The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree
Those who aren’t familiar with pro wrestling probably wouldn’t know that it could become truly a family business. Growing in and around “the business” does one of two things to adolescents turned adults: 1. Shy away from the profession that kept their parent(s) away from them for a majority of their lives; 2. Become just as passionate about all things pro wrestling just like the person (or people) that birthed them. The latter has produced many a great wrestler, and even grander wrestling families. The Von Erichs, the Harts, the Ortons, the Guerreros are just a few of the famous wrestling dynasties spawning legendary performers. And one of the main reasons successors to the figurative throne are so successful in the profession of their forefathers and foremothers is by embracing some of the traits that made their predecessors household names.
Bret Hart, son of Canadian hero Stu Hart, spent most of his career being an honorable individual focusing on grappling and submissions rooted in amateur wrestling taught to his dad years before Stu and his wife had their first child of twelve. Bob Orton Jr. utilized his father’s template of methodical, yet power offense to path a road to legendary status before his son took his grandfather and dad’s strategy one step further into prosperity. Lucha libre (wrestling from Mexico) has produced some of the best high flyers in history thanks to their parental figures like El Santo and his son, El Hijo Del Santo. And you can’t bring up wrestling families and parents without mentioning Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his deeply rooted heritage thanks to his grandparents and parents with their unbridled athleticism, charisma and business smarts. Most recently, Charlotte – daughter of the legendary Ric Flair – has been embracing underhanded ways to victory just like her self-proclaimed “Dirtiest Player in the Game” father once did. If you never believed the old saying “The apple doesn’t fall from the tree” in regards to parents and their offspring, look no further than the world of wrestling. Or maybe don’t – you might get jabbed in the eyes; or worse.
