As Raw as It Gets (These Days)

We've gotten more humane, replacing watching gladiators fight to the death with watching the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). And good thing: The prior was the source of entertainment for pretty much just the Roman Republic -- smaller niche than, let's say, the latter, which is entertainment for the whole world. Did you know that the WWE World Raw Tour is just returning from Yokohama, Japan? After that, they will have stopped in Chattanooga, Tennessee, before landing here at Hollywood's Coliseum, the BankAtlantic Center (1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise). Is there any excitement lost that wrestlers aren't slaves or condemned criminals fighting against live animals or the likes of other gladiators? They make the same exact faces as gladiators midslew. And since dying a glorious death is not at stake, the wrestlers can whine, whine, whine, throw hissy fits, and do dishonorable things. It's fun to watch a grown muscleman whimpering in underwear and grease. So yeah, we've totally come a long way since the first-century BC. Actually, perhaps WWE owes everything to the birth of Christianity -- because that's when these battles to the death didn't seem to be so appealing. Cheering didn't seem so right. Morals. But you can still go coco loca hooting and hollering watching people fight Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $75 at ticketmaster.com.
Sat., Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m., 2011