FanFare

"The virtue of all-in wrestling is that it is the spectacle of excess. Here we find a grandiloquence which must have been that of ancient theatres. And in fact wrestling is an open-air spectacle, for what makes the circus or the arena what they are is not the sky... it is the drenching and vertical quality of the flood of light. ...[W]restling partakes of the nature of the great solar spectacles, Greek drama and bullfights: in both, a light without shadow generates an emotion without reserve." -- Roland Barthes, "The World Of Wrestling" from Mythologies, 1957 [more inside]
posted by The Pluto Gangsta on Apr 6, 2024 - 7 comments

The Showcase of the Immortals, The Grandest Stage of All... and the first 'Mania that wasn't booked by serial-abuser Vince McMahon. Pro-wrestling biggest night comes once again, and WWE's biggest storyline by far is Roman Reigns and the Bloodline, their place at the head of the table now under assault by an alliance of friends-turned-enemies-turned-friends-again and a returning prodigal son (all of them former Ring of Honor champions, by the way). [more inside]
posted by The Pluto Gangsta on Apr 1, 2023 - 23 comments

With a WrestleMania card all but locked into place and bursting at the seams, Team Red heads to Philly to finishing setting the stage. [more inside]
posted by SpiffyRob on Mar 28, 2017 - 11 comments

The stage is set. The dominos are in place. The Granddaddy Of Them All is here, and the less said about Raw, the better. [more inside]
posted by Etrigan on Mar 29, 2016 - 38 comments

The card is set. The stars are aligned. The Granddaddy Of Them All is just a few days away, and WWE has managed to put together a fairly compelling WrestleMania card almost despite themselves. [more inside]
posted by Etrigan on Mar 24, 2015 - 31 comments