Wrestling is Fake. So Let's Be Real.

Although people often fail to make the connection, the wrestling industry is eerily similar to movie or television business.

Wrestlers are given assigned roles and they do the very best they can to act them out. Just like in movies, there often exists high production, scripts and further guidelines to deliver a satisfying show to its audience.

There are good guys, there are bad guys and there are in-betweeners. No matter what, professional wrestlers are expected to act as they are instructed.

With that being said, a particular incident occurred during a WWE house show over the past weekend. It involved a bad guy (a heel), a child and a disgruntled mother.

For more on this story and my take keeping reading after the jump.
During a show in Anaheim, California this weekend, WWE superstar Alberto Del Rio grabbed and ripped the sign of an 8-year-old fan. The boy's mother, Shelly Ehler, was appalled by Del Rio's gesture.

According to Ehler, her son instantly burst into tears after Del Rio ripped his sign and proceeded to mock him shortly after. She also claimed her son cried on the entire ride home as a result of the wrestler's actions.

After the show, Ehler vented her frustrations by contacting the WWE regarding the incident.

A section of the letter reads: "Take signs from adults NOT KIDS! My son was bullied by your superstars and its not okay."

(For additional details to the story, click this link.)

So is this mother justified in her hasty response?

Does she have a point about not "bullying" children at wrestling shows?

As a lifelong wrestling fan, I believe this woman is completely wrong. That's right...WRONG.

Eight years old or 55 years old, all fans should be aware that wrestling is a scripted show. In lamer terms, yes-- wrestling is fake. (But don't tell that to this guy or this guy.)

In fact, the WWE airs numerous disclaimers and commercials warning its viewers about the professionalism involved in its product.

So if you pay for a show, then a show is what you'll get.

Alberto Del Rio is undoubtedly one of the industry's top heels, or bad guys. As a heel, Del Rio is obligated to act like, well, an asshole.

Excuse my French, but that's what he is paid to do.

Whether it be calling everyone's mother an (insert insult here) or ripping a kid's sign, heels are supposed to carry out an unfavorable attitude during their shows.

Let's take a recent CM Punk interaction for instance:

Now yes, Punk does call these fans "jerks" and even refers to one as a "homo." And yeah, he did shout "you have a vagina" to them as well.

But is this really to be taken seriously?

If non-wrestling fans always ridicule the industry for being fake, then why should it be? When you talk to people who don't watch wrestling, often times they'll poke fun at the business and its fans for liking a scripted product.

So if it is indeed fake, why should fans take these types of incidents to heart?

IT'S A SHOW.

Here's my plea to parents who have younger children that are wrestling fans:

Toughen up your children. I'm not questioning or insulting your parenting skills, for I'm just a 20-year-old college student. But let's teach our children the difference between real and fake.

Let's teach them that although wrestling is fun to watch, it's a show. It's scripted, it's choreographed, it's faked. (Let's not, however, mistake the various injuries suffered by numerous wrestlers as fake.)

Anyway, give your children a taste of the real world.

I know they're kids and I know they're young. But the sooner they realize what they're watching, the better.

Please do not be offended or insulted by the actions of professional wrestlers. They are just trying to put food on the table-- asshole-ish behavior or not.