As a child, I was entertained by the aesthetic of so-called professional wrestling. In particular, I enjoyed content of the WWF. For context regarding this organization, one source clarifies:
After rejoining the NWA [National Wrestling Alliance] in 1971, the [World Wide Wrestling Federation] was renamed the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1979 before the promotion left the NWA for good in 1983. In 2002, following a legal dispute with the World Wildlife Fund, the WWF was renamed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
When young, I owned WWF character toys, with a Junkyard Dog figure being one of my prized possessions. As well, I was thrilled to learn that William “the Refrigerator” Perry was featured in the WWF, as I maintained a poster of the football player on my bedroom wall.
As well, an uncle who worked for Ticketmaster gave my dad and I tickets to attend a WWF event in Denver, Colorado. There, I was able to see Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat perform. Additionally, I rarely missed an episode of Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling animated series.
Perhaps one of the most memorable WWF events from my childhood was SummerSlam’88. For further context on the clownishness of this particular spectacle, one source states:
The event consisted of 10 professional wrestling matches. The preliminary matches included a title defense by Intercontinental Champion The Honky Tonk Man against a surprise challenger, revealed to be The Ultimate Warrior.
The Ultimate Warrior won the match in just 31 seconds to end Honky Tonk’s 14-month title reign, at the time, the longest Intercontinental Championship reign in history.
The main event was a match pitting The Mega Powers (Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage), against their long-time rivals, The Mega Bucks (Ted DiBiase and André the Giant). Hogan and Savage won the match after Miss Elizabeth, Savage’s manager, distracted André and DiBiase, by removing her skirt to reveal her panties.
As a child, I wasn’t concerned with the implicit and explicit erotic nature of WWF content. Of course, this isn’t because I was oblivious to what was broadcast before my impressionable eyes. I understood that Miss Elizabeth’s panties being revealed was an overtly sexual act.
All the same, I enjoyed the nonsensical themes I observed. Today, I was reminded of SummerSlam ‘88 when listening to rapper Westside Gunn’s track “SummerSlam 88,” from his 2017 album Hitler on Steroids. The anthology was a collaborative effort with DJ Green Lantern.
Also, the track was produced by Your Old Droog and featured a sample from David Ruffin’s song “Let Somebody Love Me.” In the outro of the “SummerSlam 88” video, a WWF announcer can be heard stating, “SummerSlam ’88, the most fun, by the way, you can have with your clothes on.”
As I transitioned from a child to an adult, the entertainment value of the WWF had faded for me. I recall that when serving the role of military police (MP) in Okinawa, Japan, a couple of my fellow MPs faithfully watched wrestling content and I wondered how I was ever as excited about such material as they so evidently were.
Whether due to a character flaw, a contrarian attitude, or some other personality trait, I’d antagonize my MP buddies about how phony WWF content was and how ridiculous I perceived it to be that anyone would pay attention to kayfabe beyond childhood. For context, one source clarifies:
In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of staged events within the industry as “real” or “true”, specifically the portrayal of competition, rivalries, and relationships between participants as being genuine and not staged.
The term kayfabe has evolved to also become a code word of sorts for maintaining this “reality” within the direct or indirect presence of the general public.
Many arguments were had with my fellow MPs who outright refused to believe that the WWF content wasn’t an unconvincing portrayal of truth and reality. Alas, I understood their perspective and willingness to be deceived, because I’d also once been a member of the in-group to which they pledged membership.
In 2002, when serving with a different set of MPs, the WWE transitioned to a relatively new area of entertainment by featuring scantily clad female wrestlers. This modified content was particularly appealing to a number of male MPs with whom I served.
By that point, I’d stopped arguing with people about how preposterous kayfabe was to me. Ultimately, I learned that whether it was a sexual matter, issue of primal conflict, mere desire to entertain oneself in an otherwise monotonous state of existence, or something else, some people simply wanted to believe in untruths.
This brings me to the matter of president-elect Donald Trump, who for a period of time was involved with an entertainment aspect of the WWE. Trump’s inauguration is set for January 20, 2025.
