Please, everyone do yourselves a favour and click on this article, where Bret Hart kindly acknowledges his fandom of mixed martial arts fighting, but also points out that there’s absolutely nothing beautiful about it.
“In ultimate fighting, when you see these guys really punching faces, and drilling guys until the ref usually stops it, I think, always a couple seconds too late, that’s an incredible amount of brain damage being done. And at what cost? Do you really want to pay money for this? It’s like dog fighting. Do you really feel good about yourself supporting someone getting their brains punched out? I mean, I’m guilty, I love watching it, I’m riveted and I have deep regard for it. But when I watch it I always have a pang. I wish wrestling was like it used to be so we wouldn’t need to have this kind of entertainment.” – Bret Hart, from the article in question.
Personally, I agree with Bret 100% on this issue (except for the “enjoying UFC” thing). MMA is pretty much dog fighting, but with humans. Compared to professional wrestling (even at it’s most embarrassing moments) it lacks the poise, intellectual depth, and appreciation for illusion and civilized society. It may bring the audience a sense of real catharsis, but it will never be art, it will never be beautiful, and it will never be anything but an athletic display of brutish, midievil violence.
/End rant.
