Which of the "big three" American wrestling promotions is right for you?
Pro wrestling fandom has often been categorized as mercurial, flighty, and grumpy.
It's true that anytime WWE, Ring of Honor, or Impact Wrestling has a major story angle or title change legions of fans log onto their social media accounts and gripe about what they would have done differently if they were in charge.
This inherent disgruntlement in the pro wrestling fan base is both a curse and a blessing. It's a blessing in that if fans are really not happy with something, they have a platform to air their grievances. Most recently, we saw this happen when angry fans forced the WWE to change the Fabulous Moolah memorial battle royal to just the Women's battle royal.
It is also a curse, however, in that wrestling promotions would like to push certain individuals to the top of the card, and those same vocal fans can derail or hinder such plans. Roman Reigns and John Cena's loud chorus of detractors is the best example of this phenomenon.
Because wrestling fans are so temperamental and diverse, the wrestling shows tend to be quite distinct from one another. Though all three of the major US promotions feature ostensibly the same product--pro wrestling--there are enough distinct elements to make each a separate entity meant to appeal to a specific audience.
Without further ado, here's the Big Three promotions, what makes them distinct, and analysis of what type of fan they court the most rigorously.
WWE: From the casual to the diehard
Technically, the WWE existed for some time as the WWWF, run by Vince McMahon Senior. Most critics and fans, however, would agree that the true birthing point for the federation was when Vince McMahon Jr. took over the company and built up the Rock and Wrestling Connection.
Before the WWF--as it was called in those days--came into being, pro wrestling was a largely regional business. The wrestling show one watched in California would have a different line up than the show put on in Florida.
McMahon Jr. decided that he wanted more, and expanded his father's wrestling empire into other territories. While there was no legal standing for the other promotions to prevent this move, McMahon still received a lot of blowback from the other promoters, most of whom were friends and associates of his father.
Nevertheless, McMahon persisted, and built the WWE into the global wrestling empire it is today.
What makes them distinct: First and foremost, WWE's production values are tremendous. From the glitzy graphical pre-match splashes to top-tier sound and lighting, the WWE treats wrestling like a first-class production, and it shows in their finished product. No other wrestling company on the planet looks as good from an aesthetic point of view than the WWE.
The other major difference between the WWE and other feds is their eagerness for mainstream acceptance. While TNA and ROH are content with courting wrestling diehards, the WWE wants to get as large an audience as possible. This isn't to say the WWE doesn't want or appreciate die-hard fans; their Hall of Fame ceremony is meant to be a direct homage to them. It just means they want to expand beyond the die-hard wrestling fandom.
Other differences include a slower, more television-friendly pacing to the matches and a tendency to highlight bigger, more muscular wrestlers as champion (Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, and Jinder Mahal.)
What might make them the right wrestling for you: If you like glitz and glamour with your sports entertainment, then WWE is definitely for you!
Simply put, no one else puts as much build up and effort into their storylines and feuds. The WWE creative team includes writers, artists, musicians, and former wrestlers who all bend themselves to the task of making the most polished, exciting, and enjoyable wrestling show imaginable. Their streaming network also gives the most bang for your buck, allowing you access to thousands of hours of classic matches as well as every pay per view.