We’re back with another eWrestlingNews debate topic of the day! The ceremonious opening of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics is ready to light up our screens this afternoon. An impressive array of Olympic athletes, including Kurt Angle, Mark Henry, Chad Gable, Tavion Heights and NXT newbie Tyra Mae Steele (Tamyrah Mensah-Stock), have transitioned into professional wrestling over time. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean wrestling fans mirror this interest in the Olympics. Though wrestling is indeed an Olympic sport, this doesn’t guarantee its fans will appreciate the fun and fandom of pro wrestling.
The topic for debate today is, “As an enthusiast of pro wrestling, would you have any curiosity in viewing the amateur wrestling contests in the Olympics?”
Do share your thoughts and responses in the comments section below.
In terms of my personal perspective…
No. Honestly, I have minimal interest in the Olympics in general, save for the overall concept. Watching individual sports during the Olympic Games is often a short-lived activity for me, losing interest after a few minutes and not resuming until the next Olympics.
Amateur wrestling just doesn’t captivate me. Despite greatly admiring the effort it takes, and recognizing that I could never do it, that doesn’t imply I must enjoy watching it. I am more drawn to the fanfare and spectacle of professional wrestling, as well as its character development. In my eyes, analyzing a WWE Superstar’s personality and their feud storyline is far more captivating than watching non-descript exhibition matches. This is partly why AEW, ROH, New Japan and other in-ring centric shows often fail to hold my attention unless there is an intriguing backstory or something more than just a sequence of maneuvers.
However, that being said, pro wrestling matches present a far more visually appealing spectacle. With elements ranging from high-flyer stunts to intense brawls, the variety is endless, making the experience more entertaining. I’m not even a fan of boxing or MMA, which, in comparison, are far more adrenaline-inducing than amateur wrestling.
Even though I might miss out on some worthy competitors, I’m certain I’ll catch up afterward. Mensah-Stock, Gable, Henry, Angle, Tavion Heights and other Olympians turned WWE performers weren’t on my radar until they emerged in WWE. I don’t believe I missed out on anything by not following them beforehand. In fact, I consider this lack of prior interaction beneficial – if I had tracked Gable Steveson’s journey and invested in his story, perhaps I would have been more disillusioned with his WWE stint. As things turned out, I was not overly impressed with his WWE signing and was merely anticipating his eventual release.
Should I tune in to the Olympics, I would probably opt for something more offbeat like fencing or gymnastics as background noise rather than wrestling. I get my ample dose of wrestling as it is; this won’t add to my repertoire.
What’s your take? Don’t forget to leave your comments below!