The history of professional wrestling is a story of thrilling fictional characters and twisted plots. Wrestlers are stuntmen with impressive skills including holds and throws, and acrobatic maneuvers. Winners are planned in advance but the story line promotes the illusion of reality. It's a male soap opera pitting good guys against bad guys. The battle rages on with no clear winner. In recent years female wrestlers have added to the excitement.
Those who hate professional wrestling abhor the violence, the phony scripts, the use of cheating to win. Fans know it's phony. They love the soap opera stories. They love cheering and jeering at their heroes and anti-heroes. It's all good sport with no after event fights between fans of warring wrestlers.
Fighting events were popular entertainment in Europe in the 1800's. In North America it was popularized in vaudeville halls and as a sideshow attraction at traveling carnivals. The carnival strongman would fight any comers. Bets were taken. The town wanted to believe in their home grown fighter. Since the carnival fighter had experience in wrestling holds and wasn't above cheating, the town brawler seldom won.
In the late 1800's events were moved to arenas similar to boxing matches. There were many individual promoters and championship belts. The first association was the NWA, a loose organization of regional promoters, formed in 1901.
In the 1920's we first see catch matches, time limits, signature moves, and tag team events. Distracting the referee to win a fight by cheating was popularized around this time. Promoters began signing wrestlers to contracts. With exciting well-known characters, promoters could spin a story line that kept fans waiting for the return engagement.
The 30's saw lots of competition. Promoters fought for territory and the best talent. The NWA used its influence to establish informal agreements among promoters. Territories were established. Promoters looked for new talent, but didn't try to steal wrestlers signed with other promoters. A national championship was established.
The rise of the television in the 40's and 50's saw a corresponding rise in popularity and revenue for promoters and wrestlers. It also marked the end of the gentlemen's agreements established by the NWA, and began a new era of competition. Vince McMahon, the CEO of WWF, was an aggressive and very successful businessman. He sought and signed lucrative TV deals and bought out most of his regional competitors. The WWF, renamed WWE in 2002, is currently the largest promoter in the U. S.
Wrestlers as stuntmen were the creation of ECW. Wrestlers leaping from the top rope would crash into tables. They attacked their opponent with chairs. ECW staged the first ladder match. They were bought out by the WWF who saw the entertainment value in extreme stunts.
TNA, Ring of Honor, and Combat Zone Wrestling remain top name promoters in the U. S. In Mexico, top honors go to Asistencia Asesoria Y Administracion and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. Large associations in Japan are All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah, and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Today this billion dollar industry collects revenue from ticket sales, television broadcasts (network and pay-per-view), internet and web shows, branded merchandise, and home video. WWE attracts 13 million viewers and broadcasts event in 150 countries. This entertaining "sport" is especially popular in Japan, Central and North America, and Brazil. Popular wrestlers become cultural icons. The history of professional wrestling is a story still being written.
Those who hate professional wrestling abhor the violence, the phony scripts, the use of cheating to win. Fans know it's phony. They love the soap opera stories. They love cheering and jeering at their heroes and anti-heroes. It's all good sport with no after event fights between fans of warring wrestlers.
Fighting events were popular entertainment in Europe in the 1800's. In North America it was popularized in vaudeville halls and as a sideshow attraction at traveling carnivals. The carnival strongman would fight any comers. Bets were taken. The town wanted to believe in their home grown fighter. Since the carnival fighter had experience in wrestling holds and wasn't above cheating, the town brawler seldom won.
In the late 1800's events were moved to arenas similar to boxing matches. There were many individual promoters and championship belts. The first association was the NWA, a loose organization of regional promoters, formed in 1901.
In the 1920's we first see catch matches, time limits, signature moves, and tag team events. Distracting the referee to win a fight by cheating was popularized around this time. Promoters began signing wrestlers to contracts. With exciting well-known characters, promoters could spin a story line that kept fans waiting for the return engagement.
The 30's saw lots of competition. Promoters fought for territory and the best talent. The NWA used its influence to establish informal agreements among promoters. Territories were established. Promoters looked for new talent, but didn't try to steal wrestlers signed with other promoters. A national championship was established.
The rise of the television in the 40's and 50's saw a corresponding rise in popularity and revenue for promoters and wrestlers. It also marked the end of the gentlemen's agreements established by the NWA, and began a new era of competition. Vince McMahon, the CEO of WWF, was an aggressive and very successful businessman. He sought and signed lucrative TV deals and bought out most of his regional competitors. The WWF, renamed WWE in 2002, is currently the largest promoter in the U. S.
Wrestlers as stuntmen were the creation of ECW. Wrestlers leaping from the top rope would crash into tables. They attacked their opponent with chairs. ECW staged the first ladder match. They were bought out by the WWF who saw the entertainment value in extreme stunts.
TNA, Ring of Honor, and Combat Zone Wrestling remain top name promoters in the U. S. In Mexico, top honors go to Asistencia Asesoria Y Administracion and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. Large associations in Japan are All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah, and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Today this billion dollar industry collects revenue from ticket sales, television broadcasts (network and pay-per-view), internet and web shows, branded merchandise, and home video. WWE attracts 13 million viewers and broadcasts event in 150 countries. This entertaining "sport" is especially popular in Japan, Central and North America, and Brazil. Popular wrestlers become cultural icons. The history of professional wrestling is a story still being written.
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