Hulk Hogan. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Brock Lesnar. John Cena. These are all names of personalities in pop culture who got their start in the area of sports entertainment commonly known as professional wrestling. I know what you’re thinking, “Man, doesn’t this guy know that wrestling is fake? I stopped watching that stuff when I was five years old.” My response: Yes, I realize that the outcomes are predetermined, but the things that they do in the ring and the bumps that they take are very real.

The undisputed leader in the professional wrestling industry is certainly World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Over the years, professional wrestling has produced many unforgettable characters who have made a splash in pop culture and increased the sport’s overall popularity. WWE’s popularity is a worldwide phenomenon, as people from around the world tune in every week to watch their flagship show, “Monday Night Raw.” WWE also has many other shows and pay-per-view. They recently debuted their own network earlier this year that allows you to watch new shows, pay-per-views and thousands of hours of archived shows for the low price of $9.99 per month. WWE takes over my social media every week and usually has several hashtags trending worldwide, as people come together to tweet about the show. “Monday Night Raw” and “Friday Night Smackdown” typically lead as two of the most watched shows on cable television every week. According to their corporate site, “WWE is watched by 14 million fans each week in the United States alone.” WWE also uses this global exposure to promote good causes, such as Susan G. Komen (Breast Cancer Research and Awareness), the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics.

The reason I watch professional wrestling is no different than the reason people watch other shows — it entertains me and I enjoy it. I enjoy the chemistry that takes place between the story-telling ability and athleticism of the wrestlers. As a fan, you can cheer the good guys and “boo” the bad guys. You have the power to choose who you like, and you can talk with other people and hear their opinion. I’ve gone to several live, televised shows over the past few years, and the atmosphere at each of these events is downright electric and infectious.

While many people may continue to look down on the professional wrestling industry as being “childish” or “fake,” I personally enjoy watching it week after week and being captivated by the larger than life characters and the incredible feats of strength and athleticism that they put on display.

I end with my favorite line from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson,”If you smell … what the rock … is cooking.”