Beads of Banana Boat Tanning Spray accumulate atop the exposed May 2000 display that depicts Goldberg, WCW's biggest star, so that he appears "oiled up" for the impending match. 

A medium-sized wooden entertainment system houses a 27-inch Toshiba television that emits a flickering, bluish light: It's Monday night, largely recognized as the biggest wrestling night of the week.

Traditionally considered a harmonious haven for family togetherness, the living room has become a wrestling war zone in some American households.  And thousands of college students around the country have adopted Monday night rituals that involve transforming the living room into makeshift wrestling arenas.

Students at California State University, Chico, are no different.  In fact, they may be more susceptible to fall into the wrestling trap.

"I think a lot of people in college just want to act crazy, stupid, and have a good time and air it out because the real world is right around the corner," said Phil Bosierre, a resort and lodging management major.

Bosierre, fellow senior Dan Nieto, and junior Chris Relth regularly convene on Monday nights to partake of the wrestling craze that has enveloped the Chico State campus community.

"It's kind of a theme party where it allows people to get crazy," Bosierre, 24, said.  "And there's interaction because there's the whole story line that goes along with it.  It's like women watching soap operas.  They get into it.  Someone in the house will be a Rock fan, and someone will be a fan of someone else and then we all go back and forth with the whole thing and just get crazy." 

And while many people think wrestling appeals only to men, women are always welcome at the party, Bosierre said.

"We usually have girls over for the wrestling parties, and sometimes we get dressed up," he said.  "All the girls dress all slutty, and we'll act all crazy and throw beer everywhere, and sometimes we'll just jump in the pool and go nuts."

The girls at the party sometimes dress in outfits patterned after the female superstars of professional wrestling.  And while the clothes worn, or "accidentally" removed inside the ring may appear scandalous, Bosierre said it's all part of the appeal of professional wrestling. 

"I think it's just entertainment, " he said.  "You've got sexist behavior and stuff with everything like music and TV, and just the way people behave every day.  (Pro wrestling is) just reflective of what people want to be entertained.  People want to be shocked more and more and more, and that's just what's happening. We love it. "

Moreover, Relth said, the uncertainty of pro wrestling draws viewers as well. 

"You never know what's going to happen," he said.  "People watch the Jerry Springer show for the same kind of thing."

Perhaps too much exposure to the real world has hardened them, but there are those who contend professional wrestling is mind-numbing and juvenile.  Relth, meanwhile, argues that people should at least give pro wrestling a chance before criticizing it.

"There's nothing I really don't like about it, it's something to do, something to talk about," he said.  "You'll see guys out there now who would rather watch wrestling than baseball games when they're on TV. It's a new sport, a new interest."
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In coming!
 
 
 
 

This can't be good.

What nice boys.
 
 

He tore his head off.