WWE has long been and presumably always will be the most watched professional wrestling organization. The success of the company in markets around the world is a result of industry heavyweights like Vince McMahon. Many fans have questioned the character of the company throughout the years. Many viewers have condemned it as fraudulent, while others have defended the sector by insisting it is real.
In this article, we will take a look at when the WWE staged fights’ facade vanished and the truth became visible to the audience.
The facade finally crumbled on February 10, 1989, when Vince McMahon, speaking on behalf of the World Wrestling Federation, argued that professional wrestling should be categorized as “an activity in which competitors struggle hand-in-hand mainly for the purpose of providing spectators with entertainment rather than executing a bona fide athletic competition” before the State of New Jersey Senate. Everyone’s fears that wrestling was not a legitimate sporting event had been confirmed by those statements. By a vote of 37 to 1, the legislation deregulating professional wrestling was approved.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the wrestling community widely derided McMahon for his revelation. Many believed that the mystique around the company had vanished forever as the curtain had now been entirely pulled back. McMahon himself had little regret over this and had adopted the phrase “Sports Entertainment” as his new favourite way to refer to his business. Vince and Linda McMahon, who had worked relentlessly to get wrestling deregulated, both benefited to the tune of $400,000. It would be the McMahons’ first victory over the State Commissions; further, more expensive, and ultimately more devastating confrontations would follow.
Since the rules had been removed, wrestling matches were no longer subject to the scrutiny of State Commissions, and as a result, neither wrestlers’ eligibility for competition nor the presence of an ambulance on site in case of injury were prerequisites. One of the most advantageous effects of the ruling was the rise of independent promotions because many promoters could now afford to put on shows without having to pay for licenses and other forms of red tape that had previously prevented them from doing so. Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), a Philadelphia-based company whose outrageous shows would completely transform the sport of professional wrestling, would emerge from this new world of independent promotions.
Also Read: Step-by-Step Guide to Make Your Career in Wrestling and Participate in International Competitions
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