Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Interesting Facts From The History Of Professional Wrestling

Interesting Facts From The History Of Professional Wrestling


by Janelle Burnett


The history of professional wrestling is long and colorful, filled with larger than life characters. In modern times it remains an immensely popular sport that attracts millions of fans and television viewers. Champions are revered and the sport is cash rich, offering massive purses. However, the rules according to which this spectacle is run is now vastly different, focusing more on entertainment than actual athletic prowess.

Today, this sport is no longer recognized by any formal sporting body. Promoters, organizers, referees and contestants all work together to carefully plan matches where the final result is scripted. In fact, every move and every spectacular action throughout the contest is carefully planned and rehearsed. The participants know that they are taking part in a show and that entertainment is the only purpose.

The modern game is characterized by heroes and champions that use pseudonyms. Cheating by the participants and the referees are common, even expected. The crowds love participating by shouting warnings, cursing cheaters and sometimes even by becoming physically involved in the match. Each match is concluded with as much theatrics as possible and opponents are expected to announce that their intention is to annihilate the other contestants.

The fact that these matches are mainly staged as carefully planned extravaganzas does not mean that it is without risk. Many scenarios can be extremely risky and serious injuries are always a very real possibility. Participants are almost always muscular and physically strong, but they also need to be agile and quick. Most successful contestants are extremely fit and they watch their diets carefully.

Critics lambast the organizers of these events for promoting them as sporting occasions and for misleading the public. Organizing bodies are of the opinion that they simply provide entertainment and that the fans are fully aware of exactly how matches are planned and executed. Amateur wrestle organizations also criticize pro events, saying that the reputation of their sport is brought into disrepute.

Pro events as they are known today originated with the carnivals that used to travel from town to town in the eighteen hundreds. One of the big attractions used to be the wrestler that dared anybody in the audience to enter the ring with him. Cash prizes were offered for takers that could last a certain amount of time or even subdue the professional.

Despite the fact that the modern version is accepted as entertainment rather than as a sport it still has very old roots. People used to wrestle as far back as the age old Babylonian and Egyptian times and there are numerous ancient drawing testifying to this fact. The Greeks contrived a formal set of rules and during the Roman period it became immensely popular.

As a form of mass entertainment pro wrestling probably has a long and prosperous future. As long as people enjoy the theatrics, the costumes and the supposed violence the crowds will keep supporting their heroes. The history of professional wrestling is an ancient one and the shows people watch today is a far cry from the original versions.




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