Professional wrestling has always largely been seen as a quintessentially American form of entertainment, with the over the top characters and storylines prevalent in the “sport” resulting in it being regarded as nothing more than a low brow soap opera by many. However, few people realise that it was the money made in foreign countries, specifically the UK, that kept World Wrestling Entertainment – now the largest wrestling company in the world – afloat during some trying times.
Pro wrestling was big business throughout the United States as far back as the early ’70s. However, after the mainstream success of the “Wrestlemania” franchise created by Vince McMahon, owner of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), in the ’80s, interest in what became known as “Sports Entertainment” began to wane, mostly due to allegations of steroid distribution and abuse levelled at the WWE by the US federal government. During the proceeding court case, the WWE was forced to look further afield to make their money, with the first port of call being the UK.
Since the advent of satellite television in the mid ’80s, more and more members of the British public were exposed to World Wrestling Entertainment programming. Offering glitz, glamour and showmanship that home-grown UK wrestling promotions couldn’t contend with, the WWE quickly became a phenomenon. Realising that there was a fortune just waiting to be made in Britain, Vince McMahon announced the first ever WWE show to take place in the UK, which occurred at the London Arena in 1989. Tickets for the event sold out rapidly on the first day of sale, which was to be the case for WWE events in the UK for years to come.
