|
Christian
wrestlers playing with fire, by Geoff Robson - September
2000
(Credit:
Anglican Media / Southern Cross Online)
Next
month, World Championship Wrestling hits our shores
for a series of shows in Sydney and other major centres.
As the first full-scale tour staged in Australia by
WCW, the tour is a clear sign of the growth of pro
wrestling, both for WCW and its rival World Wrestling
Federation (WWF).
Wrestling
programs regularly top US cable TV ratings, and popularity
in Australia is booming, with the Sydney show selling
out in a matter of hours, and a second Melbourne show
added to cope with the huge demand.
But
the runaway success of wrestling has been tied to
an increase in violence, obscenity and sexual innuendo
in the ongoing storylines. WCW writers have admitted
to watching the Jerry Springer show for inspiration.
The
increasingly explicit storylines have forced many
Christian professional wrestlers to take stock of
their involvement in the industry. Ted DiBiase, once
known as ‘The Million Dollar Man’, now runs
his own evangelical ministry known as ‘Heart
of David Ministries’. He says he is disappointed
that wrestling has ‘taken the low road’
in its chase for more money.
“I
do not want to be associated with (the programming)
they are airing now … I can no longer let my
children watch,” he said.
DiBiase
is remembered, among other things, as former manager
of ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, probably the
most popular of the current crop of superstars.
Austin
is best known for introducing ‘the gospel of
Austin 3:16’ – now a slogan adorning countless
T-shirts – after defeating a Christian wrestler
who professed his belief in the Bible.
“‘Austin
3:16’ is blasphemy any way you look at it,”
says DiBiase. Just as disturbing are reports from
America of ‘copycat’ incidents leading to
a number of deaths: A 12-year-old boy convicted of
second degree murder after repeatedly body slamming
his 18-month-old cousin; a seven-year-old boy who
‘clotheslined’ his three-year-old brother
to death (investigating police said, “he did
not want to hurt him … he just wanted to wrestle
with him”). There are countless other reports
of children and even adults being seriously injured
from mimicking wrestling moves.
WWF
boss Vince McMahon, in attempting to defend his organisation,
managed to hit on one of the main dangers wrestling
poses to children: “Our superb performers, as
though in a classic cartoon, get knocked down over
and over, only to get up again like Wile E. Coyote.
So why is the WWF held to a different standard?”
McMahon
seemed to miss what an increasing number of studies
(and common sense) suggest: young children can distinguish
cartoons and even movies as fictitious, but wrestling
– packaged as a regular, authentic sporting event
– blurs easily into reality, often with disastrous
consequences.
The
standards set by professional wrestling are a reminder
not only that sport has become an entertainment industry,
but also of the sometimes subtle dangers that such
an industry can introduce.
Ted
DiBiase now spends his time encouraging young people
to turn back to God, away from the temptations and
machismo portrayed by wrestling. “
What
drives people to these things?” he asks. “Whether
it’s the world of wrestling, Hollywood, professional
athletics or the travelling salesman if you will,
we are all tempted by the same things. Of course,
as a Christian, the thing that’s missing in these
lives is Jesus Christ.”
Links:
Anglican
Media / Southern Cross Online
Ted
DiBiase official website
Power
Wrestling Alliance
World
Wrestling Entertainment
Profiles
Ted
DiBiase
Interviews
Bobby
Riedel
Articles
Death
Of Wrestling
WWE
Wrestling Returns to Australia, by Greg Tingle - 15th
May 2003
Rock
N Wrestling: The way it was
|
