WWE star thinks pro wrestling is “safer to enjoy” than MMA

After lots of talk about boxing versus MMA of late, it’s time to switch gears.

A recent comment by WWE superstar Jon Cena caught my attention. He’s a pro wrestler, not in the sense that Brock Lesnar is a converted pro wrestler in mixed martial arts. He’s an athlete/actor who puts on a staged show.

Cena was asked about the UFC recently and responded by saying:

“It’s just not something that particularly interests me. UFC is where boxing was years ago and I was never really into boxing, either. [WWE is] regulated entertainment that’s safe for anyone to enjoy. [The UFC] can be pretty over the top and it’s not something I’d want my children to watch.”

Hmm. I have a number of simultaneous reactions to that, so I’ll try to sort through them one by one.

1. Is he implying that any children watch MMA?

Cena sounded like he was on his high horse stating that he wouldn’t let his children watch MMA. But who does, really? As much as MMA is a legit sport in my mind, full of honor and careful safety regulation, it’s still not something I’d show to a five-year old. There’s still plenty of blood and a guy punching another guy in the face isn’t something parents traditionally expose children to. It’s no different than parents not letting their kids watch boxing or R-rated movies. So what big revelation is Cena giving us with that comment?

2. Technically, MMA can teach kids a lot more about safety than pro wrestling can.

For argument’s sake, let’s pretend we’re exposing children to equal amounts of MMA and pro wrestling. Which one is “safer” entertainment? Pro wrestling teaches kids that guys can beat on each other with chairs, choke each other, stomp each other, break two-by-fours over each other’s hands, run each other over with cars, hit women, and so on…with no consequences.

A guy gets a baseball bat to the head in pro wrestling and he’s back on his feet two minutes later. So, John Cena, do you want to teach your little guys that fighting has very few physical consequences?

MMA may be more jarring to watch. But it at least could teach a kid that one hard punch can knock a guy cold or that a few seconds in a real “sleeper hold” will cut off the air to someone’s brain. It can scare them straight. It also shows how careful referees are to stop fights as soon as fighters are in real danger.

3. The greater question is whether or not kids should watch WWE.

I’m not saying my own opinion on the subject is that extreme. But if Cena wants to get on his soap box and dismiss MMA as not for kids, I have news for him: everyone already knows that. Young children don’t watch MMA. But plenty of them watch the cartoony violence depicted on WWE shows.

Maybe it’s time Cena looked in the mirror and asked himself what kind of example pro wrestling sets for young people.

About Grant Brothers Boxing & MMA Gym: Based in North York, Grant Brothers Boxing &  MMA Gym offers world-class Boxing, BJJ, Judo, MMA, Muay Thai, Sambo, Wrestling and UFC training at real-world prices.  Classes are taught by certified coaches with classes for men, women, children, adults, beginners and advanced.  Private lessons and boxercise classes are also available. Areas serviced include North York, Etobicoke, Toronto, Scarborough, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan, Brampton and Mississauga.

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