A (delayed) reaction to body slams

Some of you who read this blog (I'm not sure who that is beyond my immediate family) may have thought a new post today would reflect on the DNC and the astounding (and bizarre) news of McCain's Veep running mate.  But no!  I will show and talk about wrestling.

A few weeks back I blabbed about the fair(s) and how interesting they are.  About 2 weeks back I had the rare priveleged opportunity to stand just feet from an american institution known as wrestling.  And to say it's the "fake" kind is sort of doing it a disservice.  While, yes, these "matches" were staged and pre-ordained, and no one was actually being choked to sleep, these performers were slamming into each other and off of 8 foot ladders and smashing through tables.  That was real, even if the refs were a bumbling, stumbling mess, who were as easily knocked out as anyone in the movies.

So, in my continued effort to use the 4x5 through increasingly more inadequate means, I shot a bunch of pictures under terrible light.  But, this time I had remote strobes.  Still, at 1/2 sec, pictures are pretty hard to come by, especially if you're dumb enough not to bring a tripod to use.  

4x5s from top to bottom:

1. I got in close and hoped the strobe would stop action enough to come up with something.  2.  As you can see the ever-present icon of wrestling lore: the folding chair, is present on stage.  It would soon be followed by the 8-foot ladder as well as the collapsible wood table.  3.  I shot this from the stands, and clearly something happened with my darkslide, as the there was a significant amount of light leaking into the film.  I like the way it looks, though.  At least for now.

The night began with female wrestlers, who played the part beautifully.  And serving perfectly to rile the crowd up, the Heel won.  This picture below is not of the Heel, however.  She did, look every bit as angry, though.

One last bit about the audience.  They seemed genuinely angry at certain competitors.  There was shouting and booing (and cheering) throughout the whole match.  This can only mean a few things:  1.  They actually know who these wrestlers are.   2. Not only do they know who they are, but they are well-versed in their habits and behavior.   3. They are completely insane.  Or, finally,  4. the audience played the part and I am the dummy who is mistook their behavior as being genuine.

Nonetheless, the entire spectacle was crazy to watch.  These wrestlers were legitimately putting themselves at harm.  For what?  I wonder.  I think there is a genuine belief, supported by some random stories of success, that these "minor leagues" of wrestling can possibly lead to the big leagues, a.k.a, the WWE.  So the 8 foot plunge from the ladder to the table, the chair across the back.  These are real impacts and no matter how much they can avoid killing each other, they are not landing on balsa wood tables, or using Nerf chairs.  These maniacs (I use the term warmly), are actually smashing into each other, in the hopes of smashing into each other for more money, on TV.

She would lose moments later.

From the ladder to the table.  Spectacular!