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Regulating the Harmful, Injurious and Risky Business of Professional Wrestling

The Suffering Body in Sport

ISBN: 978-1-78756-069-7, eISBN: 978-1-78756-068-0

Publication date: 24 July 2019

Abstract

Purpose

To discuss the regulation of professional wrestling in the USA in order to explore how the business of professional wrestling is regulated and deregulated.

Approach

Using desk-based research, the regulation and deregulation of professional wrestling will be explored.

Findings

The regulation of professional wrestling in the USA is inconsistent. The extent of regulation and deregulation of professional wrestling is dependent on the state in which the event takes place. Whether regulated or deregulated, professional wrestling is a painful, risky and injurious business wherein the economic health and well-being of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) corporation, and the location in which events take place, take precedence over the health and well-being of working sports participants.

Implications

The research is limited to sports participants working in the dominant, visible and therefore arguably most accountable professional wrestling corporation in the USA. Implication of the research is that a more in-depth investigation into the utility of regulation is needed. Additionally, it raises concerns regarding the potential hidden work-related premature deaths, harms and injuries in other promotions in the USA and beyond.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank all the individuals in the 50 states in the USA who responded to her email enquiries for their prompt and helpful replies. The author would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.

Citation

Corteen, K. (2019), "Regulating the Harmful, Injurious and Risky Business of Professional Wrestling", The Suffering Body in Sport (Research in the Sociology of Sport, Vol. 12), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 163-178. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1476-285420190000012012

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019 Emerald Publishing Limited