TJ MARCONI OPEN LETTER 2

Now You Got A Story To Tell: Blurred Lines

Dear BCP+, 

 

In the world of PROfessional wrestling, the lines between reality & fiction often blur. Nowhere is this more evident than in the realm of social media. What transpires on platforms like Twitter, (sorry "X"), Instagram, Facebook, etc., can significantly influence how fans & those in the business perceive both the wrestling character & their real life self. 

This extends beyond the ring, as individuals within the industry often craft personas that diverge from their actual lives, giving themselves a "new reality", a new "insert name here" to live vicariously through. More often than not, that person they portray is nothing like their actual self in the real world. 

Followers (fans & co-workers alike) have grown accustomed to interpreting these online profiles as authentic representations, often being the complete opposite of their "shoot" lives. A promoter may not want to book a certain individual based solely on media posts. 

Social media has become THE integral tool for PROfessional wrestlers to connect with their fans & companies. Offering glimpses into their personal lives (at least what they'll actually expose), their wrestling character, workout routines, & even their thoughts on current events. What's shared online is not always an accurate reflection of the worker's true self. Instead, these platforms serve as extensions of the 'personas', blurring the lines between the fantasy & reality. In some cases, hiding what they really are "IRL."

Example: A wrestler, as a heel, continues the behavior on social media. It SHOULD reinforce the character. But in fact, sometimes the people inside the business will believe that they are indeed the same person outside the ring & it will negatively affect the performer. Conversely, wrestlers who depict babyface personas may in fact be the biggest POS behind closed doors. Could be a huge "politician" (will dive deeper into this in a future article) and trying to maintain a spot at any means. This duality exemplifies how the virtual space can perpetuate the illusion of reality, prompting fans to react & invest deeply in the narratives, as well as a detriment to their career amongst the locker room. 

Wrestlers have become experts on using these platforms to their advantage, manipulating fan / promoters perceptions to sustain engagement and interest. The disconnect between social media & actual reality extends to the wrestlers' personal lives. To maintain their in-ring personas, many wrestlers adopt lifestyles that are a far cry from their real lifestyle. This delusion can lead to questions like - "Where does the performer end & the character begin"? 

Personally I've been a victim of this. With many inside the business thinking, TJ the performer & TJ the person are in fact one in the same, I've always been adamant on separating the two. Making the audiences, live & online, believe in everything I do. While maintaining my real life self and separating it from the character. At one point while doing a long term storyline with talent from GRIMS TOY SHOW, a highly watched YouTube channel, I played the ultimate Heel character, tricking not only fans but the locker room that my character was "really evil". Leading to an online campaign to blackball/cancel me by those inside the industry. Meanwhile myself & Grim were behind the curtain grinning ear to ear on how we were able to get all to believe in wrestling again. 

In conclusion, the world of PROfessional wrestling offers a fascinating study of what's presented on social media and the authenticity of individuals' personal lives. The deliberate blurring of lines serves both to captivate audiences, demonstrating the power of storytelling, branding, and manipulation of perception. As social media continues to shape our world, PROfessional wrestling remains a captivating microcosm where truth and fiction coexist in a dance, like a waltz, leaving fans perpetually intrigued by the characters they encounter both in ring and online.

Now You Got A Story To Tell 
- Public Enemy no.1 

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