{"id":123811,"date":"2024-04-09T10:00:32","date_gmt":"2024-04-09T14:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=123811"},"modified":"2024-04-07T09:51:51","modified_gmt":"2024-04-07T13:51:51","slug":"aew-gets-modern-masculinity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/09\/aew-gets-modern-masculinity\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW Gets Modern Masculinity"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When it comes to\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">AEW<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and their presentation of men and male relationships in storylines and characters, I don\u2019t think the company gets enough credit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sports generally are masculine affairs. Traditionally sport is the male domain. Filled with testosterone and emotions that are somewhat more acceptable to show compared to other arenas in life. Ingrained in pro wrestling\u2019s history is machismo. Tough men and big men and strong men.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Men who fight and won\u2019t give up unless pushed to breaking point. They won\u2019t cry. At it\u2019s core its hyper-masculinity. There are plenty of old wrestlers and fans who like it this way. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u2019s traditional, it\u2019s safe and it\u2019s how things always have been. Especially given how the world is changing in a way many folks are uncomfortable with, they want things to remain as they are.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">AEW on multiple occasions, with various male wrestlers and storylines challenges traditional masculinity. They offer a more modern, diverse, and for some fans, challenging look at traditional masculine values. And at times they take criticism for this as I\u2019ll address later. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">They do things differently to\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and not everyone gets it or enjoys it and that\u2019s fine. Doing something new isn\u2019t always appreciated at the time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But for me, and likely for many other men out there, seeing a diverse range of male experiences presented in the sport strengthens what I already know is true. Being a man is about being more than a limited set of stereotypes and expectations. It\u2019s about how you handle the struggle.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Anxious Millennial Thirty-Three-Year-Old\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QlBfzI2Aj4U?si=ZCiQD_zbcKLcxDXy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I\u2019m British and traditional masculinity is wrapped up in the unspoken stiff upper lip mentality. As a child, I internalized doing things wrong meant I was \u201cwrong\u201d. This led me to seek perfection in everything I did. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The banter of school and rugby culture taught me if the joke hurts then it\u2019s my fault and I should fight back. This taught me to never show weakness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As a teenager, I got into wrestling during the \u201c<\/span>Ruthless Aggression<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201d era (primarily<\/span><em><strong> SmackDown<\/strong><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">). I learned from my heroes\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, and\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Eddie Guerrero<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0more about being a man. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In hindsight, this seems problematic given the reality that all self-medicated to one degree or another to deal with their pain. Two died young. My favorite of the trio committed murder.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">All of the above contributed to my issues with anxiety, imposter syndrome, and other mental health issues. Eventually, I sought support. I talk to family and friends more openly and have received counseling when needed. I learned communication was a strength and not a weakness. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How toxic masculinity has affected my life and others. Toxic masculinity is still a big part of wrestling. I wrote last month about how WWE\u2019s most successful storyline in years,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/03\/28\/wwes-the-bloodline-storyline-displays-toxic-masculinity\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Bloodline<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0is all about toxic masculinity<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">So, when I began watching AEW and I saw a guy like me: blonde, a bit awkward, a former schoolteacher whose whole gimmick was \u201canxious millennial cowboy,\u201d I took notice.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Overcoming Mental Barriers\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Many have called<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0\u201cHangman\u201d Adam Page\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">the main character of AEW. His arc to becoming the AEW World Champion brought back to wrestling not only the long-term story arc. It also added layers of nuance and exploration of mental health that another AEW wrestler would later display.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Losing to\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Chris Jericho<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, Hangman became isolated and estranged from The Elite first by his own doing. Perceiving himself as a weak link, different from his friends, Hangman slowly resisted and pulled away from the group. Like most men, brought up on the belief you\u2019re either a winner or loser, <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Hangman felt he was a loser. Although being stuck in his head did not allow him to spot that likewise, his best friends were also experiencing the same issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Kenny Omega<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0had a mirroring storyline where \u201cThe Best Bout Machine\u201d failed to live up to his potential. This weaved wonderfully into Omega and Hangman\u2019s tag team championship reign.