How sports commercialisation has forced mainstream wrestling away from its Golden Era.  

During the 1970s and 80s, despite earlier roots, wrestling saw a burst of popularity and quickly made it’s way to the mainstream of sports entertainment. During this time countless organisations were in competition for viewers but even back then, the same front runners that we recognise now such as the WF- known today as World Wrestling Entertainment- had already secured mass public appreciation.  

This age of wrestling has since been coined the ‘Golden Era’, earning such title for flamboyant ring gear, outspoken superstars and rowdy crowd engagement. In such times, hardcore title matches were almost a norm, and fans could expect unfiltered rivalries. Notable figures such as Bret Hart had always advocated for making wrestling seem as real as possible whilst of course maintaining safety.  

But wrestling was not just confined to the USA. Especially in countries like Japan, the sport had a cult following. Stars such as Mick Foley, known in the ring as Mankind, Dude Love or Cactus Jack, have said that a hardcore fighter had not made it until they had the approval of Japan.  

So how come today, it’s only the heavy hitters of professional wrestling that make headlines? Organisations like the WWE and AEW dominate media coverage despite having lost an authenticity that surged the popularity of wrestling to begin with. Whilst safety of the athletes should never be compromised for good TV, storylines now seem watered down, the contact is sometimes painfully false and much of screentime is taken up with advertisements and brand deals instead of character building.  

This focus on audience engagement and profits has thus forced a decrease in authenticity. Up until around the 2010s, famous wrestlers were more than athletes but respected stars. Many adults will remember names such as Hogan and Cena as A- list celebrities whereas now the leading stars of the WWE, take Mcintyre or Morgan for example, despite star status in sports entertainment are unlikely to be known by folks who don’t keep up with wrestling regularly.  

So, for those who crave the originality of the famed Golden Era, where can we get our fix now?  

This is where local organisations come into play. Professional wrestling doesn’t have to mean sell out stadiums, instead it can look like smaller venues of upcoming athletes with a passion reminiscent of the early stars. Around the toon, venues like the City Hall or Anarchy brewery host independent events from operations like North Wrestling. Thanks to the dedication of such organisations, the Golden Era of wrestling isn’t quite as far as it may seem.