#BalutClub #TFALPodcast goes to NJPW

Last night I went to #NJPWG1USA repping #balutclub #tfalpodcast. It was my first live wrestling show ever and it did not disappoint. For folks who cannot understand why I am into wrestling I recommend you watch episode 5 of GLOW on Netflix. One of the characters on the show has an epiphany about why wrestling works.
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The answer?
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STORIES
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Entertainment is about stories. It’s what keeps us engaged and coming back for more. Stories are why I made my dad read Cinderella to me every night as a toddler. Stories are why my Lola Sabel watched All My Children, One Life to Live, and General Hospital religiously and would not let me change the channel. Stories are why in college I could go back to my freshman year dorm at 1pm and there would be a group of us watching Days of Our Lives on the common living room tv. Stories are why summer blockbluster’s are fun, documentaries are compelling, and tv is currently in a golden age.
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My history with wrestling goes back to my childhood. I watched wrestling on TV and got sucked into the story.  Like Lola Sabel’s soaps, wrestling was my soap opera. As I got older I fell out of touch with what was happening, but like All My Children, I could always jump back in and get into the story.

In college PUSO Pal Berto, (FYI he is my PUSO pal because of the UCI student org Pilipino Pre-Health Undergraduate Student Organization PUSO matched us to be PUSO pals!), would watch wrestling with some friends. I remember I tried to come over and watch with the homies but my allergic reaction to cats prevented me from hanging out since I preferred being able to breathe and not having my eyes burn and my nose run. Berto is the reason for my new foray into wrestling. Last year for my birthday I got a surprise in the mail. A WWE Network card, a list of matches to watch, and a list of shows. This was my “homework.” I mentioned to him that I was getting into Lucha Underground and occasionally watching RAW and Smackdown. His birthday gift turned into putting WWE Network cards on my elfster for Christmas, and finally buying my own card when my gift cards ran out.

Which leads me to last night when we saw NJPW1USA live. I saw wrestlers I had only seen on the internet and tv before my very eyes. Hearing folks chant “This is Awesome,” boo a heel, or flip their shit when something insane happened was the best. We sat behind a family with two girls who were super into the show, flashing the #BulletClub sign, and standing on chairs for a better view. If I could time travel to my little kid self I would let that bowl cut Elaine know that one day you’ll be at a live show and there will be other girls into wrestling too. I would also tell myself the winning powerball numbers for the next jackpot and make myself promise that I wouldn’t turn into Biff Tannen.
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Last night the crowd was into the story because that’s what keeps us in the seats. It’s why we boo or cheer. It’s why #tfalpodcast exists so we can tell Filipino American stories. Why hopefully one day we can talk to Dave Bautista, TJ Perkins, Kris Wolf, Jeff Cobb, DJZ Michael Paris and hear their stories as Filipino American professional wrestlers. Because if we don’t tell these stories, who will?