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Young Bucks<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0likewise lost to\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Private Party<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0on the first\u00a0<strong><em>AEW <\/em><\/strong><\/span><em><strong>Dynamite<\/strong><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and failed to get tag team gold. Viewers could see all four deal differently with their mental health and how Hangman suffered worse.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Comments on being a young boy, the subtly storytelling of the rest of <strong>The Elite<\/strong> drinking milk and Hangman drinking more and more booze, the smashed mirror, was all cinematic foreboding. Things when untreated get worse rather than better.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">FTR<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0manipulated a fragile Hangman. Page was kicked out of The Elite. Omega ascended and beat Hangman on the way to the top. Hangman\u2019s hero\u2019s journey was about overcoming himself as much as his opponents. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Hangman gained friends (a support system) in\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Dark Order<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Overcame manipulation from\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Matt Hardy<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Dealt with a loss to\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Brian Cage<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0before becoming the world champion. The victory was mental as much as physical.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>\u201cI am a man!\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Hangman Page character once he won the World Championship seemed to lose that anxiety. If it was there, it was not signposted like it had been before. If the idea was Hangman was overcompensating for that anxiety with confidence or something else, it was played too subtly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> It\u2019s a mistake AEW seemed to have learned from with\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/03\/06\/imminent-aew-world-championship-reign-swerve-strickland\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Swerve Strickland\u2019s<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0booking as a future world champion<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0recently.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Yet at various points, it returned. Most notably after\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Jon Moxley<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0knocked Hangman out when challenging for the World Championship in Ohio in October 2022. In the build-up to their Texas Deathmatch at\u00a0<\/span><em><strong>Revolution 2023<\/strong><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, the stoic Moxley tried to use what he saw as weakness against Hangman. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Spoke of how he had no time for the luxuries of anxiety or fear. The old school mentality that you just don\u2019t think about these things. As a man, you just deal with this stuff. Let it drip off you like sweat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Hangman highlighted how he had nothing left to lose, but to counter Moxley\u2019s take, the character talked about mental suffering on an equal level.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>\u201cI\u2019m angry. I\u2019m frustrated. I can\u2019t sleep at night. I\u2019m anxious. I\u2019m depressed. The medicine is not working and I am still here because I am a man.\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It legitimized that sense of suffering as being equal to physical pain and more. Highlights that being a man can involve suffering. It involves emotions and feelings that usually we are told to deny. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The medicine doesn\u2019t cure it but being a man is about persistence. It\u2019s getting up when you are knocked out, literally in Page\u2019s case. It\u2019s about effort and trying despite there isn\u2019t an easy answer or cure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It&#8217;s acknowledging that living through suffering is strength.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Making of the Mad King\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RaeseLGBejg?si=3tbF4BHEdgKe_5Er\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Eddie Kingston<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0as a man, not just a wrestler, depending on who you ask is either this century\u2019s people\u2019s champion or a slob. When Kingston cuts a promo it cuts differently. Kingston delivered a monologue on a cookie and yet made that link to universal fears of body image and having enough money. Everything to Kingston is real.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">So, when for years, fans listened to Kingston\u2019s character speak from the heart, about what goes on in his mind, the frustrations with anger and bad feelings, it felt real. Men suffer in silence. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under fifty. Part of the problem killing us is not feeling able to talk about it. Eddie by doing this so openly is inspirational.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Eddie as both a man and character fights his demons and rage. And like a lot of men, he struggles with controlling that temper but progressively has found ways to control that. His arc has taken him to a place where in the ring, Eddie seems to have control.