Let's start a rEvolution.
I haven't written here since March. It's been a long time...and a long time coming. What better day than this? When the WWE has the FIRST EVER ALL WOMEN'S PPV? When I have #allthefeels?
Despite having not written in months (and months), a blog post I wrote two years ago has been on my mind so much lately. This blog post about how I feel about pro wrestling has been popping into my thoughts. Today seemed like the perfect day to revisit it and delve a little deeper.
I do hope you'll read that blog post before continuing with this one, but I'm sure I can be a bit repetitive if you don't. :)
I still remember the first time I saw WCW Monday Nitro. I was about 11 years old. It was only a few weeks later, as my obsession took root, that I would decide that I had to be a WCW Nitro Girl!
What was a Nitro Girl? They were like the cheerleaders of the wrestling world. They came out during breaks and performed dance routines.
On two occasions, my parents took me to meet WCW Nitro Girls. My heart was full. And determined.
Thank God, eventually, I saw more women have a role around the ring and was able to transition my dream to being a valet. (Y'all, I really can't dance! BUT, I can walk down a ramp, stand ringside, and cheer on a wrestler! Surely. Right?!)
Shortly, I started to see a number of women in the ring. The roles, however, were MUCH different than what you see today. It was more about their bodies and the sex appeal than their athletic ability.
I was so focused on my dream. For the next five plus years, I watched, recorded, and rewatched every match and promo the women performed. I hung up so many posters that you couldn't see my walls. I read everything about these women that was available on the internet. I had a binder of printed out photos and interviews. I spent hours (and tons of paper) practicing my autograph. I knew I could go to wrestling school after high school. This was my future.
Fall of my 11th grade year, at a church event, I realized that I held wrestling on such a high pedestal that I'd made it an idol in my life. So at age 16, I gave up the dream. I stopped watching. I put WWE out of sight, out of mind.
Years later, I realized that I could watch and not make it my entire world.
Now, the women are Superstars rather than Divas. They are seen as equal, and they have made such huge strides in sports entertainment.
Now, though, I'm so sad. I didn't chase my dream and life goal. I just wish I had discovered the balance sooner. I realize that you're laughing. Hard. Because what 32 year old woman writes a blog post lamenting her pro-wrestling dream? This one. Watching everything leading up to WWE Evolution gives me a lump in my throat. So many of the current female superstars have stories so similar to mine.
Instead, I'll celebrate that these women have accomplished more than I ever thought I would see in the squared circle! I can be bold and strong and beautiful and do anything a man can do.
Happy Evolution, ladies. To the legends and the Hall of Famers, to the women of NXT, to the women from the Mae Young Classic, to the current superstars on the roster, I raise my glass and salute you. Thank you for all you've done and all you're going to do. You still make me think I can do anything. I love you like my own family.
Love,
Jessica
@jesstinybird
Despite having not written in months (and months), a blog post I wrote two years ago has been on my mind so much lately. This blog post about how I feel about pro wrestling has been popping into my thoughts. Today seemed like the perfect day to revisit it and delve a little deeper.
I do hope you'll read that blog post before continuing with this one, but I'm sure I can be a bit repetitive if you don't. :)
I still remember the first time I saw WCW Monday Nitro. I was about 11 years old. It was only a few weeks later, as my obsession took root, that I would decide that I had to be a WCW Nitro Girl!
What was a Nitro Girl? They were like the cheerleaders of the wrestling world. They came out during breaks and performed dance routines.
On two occasions, my parents took me to meet WCW Nitro Girls. My heart was full. And determined.
Thank God, eventually, I saw more women have a role around the ring and was able to transition my dream to being a valet. (Y'all, I really can't dance! BUT, I can walk down a ramp, stand ringside, and cheer on a wrestler! Surely. Right?!)
Shortly, I started to see a number of women in the ring. The roles, however, were MUCH different than what you see today. It was more about their bodies and the sex appeal than their athletic ability.
I was so focused on my dream. For the next five plus years, I watched, recorded, and rewatched every match and promo the women performed. I hung up so many posters that you couldn't see my walls. I read everything about these women that was available on the internet. I had a binder of printed out photos and interviews. I spent hours (and tons of paper) practicing my autograph. I knew I could go to wrestling school after high school. This was my future.
Fall of my 11th grade year, at a church event, I realized that I held wrestling on such a high pedestal that I'd made it an idol in my life. So at age 16, I gave up the dream. I stopped watching. I put WWE out of sight, out of mind.
Years later, I realized that I could watch and not make it my entire world.
Now, the women are Superstars rather than Divas. They are seen as equal, and they have made such huge strides in sports entertainment.
Now, though, I'm so sad. I didn't chase my dream and life goal. I just wish I had discovered the balance sooner. I realize that you're laughing. Hard. Because what 32 year old woman writes a blog post lamenting her pro-wrestling dream? This one. Watching everything leading up to WWE Evolution gives me a lump in my throat. So many of the current female superstars have stories so similar to mine.
Instead, I'll celebrate that these women have accomplished more than I ever thought I would see in the squared circle! I can be bold and strong and beautiful and do anything a man can do.
Happy Evolution, ladies. To the legends and the Hall of Famers, to the women of NXT, to the women from the Mae Young Classic, to the current superstars on the roster, I raise my glass and salute you. Thank you for all you've done and all you're going to do. You still make me think I can do anything. I love you like my own family.
Love,
Jessica
@jesstinybird
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