These athletes are telling stories in the ring, and they’re putting their bodies on the line four or five nights a week for 52 weeks a year to do so.
If that doesn’t garner your respect, then there’s nothing I could say here to convince you.
Wait. Was that a WWE segment I just watched on SportsCenter?
Indeed it was. And you’ll only start seeing them more often.
Wrestling is beginning to creep out of the shameful shadows and into the mainstream media. Popular names like Jon Stewart, Bill Simmons, Seth Green and Michelle Beadle are all avid fans. Two ESPN personalities – Jonathan Coachman and Todd Grisham – got their big breaks as commentators in WWE.
Every year, the Internet seems to go crazy with the newest wrestling-themed joke. In 2014 it was the incessant “RKO out of nowhere” videos.
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Last year, we saw 2015’s version of a Rick Roll when John Cena started popping up when we least expected it.
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Sooner or later, you’ll make a friend who is an unabashed wrestling fan. It’d be best to get ahead of the game now, and why not start by being a part of something special at WrestleMania 32?
You could be a part of the world attendance record.
This year, WWE will try to regain the indoor attendance record, which it held for 23 years until 108,713 fans packed (where else?) AT&T Stadium for the 2010 NBA All-Star game, shattering the WrestleMania II record of 93,173.
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon wants his record back, and he’s pulling out all the stops to get fans’ attention. He may not reach 108,000, but anything less than 100,000 will be a huge blow for the company.
Help the man out, and be a part of history in doing so.
The big names are sure to come out for “the granddaddy of them all.”
Truth is, WWE has been decimated by injuries to top stars over the past year. Big names like John Cena, Randy Orton and Seth Rollins are on the shelf with injuries. Daniel Bryan, the fan-favorite underdog who left ‘Mania with the title two years ago, just announced his retirement last month.
But even with these stars out, people you’ve heard of like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Ric Flair, Mick Foley and Shawn Michaels are all slated to appear. Another staple every year at WrestleMania is The Undertaker, whose persona is pretty much that of a 6-foot-10 zombie (again, it’s a TV show, guys).
Because of all the injures, his opponent this year is Shane McMahon – the real-life son of Vince McMahon, the owner of the company. The Undertaker may be undead in the show, but in real life he’s 50 years old. And Shane is a 46-year old non-wrestler. Wait, why would that be any fun, you ask? Here’s why:
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Oh, and the match is a “Hell in a Cell” match. And there’s a good-to-great chance Shane is going to plummet off the 20-foot structure at some point in the night.
BROCK LESNAR
You’ve probably heard the name. The former college wrestling champion-turned WWE champion-turned failed NFL player-turned UFC champion-turned WWE champion again is the biggest, baddest dude in the business. Seeing this 6-foot-3, 290-pound behemoth destroy everything in his path is worth the price of admission alone, which, by the way, isn’t all that unfair. Tickets on resale sites are available for as low as $100 a piece.
Just listen to the crowd when Lesnar’s music hits.
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Now imagine that in front of the record-breaking crowd of 100,000-plus.
Chills.
He’s going up against the much smaller Dean Ambrose, who is sort of a fearless underdog-type character, in a street fight, which is sure to tear the house down. Expect weapons, and lots of them in this David vs. Goliath story.
This is the wrestling renaissance, and you didn’t even know it.
Pundits have begun referring to this era as the “wrestling renaissance,” and the WWE signing many young, talented independent wrestlers may warrant that distinction. But what many are excited about these days is women’s wrestling. Real women’s wrestling.
For years WWE just paraded out a crop of young models with zero in-ring talent for the occasional bikini contest or bra-and-panties match. That won’t fly anymore. Nor should it. Now the business has built a wildly talented women’s roster, and three of the best in the world – Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks and Charlotte, the real-life daughter of the legendary Ric Flair – will go at it on the grandest stage of them all in a triple threat match.
While the main event will feature WWE champion and WrestleMania stalwart Triple H, the show will feature newcomers like Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and A.J. Styles. There will also be a classic over-the-top-rope battle royal on the card, and those are always a lot of fun.
You never know who will show up.
Celebrities are always out and about at WrestleMania, and this year WWE will try to one-up itself with some surprises and shenanigans for the largest event in the company’s history.
Ronda Rousey made an appearance last year. WWE Hall of Famer (really) Donald Trump participated in a “Battle of the Billionaires” versus Vince McMahon back in 2007, which resulted in the WWE chairman having his head shaved in the middle of the ring by the 2016 presidential candidate.
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Wacky stuff. Can’t-miss stuff.
Plus, even for someone who doesn’t care for the action, the music, lights and pyrotechnics are spectacular and there are sure to be a few more surprises along the way. And if I still haven’t convinced you, there’s always plenty of beer and unbeatable people-watching to tide you over while you take in history.
Worst case, if you get too drunk at the tailgate, just sleep in your car overnight and hop over to Globe Life Park the following afternoon. The Rangers open their season next door on Monday.
