Source: The Monitor
In a male-dominated sport like professional wrestling it might come as a surprise that some of its biggest fans are women.
“I’ve been a fan since I was 2,” said Cindy “Muffin” Sandoval, of McAllen. “I’ve been a fan since Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan — he was my first crush.”
Certainly Hulkamania attracted a legion of Hulkamaniacs, Sandoval being one of them, as did Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and a select handful of other superstars.
Some folks grew out of their wrestling fanaticism, others followed the ever-changing roster of burly macho men and the changeover from the World Wrestling Federation to World Wrestling Entertainment.
There’s RAW, there’s Smackdown and now Extreme Championship Wrestling.
While it might seem like a hard industry to follow, Sandoval says it boils down to your devotion to the story lines.
“Everybody has a daytime soap opera, why can’t sports fans have one too?” said the 22-year-old real estate secretary. “That’s how I keep up with the characters and all of the tag teams.”
Important plot details like who’s fighting who, who has drama or beef and who is turning their back on an old partner in crime.
“Sometimes you want to take notes but I don’t want to be that big of a dork,” she laughed. “Always make sure you know what’s going on.”
This wrestling fan can hardly wait another minute for WWE’s Smackdown and ECW live to roll into town Saturday at Dodge Arena.
Scheduled to take to the ring in an Anything Goes Tag Team Match is WWE favorite Undertaker and Kane versus the irresistibly annoying Mr. Kennedy and MVP.
“This is the biggest match to look for right now,” Sandoval said. “(Undertaker and Kane) have been fighting side by side but haven’t officially reunited. Undertaker is my life-long hero. He’s an amazing wrestler and at his age he’s done some amazing things that some others don’t do.”
Also set for a match is the self-proclaimed king of the world, King Booker, planning a signature scissor kick against the Irishman, Finlay.
Other fans like Veronica Garza of Edinburg are excited to see another WWE event here in the Rio Grande Valley but wish former TeamXtremist and resident bad boy Jeff Hardy was on the lineup. Hardy made his comeback last summer after the WWE released him of his contract citing drug use and repeated no-shows for event.
“He takes risks and he’s super extreme as a high flyer,” said Garza, 24. “Luckily his brother Matt (Hardy) will be there.”
Matt Hardy is set to take on Tatanka in an ECW match. Also scheduled to appear are Chavo Guerrero, the Rabid Wolverine, Chris Benoit, Rob Van Dam and Mike “The Miz” Minanin, among others. For the guys, appearances by the ECW Vixens, specifically Ashley, will be an added treat.
But what is it that attracts fans to wrestling and keeps them glued to the weekly shows on cable television?
“It’s just fun to watch,” said Garza, who owns a plethora of John Cena memorabilia including a trash can, pillow and blanket. “At my house, it’s just me but my family gets into it when I order it on pay per view.”
She’s looking forward to her first Smackdown event after catching previous RAW performances with different superstars.
“I see it for what it is,” she says. “They have characters to play but outside of the ring they have another personality. They’re still athletic and in shape. This is something I’m hooked to.”
