Wrestling has been a fixture of television for decades now, and it does not seem as though it is waning in popularity at all. In fact, it seems to be getting even more popular. The field has always had a reputation for spawning superstars that transcend wrestling to become pop culture icons, actors, and more. Some of the most notable examples over the past few years include Hulk Hogan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Cena, and, of course, Dave Batista, who will be in James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy next year.

While the field does help to propel many into the spotlight, and those wrestlers often move on to start in Hollywood films, the real reason people love watching wrestling is for the drama and the spectacle it offers. All of the wrestlers are larger than life characters with fun and over the top personas that often conflict with one another. They take their backstage and in the ring drama and play it for all it is worth, ramping up the energy level in the crowd.

Throughout the year, the WWE has many special events and Pay-Per-View events such as SummerSlam and Wrestlemania. While these shows, along with the weekly shows on regular television can certainly be entertaining — akin to soap operas in tights — it can be fun to get off the couch and get down to the local arena to see these athletic giants in action. As much fun as it might be to sit in your own home and watch it, being part of a crowd of thousands is a different experience entirely. Just as with a concert or a sporting event, it’s possible to “feel” the energy that courses through the crowd as their favorite heroes and villains take center stage.

If you want to have a great time with your family or your friends, and you’ve always been a wrestling fan, check out when the WWE will be in your area. Buy some tickets and be a part of a live show. It’s different, it’s fun, and it is a time you will never forget.