Embedded
Wrestling is entrenched and embedded with politics, and in many aspects, it mirrors American culture and history. Not just in its storytelling, but even down to its very relationships, you can see ways some of the histories of families involved in pro wrestling reflect the political families of America.
Look at parallels between The Kennedys and the Von Erichs. Families whose patriarchs molded their sons into embodiments and representatives of American ideals and values, only to meet with tragedy.
Scarily, in some ways, wrestling kayfabe and the differences between the kayfabe glory and memory moments, contrasted with its history of seedy, disreputable, and at times illegal immorality, are extremely reflective of American history and politics. America, like wrestling, has skeletons in the closet.
Both wrestling, like some in American politics, would prefer the past to stay buried. The discussion of both, whether it’s about wrestling or America or both, is all political.
Adding to the complexity, fans engage with both sides of American identity, the good and the bad. Ric Flair was so good that he became undeniably loved. Plenty of fans will never hate Hulk Hogan despite the controversies. Many fans are clamoring for the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes, to turn heel.
Embracing the characteristics of The Boys’ Homelander, another character symbolic of the corruption of the American Dream and unchecked power. Like everything else in this article, that desire is inseparable from politics.
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