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Does Pro Wrestling Promote Bad Behavior?

Burlington, Vermont - July 29, 2007

Domestic violence continues to be a major problem and some wonder if what we see on TV contributes to abuse. Pro-wrestling has come under fire, with some people saying it promotes domestic assault. But the wrestlers defend their profession, and so do fans who enjoy the sport.

Professional wrestling draws thousands of fans to live events and hundreds of thousands more to televised shows. But it also draws scorn from anti-violence advocates like Marie Eddy. "We don't find violence against women funny or entertaining," Eddy said.

Scenes where male wrestlers intimidate female performers - coming awfully close to hitting them - inspired Eddy to protest pro-wrestling shows in Vermont. She says the entertainment may desensitize viewers to bullying, domestic violence, and sexual harassment."Young children are watching this. And there is a whole pornographic aspect of it, that we don't think is healthy," She said.

"I don't believe there's any reason to be protesting this. We're entertainers, we're actors, we are athletes, and we're here on our own free will," said "Sable" a former WWE performer, during a 2003 interview.

This debate has been going on for years in Burlington, renewed each time the wrestlers roll into town. In 2005, the protestors asked the city to stop allowing wrestling in city-owned buildings like Memorial Auditorium. But there's another wrestling show scheduled here for August 5th. "It's a pretty slippery slope legally," said Wayne Gross with the Burlington Parks and Recreation Department.

Gross and his Department do not defend or endorse pro-wrestling, but they say the shows are often sell-outs. Parks & Rec says a wrestling ban may lead some to ask them to K.O. other entertainment, like, for instance, the popular Golden Gloves boxing tournament. "We did not want to get into regulating, trying to make distinctions between events in terms of whether they're offensive to certain groups or not," Gross said.

Just this month, video surfaced on the video sharing site, YouTube, of Vermont students fighting for real, while others cheered them on. Marie Eddy admits there's no proof that watching violence on TV will make viewers violent, but she suspects it has to have some effect. "I tell kids, 'I feel like I'm peddling upstream against the current.' I tell kids, 'Be respectful, be kind, don't hit, don't fight.' But they're watching shows and idolizing characters who are known for being bullies and proud of it," Eddy said.

Bullying and real-life fights will last in this community long after the performers leave town. So expect advocates to continue their fight against wrestling, hoping their campaign may change attitudes towards domestic violence.

Jack Thurston - WCAX News