Cruiserweight Division

As Morton and O’Brien explain, about the Victorian era, Burly sports did not fit into the selectivity of the gentleman’s athletic club, early YMCA exercise programs or fledgling collegiate sports. There was a pagan delight in display of muscle, in the strongman stunts, the braggadocio, and even scanty costumes of wrestlers that offended the nice … Read more “There was a pagan delight in display of muscle, in the strongman stunts, the braggadocio, and even scanty costumes of wrestlers that offended the nice people”

Below, some notes about gender in wrestling, from “Wrestling with Masculinity: Messages about Manhood in the WWE” by Danielle M. Soulliere Six important messages about manhood were revealed by the WWE programs: (1) Real men are aggressive and violent, (2) men settle things physically, (3) a man confronts his adversaries and problems, (4) real men take … Read more Six important messages about manhood

Below, some notes about gender in wrestling, from “Wrestling with Masculinity: Messages about Manhood in the WWE” by Danielle M. Soulliere Message 6: Men are winners Winning and achievement are part of being a man. This was very apparent even in the contrived world of professional wrestling. Male performers who held the championship title were described … Read more Excerpt from “Wrestling with Masculinity” Message 6: Men are winners

  At its worst, a wrestling performance is an oversimplistic display of male bravado and vulgar social clichés. But at its best, wrestling is a sophisticated theatricalized representation of the violent urges repressed by the social code, of the transgressive impulses present in the most civilized of people. Most of all, wrestling activates its audience … Read more Excerpts from Mazer, “The Doggie Doggie World of Professional Wrestling”

For more information, visit “South Milwaukee man who vandalized Da Crusher statue said he did it to be ‘cool,’ complaint says” The PWSA posted about the unveiling of the statue;  I am saddened by this turn of events.

Passages from “The operational aesthetic in the performance of professional wrestling” by William P. Lipscomb III In “Why America’s Hooked on Wrestling,” Leland observes that the popularity of wrestling extends beyond the live and televised events to consumer merchandise:   The WWF’s home videos routinely rank No.1 in sports, its action figures outsell Pokemon’s and … Read more “Why America’s Hooked on Wrestling”

Below, some notes about gender in wrestling, from “Wrestling with Masculinity: Messages about Manhood in the WWE” by Danielle M. Soulliere Message 5: Men are not whiners As the classic adage “real men don’t cry” suggests, men are expected to exercise emotional restraint, to keep their emotions in check, and to avoid displaying any public show … Read more Excerpt from “Wrestling with Masculinity” Message 5: Men are not whiners

Below, some notes about gender in wrestling, from “Wrestling with Masculinity: Messages about Manhood in the WWE” by Danielle M. Soulliere Message 4: Real men take responsibility for their actions As perhaps a derivative of being confrontational, manhood also entails taking responsibility. The message revealed was that real men take responsibility for their actions. Both the … Read more Excerpt from “Wrestling with Masculinity” Message 4: Real men take responsibility for their actions