Understanding the art of pro wrestling in Indianapolis
While it may seem like witnessing a back alley brawl, one IU Indy professor says taking in a professional wrestling event is more like spending an evening at a jazz cafe.
Why it matters: The funky music made by pro wrestling set records in the Circle City when the WWE Royal Rumble came to town Feb. 1, and more mania is on the way.
By the numbers: The Rumble packed Lucas Oil Stadium with more than 70,000 fans to begin a multi-year partnership between the city and WWE.
The event was expected to have a $40 million economic impact on Indianapolis.
The entire partnership, which will also bring WrestleMania and SummerSlam to town in the future, has a total projected economic impact of $350 million.
Zoom in: Classical studies and art history lecturer Andy Findley says the connection between jazz and pro wrestling is the freedom granted to the performers.
"Frequently folks will say, wrestling is all fake. They know the outcomes," Findley told Axios. "Yeah, they do. And there are moments that they script out ahead of time. But the rest of it is improvisation."
"You have a rhythm. You've got a baseline. You have a broad chord progression, and everything else is just the artist feeling out what they can do within those confines. And that's what wrestling is like for me."
Between the lines: Findley joined WWE director of character development Rob Fee on the IU Indy campus for a pre-Rumble discussion.
Fee, who joined WWE after working as a writer for Marvel and Disney, said the art of storytelling in pro wrestling is the ability to tell personal, longform stories that go beyond the pursuit of championship titles.
Yes, but: Casual fans who just tune in for big events can appreciate the artistic expression that comes with the genre's elaborate entrances, costumes and catchphrases.
"I don't think there's anything else that is accessible to everyone in such a tangible way," Fee said.
What's next: You don't have to wait for the WWE to return to see these full-contact creators in action.
Naptown All-Pro Wrestling is hosting an all-ages event headlined by a heavyweight championship bout at 2pm Sunday at Upland Brewing in Fountain Square.
Tickets start at $30.
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