Wrestling Heals In Times Of Tragedy
Royal Rumble was a reprieve after Kobe Bryant’s shocking death.
The news of Kobe Bryant’s passing hit me like a truck.
The story only became more tragic after we learned that Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna, along with seven other people, also died in that helicopter crash.
I couldn’t shake the despair and sadness. Despite never meeting Kobe, it felt like the loss of a family member. The only comparable feeling was when Eddie Guerrero tragically died in 2005 at the age of 38.
Being 22 years old and growing up a sports fan, Kobe was basketball to me. The two were synonymous. You shoot a piece of trash like a basketball; you yell “Kobe!” You throw up a miracle shot in a pickup game, you scream “Kobe!” So many memories flooded my mind, as I solemnly scrolled through Twitter being reminded of his greatness on the court, his love for his family and how much he still had left to accomplish.
Sunday was also the Royal Rumble, an event that I’m excited for every year. The childlike joy I get wondering who the next entrant will be is second to none. After the Kobe news, my excitement had diminished.
It all seemed so pointless, but wrestling has always been my safe haven when dealing with complex emotions. When I was in the 10th grade and my dog Sharla that I’d had since I was six years old passed away, I had wrestling. I don’t know what made me choose this match, but I watched Rob Van Dam vs. Christian in a ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship on a Raw from 2003. For those 20 or so minutes, I didn’t think about my grief or sadness. I was allowed to escape into the world of wrestling, as any good match does.
Flash forward to Sunday night: I turn on the Royal Rumble and wrestling was there once again when I needed it.
For the next four hours, I had a reprieve. The problems don’t go away, but to allow yourself to experience moments of joy in the midst of heartache, no matter how frivolously it comes, is an integral part of the grieving process and being able to move forward. That joy reached an apex when the clock counted down to zero for the No. 21 entrant and a familiar “You think you know me” blared across Minute Maid Park.
Edge returning to the ring after being retired for nine years due to fear of paralysis immediately became one of my all-time favorite wrestling moments. The emotion was palpable on his face as he looked around and soaked in the cheers of the tens of thousands of people that hadn’t forgotten. They still loved him.
It was a feeling that I’m sure people can find in other places, but one that’s also oddly unique to wrestling. Nowhere else but wrestling can an athlete return to their “field of play” after such a long absence and not only relive their glory years, but actively show you what makes them so unique in the first place.
Yes, wrestling is scripted, and yes, this is entertainment, but the emotions it generates are real.
To help support the other families affected by this devastating accident, please go to MambaOnThree.org.
To help honor the legacy of Kobe and Gianna Bryant and their dedication to youth sports, visit MambaSportsFoundation.org.
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