Thank you, Pro Wrestling, for Getting Me Through 2020

I’m not sure if I would have survived 2020 without pro wrestling.

I know that sounds insane, but as I look back over this awful year I see how pro wrestling was always there for me.

While I’ve always loved pro wrestling, it was the recent launch of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and my discovery of New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) that reignited my love with the sport coming into 2020. This year seemed poised to be a big one with so many exciting possibilities looming.

If we only knew what lay ahead. We could say that about all aspects of life in 2020. My year would suck like everyone else’s year would suck. And pro wrestling helped get me through it.

It started in early January when my year got off to a shitty start when my cousin fell ill and passed away. I never thought it would get any worse than the first two weeks of 2020.

Through those awful two weeks, my escape was NJPW and its annual WrestleKingdom show that takes place every January 4 from the Tokyo Dome. To celebrate 2020 and the fact that Tokyo would be hosting the Olympics — gah it feels weird to relieve those long-lost hopeful thoughts — WrestleKingdom would take place over two nights.

The shows were incredible, with multiple matches considered Match of the Year…