Fansided

25 ways to spend these summer months without NBA basketball

By Matt Rutkowski

Jul 17, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; The Portland Trail Blazers pose for photos after winning the NBA Summer League Championship game by defeating the New York Knicks 85-77 at Thomas & Mack Center. Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 17, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; The Portland Trail Blazers pose for photos after winning the NBA Summer League Championship game by defeating the New York Knicks 85-77 at Thomas & Mack Center. Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Scenes from the tag-team match between Kenny Omega, and Adam Page vs. Private Party on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, during All Elite Wrestling Dynamite at Landers Center in Southaven.010820aewwrestling15
Scenes from the tag-team match between Kenny Omega, and Adam Page vs. Private Party on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, during All Elite Wrestling Dynamite at Landers Center in Southaven.010820aewwrestling15 /

4. Get into professional wrestling

I’m biased here, but I think professional wrestling is great. I consider it a physical art form. Sure it’s not a real fight, but the drama, storytelling, and athletic marvels of a good match or series of matches get me interested in a way not many other forms of media can. Taking it at face value is a must, but it’s one of those times when suspending disbelief pays considerable dividends.

Many people just think of pro wrestling as WWE, but don’t let that be you. That’s not to say that WWE won’t be your favorite flavor, but it’s worth the effort to broaden your horizons. There is a ton of professional wrestling out there right now that you can find, watch, or subscribe to.

All Elite Wrestling is one option. The matches are generally more compelling than WWE, and it’s probably the second easiest to access. There’s a two-hour program on Wednesday nights and a one-hour program on Friday nights. If WWE isn’t the right fit, this should be your go-to.

There’s also New Japan Pro Wrestling. There is a language barrier, but the matches are a different sort than the ones you see in America. They make the bouts look more like a real fight, and some of the wrestlers they have are beyond charismatic. You can subscribe on New Japan World.

There’s also Impact. They rose from the ashes of TNA, and are putting on compelling shows weekly along with regular PPVs.

And then there is DDT, which is both amazing and sometimes goofy. Stardom, which is hard-hitting, generally Japanese women wrestlers. Defy, which is an indie promotion in the Pacific Northwest that generally has awesome cards. On and on and on. I can’t cover everything.

And the cool thing about professional wrestling is that there are always weird rumors going around in the vein of Wojspolsions and Shams alerts. People are unhappy, or there was drama backstage, or people want to switch companies. The fun part is what goes on in the ring, but it doesn’t end there if you don’t want it to. Wrestling never ends, so you don’t have to worry about an offseason.

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