History of Wrestling: Squared Circle Stories

It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that wrestling has a long history. Many people dismiss it as a phony soap opera with no substance. It does, however, have a history, a tradition, and a past, much like many other sports. Fans who have followed their favorite stars in all of the must-see places for years have seen them debut, develop, evolve, and eventually retire.

However, historical moments are incredible sporting feats—stunning images of absolute athleticism, guts, glory, and sheer brilliance. In addition, wrestling’s nature provides fans with a level of enjoyment that rivals that of any other sport. As a result, it has a rich past to be proud of. Today, we will relive some of those moments as we rejoice and look back at some of the greatest moments in wrestling history.

Hulk Hogan body slamming Andre the Giant

Hulk Hogan achieved the unimaginable and body-slammed the 500-pound Andre the Giant, probably the most significant moment in wrestling history. It helped solidify not only Hogan’s place as the sport’s newest sensation but also Wrestlemania itself. It was the pinnacle of good triumphing over evil, a testament of what occurs when you take your vitamins and pray.

Such a show of strength was seen before, with Andre and Hogan both body-slamming Big John Studd. It’s been done since, with Lex Luger slamming Yokozuna and Ezekiel Jackson smashing Big Show more recently. But on March 29th, 1987, wrestling was at its pinnacle in front of a record crowd of 93,173. It grossed approximately $10 million as a pay-per-view and was seen by millions across the United States. Wrestling became what it is today as a result of it.

Vince McMahon making wrestling mainstream

Vincent Kennedy McMahon’s story starts with his father, Vincent Jess McMahon, and the World Wide Wrestling Federation. The elder McMahon was a traditional promoter who believed in strict territorial borders and followed them even after his organization broke from the NWA in the 1960s. On the other hand, the younger McMahon, who made his living announcing and producing tiny performances in locations like Bangor, Maine, saw no reason why wrestling couldn’t be run like any other business.

Vince bought the company from his father in 1982 and set out to compete on a national level. Not only were the territories of other promotions open to TV and house shows, but their talent was as well. As a result, McMahon quickly expanded into areas where his father had never competed, such as the south and the Midwest.

The birth of stone cold Steve Austin

Austin is now such a well-known figure in wrestling’s history that it’s difficult to recall a period when he wasn’t. Although Triple H was on his way to being the next big thing in wrestling at the time, one man and one promo swept it all away. Austin had his big break in 1996’s King of the Ring, defeating Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts to win the title. His controversial coronation promo, in which he insulted Roberts’ Christian beliefs and talked about ‘Austin 3:16,’ helped him establish himself as a significant new face in the wrestling world. He took off after that and became a mega-star. Fans adored his brash demeanor, snark, and combative manner.

Smackdown’s 9/11 tribute show

When the terrorist attacks on September 11th occurred, it was a watershed moment in history. The WWE made it plain in Houston, Texas, that they would continue to perform despite the hardship hitting not just America but the entire world.

The Emergence of Kane

The Undertaker is one of the few wrestlers who has won the respect of his peers. For years, the tombstone-loving Dead Man was a WWE staple without much of a backstory, but in the mid-to-late 1990s, a new chapter was revealed. Following the ‘Taker’s feud with manager Paul Bearer, a dark secret about the wrestler’s background was revealed: As a boy, Undertaker had burned down his parents’ funeral house and killed them, and Paul Bearer had proof.

That proof was presented at the Bad Blood PPV when Paul Bearer unexpectedly arrived alongside a fearsome-looking behemoth covered in crimson and black from head to toe during Undertaker’s Hell In A Cell Match against Shawn Michaels. Kane, Undertaker’s half-brother, was the beast.

Mick Foley beating The Rock for the WWE Title

In theory, having the adored babyface defeat the villainous champion is the simplest method to create an overpowering sense of joy in wrestling. However, it’s a challenging piece of business to get correct in practice. You’ll need the perfect babyface, the proper villain, the right moment, and, most importantly, the flawless execution of the title change. Watch Mick Foley beat The Rock for the WWE Championship on the January 4th, 1999 episode of Raw if you ever want to see the perfect pattern for how to pull off this moment. Mick Foley had long been a fan favorite, but no one expected him ever to win a championship.

End of the Undertaker’s streak

It seemed unthinkable for The Undertaker to lose at WrestleMania, and it was a highlight of the annual show, perhaps even more so than the world championship. There were occasions when you believed it would all come to an end, such as when he was up against the Legend Killer or was in the End of an Era battle. But there were three things you could count on in life after 21 years: death, taxes, and the Undertaker’s hand being raised on the Grandest Stage. 

In 2014, The Beast was coming off a tremendous SummerSlam victory over CM Punk and a Royal Rumble triumph over Big Show. Despite being one of WWE’s most dominant forces, it wasn’t anticipated that he would defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXX, and that is, nevertheless, precisely what he did.

Birth of The Heel

In the post-World War II era, George Raymond Wagner was a brilliant amateur wrestler who moved up to the professional ranks. Despite his moderate success and reputation as one of the best grapplers of his period, he yearned for more fame. Fans flocked to the event in droves, hoping to see Gorgeous George get his comeuppance. Instead, Wagner resurrected Pro Wrestling by tapping into the sport’s entertainment potential, which had diminished during the war. Not only would there have been no Nature Boy Ric Flair or Dalton Castle without George, but the entire industry would have been drastically different today.

The Montreal Screwjob

Vince McMahon’s reputation was tarnished at the Survivor Series main event between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Hart was slated to depart the WWE for WCW in 1997, but he refused to hand over his WWE championship to Michaels at the Survivor Series event, setting up the infamous Montreal Screwjob. The Montreal Screwjob was an unscripted occurrence in the Hart vs. Michaels bout in which Vince McMahon and other WWE employees secretly changed the match’s scheduled conclusion.

Undertaker ending Shawn Michaels career

One of the most moving moments in the history of wrestling. I, for one, thought Shawn Michaels would lose, but no one could have foreseen the outcome of the Undertaker and Michaels rematch, given their legendary match a year prior. 

There is no need for a synopsis of the Wrestlemania XXV match. It is the pinnacle of achievement; few matches will ever come close to equaling it. That night, the Undertaker would win, but wrestling had already won a much bigger victory. And the match’s conclusion was a show of complete mutual respect between two legends of the sport. The Undertaker’s expression of respect is possibly the most thundering gravestone in history.

Final thoughts

These moments have stood the test of time and are still fondly remembered by wrestling enthusiasts worldwide. So what will the next chapter of stories be?