The world of professional wrestling is full of crazy athletes and acting talents that bring together stories that millions of people tune in to watch week to week.    

I’ve been a wrestling fan since 2022, and the big reason that I got pulled into the action was the incredible storytelling that I was introduced to by the wrestlers I was seeing on my TV screen.    

Stories of triumph and heroism from the wrestling world have made wrestling into what it is today.    

Without enticing storytelling, no one would be watching wrestling. If it was just athletes battering each other in a predetermined format, then that boredom would ruin the shows.   

Now, some fans of wrestling will point out that it is not the storytelling of the wrestlers that is keeping them tuned in. Some will say it’s the crazy amount of athletic ability that is the real draw to watching wrestling. Without it, the matches would not happen.    

But I beg the question, how do you even get to the match if you do not tell a story to get there?    

Setting up a rivalry is the compelling point that can make people care the most about any given match.    

Because most wrestling shows are a week-to-week endeavor, there is a lot of time to check in on characters and build up story beats. These weekly shows use their time wisely to make sure their wrestlers get the right amount of time in front of the fans that helps to build something.    

Even if it is a random match booked to fill in the card for the night, the result can lead to later use. A win might help carry a character to a win streak, and a loss might make one of the wrestlers resentful to the other.    

Even on the lowest level, this creates a story that can be brought up at any time. These little things make it possible for any type of story wrestling companies want to tell to work in some capacity.   

The biggest wrestling company, the WWE, is completely driven by the story they tell. With WrestleMania around the corner, the whole roster is gearing up for some of the biggest story moments of the entire year.    

Events are not just a bracket to see who is the best. These shows are carefully crafted moments brought to life by the stories these people can tell.   

I do not think anyone can look at me and tell me the biggest reason people watch wrestling is because of the athleticism of the athletes.  

This is because of one simple thing: some of the greatest people in the history of wrestling do not even compete in the ring.    

That’s right, I am talking about managers. There is no better example of a manager in wrestling than the one, the only Paul Heyman.    

When Heyman gets on the mic, you listen. When he says his name, the audience roars. When he is managing a talent, you know that wrestler will be one of the all-time greats.    

At 59 years old, he is what I strive for in my ability to tell stories. He not only comes out and performs for the WWE, but prior to the WWE, when he helped run the company ECW, the creative approach and overall care for the craft of storytelling helped his career shine brightly.   

I think storytellers like Heyman should get their flowers. I think a lot of people will agree with me on that point, mostly because Paul Heyman is already in the WWE Hall of Fame.    

The way I see it, the story has always been the reason people watch wrestling. Ever since the old territory days, wrestling companies like the NWA have had a champion who would travel around to take on top talents from within a certain area.   

Droves of people would come out to their local gyms and arenas to see if their hometown heroes could become one of the greatest wrestlers in the world.  

Now, I am a fan of a big in-ring moment where the action takes over, and there is a huge amount of crowd pop that changes the trajectory of a match. But I truly do not believe those moments are as big as when someone cooks on the mic, or when someone makes their return out of nowhere to shock the world.    

Athleticism and health can also be something that holds back a wrestler. Highflying can come at a big price, and big hits can take a toll on the body.    

Just the other night on Friday Night Smackdown, a sad announcement was made when wrestler Kevin Owens came into the ring to announce that he will have to take time off from wrestling to receive neck surgery, canceling the match that he and Randy Orton were scheduled to have at this year’s WrestleMania immediately.    

Not everyone can keep throwing their body around. Although it can be admirable to “do the job” and take a hit for someone in a match, that is not putting butts in seats and creating fans.    

Storytelling is the lifeblood of the wrestling industry and needs to be seen as the end all be all for why the industry thrives.    

Gunnar Olson can be reached at 581-2812 or at deneic@gmail.com.