Recently there was a debate on a popular wrestling fan site concerning wrestling as theatre, and in my diverse line of work it’s a debate I was fascinated by. Beyond the Mat’s Barry Blausten commented in his poplar documentary on the colorful and theatrical world of wrestling, and even legendary George Hackenschmitd claimed that without theatrics, wrestling wouldn’t work. Even in his era.

Wrestling is no different from theater in many regards. The audience will decide who they like and dislike based on the attitudes of the wrestlers, such as the battle between Eric Canyon and Scott Renwick in recent times. SWA fans have attached themselves to Renwick as an underdog under fire, constantly rising above challenges made by Eric Canyon and showing the heart of a champion, while Canyon has fallen into the role of the villain with his hellbent vendetta driving him towards control of the company.

Much like in boxing and MMA, wrestling also tends to unleash a story that we can link to. All three sports have had David versus Goliath concepts, larger fighters taking on the small underdog with the crowds often rooting for the underdog to achieve the huge upset. As soon as the fans connect and cheer for one man and begin to loathe the other, a story develops and unfolds and the audience is absorbed in that story,hoping for a happy ending.

Whether they get that happy ending or not, that’s up to the men in the ring. But the live performance and audience involvement, not to mention wrestlers often playing up to crowd response, goading them if they’re booed and asking for more support if the crowd are cheering them, is not unlike the theater world.

Those of us that watch theater are shown a live performance of a story we can get emotionally invested in, that we can sit and form opinions of, following the hero’s as they fight against the villains. Sometime those lines are blurred, sometimes there’s a point to be made. But in both, there’s a story to be told and audiences lose themselves in that story. And comparison’s to classic themes in stories such as greed, revenge, power can easily be seen between the lines in the world of wrestling as ego and personal motivations often become clear in the ring.

So, is wrestling theater? Quite possibly. But there’s one thing he’s forgetting.

To me, theater is a lie. No one dies during a production of Hamlet. No one really has a grudge, no one really questions whether their life is worth living or struggles through deep personal issues. They portray it. They pretend. They drag the audience into a false reality and try to lead them through a journey. Which involves a lot of talent, it is entertaining and whether the performance is live or on a huge screen, it’s always a wonderful experience to have.

With wrestling, as much as you want to attach the performers tag on it, the pain you see is real. The challenges and the struggles are real and as much as the talent plays up to the reactions of the crowd, the people aren’t actors throwing out a performance or pretending to be someone else, they are real people living real lives and entering the ring as themselves. Maybe with a stage name or an alias, but the person in the ring isn’t pretending to be someone else.

I have showed the world of wrestling who I am and people hate me for it. I was booed, I was loathed, I was despised. I opened myself up, put myself on show for all the world to see and let them judge me.

How can that not be real?

The reality hit Rob Drummond like a, well… like a skinny actor hitting the canvas with a dislocated elbow. Those in the arts community have seen Rob limping through Glasgow with his legs giving in from some intense workouts from Joe Coffey, his arm in a sling and his ego bruised. It’s not easy. He learned that the hard way.

It’s been a long road for Rob in the past few months. A crash course in pro wrestling from the inside out. It’s taken it’s toll emotionally and physically but the end of that road is in sight. As Rob Drummond: Wrestling hits The Arches Theatre from February 8th-13th.

Book your tickets here or Join the Facebook page.

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Tags: friday rant, glasgow, the arches