For those who have known me for quite a while, many of you know this to be a passion of mine. For those who know little of me, you may wonder after learning about my passion whether or not I'm a nutcase.
Nevertheless, I would not be bringing this up if it wasn't of great enough importance to be put in the encouragement letter.
I am a pro wrestling and have been one since I was 8 years old. For those unfamiliar with the sport (yes I do call it that to a degree, you'll see why in a second), professional wrestling is what's considered the male's soap opera. Talented and athletic individuals compete in wrestling matches that are scripted and predetermined. These wrestlers either portray as good guys or bad guys, act out their respective characters, and attempt to become the best in the business by winning the numerous title belts that are in the business. They also cut interviews, spit out catchphrases, and attempt to antagonize their opponents by insults or interfering in their matches. All this is done to build up hype for a certain feud that would be settled in a match on a pay-per-view show. So the whole idea behind wrestling is that's it's like a comic book; it's theme is generally the good vs. evil concept. The villain's job is to get the audience to hate him for what he does, whether it's insulting them or beating down their favorite superstar. The hero is obviously is suppose to get the audience to cheer for him and to beat down the villain. The concept may sound bland and simple, but with the variety of characters these wrestlers portray, the storylines are given twists and turns and keep things fresh week by week.
The sport aspect behind this is what these guys do to themselves every night in arenas. Has any of you watched that MTV reality series, Tough Enough? Watch that and you'll get a taste of what people like the Rock and Steve Austin have to go through 24/7. Taking bumps is an aspect that is hard to master, even if it's a simple bodyslam. The guys on WWF are throwing each other around with suplexes, top-rope maneuvers, and power moves. That takes quite a bit of athleticism to accomplish these feats (not even NFL players could pull that off; trust me, football players have tried to wrestle, it isn't pretty). They can even get extreme to the point that they are bashing their heads in with chairs, being put through tables, and jumping off 20-foot ladders to do an aerial move on the opponent below. This is almost EVERY NIGHT too, don't forget. There is nothing fake about that; they get hurt and fight hurt each night. Some might think this is crazy, but I respect them for it because they are willing to put their bodies on the line for the sake of entertaining people as well as supporting their loved ones. It's no different than when football players go out there and try to tackle down their opponents or hockey players try to check skaters into the boards and steal the puck from them; it's all about entertaining, providing for the family, and attempting to be the best they can be.
So now that I've bored you to death with this wrestling dribble, you're probably asking, what's this guy's point? Why would he write this in his encouragement letter? Well if any of you watch wrestling today, you must know how quite raunchy and vulgar it can get. The wrestling's still there, but some of the storylines just aren't for children like they were back in the old days of Hulk Hogan. There is at times profanity, gratuitous violence, and sexual references and innuendos diplayed on TV. Features like this on a pro wrestling show tell you that this might not be the most pleasing piece of television to teach morals to kids (as if any show seems to be nowadays).
Now I love wrestling because the sport behind it intrigues me and I have a great deal of respect for how much effort these wrestlers put into their work. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't the least convicted now and then about what I watch now. And it's a shame too, having loved what was cool to me when I was a child and seeing it get corrupted into the filth it can turn out to be every now and then. I still watch it for the sport aspect, but believe me, it gets more difficult as the days go by to watch it.
I am not the only one who feels this way about wrestling now. Some wrestlers themselves have been convicted of the life they led in the ring and outside of it. A prime example would be a wrestler named Sting (a.k.a Steve Borden).
The man above here has been the dark and brooding conscience of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) for over 15 years. He's considered one of the greats in the business and was one that kept WCW going even to the company's dying days from last year.
One look at the man and you would think he personified evil through this "crow" persona. But behind the black and white face paint, there is a man, just plain old Steve Borden, that stuggled with inner demons and almost saw his life at home shattered due to this wrestling lifestyle. Borden only started realizing this two years ago when he had become a born-again Christian.
Sting saw what we as believers see every day in this world throughout our walks with God. He started to see how raunchy the wrestling product had become upon his transformation. Behind the cameras, there was also a lot of political manipulation in WCW, where some wrestlers would use their influence to get what they want and have others who may have deserved bigger and better things to be held back. Outside the ring, some wrestlers would spend their free time at bars and clubs, getting drunk, finding girls, playing pranks, etc. Borden saw this new world with a new set of eyes and was disgusted by it. But unfortunately, like any working person, he had to provide, for himself and the family. So his wrestling days went on while keeping an eye out to make sure he would not be tempted into joining the wrong lifestyle. Only one can wonder how much spiritual aches and pains this man was going through.
