5 Questions New Fans Should Ask Themselves
Welcome to the pro wrestling fandom! However you managed to find yourself in this wacky world of half-naked individuals fighting each other for super snazzy belts, we’re glad you’re here. Jumping into a new sport, show, or activity can be a little daunting for some so here are some key questions to think about in order to better cater your pro wrestling experience to your tastes. There’s really no right or wrong way to enjoy pro wrestling so just think of this as kind of a guide.
Question 1: What kind of wrestling do you like?
Do you like comedy wrestling? Deathmatches? Spot fests? The type of wrestling that you like will greatly influence the types of promotions and events you gravitate toward. As you start to get your feet wet in the wrestling world, look around at the different types of matches and promotions to figure out your likes and dislikes. Everyone is different and different people enjoy different things.
Question 2: What kind of wrestlers do you like?
With so much wonderful talent out there, there truly is someone for everyone. Whether you like flips, technicality, brute strength, or hardcore violence, there is a wrestler out there that can satisfy your entertainment needs. Finding a new performer to watch, or even the body of work of a performer who’s caught your eye, is often as simple as throwing out a request for recommendations. I know I’ve found at least a dozen new wrestlers just from the recommendations of the online wrestling community. Don’t feel obligated to like or dislike certain wrestlers because of how others feel. Like and who follow whoever fits your fancy!
Question 3: How much time am I trying to invest?
Wrestling can be a time-consuming passion. With WWE alone, there’s eight hours of weekly programming, around fifteen hours if there’s pay-per-views on that weekend. Add any other promotions or events you’re interested in and you can easily rack up twenty-four hours of content. That is a lot of content! Of course, not every fan watches everything that’s available. Some fans watch every episode of their chosen promotion dutifully, others only pop in when there’s a big match or event lined up, and even more only watch the highlight clips. It’s all about how much time you’re wanting to invest and no answer is wrong.
Question 4: How much money do I want to spend?
Between live events, streaming platforms, meet and greets, and merchandise, being a wrestling fan can get expensive. Just like with time commitments, there’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to financial commitments. If you want to buy the replica belt and get customized name plates, go for it. If you only want to buy a shirt when it’s on sale, do that. It doesn’t matter whether you have all the belts and every figure under the sun or if you have one small poster, it’s your money to spend however you want on your passion.
Question 5: What are my access options?
WWE airs on a channel that is included in a lot of cable packages in the US and YouTube is free so those are generally accessible. But other media platforms may not be as accessible depending on your location or financial situation. This is something that you take into account. Try to find platforms that show multiple promotions or events to get the most bang for your buck. Or find a promotion you’re really into before committing to their exclusive streaming service.
-Wynter
