WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment (formerly known as World Wrestling Federation) was founded in the 1950s as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation. Over time, the professional wrestling company expanded and Vincent J. McMahon founded World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) alongside his partner Toots Mondt in 1972. It wasn't until 1982 that Vincent K. McMahon seized control of the WWF from his father through his company Titan Sports.
Today, CEO Vince McMahon retains a 42 percent ownership of the company's outstanding stock and 70.5 percent of the voting power.
WWE Raw:
In 1993, the WWF's first show Monday Night Raw made its debut in direct competition with World Championship Wrestling's Monday Nitro. At the time the WWF was dealing with several public relations nightmares including steroid abuse allegations and sexual harassment allegations from employees, prompting many WWF wrestlers to move to WCW including Hulk Hogan.
The WWF went on to promote their younger wrestlers such as Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, and The Undertaker. The show also transitioned into more adult-oriented content in the late '90s, a decision spearheaded by Vince's son Shane McMahon.
In March 2001, McMahon acquired the rights to WCW for a reported $7 million. In 2002, the WWF was forced to change its name to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) after losing a lawsuit initiated by the World Wildlife Fund.
WWE Smackdown:
In 1999, the WWE aired its first episode of Smackdown! on UPN, where it ran until 2006 when it made the move to the CW. In 2010, Smackdown moved to SyFy followed by USA network in 2016, and ultimately FOX in 2019, where it airs today.
WWE Champions:
The first WWE champion to win the belt was Buddy Rogers in 1963. Since then, there have been over 50 recognized champions, including:
- Hulk Hogan
- Randy Savage
- The Undertaker
- Ric Flair
- Bret Hart
- Shawn Michaels
- Stone Cold Steve Austin
- Kane
- The Rock
- Triple H
- Big Show
- Kurt Angle
- Chris Jericho
- Brock Lesnar
- John Cena
- Randy Orton
- Batista
- CM Punk
- Daniel Bryan
- Seth Rollins
- Roman Reigns
- AJ Styles
- Drew McIntyre
Is the WWE fake?
Yes, it has been made very clear that the WWE does not host legitimate contests but rather "entertainment-based performance theater" with scripted storylines and choreographed matches. In the 1980s, the term "sports entertainment" was actually coined by Vince McMahon to avoid taxes from athletic commissions.
Latest WWE News and Updates
The Unfortunate Truth About Dakota Kai's Unexpected Absence From WWE
WWE superstar Dakota Kai will be out in-ring action for quite some time. What happened? Here's everything we know about her injury.WWE "Superstar" Billy Graham Has Died at 79 Years Old — His Cause of Death, Explained
What was Superstar Billy Graham’s cause of death? The WWE wrestler died at 79 years old on May 17, 2023. But how did the iconic wrestler die?What Was WWE Wrestler Sara Lee's Cause of Death? Here's What We Know
What was Sara Lee Weston's cause of death? She passed away unexpectedly at the age of 30. Read on to learn more about the WWE star.Randy Orton's Future Is Unknown After Doctors Advise Against WWE Return
What happened to Randy Orton? It seems the WWE superstar won't be returning to in-ring action for quite some time. Here's everything we know.WWE Superstar Carmella's Husband: Get the Inside Scoop on Her Personal Life
Who is Carmella's husband? The WWE Superstar has been with color commentator Corey Graves since 2019. Details on their relationship.Ted DiBiase Jr., a Former WWE Wrestler, Has Been Indicted for Welfare Fraud
Ted DiBiase Jr. is the son of a famous wrestler and a former wrestler himself, but now, news has broken that he's involved in a welfare fraud case.John Cena Is One of the Nicest Guys on the Planet ... But Also the Most Hated
WWE superstar and actor John Cena hasn't given anyone a reason to dislike him, so why do some people hate him? Here's what we know.Nathan Barnatt Calls out WWE Superstars Following Creator Clash 2 Victory
Wait, is Nathan Barnatt joining the WWE? Following his Creator Clash 2 victory, the YouTube star said he wants to fight a WWE superstar.Brock Lesnar Betrayed Cody Rhodes in Brutal Attack on WWE's #RawAfterMania
At the end of 'WWE Raw after WrestleMania 39,' Brock Lesnar attacked his tag team partner, Cody Rhodes. Why is that? Here's what we know.WWE Star Bushwhacker Butch Miller Passed Away at 78 Years Old
What was Bushwhacker Butch Miller’s cause of death? The WWE Hall of Famer Bushwacker Butch, who was born Robert Miller, passed away at 78 years old.WWE Officially Merges With UFC as Part of a Sale to the Company Endeavor
After exploring a potential sale in January 2023, the WWE officially struck a deal with Endeavor and will merge with the UFC to form a new company.Shane McMahon's Return to WWE Didn't Go Quite as Planned — What Happened?