In March 2001, WCW had suffered tremendous financial losses due to its poor running of the company and would eventually be sold to the WWF, not only ending the company's proud tradition of classic wrestling but ending the career of the wrestler Sting. Sting hung up the tights after his last match on a WCW broadcast. For the man fans knew as Sting, he was put to rest once and for all. For the man family and friends know as Steve Borden, this was his chance to finally break free of that troubling lifestyle. It was a time to be the husband and father who could devote his time completely to the family he loved. It was also a time to get on the right track with his relationship with God. Today, Borden says that Sting is dead and that he no longer sees himself hitting the ring once more.
We all know the world is a dangerous place to live in and that, as believers in Jesus Christ, we must face these dangers and either confront them and let them know our stories or we run away so that we not be tempted by them. The professional wrestling world is no different. In Steve Borden's case, he had to live through the spiritual torment he was bearing since he became a Christian and he had to be careful not to have his eyes "wander". That one slip could cost a great deal. Many others could attest to that slip-up. A good example would be Jake Roberts. To wrestling fans, he was Jake "The Snake" Roberts, but backstage, some people didn't know who he was. Jake had been a popular superstar in the WWF during the late 80s to early 90s, but drug and alcohol abuse came about that severly demoralized him. In 1996, Jake had become a Christian and ministered to his fellow co-workers when he made a brief return to the WWF. He even turned his beliefs into a gimmick for his character on TV, discussing how much God changed his life. But the long road of constantly working and bad situations with his family brought back his demons. He slipped back to his drug and alcohol habits and was eventually fired by the WWF.
So we can see how much we need to know when to draw that line. Can we truly go through our work or any other commitment without stumbling in our walks with God? The Christian wrestlers of this world have to keep an eye out for this 24/7 because there's no telling what new plan Satan might cook up to get them to stumble again. But despite what evils may lurk behind the wrestling curtains, there is work going on in this business where wrestling is being used as a tool in converting people to Christianity.
Those big on 80's wrestling might remember this face on Saturday morning television. He was once known as "The Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase. His character was one that was filthy rich and had a catchphrase going by "everybody has a price." And his character took that literally; he bought everything and everybody he could use to his advantage. Dibiase saw great fame and fortune coming from the portrayal of his character during the 80s. But as it states in his catchphrase, Dibiase's very life had a price. According to his autobiography Everybody Has A Price, Dibiase acknowledged the pitfalls that came to being a wrestling superstar, from the addictive nature of drugs and alcohol to the creation of a gigantic ego that went unchecked many times. Upon leaving the WWF, he started to make drastic changes to his life to ensure the safety of his own well-being. With a lot of time and a lot of patience, Ted Dibiase was reborn from the millionaire to the minister that has witnessed to thousands. Ted now goes around the country partaking in spiritual seminars, youth outreaches, and motivational speaking engagements as means to get the gospel out to the people. He even created his own wrestling promotion called Power Wrestling Alliance that promotes wrestling but with a serious spiritual message. Ted was also the very person that planted the seed in Steve Borden's heart and waited for it to grow within him. The planting resulted soon enough in Borden participating in Dibiase's ministry.
Amazing isn't it? Amazing how what a business that is considered vulgar and raunchy today can be used by God as a tool to reach out to the people that don't know Him! It just goes to show how much God is in control and that not even something as disgusting as professional wrestling can be these days can be totally taken over by Satan for his own uses. God will use what he wants to use by any means necessary so as to get the message out there loud and clear to everybody. And who knows, the efforts being put forth by people like Borden and Dibiase could bring people like the Rock or Stone Cold Steve Austin to know Jesus Christ in their hearts. We can never and should never doubt that despite what we may see them do. God likes these challenges and wants us and people like Borden and Dibiase to take part in these challenges as well. Remember, we are God's soldiers, every task we take upon from Him is gonna be a battle. But the rewards are truly beneficial.
So now....I still love pro wrestling. I enjoy the athleticism, the well-planned matches, the characters these wrestlers create, just the whole spectacle about it. I cringe at certain aspects of it, but I keep going at it not just because it's a hobby or the fact that it's a comic book coming to life. I also keep going because, after reading about the efforts people are putting forth in spreading the gospel through this business, I have hope for these guys. I have hope that they can see the light and come to know Jesus. I have hope that they will see that there is only one way and one way alone to a personal relationship with God and eternal life in heaven. I have hope that I will see these guys in heaven when our times come. Once again, it may sound crazy and unusual, but who am I to doubt God and the extent of His abilities? God is the biggest superstar out there and he is the one that's writing the scripts, making the rules, and making sure Satan and his troops will lose in every single match!
So I thank you for letting me voice my opinion on the state of my hobby. I hope people don't think less of me here, but I just felt in my heart that this needed to be said. There are indeed many cruel and dark places out there, areas that Satan does have under his control. But there is some light piercing through this darkness. And as you've just read, yes, that light can even cut deep into the dark world of pro wrestling. So I say, let's just keep the faith going and let's keep these wrestlers in prayer, from the ones using the business to witness to people to the ones that don't know of this light yet.
I thank you all and God bless!