David Holmstrom

About the author: David Holmstrom is a senior feature writer for the Christian Science Monitor, a national daily newspaper. Holmstrom writes about social issues, criminal justice, education, and entertainment.

While fans appreciate the well-crafted dramas and superb athleticism of professional wrestling, many authorities feel that professional wrestling programs are unsuitable for children and teenagers. Critics claim these programs—with their emphasis on confrontation and disrespect—reflect contemporary society's distorted values. Pro wrestling no longer pits good guys against bad guys. In today's wrestling matches, everyone is a bad guy, and fans root for their favorite antihero. Some argue these antiheroes place too much emphasis on violence and sex. In the fight for TV ratings, however, the two major wrestling organizations have adopted a "top this" philosophy, increasing the hostility and...