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Last year, Eddie\u2019s story arc saw him prove doubters wrong by beating\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Blackpool Combat Club<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and earning their respect in the process. First, Eddie won gold in Japan. Next at\u00a0<\/span><em><strong>Grand Slam<\/strong><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0last year he won the <strong>ROH<\/strong> Championship from career rival\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Claudio Castagnoli<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Made the mother of all comebacks to win the\u00a0<\/span><em><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2023\/12\/26\/aew-tournament-2023\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><strong>Continental Classic<\/strong><\/a><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Become a triple crown champion in a way that emulated his heroes of\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">All Japan Pro Wrestling<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Finally, Eddie earned a handshake from\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Bryan Danielson<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. While in the ring, the temper has become controlled.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Losing the\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/03\/22\/kazuchika-okada-winning-the-aew-continental-championship\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Continental Championship to\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Kazuchika Okada<\/span><\/strong><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in many ways is best for both men\u2019s characters right now. Yet whether Eddie stumbles like Hangman is yet to be seen.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The BCC: Gatekeepers of Tradition<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-UrObAFTwb8?si=axrOtowaWGVKzDSW\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The <strong>Blackpool Combat Club<\/strong> is a strange faction that deserves an entire full analysis. They exist individually as some of the greatest wrestlers on the planet. Collectively, their characters seem to have one motivation: to be hard men. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Whether intentional or not, their stoic, always ready-to-fight presentation has made them gatekeepers of wrestling tradition. Hard men, who care only about inflicting violence. Together, they are so hyper-masculine that it\u2019s almost parody at times (to their detriment), but it&#8217;s traditional masculine ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The reason I say gatekeepers is when you look at the modern male figures I mentioned, all of them have beaten<strong> BCC<\/strong> members in their arcs. Last year The Elite beat the BCC in a battle of modern wrestling vs. traditionalism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Orange Cassidy<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, who evolved last year from just a lazy lethargic character to someone who tries and cares, had to beat three-fourths of the group during his International Championship reigns. And yet as individuals, the characters, and men behind the gimmicks are diverse in their masculinity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Moxley, who has openly talked about battling addiction. From defeat, Mox just gets back up again fights on, and hits harder. Danielson is another advocate for mental health who talks openly about his issues. The American Dragon has always been at ease with being different and not a stereotype.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In some ways, the BCC\u2019s biggest successes have been showing that old-school masculinity can mix and work alongside modern masculinity. Men don\u2019t have to be fully modern or fully traditional but can fall somewhere in between.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The Bromance of the Century\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iQMdTXw2nWM?si=wN71NV1KiqMKv8bz\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Here\u2019s a secret. The topic of this article is what got me started writing about wrestling. I was so inspired by my first-ever live AEW event. Traveling there, my anxiety pestered my brain like a monkey in a cage. I was over worrying I\u2019d forgotten\/missed\/ or written something down wrong, which being dyslexic is highly probable!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">At\u00a0<\/span><em><strong>All In<\/strong><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><em>\u00a0<\/em>at Wembley Stadium last year, It was an event that for me felt like a religious experience. I was overwhelmed by being part of this community. This union where my voice chanted, swore, and sang with everyone else\u2019s until it was hoarse. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It brought catharsis and spiritualism, but as a man, the main event in particular left me with a transcendent thought. Every man in the crowd was emotional because the match was more about friendship surviving than the fate of the world championship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Now, the\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">MJF<\/span><\/strong> and <strong>Adam<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Cole<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0storyline tastes of sour milk. That\u2019s because post <em>All In<\/em> due to panicked and inconsistent creative following Cole\u2019s real-life injury at <em>Grand Slam<\/em>. At the time, however, this was the hottest angle in wrestling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How the feud started felt like many real male friendships. It started with banter and insults aimed at each other before being aimed at someone else. Shut up, Schiavone! This follows the locker room spirit of not only wrestling but traditional masculinity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Both wrestlers started with agendas, but through a series of silly vignettes, they noticed they were not that different thanks to male bonding activities. Videogames. Drinking at a bar. Eating hot spicy food and steak and drinking more beer. Male stuff!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Amongst the comedy, there were story beats- MJF learning to like and trust people; Adam Cole learning to tolerance and maturity. Friendships grew based on learning to understand each other.