What happened to Shane McMahon? He made a surprise return to WrestleMania 39, but at the start of his match with The Miz, he fell and grabbed his leg.Here's How to Watch 'Wrestlemania 39' When It Airs in All of Its Aggressive Glory
How can you watch 'Wrestlemania 39' for free? Details on the highly-anticipated wrestling event and how fans can check it out when it airs.Everything You Need to Know to Unlock Super Cena in 'WWE 2K23'
Super Cena in 'WWE 2K23' is an invisible version of the iconic wrestler and celebrity that players can unlock. Here's how to get that.Trying to Get a Double Title Entrance in 'WWE 2K23'? Here's How
Double title entrances have been a long desired feature that fans can finally use in 'WWE 2K23.' But how do you get it? Here's what to know.Actor Andy Kaufman's Feud With Wrestler Jerry Lawler Made Him a WWE Legend
Andy Kaufman famously feuded with wrestler Jerry Lawler, and that's part of the reason he's being inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame.Every 'WWE 2K23' DLC Release Date Brings New Superstars to the Game
Beefing up its massive roster, the 'WWE 2K23' DLC post-launch will feature new superstars. Here's everything you need to know about the DLC release dates.Performing the Corkscrew Leg Drop in 'WWE 2K23' is Tricky – Here’s How It Works
If you want to complete all the Showcase challenges, you’ll need to figure out how to do the corkscrew leg drop in 'WWE 2K23.' Here's how it works.The Bella Twins Announce Major Name Change Amid Official WWE Retirement
Wait, why did the Bella Twins retire? In March 2023, the WWE superstars announced their retirement as well as a major name change.WWE Star Liv Morgan Accidentally Goes Viral in Clip of Her at Knicks Game
WWE star Liv Morgan recently went viral attending a New York Knicks basketball game. Here's the meme about her, explained.Dusty Rhodes Is a Major Talking Point in the Cody Rhodes–Roman Reigns Feud
Wait, is Cody Rhodes related to Dusty Rhodes? The late great "American Dream" is a major talking point in Cody's feud with Roman Reigns.Nikki Bella Has Confirmed Details Surrounding Her Wedding to Artem Chigvintsev
Where did Nikki Bella get married? Learn all of the details surrounding the wrestler and media personality's wedding to Artem Chigvintsev.Jerry "The King" Lawler Suffered a Major Health Scare in His Florida Home
Legendary Memphis wrestler and WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler was rushed to the hospital after suffering from a stroke in his Florida home.The Bella Twins' Stepdad, John Laurinaitis, Was Also a Famous Wrestler
Who is the Bella Twins' stepdad? The former WWE professional wrestling tag team were fan-favorites, but what do we know about their personal life?“Leaping” Lanny Poffo, Brother of WWE Hall of Famer “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Has Died at Age 68
After his brother Randy Savage died in 2011 at age 58, you might wonder about Lanny Poffo’s cause of death. Here is what we know so far.The Kings and Queens of Wrestling Are Back for Another 'Royal Rumble'!
The WWE's 'Royal Rumble' is back and with it comes all the chaos of these unorthodox matches. It's like a wrestling buffet. So when is 'Royal Rumble' 2024?WWE Accused of Helping Saudi Arabia "Sportswash" Its Poor Human Rights Records
Vince McMahon reportedly sold WWE to Saudi Arabia, and many believe the company is helping the country "sportswash" its history. What does that mean?Less Than a Year After Taking Over WWE, Stephanie McMahon Resigns — Why Is She Leaving?
Looks like Stephanie McMahon's leave of absence is becoming permanent. Why did she leave WWE? Here's what we know about her departure.Dave Bautista’s Manny Pacquiao Tattoo Drama, Explained
Dave Bautista has opened up about a tattoo he had covered up that was inspired by Manny Pacquiao, a person he no longer considers a friend following anti-gay comments.Did the WWE Really Fire Bobby Lashley? Or Is It All Part of Kayfabe?
