Pro-wrestling is entertainment that has a simple story that is easily understood by the audience, with good versus evil resolving their issues through violence, a very popular and problematic concept. This form of entertainment appeals to a certain male adolescent mentality that is part of its toxic masculinity culture. This is true of all male-dominated organizations through history of glorification and subjugation through violence. Its saving grace is his own self-deprecation with over-the-top stereotypes. Seeing it as spectacle, suspending it from its problematic themes (Who could really take this seriously?)
Watching Pro-Wrestling, Saturday afternoon, as so many Canadians, was a small part of my childhood on TV every Saturday afternoon. Where I remember occasionally watching with my father, neither of us were or are fans but enjoyed the spectacle with a smile.
I’m focusing primarily on Canadian wrestlers right now, but will add more portraits over the next couple of months, so be sure to come back and see new ones.
I must give thanks to the podcast. The Secret Life of Canada show Why Are So Many Canadian Pro Wrestlers for pushing this idea forward to create concrete images.
- Bret Hart The Hitman Of The Wrestling World
- Chief Don Eagle Starts A Boxer And Ended A Wrestler
- Sky Low Low, The Little Atlas NWA World Midget
- Peter Maivia Samoan Wrestler Grandfather To “The Rock”
- Little Beaver Pro Illustrated Midget Wrestler of the Year
- Rocky Johnson: “Rocky Maivia,” “Sweet Ebony Diamond.”
- Whipper Billy Watson: “Whipper,” “Irish Whip.”
- Patrick O’Connor, New Zealand Royal Air Force in 1945
- Buddy Rogers, American professional wrestlers “Nature Boy”
- Sweet Daddy Siki: American-Canadian Wrestler And Singer
- Gene Kiniski: Billed himself as “Canada’s Greatest Athlete.”
- Gorgeous George Pretty-Boy, United States Lavender Scare