The history of professional wrestling is the story of theater imitating a sporting event. A story line is woven giving an emotional reason for fighting. Who wins and loses is a scripted part of the show. Often the script is good versus evil. Both sides suffer losses as well as wins. Wrestlers use traditional skills of holds and throws. They perform daring acrobatic maneuvers and improvise weapons. Female wrestlers use the good versus evil script, with the added thrill of skimpy costumes.
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.
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.
Matches became increasingly sophisticated in the 1920's This was the beginning of time limit matches, catch matches, tag teams, and signature moves. Tag teams developed the ruse of distracting the referee so they could cheat. Wrestlers signed long term contracts. Promoters developed more soap opera-like story lines.
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, television increased the popularity of this entertaining "sport". As the market contracted in the 60's and 70's, cutthroat competition again became the norm. Today WWF, renamed WWE in 2002, is the largest company in the business. Vince MeMahon was a forceful businessman who succeeded in buying out most of his competitors. He negotiated profitable TV network and pay-per-view contracts.
ECW wrestlers would attack each other with folding chairs and leap from the top rope to crash into tables. They were also the first to hold a ladder match. The company was eventually bought out by the WWF, and hardcore stunts went mainstream.
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.
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.
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.
Matches became increasingly sophisticated in the 1920's This was the beginning of time limit matches, catch matches, tag teams, and signature moves. Tag teams developed the ruse of distracting the referee so they could cheat. Wrestlers signed long term contracts. Promoters developed more soap opera-like story lines.
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, television increased the popularity of this entertaining "sport". As the market contracted in the 60's and 70's, cutthroat competition again became the norm. Today WWF, renamed WWE in 2002, is the largest company in the business. Vince MeMahon was a forceful businessman who succeeded in buying out most of his competitors. He negotiated profitable TV network and pay-per-view contracts.
ECW wrestlers would attack each other with folding chairs and leap from the top rope to crash into tables. They were also the first to hold a ladder match. The company was eventually bought out by the WWF, and hardcore stunts went mainstream.
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.
About the Author:
The history of professional wrestling is explained in detail right here at www.squaredcircleofwrestling.com. Read the full story on http://www.squaredcircleofwrestling.com.
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