[article]To Be the Man

**Article from Joey Munoz of Santino Bros. Wrestling Academy:

Are you a professional wrestler? Or are you a pencil neck geek? Far too often people consider professional wrestling FAKE.

In 1976 Mike Graham introduced Hulk Hogan to Hiro Matsuda,who was among the sport's top trainers, and considered one of the toughest wrestlers in the world. According to Hogan, during their first training session, Matsuda sarcastically asked him, "So you want to be a wrestler?"

Hogan said "Yes!" then Matsuda purposely broke Hogan's leg. Obviously Hiro Matsuda didn't break Hulk Hogan's SPIRIT. That did'nt stop the HULK from becoming one of, if not THE, greatest icons in Professional Wrestling history.

The road to becoming a professional wrestler is hard. This is a tough career. It is a road paved with doubt, fatigue, and sacrifice, both mentally and physically. But just as the negatives are tough, the rewards are great....the greater the sacrifice, the greater the reward. The roar of the crowd, the camaraderie of the boys, the memories, the ability to make people laugh, to make people cry and to really touch their hearts. Along with the obvious, traveling the world, meeting and wrestling the great ones, gaining a fan base, making the big paydays, and becoming WORLD CHAMPION.

To be the Man you have to beat the Man! So says the 16 time World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair. According to Flair's autobiography, "..the best matches are called in the ring and on the fly, not laid out on paper." This ability to call it in the ring and on the fly is one of the reason's Ric Flair is the best at what he does and is so well respected. He not only knows all the moves, but is a pro wrestlers perfect opponent. To be able to "wing it" or do it without "practice" shows that you are a true pro wrestler, not just a show guy.

You have to be prepared for whatever is thrown your way, whether it be a cocky veteran who likes to tear into green boys or a green boy who doesn't know a thing who needs you to carry the match.

To be the man, you have to be prepared and to be prepared is your key to success.