When Did WWE Begin?
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WWE, formerly known as World Wrestling Entertainment, is a American professional wrestling company that has been in existence since 1952.
WWE’s Beginnings
WWE, then known as World Wrestling Entertainment, has been around for quite some time. The company started in 1952 and has been through a lot of changes since then. Vince McMahon Sr. originally founded the company and it was passed down to his son, Vince McMahon Jr. in 1984. The company has undergone a lot of changes since then, both in terms of management and product.
Vince McMahon Sr. and the Capitol Wrestling Corporation
In the 1950s, Vincent James McMahon was the top promoter of professional wrestling in the northeastern United States. His World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) promoted matches throughout New York, New England and parts of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Following theDeath of Von Erich patriarch Fritz, McMahon finally gained a nationwide presence by being one of the prime promoters of what became known as the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
In 1963, McMahon partnered with his son Vince McMahon Jr. to form the Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. The CWC quickly absorbed Tony Marino’s International Continental Championship Wrestling, which promoted across Upstate New York and Pennsylvania, as well as parts of Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. The CWC also ran live events at Madison Square Garden, which had primarily been running empty following the departure of Jack Brisco and Dory Funk Jr. to Florida.
The World Wide Wrestling Federation
WWE’s beginnings can be traced back to the early 1950s when a man named Roderick McMahon established the World Wide Wrestling Federation. McMahon’s goal was to create a nationwide wrestling promotion that would be different from anything else that existed at the time. To that end, he recruited some of the biggest names in the sport, including “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers, “Strangler” Joe Lewis, and “Classy” Freddie Blassie. With these stars aboard, the WWWF quickly became one of the most popular wrestling promotions in the country.
The Expansion of WWE
WWE has come a long way since its creation in 1952. What started out as a small company has now become a global phenomenon. WWE has expanded its reach to countries all over the world and its programming is now available in over 180 countries.
The New Generation
In the early 1990s, WWE (then known as the World Wrestling Federation, or WWF) changed the face of professional wrestling. No longer was it just two larger-than-life superstars going at it in the ring; it was a bona fide entertainment phenomenon. thanks in large part to the massive success of WWE’s flagship show, “Monday Night Raw.”
The New Generation Era began in 1993 with “Monday Night Raw” debuting on January 11th of that year. The show quickly became must-see TV for wrestling fans, thanks in large part to the larger-than-life personalities of its superstars. The likes of Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Undertaker and many others captured the public’s imagination and helped turn WWE into a global juggernaut.
The Attitude Era
The Attitude Era is a period in the World Wrestling Federation’s (WWF, now WWE) history, marked by edgier storylines and the shift to adult-oriented programming. It began on November 17, 1997, at Survivor Series and ended on May 6, 2002, at Judgment Day. The attitude era is widely considered the most successful era of professional wrestling ever.
In the summer of 1997, Steve Austin won the King of the Ring tournament and delivered his now-famous “Austin 3:16” speech. This would be a major factor in starting the Attitude Era. Austin’s post-match celebration was crashed by Owen Hart who attacked Austin. The two men began a feud that would help propel WWF’s ratings past those of WCW’s Nitro for 84 consecutive weeks.
The Modern Era of WWE
The Modern Era of WWE began when Vince McMahon bought the company from his father in 1982. This marked the beginning of the company’s “national expansion” where it began to air its product on cable television. This expanded the reach of WWE and increased its popularity. The Modern Era has seen many changes to the WWE product, including the introduction of new characters, storylines, and match types.
The Ruthless Aggression Era
The Ruthless Aggression Era is considered to have started on February 18th, 2002. This was the date of the first episode of SmackDown that aired on UPN. At this time, WWE was split into two separate brands, Raw and SmackDown, with each having their own unique rosters and championship titles. The Ruthless Aggression Era is considered by many to be the most successful and popular period in WWE history. It saw the rise of many iconic Superstars, including John Cena, Brock Lesnar, and Batista. This era also saw the return of Goldberg and the debut of Randy Orton.
The PG Era
The PG Era is the most recent era of WWE. It began in 2008 and is still ongoing. This era is characterized by a more family-friendly product, with a reduction in violence, sexual content, and bad language.
