[Currently A Work In Progress]
About
Professional wrestling is a form of entertainment that combines athleticism and theatrics. It portrays itself as a combat sport taking place for wrestling championships while predetermining the outcomes of the matches to focus on providing the most entertainment possible for the audience. Placed alongside the matches are promos, or skits that are meant to attract interest or develop a story-line put in place. The professional wrestling industry formerly portrayed itself as a legitimate sport, though when it became harder to hide the secrets of the business, it became an open secret for audiences. The choreographed nature of professional wrestling is not discussed during shows in order to help sustain a willing suspension of disbelief.
History
Professional wrestling began in France around 1830, when showmen presented wrestlers under names such as “Edward, the steel eater”, “Gustave d’Avignon, the bone wrecker”, or “Bonnet, the ox of the low Alps” and challenged members of the public to knock them down for 500 francs.
The modern style of professional wrestling, popularized by the United States and United Kingdom during the late 19th century, is called the catch-as-catch can style. Originally thought of as unorthodox and more lax in style, catch wrestling differs from Greco-Roman in its allowed grapples; Greco-Roman strictly prohibits grabbing below the waist, while catch wrestling allows holds above and below the waist, including leg grips. But, from the late 19th century onwards, a sub-section of catch wrestling changed slowly into the sport known worldwide as pro-wrestling, recognized as much for its theatrical antics and entertainment as wrestling ability. However, this change did not become predominant until following the Second World War, and there are still forms of Shoot wrestling existing in professional wrestling, in the present day.
The most notable foreign countries that have a rich history in professional wrestling are Mexico and Japan.
Luchadores, the common name for Mexican wrestlers, are known for their high-flying acrobatics and intricate submissions while puroresu was the genre of wrestling headed by Japan. Mexico indulges in some of the over-the-top antics of modern-day American pro wrestling while Japan is distinct in its psychology and presentation of the sport. It is treated as a legitimate fight, with fewer theatrics; the stories told in Japanese matches are about a fighter’s spirit and perseverance. In strong style, the style most typically associated with puroresu, full contact martial arts strikes and shoot submission holds are implemented. Both styles of wrestling implemented by these two countries, lucha libre and puroresu, have influenced American wrestling in presentation and in-ring ability, with stars such as Antonio Inoki, Rey Mysterio, and Eddie Guerrero having matches with American wrestlers or wrestling in United States promotions.
Antonio Inoki and Muhammad Ali in an exhibition bout.
Impact
Professional wrestling began to flourish in the 1950’s, during the introduction of television. The man considered responsible for popularizing modern wrestling in American television was George Raymond Wagner, better known as “Gorgeous George”. In 1941 in Eugene, Oregon, Wagner debuted in his Gorgeous George persona, playing the role of a heel (or villain). He drew the ire of fans in attendance thanks to his exaggerated “pretty boy” behavior, quickly drawing in crowds in subsequent shows all wanting to see and ridicule Gorgeous George. Wagner developed his persona to be more antagonistic by cheating at every possible chance during his matches and having a snooty, pompous personality. When television was looking for programming to fill time slots, they looked toward professional wrestling. Gorgeous George made his first television appearance on November 11, 1947 and he immediately commanded the same star power as Lucille Ball and Bob Hope, revolutionizing professional wrestling from being just about the action to the theatrics and characters. George could also be credited with singe-handedly establishing television as a worthy entertainment medium in the United States.
Gorgeous George headshot and autograph.
In 1942, the famous Mexican hero known as El Santo (The Saint) made his debut in Mexico City, dressed in silver tights and wearing a silver mask. El Santo won an 8-man Battle Royal and the public became heavily interested in the masked wrestler. His career went on for five decades, his popularity rising to the point of becoming a folk hero for the common man. El Santo appeared in comic books and over fifty-two movies, with the public interest becoming so great that El Santo was always wearing his trademark mask, wearing different masks that was designed for a specific scenario, even for sleeping. Much like Gorgeous George, El Santo brought much attention and profit to professional wrestling programming all over Mexico.
A movie poster for one of El Santo’s films.