Are we a cult?

I used screen capture for this post

Two of the most interesting new shows are The Following and Cult.   The first is about a group of people who use the works of Edgar Allen Poe as their religion base, and the second is about the way fans respond to a particular tv show. 

This all got me thinking,  are we a cult?

Wrestling fans have been called everything, from marks/rubes, nerds/geeks, fanatics to followers.  We buy the product, the characters, the gimmicks, with or without question (I question everything admit to nothing or is it the other way around?) the dvds/videos/tee shirts and wave them like banners.
We have our heroes and our villains who we would do anything (or almost anything) for, and some cross the line to groupie.

I think we can say that whether you call us part of the "universe" or if we "even matter"  we the fans have built the wrestling industry up to cult status.

If you look up the word cult, you will find part of the definition to be a group who's beliefs are considered abnormal in larger society and using ritual practices.  Usually, lead by someone of an extreme charismatic influence.  Some of the followers eventually are elevated to leaders themselves.

Some would say television itself is a cult.  It's definitely the medium in this case.  WWE has shamelessly tried to have a "cult leader" storyline few years ago with CM Punk's character, spreading a message about living a clean and honorable life; which tanked but still managed to show he could balance on the fine line of Heel or Face.  The message was a good one, the way the company handled it was a bad idea.(his Jesus Christ Pose as I called it.  And another song title actually by the group  Soundgarden) And even now (at the time of this post anyways) Punk's theme song is Cult of Personality by the group Living Colour from 1988

Wrestling fans have been accused, and rightly so, of being some of the most rabid fans out there. (second only to soap opera fans. Twilighters come in a short third. I learned never to get physically between a Team Edward fan and a Team Jacob fan the hard way)  Maybe that's because wrestling has no end season, and is available 24/7-365.

Personally, I prefer to think of myself as a junkie when it comes to wrestling, but I just can't help but wonder, as wrestling fans are we in fact a cult?

So I'm thinking...

I'm on GetGlue.  Have been since last summer, and I would more then love to see some NXT stickers. 
I think it's beyond time to see guys like Leo Kruger, Kassius Ohno, Seth Rollins,  Corey Graves, Alex Riley, Connor O'Brian,  getting put to print.
From what I've seen, there was one Wade Barrett sticker -which sadly was expired by the time I joined- and think it would be wickedly cool to see some new ones for him. 
I'm not the only fan who's feeling this way either. 

Yeah, it's stickers, it's silly, it's a fun way show some internet love to our favourite wrestlers. I'm silly and sometimes fun. Silly is good. Yes have some.

Speaking of NXT, I've been catching up with some of the last month's episodes (that's what parents are for, taping wrestling for you) and I really like the idea of this tag team tournament.  I've always been someone who has found the tag team divisions,  in most companies more interesting then singles.

-love Ardeth Blood

Feb 16th 2013

Have you seen the movie Underworld ? You know the vampire/werewolf movie series.  There is a line uttered by one of the most fabulous British actors  Michael Sheen, as the character Lucian when he screams at the group of werewolves who are fighting among themselves for no real reason, "You are acting like a pack of rabid dogs!"  
I think of that line whenever I watch The Shield.   I like that line, like the weight of it.

And I like the odds that The Shield have going into tomorrow's pay-per-view.  Even though, I'm a major fan of Sheamus,  I'm saying I hope The Shield destroy Ryback and Cena. Flatten them!

If you've been following me at all, you know I've made my statements in the past on Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose, most of them good, a few comments not so much. 
But, I think the advantage goes to The Shield in this match. 

At this point, I'm still unsure if I'm going to be able to see the pay-per-view, I've also missed about 5 episodes of NXT, so not sure what's happening from that stand point.

And I hope CM Punk wins his match.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks that Reigns is total werewolf material when he does that roar in the middle of the ring right before/after they powerbomb someone.  Maybe a bear... keep expecting to see his image on the cover of one of those paranormal teen books that are everywhere these days.

Love Ardeth Blood

Random wrestling thoughts Feb 12/2013

I was once asked why I have never actively tried to get a writing job in the wrestling industry?

There are a bundle of reasons, one being I don't kiss ass very well.  Good enough an answer for you? 
I think being a fan is both great and horrible at the same time. Which, as we all know, being in the industry would be both great and horrible at the same time too.   Think about it, some of the guys work for years and never make it to either of the big companies. No matter how talented they are, luck just is not on their side.  Then there are those who are just in the right place at the right time and really don't offer much at all.

Such is life, such is rock n roll

As a fan, I can voice my opinion freely on if I care or not, for a match/storyline/etc without fear of loosing my job.  It's a luxury.  Something I was normally unable to do when I did book reviews and the few years I worked as a news reporter. 

Like today, I was watching a clip from last night's WWE Raw, of Wade Barrett vs Kofi Kingston, and thinking, as much as I love seeing Mr. Barrett on tv as often as humanly possible, I'm really really tired right now of this feud with Kofi Kingston.  I'm actually very eager to see him really jump into some matches with Bo Dallas, or possibly Damien Sandow, or for that matter Seth Rollins.  (Barrett vs Rollins, now that would be something to sink your teeth into) Something fresh, that we haven't seen five million times in the last three months.  
I get that the two work well off each other, and always give for fuller matches, but they've been dragging their heels on this for awhile.  Put Mr. Barrett in a few new feuds for a few months.  I am sure revisiting this one with Kofi in say a year and a half from now would make more sense. I would actually love to see Wade Barrett go against Antonio Cesaro for a few rounds.  Make it title vs title for a bit, elevating both titles in the process.

And speaking of something I don't care to see... I've admitted in the past that I really like Johnny Curtis, but I think this new Fandango dancer thing is just too much.  What the hell is it with the WWE and singing/dancing? 

as always, love Ardeth Blood