For the wrestling fans. An excellent article.

[El Presidente]

My grandfather was a huge wrestling fan. I grew up with my grandfather hogging the TV anytime the wrestling was about to start on channel 9. He loved me dearly and the only time he took me by the scruff of the neck and gave me a dressing down was when I dared to suggest that the matches were rigged

I came across this article today on independent wresting journalist Dave Meltzer. I found it to be great reading and take my hat off to a man who has made a life doing what he loves.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/sports/wrestling-reporter-dave-meltzer-tries-to-keep-it-real.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0

[Puros Y Vino]

Great article. I'm very familiar with Meltzer. I grew up on wrestling when I was a kid, before the big "Rock N Wrestling" & Wrestlemania explosion. It was great fun watching with my brothers and my father. I've stopped watching years ago as the coverage here was spotty and the characters I grew up with started disappearing. Despite the "choreographed" nature of their "sport" they are all exceptional athletes often working 5-7 days a week. The bumps, blood and bruises were real.

[Hypersomniac]

Darnit Prez, you got my hopes up. I thought it was going to be an article on olympic wrestling (the real one). Not to bash what anyone likes, I just don't see much posting about wrestling on this sight, so when I saw it in the title, it got me excited.

[IcedCanuck]

I am very familiar with Dave Meltzer. I grew up a wrestling fan in the early 80's and still watch it to this day. There were a few years in the early 90's when I stopped watching for a bit but that's about it. I can still remember the hayday of the mid to late 90's when I could watch a different wrestling show almost every day: WWE Raw, WCW Nitro, ECW, WCW Thunder, WWE Smackdown etc. I'll watch ROH from time to time and TNA Impact as well but not really religiously.

[Dara]

I remember seeing Meltzer interviewed in the film "Beyond the Mat".....if you like wrestling and haven't seen this warts and all behind the scenes of the WWF/WWE then make an effort to do so now!

[Stanislaw]

Thanks for sharing, Prez.... I too grew up watching wrestling and friends would have copies of Meltzer's wrestling paper shipped to them from the states where they would be passed around the army base from fan to fan.... wonder if he knows that....

also, in 2007, I had the opportunity to interview for a position as a staff writer at WWE for their shows, got to meet some awesome execs at their headquarters in Stamford and had my hopes up that I would pass all seven tiers of the interview process to land a gig (rumor was Mr. McMahon was Tier 7)... unfortunately i didn't make it past Tier 2, which was an interview with head writers (one of them being a hero of mine, Michael Hayes) and when they explained the true rigors of the WWE life (their schedule is grueling and they earned even more respect from me that day) i proceeded to tank the interview to avoid my marriage falling to pieces....

amazing people, I don't care what others may say to discredit the hard work they put in night after night to entertain people...

[samreddevilz]

Good read. It's sorrowful that John Cena(My favorite wrestler) is no more favorite to win the title!

[Lant63]

Kyle Dake sports illustrated male collegiate athlete of the year. That there is a real wrestler.