2nd place
silver star award
Andreas Hopfgarten
title
The Immortals
Considering the fact, that most historians derive the meaning of the word „person“ to the Greek or Etruscan word „mask“, should make the desire to put on a tights and masks to entertain a screaming crowd more understandable.
In the 90s professional wrestling was extremely popular in Germany. Today the broad public considers it as a wannabe-sport, due to the fact that course and outcome of the fights are fixed. Even though the fanbase has shrunk enormously since the 90s, there still are a lot of hardcore fans, who idolize their local wrestling heroes and follow them around the country. Most events attract only a few hundred fans but the vast majority of German and European wrestlers still dream of a shiny career in big promotions overseas.
Often razorblades are used by wrestlers to cut themselves during matches to create the illusion of real injuries. Sometimes injuries really do occur. In any case the blood is real. This is where the difference between theatre or movies and wrestling can be found. In the latter one the pain is real and not a played act.
Photo 01: Lance Storm
Photo 02: Demolition Davies
Photo 03: Colossus Kennedy
Photo 04: Rick Steiner
Photo 05: Tatanka
back to gallery
entry description
Wrestling is a modern soap-opera-like form of theatre, which combines elements of fighting and acting. So called „gimmicks“, unique character features like masks, backstory or behaviour are used to depict the fight between good and evil. In most cases these gimmicks are strongly connected to the wrestler‘s personality and often symbolize their hopes, fears and desires about themselves or even the world in general.Considering the fact, that most historians derive the meaning of the word „person“ to the Greek or Etruscan word „mask“, should make the desire to put on a tights and masks to entertain a screaming crowd more understandable.
In the 90s professional wrestling was extremely popular in Germany. Today the broad public considers it as a wannabe-sport, due to the fact that course and outcome of the fights are fixed. Even though the fanbase has shrunk enormously since the 90s, there still are a lot of hardcore fans, who idolize their local wrestling heroes and follow them around the country. Most events attract only a few hundred fans but the vast majority of German and European wrestlers still dream of a shiny career in big promotions overseas.
Often razorblades are used by wrestlers to cut themselves during matches to create the illusion of real injuries. Sometimes injuries really do occur. In any case the blood is real. This is where the difference between theatre or movies and wrestling can be found. In the latter one the pain is real and not a played act.
Photo 01: Lance Storm
Photo 02: Demolition Davies
Photo 03: Colossus Kennedy
Photo 04: Rick Steiner
Photo 05: Tatanka
about the photographer
Andreas Hopfgarten lives and works in Hamburg, Germany.back to gallery
