I did attend a couple of professional wrestling events in my young adult days.
I knew it was fake. Really I did!
The following morning of one event, I had breakfast at Denny's, and the cashier asked the big guy in front of me for his autograph. I asked her who that guy was...Jake the Snake...with a looker blonde at his elbow. As I paid my bill and exited the restaurant I saw him and blondie in a fancy car lighting up a cig. He's still my hero.