10 Stages Of Life As A Wrestling Fan
4. Going Dark
This stage isn’t exclusive to all wrestling fans.
Some persevere through the darkest days of the New Generation, like its King Of The Ring debut headlined by two ageing territory era stars. Some WCW fans were able to stomach Hulk Hogan at his absolute dogsh*t worst (professionally, obviously). Throughout late ’95/early ’96, the Hulkster was confronted by the Dungeon Of Doom stable in what was the most lopsided heel versus babyface dynamic ever, before his there-are-wires-everywhere-brothers non-apology to the WWE locker room at Extreme Rules.
Some, like your writer, tapped out to Triple H’s Indian Death Lock as RAW, in early-to-mid 2003, devolved from the most awe-inspiring spectacle of stunts, stars and Sable to a searingly sad spin-off in which Triple H sleepwalked through a succession of boring, boring matches and repetitive promos that somehow felt even longer. The Game was more cut scenes than action back then, and it was enough to make several fans realise that, maybe, wrestling’s gone a bit sh*t now, so let’s try to meet girls.
Or, failing that, watch some other form of entertainment before crying our 17 year-old selves to sleep.