Pro wrestling has been a form of entertainment for a very long time, and has seen it’s share of ups and downs. While never technically considered a “real sport” among sportsmen, a great number of fans would beg to differ. Today’s giant of the professional wrestling, the WWE, has stated clearly that it is sports entertainment. That is, it is scripted and predetermined as to the outcome of each wrestling match. The storylines that permeate the WWE have become legendary and something akin to the soap opera of the sporting world.

Wrestling began in the early days as a hot television product. Over time, they lost their spot on the air, and became highly regional in nature. Each area of the country had their own “stable” of wrestlers, and their own championships. Eventually, through shrewd business deals made by WWE owner Vince Mcmahon, pro wrestling became primarily run by the WWF. The World Wrestling Federation was easily the richest company, and began to completely dominate television. Their primary competition would be from the WCW, which evolved from Georgia, North Carolina, and the old NWA of the region.

Ted Turner purchased the WCW, and the Monday night wars began. The WWE had the ever popular Monday Night Raw, and WCW countered with Monday Nitro. Turner began using his cable muscle and money to lure some of the biggest stars in WWF history such as Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Bret Hart, and many others. It looked as though the WCW would overtake the WWF as the powerhouse in pro wrestling.

Eventually, however, WCW was completely destroyed by poor booking, finances, and leadership. The upstart competitor was buried by the WWE, and they once again stood head and shoulders above the wrestling world.

As the professional landscape of wrestling stands today, their are two major players. TNA wrestling has taken on the mantle of battling the giant WWE, though they are having less success than their WCW contemporaries. TNA may yet figure it out, but for now the WWE is the only major wrestling organization at the top.