Guilty pleasures, I’ve always had them, something that I enjoy that’s out of my realm but doesn’t everyone? Some people can’t miss TV shows, my mom and dad specifically can’t get enough of The Bachelorette even if my dad tells you it’s because he wants to figure out the aspects of it that are planned. Some people enjoy odd things like singing in the shower to pretend they’re performing at Madison Square Garden.

Mine has always changed, from boy bands to fictional characters but my current obsession has come to three simple letters: WWE. Before you roll your eyes, I wanted to try to explain my point of passion for this topic. The first thing that people always ask when I mention WWE is you know it’s fake right? WHAT? It is?! Of course I know that. I’m not naïve and I understand that it’s pretty much a soap opera with a bunch of fancy and technical moves…but doesn’t that sound awesome?

If that’s not the guiltiest of pleasures, I don’t know what is. But furthermore, I’d like to explain a little bit about WWE and why I’m so passionate about it, even if it is fake.

We can start with the archetypes because it’s got something for everyone to be able to relate to from heroes and villains, the legends of old and warriors of today, kings and queens, underdogs and giants, common men and mythical creatures. There is a wrestler for everyone that you relate to so strongly that you don’t even know what to do with yourself but continue to watch.

These wrestlers work their bums off to perform, sacrifice their bodies and their lives and even bleed for their fans. They give us such emotional performances and give us joy, surprise and sadness. The display nothing but the utmost athletic skill and provide us with moments we’ll remember for forever. These men and women work day to day to give fans all that we have and in return, we do the same.

Most importantly, for me – as a female fan – the women’s division of the WWE has grown so strong that I feel so confident in myself through the female wrestlers’ movement that’s currently swept through the company. Though my favorite wrestler retired in November of 2006, when she was on the main roster, it was very sexualized. I’ll be the first to say it, bra and panty matches, wrestling in the mud and swimsuit contests littered the attitude era for more than a few years.

So yes, I am a wrestling fan and yes, I do understand that WWE is a scripted show, (sorry to those of you that I just broke your glass about it), but regardless of the actuality; it inspires my creativity and it gives me a slew of role models to look up to.