Thankful for Pro Wrestling
With Thanksgiving not too far behind us I wanted to share two instances from this year where professional wrestling really gave me something to be thankful for.
Circle of Safety
The finish to NXT TakeOver: WarGames had the Chicago crowd in shock just a couple of weeks ago. Two men, each from an opposing team, stood atop a steel cage. Tommaso Ciampa took hold of Adam Cole and put Cole in what is best described as a modified fireman’s carry. Ciampa had Cole on his back with Cole’s head at his side, hooked in his left arm. He had Cole’s legs hooked with his right arm above his shoulder. What came next is known as an “Air Raid Crash.” Ciampa let the crowd process what was about to happen as Cole was draped upside down in his grasp. Both men seemingly took an eternity to drop to the floor of the ring, but not before crashing through two tables that had been set up moments ago. If you watch the move in slow motion, Ciampa not only protects Cole but he takes the brunt of this maneuver. That one sequence speaks volumes about both these athletes.
For this to successfully take place, both men had to have immense trust in each other. As detailed in Simon Sinek’s book Leaders Eat Last, Cole and Ciampa are part of a strong circle of safety. Sinek quotes Steven Pressfield’s retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae when he writes “Losing one’s shield in battle was considered the single greatest crime a Spartan could commit… Spartans excuse without penalty the warrior who loses his helmet or breastplate in battle, but punish the loss of all citizenship rights the man who discards his shield. A warrior carries helmet and breastplate for his own protection, but his shield for the safety of the whole line.”
The circle of safety around these two people is strong because each knows the other will never throw down their shield. Cole was certain that Ciampa would protect him during the fall, and Ciampa had to trust that Cole would take the move the right way. When teams working together have that level of trust they are able to accomplish great things, as seen in this instance with professional wrestling.
The Joy of Volunteering
WrestleMania 35 was held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this past April. WWE puts together a lot of activities for fans over the course of WrestleMania weekend, none of which greater than WrestleMania Axxess. This is the perfect opportunity to watch live matches, view famous ring attire, championships, artifacts throughout history and, most importantly, meet your favorite wrestlers. There were either two or three different windows for fans to attend each day that Thursday through Monday. Each lasted four hours but volunteers were asked to be there for six hours each shift. Volunteering at four of the shifts and attending two as a fan still didn’t satiate my appetite for wrestling that weekend.
Those were early mornings. Leaving home at 4am just gave me enough time to make it to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal by 6am. Soon there would be fans lined up outside on a cold, dark morning to be first in line to experience this grand spectacle. As a volunteer there were a few moments that have continually resonated with me since then. One happened my second day volunteering. Luckily I was quickly trusted with working at the VIP station, where fans had a personal meet and greet with the most popular Superstars. As someone helping shuttle fans’ personal belongings like jackets and bags across the stage to wait for them, I was the first person they saw after this incredible experience. That morning the first people in line to meet Becky Lynch were a mother and son. Not only did they get to Brooklyn very early in the morning, but they flew in just for this occasion. I am grateful to have witnessed that genuine moment and been responsible for handling an important role, being the first person these passionate fans see as they turn to walk away from the station.
Hopefully these great memories of professional wrestling in 2019 help demonstrate a few of its incredible characteristics.