So You Want to Become a Professional Wrestler

A Sport that is "Real" to Those that Enjoy It

Sometimes I think the coolest job in the world would be that of a professional wrestler. Think of it: you get to be in the best shape of your life, you are on television all the time, you travel the world and you can act. That's right -- act. Because unless you haven't been paying attention, professional wrestling came out of the closet so-to-speak and spilled the beans on its trade secrets. The biggest one of all is that professional wrestling is entertainment.

Prior to Vince McMahon and Ted Turner taking professional wrestling to a another level in the late 1980's and early 1990's, pro wrestling had it's own code-of-ethics and it can be summed up by one term: Kayfabe. Kayfabe basically meant "keep your mouth shut" -- in as much as no promoter wanted anyone outside of the gym to know that professional wrestling was fake.

Well now the cat's out of the bag. But just in case you don't follow the matches, let me put you on the short course to pro wrestling success:

In the acclaimed Autobiography ofJack Brisco(Culture House Books, February 2004) the former NWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion sheds a lot of light on how the rules of the game of professional wrestling have changed over the years. Jack writes that while it's true that the plots are predetermined and the moves are choreographed. Wrestlers aren't really trying to beat up and injure each other. The fact of the matter is that most wrestlers are exceptional athletes who train for many hours each day to maintain their physical condition. Brisco for example was a former NCAA collegiate wrestling champion. Pros practice for years to learn both the moves and how to execute them safely while still making it look dangerous. There's certainly nothing fake about flying 20 feet through the air from the top rope. (Check the AC archives and you can read more about Jack Brisco and professional wrestling).