The answer, according to most people who know the wrestling world, is not “yes” or “no,” it’s actually a combination of the two. How can that be, you may ask? Well, most of the participants and promoters who are willing to talk about it say that the sport of professional wrestling in the WWE follows a script in which the winners are determined before the match begins.
Characters created by the wrestlers and their promoters are written into a story that provides general guidelines for how the match is to be conducted and how it is supposed to end. In this sense, WWE wrestling is entertainment, just as a movie or a stage play would be. Many people pay to watch this entertainment, knowing full well that it is scripted.
What many defenders of WWE wrestling point out however, is that the athletic ability and physical activity is very real, even if the wrestlers aren’t hitting each other as hard as it might seem. Real injuries occur, some that shorten a career or even put an end to a career. In this sense it is very real.
So, the answer to the question “fake or real?” is a combination of “yes” and “no.” Some defenders compare it to other shows that are based on true events, or created to give the illusion of reality, such as crime shows and even soap operas. The emotions, movements and conversations are real, even though they follow a well-defined pattern.
Among the opinions of fans of WWE wrestling, you will find similar opinions. Most of them realize that the storyline of good vs. evil is fiction. They also understand that both participants know how long the match is going to last and who is supposed to prevail. There are certain points within the match at which one wrestler appears to be in control. This is temporary, however, because the opponent is also given a moment to shine. Of course, all of this is determined well before hand, in planning meetings that are not much different from those associated with other shows.
Some people have claimed that a few wrestlers will create wounds with razor blades and other techniques so that the audience is even more thrilled and involved in the match. Yet fans do not take issue with this, as some point out that this method is used even more extensively in movies. The key is to realize that WWE wrestling is entertainment, just like a favorite action or horror film.
One of the key arguments about WWE wrestling is that fans should just accept it as entertainment but also should appreciate that the professional wrestlers are athletes, stunt performers and acrobats all in one. Perhaps the thrill of professional wrestling is similar to that of NASCAR. Fans realize that the drivers aren’t on the highway, really chasing each other. They are in a sport, even if the finish isn’t scripted. However, some fans are there to see the crashes, just as there are wrestling fans there to be entertained, while hoping to see someone get hurt.
