2009 and back to work we go. Well, it took me a little longer to get back to work but here I am. I do apologize for the lack of articles lately but I do have to pay the bills. Plus this allowed me to the opportunity to track down a screening of "The Wrestler"; I just couldn't wait till the 19th when it's due to be released in CT. And when I finally did, I paid attention and took notes (like any good film student would) so I can share my thoughts and reactions to our loyal WrestlingInc.com readers.

Growing up in the 80s and 90s, I truly feel this film is directed toward my demographic. Of course any wrestling, or more specifically "mark", should benefit from watching a film of this caliber and character. As a childhood wrestling fan, especially in the 80s, the men I saw on the screen were superheroes. They were 5 times larger than anyone I had seen in person. They wore clothes that were bright, flashy and cool. They exhibited incredible feats of strength and flew threw the air better than Michael Jordan ever could. When I was a child, wrestling was my cartoons. It was my comic books. It was my life. But I never gave these men a second thought after they walked off of my TV screen. I didn't know and want to know what they did in their hotel rooms or the local bars. I didn't care which top star was campaigning for himself over some other younger, more talented guys. It wouldn't even cross my mind that all these guys weren't just NATURALLY superhuman. They were my heroes and no one could convince me otherwise.

Fast-forward about 2 decades later and look where we stand. No longer is there the steel curtain between the audience and backstage. Most fans know the outcomes are predetermined. Most know there are writers, some directly from Hollywood. Most know there is more politicking backstage then all of D.C. And yet, we still defend what we love. I don't know how many times I had to explain to someone that the blood in the ring wasn't "fake." We're still fans. We still watch every week to escape from reality for a little while but now there's something else always in the back of our minds. When you see Triple H on screen, you know he's married to the boss' daughter. When you see Jeff Hardy, you know he's a rebel who is one strike away from fading into obscurity. And when you see Kurt Angle, you know a man with that many broken necks would never be able to survive a fight with someone like Samoa Joe. But who cares? We suspend that belief and that's all that matter. Too bad that belief is what might be killing these men.