The history of professional wrestling is a history of sport as entertainment. Matches are preplanned with an agreed upon outcome. It combines theater and athletic skills including striking attacks, strength based holds and throws, acrobatic maneuvers, and improvised weaponry. A masculine soap opera, it's often a battle between good and evil. Like in the real world, evil sometimes win, but good returns for another battle. Add hot chicks and you have blockbuster entertainment.
Detractors denounce the violence, the pretend fights, the glorification of cheating as a means of winning. Fans say it's a story. It's exciting. Fans are encouraged to participate with cheers and jeers. And unlike most "real" sports, there's no audience violence between supporters of opposing wrestlers.
Fights as entertainment were popular in 19th century Europe, and as sideshow exhibitions in North American carnivals and vaudeville halls. A traveling carnival strongman would encourage locals to fight him in the ring. Challengers rarely won against experienced fighters with a knowledge of hook holds. It didn't take long to realize that betting on the outcome was where the real money was.
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.
The 1920's saw the rise of catch matches, time limit matches, signature moves, and tag teams. The now familiar tactic of distracting the referee begins here. Also the 1920's saw the rise of contracts allowing for continuing stories and established characters.
The 1930's saw cutthroat competition as regional organizations competed for territory and talent. After World War II, the NWA grew in stature. Promoters agreed to regional territories with defined boundaries. There was an informal agreement to not lure talent away from competitors.
In the 40's and 50's the rise of TV precipitated a return to cutthroat competition. The 1960's saw the rise of the WWF, later renamed WWE. In the early 1960's Vince McMahon Jr took control of the company. An aggressive businessman he competed successfully for the best talent and scored lucrative cable TV contracts. Over the next couple decades, WWF bought out its primary regional and national competitors to become the largest promoter in the U. S.
Another league that had a major impact was ECW which popularized ladder matches, and the use of chairs as weapons. They popularized the flying leap from the top rope and crashing into tables. Eventually bought out by WWF, the popular hardcore stunts became a regular part of the story.
The U. S. A still has several promoters on the national scene including Ring of Honor, Combat Zone Wrestling, TNA. Promoters in Mexico include Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and the Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion. Promoters in Japan are Pro Wrestling Noah, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and All 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.
Detractors denounce the violence, the pretend fights, the glorification of cheating as a means of winning. Fans say it's a story. It's exciting. Fans are encouraged to participate with cheers and jeers. And unlike most "real" sports, there's no audience violence between supporters of opposing wrestlers.
Fights as entertainment were popular in 19th century Europe, and as sideshow exhibitions in North American carnivals and vaudeville halls. A traveling carnival strongman would encourage locals to fight him in the ring. Challengers rarely won against experienced fighters with a knowledge of hook holds. It didn't take long to realize that betting on the outcome was where the real money was.
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.
The 1920's saw the rise of catch matches, time limit matches, signature moves, and tag teams. The now familiar tactic of distracting the referee begins here. Also the 1920's saw the rise of contracts allowing for continuing stories and established characters.
The 1930's saw cutthroat competition as regional organizations competed for territory and talent. After World War II, the NWA grew in stature. Promoters agreed to regional territories with defined boundaries. There was an informal agreement to not lure talent away from competitors.
In the 40's and 50's the rise of TV precipitated a return to cutthroat competition. The 1960's saw the rise of the WWF, later renamed WWE. In the early 1960's Vince McMahon Jr took control of the company. An aggressive businessman he competed successfully for the best talent and scored lucrative cable TV contracts. Over the next couple decades, WWF bought out its primary regional and national competitors to become the largest promoter in the U. S.
Another league that had a major impact was ECW which popularized ladder matches, and the use of chairs as weapons. They popularized the flying leap from the top rope and crashing into tables. Eventually bought out by WWF, the popular hardcore stunts became a regular part of the story.
The U. S. A still has several promoters on the national scene including Ring of Honor, Combat Zone Wrestling, TNA. Promoters in Mexico include Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and the Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion. Promoters in Japan are Pro Wrestling Noah, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and All 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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