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Double Clothesline! I Mean Cross<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Betrayal is one of the most notable tropes in Literature. Going back to the Bible where Cain (not of Knox County) turned heel and murdered his brother. It is an experience many people in some ways can identify with being betrayed at some point in their lives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Wrestling has seen every kind of betrayal. The teacher betrays the student (<strong>Bruno<\/strong> <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sammartino\/Larry Zbyszko<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">). Partner betrays partner (<strong>Shawn <\/strong><\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Michaels\/Marty Jannetty, Kevin Owens\/Chris Jericho<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Brother turns on brother (<strong>Bret <\/strong>and <strong>Owen Hart<\/strong><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">). Hero turns on the fans (<strong>Steve <\/strong><\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Austin<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2019s heel turn, which Cole evoked in his sit-down interview with\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Jim Ross<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Yet unlike anything before in wrestling history, the AEW audience, through the magic of wrestling\u2019s invisible camera and Easter eggs were made aware from the beginning that both men could betray each other. Yet they did not despite multiple opportune chances. Why not?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">At the time, it seemed like male friendship. Things went wrong and eventually, Cole did follow through and turn on MJF. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Yet before this, there were signs of real male friendship and growth being shown, especially by MJF whose character as world champion did a 180 flip with the heel acting as the good guy (a full analysis of MJF\u2019s title reign can be read\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/01\/03\/mjf-aew-championship-reign\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">here<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What started as a joke about boundaries was brought back when MJF berated\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Roderick Strong<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0for his jealous ex-girlfriend vibes. Adam Cole snapped, telling MJF he could have more than one friend and that his behavior was not acceptable. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u2019s wrestling but again it reflects the kind of communication and conflict in friendships. With men learning and setting boundaries with each other.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Flawed Men Is Our Past, Present and Future<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tommy Dreamer<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0at one point said MJF could not have had it in its old-school WWE. Why? Because he talks about his mental health and issues. \u201cThey\u201d would have eaten him up by the locker room for that. This says a lot about old-school wrestling\u2019s attitude towards masculinity and what men should be.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Many, including the wrestlers themselves, might argue men should remain as they were in the past. The logic issue is men were just as flawed then. The reality is grimmer when you look at the death rates of wrestlers and listen to some old-school stories of male behavior. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Violent, physically abusive hazing. The treatment of women like objects. The abuse of their bodies with drugs and steroids. Men might have been physically strong, but not addressing weaknesses killed or hurt many of them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">MJF might be an old-school heel, but he\u2019s got a modern male perspective. In promos, Friedman has wrenched hearts openly talking about bullying and prejudice. Speaking about his experiences with learning difficulties like ADD. Things I and other neurodivergent can relate to.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Elsewhere, AEW\u2019s male wrestlers talk openly about their mental struggles.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Dax Harwood<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0advocates for therapy during the height of FTRs being multi-promotional champions. Adam Cole showed vulnerability when he returned talking openly and honestly about his anxieties and fears that caused a life-changing concussion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Butcher<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0wrote on\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Instagram\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">about struggling with depression.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Mike Bennett<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0posts inspirational videos on social media about struggling with addiction and when men do not feel worthy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Without open dialogue about the struggles men and all human beings face, nothing changes. Men will still kill themselves out of shame and feeling inferior because they do not feel like real men.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>What Is a \u201cReal Man\u201d Really?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I am not the first writer to point out how AEW addresses mental health. In 2022,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Health\/aew-fosters-conversations-masculinity-mental-health-wrestling\/story?id=84651854\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">ABC News<\/span><\/strong><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0did a piece pointing out how AEW addresses masculine stereotypes and expectations. However, there have been and will be critics. Many of them will keep targeting AEW\u2019s portrayal of men.