To my surprise, major members of the Democratic National Committee, Democrat voters, leftist activists, and others who stood in opposition to Trump, Republicans, the Make America Great Again [MAGA] movement, and conservatives writ large have been oddly quiet. That is until recently.
Suddenly, I’ve observed media reports of mysterious drones, alleged domestic terrorism, infighting among key MAGA members, and other curious events. The closer to inauguration day our nation moves, the more outlandish some of these tales become.
Now, I’m reminded of kayfabe. Much of what I witness appears to be little more than absurd representations of truth and reality. Meanwhile, I’ve paid close attention to the reactions of people who apparently self-disturb with irrational beliefs about what they observe.
Unlike the WWF, where at least there was some level of lighthearted entertainment value for me, I consider sociopolitical kayfabe as ridiculous as the experience of watching fellow MPs upset themselves with unproductive beliefs about their favorite wrestlers being compared to hyper-masculinized versions of soap opera actors when in Okinawa.
Nevertheless, I’m undisturbed by what I see. This is because I fervently practice both the ABC model and unconditional acceptance techniques of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).
Therefore, when the next kayfabe event takes place from the top rope, with a steel chair, I’m left unbothered by my beliefs about the situation. How about you? Do you buy into kayfabe and upset yourself with unhelpful assumptions regarding what you see? If so, I may be able to help.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Bennett-Cohen, J. (2024, August 2). The evolution of female wrestlers in WWE. Medium. Retrieved from https://justinway.medium.com/the-evolution-of-female-wrestlers-in-wwe-74e13ad8fd39
David Runnin – Topic. (2018, July 31). Let Somebody Love Me [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/6xKIGZf-89o?si=qlJ0keLKpbFiHMfp
Genius. (n.d.). Hitler on Steroids. Retrieved from https://genius.com/albums/Dj-green-lantern-and-westside-gunn/Hitler-on-steroids
Genius. (n.d.). Summerslam 88 [Image]. Retrieved from https://genius.com/Westside-gunn-summerslam-88-lyrics
Griselda Records. (2016, October 28). WestsideGunn – SummerSlam 88 (Official video) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/TuqVNN13z_A?si=XROqv3DfYNzBWw15
Hollings, D. (2024, October 18). ABC model. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/abc-model
Hollings, D. (2024, November 15). Assumptions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/assumptions
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use
Hollings, D. (2024, April 2). Four major irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/four-major-irrational-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2024, August 21). In-group and out-group distinction. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/in-group-and-out-group-distinction
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Junkyard Dog. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkyard_Dog
Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2024, November 6). Media. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/media
Hollings, D. (2024, September 27). My attitude. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/my-attitude
Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
Hollings, D. (2023, April 24). On truth. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-truth
Hollings, D. (2023, March 20). Practice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/practice
Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist
Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt
Hollings, D. (2024, October 20). Unconditional acceptance redux. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-acceptance-redux
Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
Wikipedia. (n.d.). André the Giant. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_the_Giant
Wikipedia. (n.d.). David Ruffin. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ruffin
Wikipedia. (n.d.). DJ Green Lantern. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dj_green_lantern
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Donald Trump. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Hulk Hogan. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulk_Hogan
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulk_Hogan%27s_Rock_%27n%27_Wrestling
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Kayfabe. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayfabe
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Miss Elizabeth. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Elizabeth
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Randy Savage. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Savage
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ricky Steamboat. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Steamboat
Wikipedia. (n.d.). SummerSlam (1988). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerslam_88
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ted DiBiase. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_DiBiase
Wikipedia. (n.d.). The Honky Tonk Man. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Honky_Tonk_Man
Wikipedia. (n.d.). The Ultimate Warrior. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ultimate_Warrior
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Westside Gunn. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westside_Gunn
Wikipedia. (n.d.). William Perry (American football). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Perry_(American_football)
Wikipedia. (n.d.). WWE. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Your Old Droog. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Old_Droog
WWE. (n.d.). Donald Trump. Retrieved from https://www.wwe.com/superstars/donald-trump
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