A couple of weeks ago we were on the road headed down state to Detroit to see the WWE Monday Night Raw with 3 kids we hold near and dear to our hearts. All 3 kids were excited, and admittedly so were we because ever since we were dating (which was way…way back in 1984) we have been professional wrestling fans. Many a date night was spent at my parent’s house watching wrestling late Friday nights and it always involved ordering a pizza too. It’s funny how simple things like that stick in your mind and create those lasting memories we look back on as we age.
Anyway, back to the adventure. The kids were anxious to arrive in Detroit so we picked them up right after school and hit the road. The youngest, our niece Mackye is 10. Our 13 year old nephew and 17 year old neighbor (who is like a nephew to us) were also in on the fun.
Do you have family members that are fans of WWE? If so, have they ever experienced a live event? It’s really unlike any sporting event we’ve ever attended because it is over-the-top with theatrics, detailed lighting, audience involvement, dramatic music and pyrotechnics. Comparing the WWE to a sporting event probably is a stretch, but that is a whole another discussion. For us, it was a super fun experience.
Upon arriving in Detroit we parked in a parking structure and walked up to the venue. Our tickets were at the Will Call booth and it was a snap to pick them up. There were already lines and lines of fans waiting to get into the venue even though the event did not start for nearly 2 hours. You could see the massive amounts of WWE vehicles including their abundance of semi trucks that roll in and out of each location. During the show they played a clip explaining what it takes to put on a show and I think they said it was something like 17 semi trucks worth of equipment. That just boggles my mind. I think the fans waiting were hoping to get a glimpse of the wrestlers as they were entering the building, but it was a chilly 30 degree night in windy Detroit so we convinced the kids that a better use of our time would be a ride on the Detroit People Mover & a quick bite to eat at the Renaissance Center. They agreed so off we went.
The awesome thing with the People Mover is that when we finished our dinner we hopped back on and it dropped us right back off at the Joe Lewis Arena. We arrived just as the venue’s doors were opening and we proceeded to find out seats. It was fun to see the broad mix of people at the event. Parents with young children, couples, older adults, groups of teens – you name it. Many of the people brought in hand made signs, which the WWE encourages and often shows on the live TV broadcast. The group entering the venue ahead of us had a sign that was a bit vulgar and it was nice to see the attendant at the door make them dispose of it before entering. The WWE has a strong commitment to a family friendly atmosphere and this is one area they do watch closely.
Also as we entered and walked through the metal detector Jim beeped. He had totally forgotten that he had worn his jacket another night and had a small camping folding knife in the interior pocket. He beeped and when he pulled it out, they made him toss it away. Oooops! As I mentioned, it was chilly outside and a $5 knife was not worth a trip back to the car to put away.
Like with any professional event, you can buy WWE merchandise at several kiosks at the venue. The t-shirts were in what I would call a normal price range, similar to what we have seen at concerts and Detroit Tigers or Detroit Lions games. The kids already had WWE shirts on (thanks to a thrifty aunt & uncle who always look for them at garage sales), so they didn’t ask for another one. You heard me right – did not ask. I love that about our kiddos!
Before the event began you could feel the excitement within the crowd. The WWE does an excellent job of passing the time before the event starts with short clips on the enormous screen that is set up where the wrestlers enter. Honestly no matter where you sit, this screen will insure you have a great view of the action because as the matches go on they are broadcast onto the screen as well.
Once the event began, the kids were glued to the wring. It was really fun to see them cheering and yelling and joining in on the crowd chants. 
Most everyone in attendance has their favorite wrestlers and when it was their turn to wrestle you could hear the various chants, boos, heckling, etc. It’s all part of the WWE magic, they are experts at making you feel compelled to join in and root or boo for the different characters. The story lines develop as the weeks go on and you can follow the ups and downs of each athlete. Since all of us are fans, it was really enjoyable to see these men and women in action. However, if you happen to go to a WWE event and are unfamiliar with the wrestlers I can assure you in no time you will get the vibe from the audience on whether they are loved or loathed. In no time at all you may just find yourself joining in on a “Let’s Go Cena” chant!
John Cena is one of the WWE’s most popular characters and one of our favorites. He is very involved in events outside of WWE including Make a Wish Foundation and he spearheads the WWE’s partnership with the Susan G Komen’s Rise Above Cancer event. Being a breast cancer survivor, his involvement in this fundraising effort is near and dear to my heart. You can read more about the WWE Rise Above Cancer here.
If you get the opportunity to take in a live WWE appearance, we’d highly recommend going. It truly is fun for the whole family.
Special thanks to WWE for providing our family with tickets to attend the event. All opinions expressed within are our own.
