On the eve of a job interview I thought it was only appropriate to talk about something completely… inappropriate. And my topic of choice is the small town pro wrestling match I attended on Saturday. Yes, in all its glory. I can’t decide which was my favorite highlight. It could have been the octogenarian that was in attendance with her cane that she used to emphasize her dislike of certain wrestlers (It was eventually taken by one of the wrestlers who threatened his opponent with it).

It could have been my godson, who was sitting a few chairs away from me, eyes fixed to the action. He was actually rooting for “The Worm,” whose intro music was reggaeton, a genre of music that I am oddly attracted to. I think it’s the beat. But that was not my godson’s reason for rooting for “The Worm.” He liked “The Worm” because he was small and skinny, just like my godson is.

It could have been the fact that my mother came as well. It was her friend that invited us to come. I didn’t want to go, but I decided maybe I could give it a shot. I want to go back. I loved watching the wrestlers and I loved watching the crowd just as much. I could tell which members of the crowd believed what they were watching and which didn’t. And it really was a family event. No booze, just canned sodas, candy, hot dogs and fries.

Below you will find 48 pictures I took on my phone while I was there. I just couldn’t stop. This was one of the best events I’ve been to in a long time! I know what you’re thinking. That wrestling should be beneath me. But ever since it started becoming so popular within the sci-fi/fantasy world I’ve been wondering what the connection could possibly be. And did that mean, in fact, that I probably would enjoy it too?

Here’s the deal. I know it’s fake. In fact, I attended that night because I knew one of the wrestlers. He was a villain, by the way, which is, I feel, the only way to go. It’s no fun being the good guy wrestler.

Anyway, that night I realized that there is a very real and logical connection between geeks and pro wrestlers. Both groups love escapism. And wrestling is just one big LARP. You get the costume. You get the persona. You develop a backstory.

If you get a chance, you should totally go to a local pro wrestling match. Even over one of the big arena televised ones. I think there’s something more awesome about a random event in a random metal warehouse with folding chairs.

And now back to thinking about my interview tomorrow. I’ve escaped enough for today.