Rebuilding the Fourth Wall in Professional Wrestling Virtuously
Since its dawn, sporting scandal after scandal, the world of professional wrestling has been perceived as the low hanging fruit in the crossover of sports and entertainment. The infamous stories are so abundant that there is an entire series on VICE dedicated to them. Well, I know a friend who enjoys watching grown men cosplay-fighting in their underwear, so there has to be a way to balance on-screen drama and corporate integrity in order to keep him satisfied.
When your characters are intrinsically connected with the people behind them, the line between fiction and reality becomes quite blurry – even casual fans and outsiders are aware that the fights are scripted. Producing movies, series or TV shows would also become a nightmare of authenticity if the predominant word associated with them was “fake”.
So, how to proceed? Two distinct solutions seamlessly arise. The safest route available is to disseminate the theatrical gimmicks with fantastical elements across the industry, something which has worked well in the past. A goth cemetery worker and his pyromaniac brother come to mind. While this over-the-top approach would incorporate the absurdity of professional wrestling and facilitate the separation of character and portrayer, it would also alienate hardcore fans who may still need the illusion of palpable animosity to enjoy the show.
The riskier alternative entails presenting the product in a more sports-oriented fashion. With the merger of the top MMA and professional wrestling organisations, this emerges as the most viable option for the near future. Real life events can be used to shape the storylines and add credibility to the action. Punishing malefactors and building storylines becomes more organic; however, wrestler misconduct will also drag the corporate image down.
There is no superlative solution. Dealing with prima donnas and reckless individuals is always a liability in a competitive environment. Fortunately, contemporary locker rooms are healthier than ever (well, some of them), and the cooperation between talent is being reflected in the end product. There is hope for the future of professional wrestling, and even for that peculiar friend who still relishes it.
The author is a certified enjoyer of unorthodox ideas, good ol' music and whimsical entertainment.
