Have you ever been channel surfing and come upon a show with burley men that are trying to settle their differences while wearing ridiculous outfits in front of thousands of people? Chances are, you have. If you were to continue watching, you would notice a lot more than just men in tights. These crazy "soap operas" are filled with violence, drug references, obscene gestures, and scantily clad women. Welcome to the new age of professional wrestling. Sure, these aren’t things that adults haven’t seen before, but what about the millions of viewers every Monday night that are under the age of 18? What message does pro wrestling send to our kids?
Some effects of pro wrestling are obvious. Such wrestling phrases and expressions like "slap nuts," "know your role," and "suck it" are being repeated not only by children, but also by adults. Professional football players have been seen doing the Degeneration X "crotch chop" after a big play. If it affects adults, imagine the impact it will have on our kids. The thing that parents are worried about is the fact that children are repeating these phrases and gestures at school and on the playground.
Not only are children duplicating wrestling "gimmicks," but they are also wearing the apparel of their favorite superstars. Wrestling t-shirts are everywhere, but should they be banned from schools? Schools around the country have banned any clothing related to pro wrestling, whether it is appropriate or not. These shirts should not be prohibited because of their ties to wrestling, but rather because of what is printed on them. But these are not the only problems linked to wrestling’s effects on kids. In fact, there are much worse problems because of kids pretending to be pro wrestlers. And I’m not talking about brothers going at it in the living room. Children are performing wrestling moves without any training or supervision.
The creation of backyard wrestling organizations around the world is resulting in some pretty serious consequences. Backyard federations consist of untrained teenagers putting on weekly wrestling shows in their garages, backyards, or basements. Quite often, these matches are more brutal than the pro’s that we see on TV. And the risks that some teens take have led to serious injuries. In one Midwestern state, an 18 year-old killed his best friend while doing a wrestling move called the "pile driver" (Source: Anderson, 1999). How far will these teens go to emulate the wrestlers that they see on television? And how did these wild teens ever get the idea to pull off wrestling stunts at home?
Many people credit the idea to Mick Foley of the World Wrestling Federation. When Foley was younger, he and his friends staged wrestling matches that were videotaped for their own future enjoyment. Some say that it was Foley’s dive off of a roof during one of these matches that got him a job in the pro wrestling business. "Sure, I got my foot in the door by jumping off a roof, but it took me six years before I started outearning the guy who works the Slurpee machine at 7-Eleven (Foley 345)."
Foley does not condone backyard wrestling but after viewing some matches, he stated, "That looks like fun. I mean, that’s no different than kids going out and playing tackle football when they really should be playing touch football. Should the kids be hitting each other with garbage cans? Probably not. But they all look like friends. I don’t think they’re doing anything out of anger. I wasn’t so crazy about the light bulbs to the head (Source: 20/20, 1999)."
What? Light bulbs? Are these teens crazy? Undoubtedly, they are. Parents are worried. And they should be. But why the constant attacks on the industry? Who is really responsible for raising kids? Who decides which programs are allowed in each household? What about the parents? If parents allow their kids to watch professional wrestling, they must also warn them of the real dangers involved. If you tell a child that it is fake, they are more likely to copy the moves seen on TV because then they are under the impression that no one gets hurt. Kids need to know the consequences of performing these dangerous moves. So what about the teens that are willing to do anything in the backyard? Typically, they are aware of the consequences, yet they think they are either invincible to injury or they just don’t give a damn if they get hurt. For example, fifteen-year-old Chris Donnally injured himself while doing moves at home in his basement. "I love wrestling. It makes me feel like a man. Even though I broke my wrist and strained my hamstring, I still get a thrill out of backyard wrestling," Donnally said (http://www.connectingwithkids.com).
Clearly, violence through the reproduction of stunts and catch phrases is a result of pro wrestling on television. Where else would a young child see a power-bomb or a pile driver being performed? Where would they learn negative expressions such as "suck it"? Generally, these are not things that parents, teachers, or ministers are teaching our kids. World Championship Wrestling spokesman Alan Sharp has said, "Kids have always imitated their heroes - that’s part of being a kid (Source: Anderson, 1999)." When these kids watch their heroes perform weekly on television, they are eventually going to do just that. Mick Foley says, "Did it concern Adam West and Bert Ward that me and my brother were going, ‘Pow, wham, zowee,’ you know, in the kitchen? I‘m essentially Adam West with a different color pair of tights (Source: 20/20, 1999)." So whether these heroes are wrestlers, comic book characters, or television superheroes, the actions that they make will be copied by impressionable young minds.
There really is no definite solution to problems that arise when kids copy wrestling moves. Wrestling organizations are constantly warning kids, but parents still complain that not enough is being done. Viewers that watch professional wrestling responsibly and for its pure entertainment value will not be affected in a negative manner. Many people laugh at the mention of professional wrestling, yet it is a valid form of entertainment. But it is an even more valid concern for parents whose children are negatively affected and injured by the messages that are sent by this powerful industry.
Anderson, Kendall "Sibling’s wrestling move killed N. Dallas boy, 3." The Dallas Morning News 1 July 1999 (http://www.dallasnews.com/metro/0701met1000wrestler.htm)
"Backyard Wrestling." 20/20. Narr. Deborah Roberts. ABCNEWS. 25 Aug. 1999
Foley, Mick. Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc, 1999
Wrestling Wannabes. 2000. CWK Network. (http://www.connectingwithkids.com)
