The Evil History Of Pro Wrestling | Bill DeMott

A wrestler needs to develop thick skin. They perform in front of a live audience that, while increasingly detached and performative, can be cruel. While this is overrated by the more defensive people within the industry, some wrestling fans are massively fickle and liable to turn on their favourites - and very quickly. Wrestling fans have never been less likely to incite a riot, but they can still hurl abuse, develop icky parasocial relationships, and even stalk those that they idolise to a psychotic extent.

A wrestler either has the mentality, or they don’t. Some need pushing to find it within themselves, but you don’t need to be a cruel and nasty piece of sh*t to extract that. Pro wrestling has very recently produced a unicorn of a heel, a man able to conjure actual heat, without a trainer debasing him. The Create A Pro academy has developed a solid reputation in recent years - and the school also developed MJF. MJF can shut down a heckler like nobody else. MJF finished a match - against Jay White at AEW Full Gear 2023 - while suffering a dislocated hip and labrum tear. Moreover, MJF has grasped the old art of protecting his character and convincing the public of its credibility despite breaking through in an environment that wasn’t toxic. MJF essentially carries himself as a method actor like the wrestlers of yore. The new way can still develop a wrestler with old school values.

Of all people, Jim Cornette inserted himself into the conversation as the voice of the reason. This might have been unexpected; after all, Cornette is notorious for his inflexible views on presenting pro wrestling as a realistic form. While Cornette was so staunchly protective over kayfabe that he once slapped Santino Marella for breaking it, he drew the line at DeMott’s conduct.

This probably tells you that a line was indeed crossed.