Werner Herzog compares professional wrestling to ancient greek drama.
The sport of pro wrestling is often described as a soap opera or a reality show by the general public. Specific companies around the world of wrestling will lean heavily into the drama aspect of wrestling, while other promotions will focus more on in-ring action more than the drama and/or storylines.
While speaking with Conan O'Brien for a new interview, director and screenwriter Werner Herzog spoke about the importance of knowing the landscape of media, which led to him talking about how he will watch 'trash TV' sometimes, such as an event like WrestleMania. Herzog then said that wrestling drama is just as crude as ancient greek drama.
“I do watch some trash TV, let’s say like WrestleMania. It’s very interesting because it’s a very crude form of drama that has emerged and it’s a drama set not in the fight itself. The fights are interrupted by commercials, meaning they’re not important but the owner of the franchise shows up in the ring [with] his wife, alleged wife, in a wheelchair and blind. He has three sexy women in his arm and rants against his wife in the wheelchair. All of the sudden, you have a form of drama probably as crude as Ancient Greek drama, which started out in the fifth century before Christ. I watch it for, number one, I think that the poet must not close his eyes, avert his eyes, you have to know which world you’re living."
Herzog also noted that he will sometimes watch shows like 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo' and 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', which many would also qualify as 'Trash TV'.
In the world of film, Herzog is known for directing movies such as 'Grizzly Man', 'Fitzcarraldo', and 'Aguirre, the Wrath of God'.
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