CJ The Pirate
Schwing
I just watched 'The Wrestler' on DVD and, afterward, I took a look at some of the DVD Extras. Included was an interview with Mickey Rourke, shot after winning his BAFTA for the film. Something he said in the interview really struck me. "Every fighter, in one night, gets old."
It is a beautiful quote. In the world of professional wrestling. Age is a different thing to all other walks of life. You could argue the same for all Sport, but Pro Wrestling, it's just not the same.
Most of us, we get out of bed in the morning and we do the same routine, if we are lucky enough, for the 50 years that make up our career. Most of us on this forum are likely to work longer than that due to constant talk of the end of state pensions constantly haunting us. We become Milkmen, Postmen, Policemen, Office workers, Teachers, Doctors, Librarians, Managers, Youth Workers, Shop Keepers, Soldiers, Sailors, Pilots, Builders, Joiners... the list is extensive. That is how our lives, predictably, will pan out. And in those 50 years of our career, we shall age up to the point where age prevents us, in the eyes of society, from working any longer. We are given the choice to retire.
The life of a Pro Wrestler is not that predictable. There isn't a finish line already planned for these guys. One injury and time can tell you that you're finished, like what happened to Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Others, like Ric Flair can retire at an old age, performing much longer than expected. Others can keep on going, like Jerry Lawler or Ricky Steamboat. Who are the future Steamboats, Flairs and Lawlers? Will Triple H or John Cena or Kofi Kingston stop before their 60? Will John Morrison get past 35? It's so unpredictable.
The quote is perfect. Only a finished fighter... a retired wrestler can understand what it is like to be young in the morning and old by night. What they don't know is that it could happen at any time due to their chosen path. Every fighter will feel that one day. The rest of us. We never have that. We have the finish line and we plan towards crossing it. The men in the ring... they pray they get the chance to.
It's an interesting perspective. Thank you , Mr Rourke.
It is a beautiful quote. In the world of professional wrestling. Age is a different thing to all other walks of life. You could argue the same for all Sport, but Pro Wrestling, it's just not the same.
Most of us, we get out of bed in the morning and we do the same routine, if we are lucky enough, for the 50 years that make up our career. Most of us on this forum are likely to work longer than that due to constant talk of the end of state pensions constantly haunting us. We become Milkmen, Postmen, Policemen, Office workers, Teachers, Doctors, Librarians, Managers, Youth Workers, Shop Keepers, Soldiers, Sailors, Pilots, Builders, Joiners... the list is extensive. That is how our lives, predictably, will pan out. And in those 50 years of our career, we shall age up to the point where age prevents us, in the eyes of society, from working any longer. We are given the choice to retire.
The life of a Pro Wrestler is not that predictable. There isn't a finish line already planned for these guys. One injury and time can tell you that you're finished, like what happened to Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Others, like Ric Flair can retire at an old age, performing much longer than expected. Others can keep on going, like Jerry Lawler or Ricky Steamboat. Who are the future Steamboats, Flairs and Lawlers? Will Triple H or John Cena or Kofi Kingston stop before their 60? Will John Morrison get past 35? It's so unpredictable.
The quote is perfect. Only a finished fighter... a retired wrestler can understand what it is like to be young in the morning and old by night. What they don't know is that it could happen at any time due to their chosen path. Every fighter will feel that one day. The rest of us. We never have that. We have the finish line and we plan towards crossing it. The men in the ring... they pray they get the chance to.
It's an interesting perspective. Thank you , Mr Rourke.
