WWE dates back to the early 1950s when it was founded in 1953 as Capital Wrestling Corporation (CWC). It changed names several times over the years, from the CWC to the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in 1963, to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1979, and to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2002. In 2011, it has fully branded itself as the WWE. History of WWE.
WWE is the largest professional wrestling promotion in the world. It has promoted some of the most successful wrestlers and stories and featured some of the most famous and important matches and moments in sports entertainment history. WWE currently broadcasts several high-profile events such as Raw and SmackDown in more than 150 countries, hosts at least 12 pay-per-view events each year, including WrestleMania, and holds approximately 320 live events a year worldwide. does. In 2014, WWE launched the first 24/7 streaming network that would eventually feature the entire WWE video library.
Early Years
The origins of WWE can be traced back to the 1950s when the first show was produced under Capital Wrestling Corporation (CWC) on January 7, 1953. There is some uncertainty as to who the founder of the CWC was. Some sources suggest that it was Vincent J. McMahon, while others credit McMahon’s father, Roderick James “Jess” McMahon (who died in 1954), as the original founder of the CWC. The NWA recognized an undisputed NWA World Heavyweight Champion who went to several different professional wrestling promotions in the NWA.
The championship was defended around the world. The NWA generally promoted strong wrestlers as champions, to give credit to the sport they worked on and avoid double-crosses. While doing strong business in the Midwest, these wrestlers attracted little interest in the CWC region. In 1961, the NWA board decided instead to put the championship on bleach blonde showman “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers, a much more effective drawing card in the region. The rest of the NWA was unhappy with McMahon and Toots Mond because he rarely allowed Rogers to wrestle outside of the Northeast. Mondt and McMahon wanted Rogers to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, but Rogers was unwilling to sacrifice his $25,000 deposit on the championship belt.
Main History
In 1991, it was reported that Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Rick Martel, Brian Blair, and Dan Spivey were to testify that they had purchased steroids from WWF physician Dr. George T. Zahorian, who illegally distributed them. was being accused. Medicine. Two years later, Vince McMahon was indicted for his relationship with Zahoorian and faced a possible eight years in prison and a $500,000 fine if convicted.
The trial began on July 7, 1994, with the prosecutor, who promised to expose the “dark, corrupt underbelly” of the WWF, claiming that McMahon distributed steroids “like candy” and drugs to wrestlers. pressed to take. Wrestler Niles testified that McMahon once told him: “I strongly suggest you step on the gas.” Days later, Hogan admitted that steroid use was common among WWF wrestlers, but denied being pressure by McMahon to do so.
WWE is Famous in the World
A week later, McMahon was acquitte of all charges and was as saying “I’m excited. Just like in wrestling, the good guys always win in the end.” With business declining due to bad press from the steroid scandal in 1992, Vince McMahon began pushing young talent into the spotlight over the next several years.
By mid-1993, Bret “Hitman” Hart, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Razor Ramon, Diesel, Lex Luger, Yokozuna, Owen Hart, Crush, Tatanka, and others had all become the stars that the WWF finally called the “New”. stated. Generation”. Hulk Hogan would leave the company in the summer of 1993 and Hart would become one of the most popular stars of the era until his departure in 1997.
Competition
During this time, competition between major wrestling companies increased. In January 1993, the WWF created its own prime-time cable TV program, Monday Night Raw. Which aired on the USA Network. In 1994, WCW signed Hulk Hogan and other former WWF stars to multi-year contracts. And in 1995 launched Monday Nitro on TNT, to coincide with the start of the Monday Night Wars on Raw. A ladder match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon at WrestleMania X in 1994 was critically acclaim. And is said to have been groundbreaking and revolutionize the concept of ladder matches.
By mid-1996, with the introduction of the New World Order, a stable led by former WWF wrestlers Hulk Hogan, and Scott Hall. And Kevin Nash, Nitro began nearly two years of dominating the ratings. More talent would eventually leave the WWF for WCW including Ted DiBiase, Curt Hennig, and WWF Women’s Champion Elandra Blaise. And The 1-2-3 Kid while Bret Hart decided to stay with the WWF despite WCW’s lucrative offer.
The first Hell in a Cell match at Eight Bad Blood: Your House in 1997 was between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. Michaels won after interference from Undertaker’s half-brother Kane. The Hell in a Cell match has since become one of the most famous gimmick matches in wrestling history. History of WWE.
Modern Age
The 2016 Payback event, held on May 1, 2016, was billed as the start of a “new era”. Roman Reigns will retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles in the main event. Monarchies will be prominent during this period. Later in May 2016, WWE announced that a roster split, similar to 2002, would begin in July.
Three former members of The Shield – Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns. And Seth Rollins – has been heavily feature since the start of the new era. The trio exchanging the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Money in the Bank in June 2016. With the WWE World Championship now rename to the SmackDown brand. The new WWE Universal Championship was introduce for the Raw brand, with Finn Bálor becoming the inaugural champion. History of WWE.
WWE Women’s Championship
The Divas Division was rebrand as the Women’s Division. And the company introduced a new WWE Women’s Championship and retired the former Divas Championship. Female Superstars also began to receive more time for their matches. And began to receive as much of the spotlight as male Superstars. Thus the “New Era” is describe as the beginning of the “Evolution of Women”. At the 2016 Raw-branded Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event, Charlotte Flair. And Sasha Banks made history by participating in the first WWE pay-per-view event hosted by women.
Women began participating in matches that were previously only for men. Such as Money in the Bank, Royal Rumble, and Elimination Chamber. On October 28, 2018, WWE held its first all-female pay-per-view, WWE Evolution. Which featured a highly publicized last woman standing match between Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, which Lynch won. At this point, Becky Lynch began calling herself “The Man”, becoming one of the most popular stars. History of WWE.
WrestleMania
In another notable event at WrestleMania 35, Kofi Kingston defeated Daniel Bryan. At the event to become the first African-American WWE Champion. For more details click here