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.
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.
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.
Arenas became the stage for combatants in the late 1800's. Regional promoters hired wrestlers and devised championship matches. In 1901, the NWA was established to promote the sport to a national audience. They organized regional promoters into a cooperative association.
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.
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.
Prominent companies in business today are TNA, Combat Zone Wrestling, and Ring of Honor. In Mexico the top associations are Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, and Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion. In Japan the top competitors are New Japan Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Noah.
Well known wrestlers have become internationally recognized superstars. It's a billion dollar business with a revenue stream including event ticket sales, television and web shows, home video sales, and branded merchandise. The WWE alone has over 13 million viewers and shows are aired in 150 countries. The history of professional wrestling is an ongoing story.
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.
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.
Arenas became the stage for combatants in the late 1800's. Regional promoters hired wrestlers and devised championship matches. In 1901, the NWA was established to promote the sport to a national audience. They organized regional promoters into a cooperative association.
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.
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.
Prominent companies in business today are TNA, Combat Zone Wrestling, and Ring of Honor. In Mexico the top associations are Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, and Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion. In Japan the top competitors are New Japan Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Noah.
Well known wrestlers have become internationally recognized superstars. It's a billion dollar business with a revenue stream including event ticket sales, television and web shows, home video sales, and branded merchandise. The WWE alone has over 13 million viewers and shows are aired in 150 countries. The history of professional wrestling is an ongoing story.
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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