In the recent Netflix docuseries Mr. McMahon (2024), former wrestler and bodybuilder Tony Atlas claimed: “We would have been looked upon, in today’s society, as some of the worst human beings walking the face of the Earth.”
Abusive behaviour, violent risk taking, scandals, drug use, misogyny, homophobia and racism have characterised professional wrestling since its inception from the 19th-century fairground onwards. Even during the filming of Mr. McMahon, which explored the controversial career of the professional wrestling promoter Vince McMahon, allegations of real-life misdemeanours hit the news.
For all its performativity and spectacle, wrestling is decidedly dangerous. The risks of wrestling have been captured on the big screen by movies such as The Wrestler (2008) and, most recently, Iron Claw (2024). While it is one of the biggest entertainment industries in the world, its troubled history remains difficult to reconcile for both fans and wrestlers.
