“Rasslins On!” One of my brothers would yell and all of us kids would come running into the house to watch Live Atlanta Wrestling with Gordon Solie. It would not be long before we would not only be watching the show but acting out some of the moves. Mother just seem to let us be boys until someone got hurt.
Watching wrestling for most boys was a normal weekend activity and Monday’s hot topic on the play ground. Until we noticed girls.
Classy Freddie Blassie was one of the bad guys that you loved to hate. He would always cheat and never get caught and many times interrupt other matches. It all seemed so real.
Most people remember him for his managing, and his catch phrase “pencil neck geeks”. He was one of the all time greats when it came to professional wrestling managers, and will always be one of the best. As Blassie became more popular, he bleached his hair blonde, and began to use his rule-breaking style that he used throughout his entire career.
While these men were only putting on a show many fans did not see it that way. Blassie was stabbed 23 different times, had his car set on fire, had acid poured on him, and went blind in his right eye after a fan hit him in the eye with a hard boiled egg.
That all seems so strange today when the pro wrestlers call it sports entertainment. Just putting on a show. And I thought they were for real.
While NWA may be just a show the battles we face everyday are real. Many times failing health or disappointing relationships seem to wear us down, we may feel like for the three count. But we should be of good courage for greater is He that is in us that he that is in the world.
We sing the old hymn Victory In Jesus but live our life so defeated. Remember this that we are promised the victory so when Satan reminds us of past failures and defeats remind him of his future. Never give up and never stop praying. The battle is real and the victory is ours.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;