10 Ways Wrestling Changes You As A Person

9. You Become Paranoid

CM Punk Change
WWE Network

Hulk Hogan is notoriously unable to separate fact from fiction.

Having spent so long in the who’s-working-who world of pro wrestling, in his head, he apologised to Mark Henry in Wembley Stadium at WrestleMania 33. Hogan will remain forever touched by Henry’s dying, tear-stained words: “I forgive you…

…brother.”

We mock Hogan, but this is true of us all. We have spent so long questioning the motives of our heroes, who never stay heroes for long (about three weeks, in the case of EC3), that we assume every f*cker we’ve ever met is working some sort of gimmick in a simulation of reality.

That genuinely nice guy in the office, who is eager to help the new girl settle in? Yeah, he wants to bang her. That genuinely nice guy isn’t nice at all, for nobody is. He’s too nice. He probably goes home and emotionally manipulates his missus, because holding up that mask exhausts all of his patience. He’s working a gimmick. They’re all working gimmicks. They’re looking to take your spot in their private Slack thread. Your manager is about to call a meeting, and that’s it for you. You’re f*cked. Best of luck in your future endeavours. They are making fun of you behind your back. These people do it when there’s a camera in front of their face.

What’s stopping them?

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!