‘BUT IT’S FAAAAKE!’

But what is reality? The Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked the nearly 20 people interviewed for this story how they respond to those who say wrestling is fake. Here are their straight-shooting answers:

■ Billy Corgan (left), owner of the National Wrestling Alliance and Smashing Pumpkins frontman: “It’s an offensive question. It’s like saying acting is fake . ... You’re criticizing someone for something they are really good at.”

■ Jonnie Chizzolin, 11-year-old wrestling fan: “Who wins is fake, but not them getting hit.”

■ David Lagana, vice president of the National Wrestling Alliance and longtime wrestling writer: “Everything’s fake in television. It’s as real as the real world.”

■ “Diamond” Dallas Page, three-time WCW champ and owner of DDP Yoga Performance Center in Smyrna: “When people tell me it’s fake, I go, ‘Baby, it ain’t fake, it’s fixed.’ And you can’t fake gravity.”

■ Brett Weitz, general manager of TBS and TNT, the latter of which will air All Elite Wrestling in October: “It may be constructed, but that doesn’t take away someone flying 20 feet off a turnbuckle.”

■ Nick Dolby of Atlanta, 34-year-old fan: “I tell them it’s scripted, not fake.”

■ Cody Rhodes, executive vice president of AEW and raised in Marietta with his legendary father, Dusty Rhodes: “I haven’t had anyone tell me wrestling was fake since middle school . ... It’d be like going to the Avengers, standing up in the theater and saying, ‘Guys, Chris Hemsworth is not Thor.’”

■ Gary Juster, operations manager for Ring of Honor: “It’s not fake, it’s a performance, just as the Globetrotters are a performance, just as the circus is a performance.”

■ Brandi Rhodes, branding officer for AEW, wrestler and wife of Cody Rhodes: “I just kind of chuckle anytime someone brings it up,” adding that anyone can call the doctor who treated her clavicle that broke in two places to ask if that was fake.

■ Hugo Moreno of Lilburn, 26-year-old wrestling fan: “Go in there then to do it yourself.”