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The ones most intrinsically attack AEW\u2019s portrayal of masculinity include old-school-minded folks set on gatekeeping what they see as vital.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Jim Cornette<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0has referred to AEW as \u201cAll Petite Wrestling\u201d. The implication is that the men are too small to be real wrestlers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Various fans and even wrestlers have bodyshamed other male wrestlers from Eddie Kingston to Adam Cole. This projects their prejudices and expectations onto others. There are also those uncomfortable with discussing a concept that seems so defined as being a \u201creal man\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">They will refuse to acknowledge anything beyond its perimeters. The issue is those perimeters trap them and other men into a narrow and impossible-to-achieve set of standards. Some of this can and is toxic masculinity. For a more in-depth look at toxic masculinity,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/03\/28\/wwes-the-bloodline-storyline-displays-toxic-masculinity\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">see here<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The reality is wrestlers of different shapes and sizes have proven themselves to connect with audiences and be headliners.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Dusty Rhodes<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0had the body of a plumber, not an Adonis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ric Flair<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0did not have the physical fortitude of a\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Hulk Hogan<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Smaller wrestlers ascended to become world champions from\u00a0<\/span>Bret Hart<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Shawn Michaels<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> to the \u201cvanilla midgets\u201d of <strong>Eddie Guerrero<\/strong> and Benoit. <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Rey Mysterio<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0might have begrudgingly been made world heavyweight champion, but it happened.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The concept that every man\/wrestler needs to fit neatly into a specific mold to be a good pro wrestler has been proven false by wrestling history.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Men are More than Superheroes<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">AEW is not perfect. In many of these instances of displaying modern masculinity, they have undersold and not promoted their successes like WWE could. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Likewise, the presentation of the characters mentioned has not always been perfect. Hangman Page went to the wilderness as a world champion and afterward under a \u201cdark cloud\u201d. The bromance of the century ended with the worst storyline of 2024 in\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">the Wrestling Observer Newsletter\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Awards.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, AEW has at least allowed modern masculinity to have a prominent place on their shows. AEW\u2019s allowed men who traditionally would be seen as weak or mocked for showing feelings appear as men fans can get behind. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Pro wrestlers and men are not all to always be invincible, impenetrable, and invulnerable, and men can communicate and deal with their weaknesses and issues with other men.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Compared to WWE who build superstars, who are presented as strong superhuman. When WWE or a wrestler talks about injury, the focus is on how superhumanly fast they have\/will recover or expressing disappointment that they let fans down. It\u2019s primarily surface and gloss. Modern masculinity is the exception, not the rule.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But then, WWE is still set in old-school traditions and values. The company was taken to global success by a man with very toxic masculine traits. A man who could not stand anything beyond his control, even a sneeze. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Now the company\u2019s creative is run by a man who is a wrestler whose character seemed paranoid of being presented as weak and vulnerable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u2019s another reason why having an alternative in wrestling is a good thing. Having multiple ways of presenting wrestling and telling stories about men is a good thing. AEW challenging men to think about masculinity is a good thing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/h3>\n<p><em>Header photo \u2013 AEW \u2013 Stay tuned to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/\" target=\"_self\">Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/a>\u00a0for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to\u00a0AEW\u00a0and their presentation of men and male relationships in storylines and characters, I don\u2019t think the company gets enough credit. Sports generally are masculine affairs. Traditionally sport is the male domain. Filled with testosterone and emotions that are somewhat more acceptable to show compared to other arenas in life. Ingrained in pro [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4960,"featured_media":123855,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4677,6,2192],"tags":[8232,6334,962,4395,386,2546,8848,423,176],"class_list":["post-123811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aew","category-north-america","category-wrestling","tag-hangman-adam-page","tag-dax-harwood","tag-eddie-kingston","tag-jon-moxley","tag-kenny-omega","tag-mjf","tag-the-blackpool-combat-club","tag-the-elite","tag-the-young-bucks"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4960"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123811"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123811\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123855"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}