Dwayne JohnsonDwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2, 1972), also known by his ring name the Rock, is an American actor, film producer, and retired professional wrestler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, he was integral to the development and success of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) during the Attitude Era, an industry boom period in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Johnson wrestled for the WWF for eight years prior to pursuing an acting career.
Sting (wrestler)Steve Borden (born March 20, 1959), better known by the ring name Sting, is an American professional wrestler and former bodybuilder, currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Sting is widely known for his time spent as the public face of two major American professional wrestling promotions: the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling (WCW), which was bought by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 2001, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA, now Impact Wrestling).
Professional wrestling match typesMany types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a storyline. Throughout professional wrestling's decades long history, some gimmick matches have spawned many variations of the core concept. The singles match is the most common of all professional wrestling matches, which involves only two competitors competing for one fall.
Independent circuitIn professional wrestling, the independent circuit (oftened shortened to indie circuit) is the collective name of independently owned promotions which are deemed to be smaller and more regionalized than major national promotions. Independent promotions are essentially viewed as a minor league or farm system for the larger national promotions, as wrestlers in "indie" companies (especially young wrestlers just starting their careers) are usually honing their craft with the goal of being noticed and signed by a major national promotion such as WWE, All Elite Wrestling (AEW), or Impact Wrestling.
Professional wrestlingProfessional wrestling is an athletic form of theater that revolves around mock combat performed in a squared ring. The storylines are typically based around interpersonal conflicts between good-natured "faces" and villainous "heels". While the ring is the main stage, additional scenes may be recorded for television in the backstage areas of the venue, in a format similar to reality television. Professional wrestling as a form of theater evolved out of the commonplace practice of match fixing among American wrestlers stretching back to the late 19th century.
Ronda RouseyRonda Jean Rousey (ˈraʊzi; born February 1, 1987) is an American professional wrestler, actress, former judoka, and mixed martial artist. She is known for her time in WWE. Prior to joining WWE, she was also known for her time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She received permission from professional wrestler Roddy Piper to use his "Rowdy" nickname. She was the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo by winning bronze at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
André the GiantAndré René Roussimoff (ɑ̃dʁe ʁəne ʁusimɔf; 19 May 1946 – 28 January 1993), better known by his ring name André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor. Known as "the Eighth Wonder of the World," Roussimoff was known for his great size, which was a result of gigantism caused by excess growth hormones. Beginning his career in 1966, Roussimoff relocated to North America in 1971. From 1973 to the mid-1980s, Roussimoff was booked by World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) promoter Vincent J.
Shane McMahonShane Brandon McMahon (məkˈmæn; born January 15, 1970) is an American businessman and professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE. The son of Vince McMahon, he is a fourth-generation wrestling promoter as a member of the McMahon family. He began working in WWE at age 15, starting in their warehouse, where he filled merchandise orders. McMahon was also a referee, producer, announcer, and eventually a wrestler, while also becoming WWE's Executive Vice President of Global Media behind the scenes.
Mickie JamesMickie Laree James (born August 31, 1979) is an American professional wrestler and country singer. She is currently signed to Impact Wrestling, where she was a five-time Impact Knockouts World Champion. She is best known for her tenures in WWE and in National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). James began her wrestling career in 1999 as a valet on the independent circuit, where she was known under the name Alexis Laree.
Professional wrestling in JapanProfessional wrestling in Japan has existed for many years. The first Japanese to involve himself in catch wrestling, the basis of traditional professional wrestling, was former sumo wrestler Sorakichi Matsuda. There were subsequent attempts before and after World War II to popularize the sport in Japan, but these generally failed until the advent of its first big star, Rikidōzan, in 1951, who became known as the "father" of the sport. Rikidōzan brought the sport to tremendous popularity with his Japanese Wrestling Association (JWA) until his murder in 1963.
