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Professional Wrestling

The origins of professional wrestling, or pro wrestling for short, date back to over 100 years ago where circus performers that held grappling competitions eventually started to fix their matches in an attempt to make more money by attracting crowds the drama built up from the competitions, and also as a way to reduce risk of injury in the process. In an attempt to convince people that it was legitimate, they would occasionally allow someone from the audience to challenge their local champion. Because the performers at the time were actually trained in grappling, they would not have much trouble dominating anyone who accepted the challenge. As the decades passed by, more and more people were learning that it was not legitimate, but many fans continued to watch because of the drama and basic storytelling of the matches that played out. Eventually it got to the point where the general public knew that the matches were fixed and the storylines were scripted. This forced pro wrestling companies to update their presentation to the point where it now completely plays out more like a performance art than anything else. While World Wrestling Entertainment, or WWE for short, currently dominates the genre, there are still many other organizations all around the world that have their own methods of telling stories and setting up matches.


World Wrestling Entertainment

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World Wrestling Entertainment, more commonly known as WWE, is currently the most well known professional wrestling organization in the world. The origins of the WWE date back to the early 1950s when it was started up by the grandfather of current own Vince McMahon and called the World Wide Wrestling Federation, or WWWF. Eventually it got passed down to Vince McMahon Sr. and then was purchased by current owner Vincent Kennedy McMahon and re-branded as the World Wrestling Federation, or WWF. After a legal dispute with the World Wildlife Foundation, the company changed its name to its current incarnation, the WWE. In early 2014, the WWE Network was launched, which provided fans with the comprehensive tape library that the WWE owns on demand for a monthly fee of $9.99. The library includes tapes of older federation's tape libraries that the WWE purchased such as Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).

Currently, the WWE is split into two main shows that air on the USA network named RAW and Smackdown. They also have a weekly show named NXT on their network where they showcase future stars before they move up to the main roster on one of the two shows. They also air monthly specials both on Pay Per View and their Network.

The shows are frequently used to set up storylines and feuds for the wrestlers while the major matches to either end or escalate a feud happens at the monthly specials.

Superstars

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Brock Lesnar

Show: RAW

The current WWE Universal Champion, which is the main title for RAW, Brock Lesnar's run in the WWE began in 2002 where he was signed after a very successful amateur wrestling career. WWE used the legitimacy of his background and his intimidating look to its fullest and pushed him to the top of the card. He won the top title mere months into his career when he defeated The Rock in Summerslam 2002. Eventually Lesnar left the WWE mid-2004 to pursue and NFL career. When that fell through, Lesnar did a few appearances in Japan and then tried his hand at Mixed Martial Arts. The UFC signed him after his first fight at another promotion. Despite losing his first match, the UFC were quick to give him a title shot after winning his follow up match and he would go on to capture the UFC's heavyweight championship. After his UFC run ended, Lesner returned to WWE in 2012, and has been one of the top acts in the company. He does not appear very often, but when he does, it's a big deal. To capitalize off of his MMA success, the WWE portrays him as a nearly unbeatable monster. His matches are usually very short and hard hitting affairs, and highly entertaining to watch. He recently beat Goldberg for the Universal Title at Wrestlemania.

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Randy Orton

Show: Smackdown

Randy Orton has been a top level performer in the WWE for well over a decade. He has held numerous titles, and has been a part of many memorable feuds. Though he is often portrayed as the villain, he is frequently a fan favorite as he has one of the most popular finishing moves in the WWE today, the RKO, which frequently comes from out of nowhere, so fans enjoy the unpredictability.

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Alexa Bliss

Show: RAW

The current RAW Women's Champion. Bliss is the smallest woman on the roster, standing at 5'1". She more than makes up for lack of size by having the strongest overall personality on the show. She was a standout performer in NXT, which is WWE's smaller show where they prepare their performers for the bigger shows, and she was called up to the main roster under a year ago. In that time, she has been one of the top performers in the whole company.

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Dean Ambrose

Show: RAW

The current Intercontinental Champion, which is currently the RAW show's second tier title. Dean Ambrose joined the main roster as one member of a trio known as the Shield beside other standout performers Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. While Reigns was the muscle and Rollins was the athlete of the group, Ambrose was the wild card. He often came off as unhinged and unpredictable. After the shield broke up in 2014 when Seth Rollins betrayed the other two, Ambrose went solo and became known as the "Lunatic Fringe" where he has been a fan favorite ever since.

Impact Wrestling

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New Japan Pro Wrestling

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Ring of Honor

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Lucha Underground

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Independent Wrestling Federations