Yeah, I never thought it was weird before because it's an answer I've got it from the uninitiated, but when you put it that way it does seem sort of strange in retrospect.
I mean I know my father, who used to watch wrestling in the Hogan/Savage-era, and who doesn't care for it at all now, only evaluated wrestlers on how crazy their mannerisms were (he fondly remembers one guy who would chew the ring posts who's name I can't remember). And maybe partially how big they were. He wouldn't know what to say if you asked who his favorite in-ring performer was (probably, "well it's all fake anyway," knowing him). I'm not sure if that has to do with the era he watched, or if it's just because he's an idiot.
I want to guess that part of it might be that they feel like they were fooled, and they don't want to admit to themselves that they thought any wrestler seemed especially exciting to them because, in their mind, it means they bought into the illusion. Even though being exciting in the ring is not part of the illusion, and is an actual skill.
I'm just taking 2 AM stabs at what the reason might be, though. Because like you said, I'm sure when they were still watching there were definitely guys they found more exciting in the ring than others.
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Ace Detective in Sir Chris' Police
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