Yeah, we know it’s not real, and by acknowledging it, pro wrestling is adding fans and gaining respect
A WARNING FOR uninitiated social media trawlers: Aug. 20 was WWE’s SummerSlam. If this seems irrelevant to you, perhaps you can relate to this scenario instead: You were spending yet another evening on Twitter, scrolling away your ennui, when the accounts you follow for sports and news suddenly started posting about superplexes. Soon you realised this was a full-scale invasion of the bodyslammers. You were left scratching your head. Why, you wondered, is my timeline suddenly filled with . . . wrestling?
This is not a phenomenon specific to the Twitter verse. In recent years pro wrestling discussion has steadily seeped into mainstream media in unexpected ways, with surprising staying power. SI.com now runs weekly wrestling features and interviews while regularly spotlighting viral worthy in-ring moments. Last August, ESPN.com launched a WWE-focused vertical, almost a year after it began devoting weekly SportsCenter segments to interviews with wrestlers. Other outlets, including The New York Times, are giving more frequent space to the subject as well. Stars like John Cena have gone Hollywood. Suddenly pro wrestling—the scripted pseudo-sport long dismissed by virtually everyone but its fans—is seemingly everywhere. What gives?
Denne historien er fra September 2017-utgaven av Sports Illustrated India.
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Denne historien er fra September 2017-utgaven av Sports Illustrated India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Hockey World Cup- India Gears Up For Glory
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Making the transition from the junior level to the senior team has been quite challenging but a hugely rewarding experience.
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A legend in his own time, Sir Roger was most proud of his neurology research but his historic sub-four mile run in 1954 is still regarded as one of his best breakthroughs
Battle Ready
A star-studded Indian contingent seeks to reshape its approach with rising talent, even as seasoned warriors in badminton, weight-lifting, shooting and wrestling aim for gold
Safe Passage
The Dustup That Marred the Return of Chris Paul to L.a. Has Faded. As the Point God Settles Into a New Home, He Has a New Running Buddy and a Group of Teammates Who Feel Like a Family
