Probably one of the regrets of my life right now is that I missed out on the WWE Raw Live Tour (February 24-25). The event was announced last year, and I found out about it during the last weeks of December. I procrastinated on getting tickets; to my chagrin, the tickets were sold out immediately. They had to add an extra day just to accommodate fans. Even the extra day was sold out days after its announcement.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime event; the last time WWE was here (back then it was known as WWF) it was 13 years ago. So I would wait another 13 years to see a WWE live event?
Some might say: why waste time on that? It’s obviously fake, they would say. I disagree; the action is not fake (how can you explain the injuries?). The outcome is sometimes predictable due to storyline; that’s why it is called sports-entertainment. You watch to be entertained; you watch because you somehow admire the physique, the physicality of the show, the showmanship of the wrestlers. It’s just like watching those unending Koreanovelas on TV.
On my way to work yesterday, I passed by Araneta Coliseum via Farmer’s Plaza-Gateway Link Bridge. I saw young people dressed in WWE shirts (probably bought at the WWE booth in Gateway), carrying signs (standard fare in live events). I was envious, I admit.
I hope WWE enjoys its stay here, so that it will have no choice but to go back. And having a major pay-per-view (Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series) here will be a major feat – after all, the whole world sees these major events, and it would boost the country’s image. But that’s wishful thinking.
