The official WWE website, WWE.com, has posted an interesting gallery that celebrates pro wrestling boots by displaying and discussing the images you see here. The article is called: “Fancy Footwear: photos” and the purpose is to draw our attention to the traditional or exotic boots that wrestlers wear in the ring.
For example, we’re encouraged to take a look at the awesome monogrammed boots worn by Flair and Piper (locked in a tight embrace, above) and the unusual cowboy boots that Barry Windham wore (along with a too-small blue speedo) as he sauntered to the ring.
The introduction to the gallery says:
“WWE Superstars are always sporting fancy new tights, trunks, ring jackets and otherwise attention-grabbing sartorial* choices. But what many in the WWE Universe forget is to look below at the grappler’s interesting footwear. Check out the ring’s coolest kicks in this photo gallery.”
* The word “sartorial” means: “of or pertaining to clothing or style or manner of dress: sartorial splendor.”
Note how we’re encouraged to check out the fancy gear, described as “attention-grabbing” (a term I’ve used often on this website to mean it is a turn-on).
And we’re presented with images such as DiBiase shoving money in a dude’s mouth — his shiny, powerful boot planted on the mat, a huge dollar sign promoting DiBiase’s wealth, potency, and strength.
Historically, wrestling announcers never talked much about the gear. That would seem too queer or effeminate: men discussing another man’s fashion choices, cute outfits, or fancy boots.
But this gallery deliberately draws our eyes, our Male Gaze, to the footwear. They’re fetishizing the boots, making them powerful — the center of our attention.
One of the images shows the Rockers in their “exciting” zebra boots, Double-Drop Kicking their opponent right in the face. Here, the boots are not only interesting and colorful to look at, but they’re also imbued with power — the force to knock Arn Anderson on his ass. The potential to inflict damage, to punish another man, are what give wrestling boots much of their appeal and fetish potential.
So if you’re a Boot Lover (and I know from your comments that some of you are into footwear), be sure to check out this gallery for even more beautiful Boot Fetish images. If you don’t get off on boots, maybe this gallery will convert you (probably that was their intent when they put together the gallery.)
