A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. "Promotion" also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event. Within the convention of the show, the company is a sports governing body which sanctions wrestling matches and gives authority to the championships and is responsible for maintaining the divisions and their rankings. In truth, the company serves as a touring theatre troupe, as well as event promotion body for its own events.
Most promotions are self-contained, organized around one or more championships and do not acknowledge or recognize the legitimacy of other promotions' titles unless they share a working agreement. Governing bodies, such as the CyberFight, United Wrestling Network, WWNLive, Allied Independent Wrestling Federations, Union of European Wrestling Alliances, Pro Wrestling International and, previously, the National Wrestling Alliance, act as an umbrella organization which governs titles that are shared among multiple promotions. During the 1950s, the National Wrestling Alliance oversaw many wrestling territories such as Mid-Atlantic Wrestling and NWA San Francisco, in a business model known as the "territory system".
This is a list of the most notable past and present professional wrestling promotions.
Australia and New Zealand
Active
- Australasian Wrestling Federation
- Impact Pro Wrestling
- International Wrestling Australia
- Melbourne City Wrestling
- New Zealand Wide Pro Wrestling
- Riot City Wrestling
- Southern Pro Wrestling
- World Series Wrestling
Defunct
- Dominion Wrestling Union
- I-Generation Superstars of Wrestling
- Pro Wrestling Women's Alliance
- World Championship Wrestling
- World Wrestling All-Stars
Canada
Active
- Border City Wrestling
- Great Canadian Wrestling
- High Impact Wrestling Canada
- International Wrestling Syndicate
- Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling
- Northern Championship Wrestling
- nCw Femmes Fatales
- Prairie Wrestling Alliance
- Real Canadian Wrestling
Defunct
- BSE Pro
- Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling
- Eastern Sports Association
- Hart Legacy Wrestling
- International Wrestling Alliance
- Lutte Internationale
- Maximum Pro Wrestling
- NWA: All-Star Wrestling
- Stampede Wrestling
Japan
Active
Defunct
Mexico
Active
- Alianza Universal De Lucha Libre
- Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide
(Triple A) - Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
- International Wrestling Revolution Group
- The Crash Lucha Libre
- Toryumon Mexico
Defunct
- International Wrestling League
- Los Perros del Mal
- Lucha Libre Elite
- Nación Lucha Libre
- Promo Azteca
- Universal Wrestling Association
- World Wrestling Association
- Xtreme Latin American Wrestling
United Kingdom & Ireland
Active
Defunct
- 5 Star Wrestling
- Frontier Wrestling Alliance
- Joint Promotions
- NXT UK (WWE)
- Pro Wrestling Elite
- Pro Wrestling Pride
- World of Sport Wrestling
- X Wrestling Alliance
United States
Active
Defunct (Modern-era)
Defunct (Territory-era)
Other
Active
- Africa Wrestling Alliance
- Brazilian Wrestling Federation
- Continental Wrestling Entertainment
- Fédération Française de Catch Professionnel
- Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling
- International Catch Wrestling Alliance
- Irish Whip Wrestling
- Israeli Pro Wrestling Association
- IWA Puerto Rico
- La Liga Wrestling
- Singapore Pro Wrestling
- Soft Ground Wrestling
- Westside Xtreme Wrestling
- WWC
- World Wrestling Professionals
- Kingdom Pro Wrestling
Defunct
- Oriental Wrestling Entertainment
- Catch Wrestling Association
- Ring Ka King
- Israeli Wrestling League
- Ultimate Wrestling Israel
- Philippine Wrestling Revolution
- Manila Wrestling Federation
- Verband der Berufsringer
See also
- List of professional wrestling rosters
- List of women's wrestling promotions
References
External links
- List of All Promotions at Cagematch.net
- Promotions at OWW.com
- Wrestlingdata.com
- The Internet Wrestling Database
