5 Stupidest Questions Wrestling Fans Get Asked

2. Isn't Wrestling For Kids?

What Do You Watch Wrestling For
WWE.com

Wrestling is meant to be for children, according to many, who by extension must think that it is acceptable to teach that the best form of conflict resolution is through cracking somebody in the spine with a steel chair.

Wrestling is an incredibly diverse form of entertainment, and this question merely exposes the ignorance of those posing it - and we're the ones who are meant to be stupid.

Even when directly targeted towards the family audience, wrestling can be enjoyed by everybody. Saturday Morning Slam contained within it incredible ingenuity given the restrictions imposed on the talent. CHIKARA, meanwhile, is unashamedly PG, but is so creative and fun that there is no need for the weapons and blood that have made countless shows and matches decidedly unsuitable for innocent eyes.

The demarkation between demographics isn't just marked by barbed wire. At its best, the storytelling craft within pro wrestling is as layered and rewarding as other forms of entertainment which are deemed as "acceptable".

A young fan might enjoy something like the recent Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens series for its flashy moves and the former's brilliant portrayal of an underdog, but an older and more informed fan can better appreciate its epic backstory and the way in which the matches are structured and subverted to recall it.

The Pixar films and The Simpsons are routinely and heavily praised for their ability to transcend age barriers, yet wrestling is rarely if ever given credit for its longevity and diversity.

Contributor
Contributor

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 current Undisputed WWE 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!