WWE fans were shocked to see that Bobby Lashley was fired from the organization, but many want to know: Was he really? Or is this a storyline?WWE Wrestler Mandy Rose Has Been Officially Released From Her Contract, so What Happened?
Why Was Mandy Rose released from the WWE? Fans and social media users are wondering if her online activities were the cause.Simone Johnson Stunned the WWE Universe With Surprising Debut as Ava Raine
After much anticipation, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's daughter has officially debuted in the WWE. Here's everything we also know her in-ring persona.NXT Serves as the Development Brand of WWE — What Does Its Name Stand For?
NXT is a brand of the wildly popular professional wrestling promotion WWE, and fans are curious to know what NXT stands for. Here's what we know.Rumor Has It That Bray Wyatt Will Make His WWE Comeback at Extreme Rules
Will Bray Wyatt be at WWE Extreme Rules? Many professional wrestling fans believe the 2022 event will mark Bray's return to the promotion.Outside of the Ring, Liv Morgan is Smacked With New Dating Rumors
WWE star Liv Morgan is rumored to be dating someone new -- plus, see who else she's been romantically linked with!Jeff Jarrett Has Made Millions Thanks to His Successful Wrestling Career
What is Jeff Jarrett's net worth? He's made quite a name for himself as a professional wrestler, but how much money has he made?WWE Star Rhea Ripley Pulls out of the 'Money in the Bank' Event, Is Replaced by Carmella
WWE sensation Rhea Ripley announced on Monday, June 20 that she was withdrawing from the WWE 'Raw' women's title match because of an injury.The Rock Just Gifted His Cousin, Fellow WWE Superstar Tamina Snuka, a New House
The Rock is no stranger to acts of charity for friends and family members, and folks inquired about Tamina Snuka's net worth after he gifted her a house.Vince McMahon Has Officially Stepped Back From His WWE Role, but Why?
What allegations have been raised against Vince McMahon? There have been some massive changes in his life as of late, but what happened?Sasha Banks and Naomi Were Suspended From the WWE, but Was Sasha Released?
What's going on with Sasha Banks and Naomi? Do they have drama? Unpacking the stars' current stance within the WWE.Vince McMahon Is Being Investigated for Hush Money Related to an Alleged Affair
WWE CEO Vince McMahon is under investigation for an alleged affair, but are he and his wife Linda still together amid the allegations?Cody Rhodes's Brutal Injury Didn't Keep Him From Winning at 'Hell in a Cell'
During WWE's 'Hell in a Cell,' Cody Rhodes wrestled with a pretty nasty injury. Following his victory, fans wondered if his bruise was real or fake.Roman Reigns Hints at a Departure From the WWE in Cryptic Post-Show Promo
After delivering a cryptic promo during a house show in New Jersey, professional wrestling fans wonder if Roman Reigns is leaving the WWE.WWE Star Roman Reigns Has Been Diagnosed With Cancer Twice — Has It Gone Back Into Remission?
Does Roman Reigns still have Leukemia? He announced diagnoses in both 2008 and 2018. After the second time, he left the WWE ring. When will he be back?Why Is WWE Superstar Carmella Wearing a Mask During Her Matches?
WWE superstar Carmella has recently begun wearing a protective mask during her matches. Why is that? Here's everything we know so far.Johnny Knoxville Competed in His First-Ever WWE Match at 'Wrestlemania 38'
Following Johnny Knoxville's hilariously impressive match at 'Wrestlemania 38,' many are curious if the 'Jackass' star has ever been in the WWE.Cody Rhodes Is Reportedly Making a Stupendous Return on 'Wrestlemania 38'
'Wrestlemania 38' is ready to shake up the WWE, and many fans are curious if Cody Rhodes will make his long-awaited return. Here's what we know.Johnny Gargano's Decision to Leave WWE Was a Long Time Coming
Why did Johnny Gargano leave WWE? Details on the departure of the wrestling star from the famous combat sport organization.Seth Rollins' Legendary Wrestling Career Has Made Him a Multimillionaire
What is Seth Rollins' net worth? He has made quite a name for himself in the world of wrestling, but how much money has that translated into?Cody Rhodes Has Made Millions Thanks to His Successful Career as a Pro Wrestler
What do we know about Cody Rhodes' net worth? He has made quite a name for himself as a wrestler, but has he made a lot of money too?
