WWE

Wikipedia:WWE

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World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) is a publicly traded, privately controlled integrated media (focusing in television, internet, and live events), and sports entertainment company dealing primarily in the professional wrestling industry, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales. Vince McMahon is the majority owner and Chairman of the company and his wife Linda McMahon holds the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Together with their children, Executive Vice President of Global Media Shane McMahon and Senior Vice President of Creative Writing Stephanie McMahon-Levesque, the McMahons hold approximately 70% of WWE's economic interest and 96% of all voting power in the company. The company's global headquarters are located at 1241 East Main Street in Stamford, Connecticut, with international offices in Los Angeles, New York City, London, and Toronto. The company was previously known as Titan Sports, Inc. before changing to World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc., and most recently becoming World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

WWE's business focus is on professional wrestling. It is currently the largest professional wrestling promotion in the world, and holds an extensive library of videos representing a significant portion of the visual history of professional wrestling. The promotion previously existed as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation, which promoted under the banner of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), and later the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). WWE promotes under three brands; RAW, SmackDown! and ECW. WWE is also home to three of the eight world heavyweight championships recognized by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

WWE's revenue in fiscal 2006 (from May 2005 to April 2006) was approximately $400 million (US), with a net profit of approximately $47 million. As of August 2006, the company's market capitalization is over $1 billion (US). Its stock is traded on the NYSE as WWE.

Capitol Wrestling Roderick James "Jess" McMahon was a boxing promoter whose achievements included co-promoting a bout in 1915 between Jess Willard and Jack Johnson. In 1926, while working with Tex Rickard (who actually despised wrestling to such a degree he prevented wrestling events from being held at Madison Square Garden between 1939 and 1948), he started promoting boxing in Madison Square Garden in New York. The first match during their partnership was a light-heavyweight championship match between Jack Delaney and Paul Berlenbach.

Around the same time, professional wrestler Joseph Raymond "Toots" Mondt created a new style of professional wrestling that he called Slam Bang Western Style Wrestling to make the sport more appealing to spectators. He then formed a promotion with wrestling champion Ed Lewis and his manager Billy Sandow. They persuaded many wrestlers to sign contracts with their Gold Dust Trio. After much success, a disagreement over power caused the trio to dissolve and, with it, their promotion. Mondt formed partnerships with several other promoters, including Jack Curley in New York City. When Curley was dying, Mondt moved to take over New York wrestling with the aid of several bookers, one of whom was Jess McMahon.

Together, Roderick McMahon and Raymond Mondt created the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC). The CWC joined the National Wrestling Alliance in 1953. Also in that year, Ray Fabiani, one of Mondt's associates, brought in Vincent J. McMahon to replace his father Jess in the promotion. McMahon and Mondt were a successful combination, and within a short time, they controlled approximately 70% of the NWA's booking, largely due to their dominance in the heavily populated Northeast region. Mondt taught McMahon about booking and how to work in the wrestling business.

World Wide Wrestling Federation The NWA recognized an undisputed NWA World Heavyweight Champion that went from wrestling company to wrestling company in the alliance and defended the belt around the world. In 1963, the champion was "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers.

The rest of the NWA was unhappy with Mondt because he rarely allowed Rogers to wrestle outside of the Northeast. Mondt and McMahon wanted Rogers to keep the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, but Rogers was unwilling to sacrifice his $25,000 deposit on the belt (title holders at the time had to pay a deposit to insure they would honor their commitments as champion). Rogers lost the NWA World Championship to Lou Thesz in a one-fall match in Toronto, Ontario on January 24, 1963, which led to Mondt, McMahon and the CWC leaving the NWA in protest, creating the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in the process.

In April, Rogers was awarded the new WWWF World Championship following an apocryphal tournament in Rio de Janeiro. He lost the title to Bruno Sammartino a month later on May 17, 1963, after suffering a heart attack shortly before the match. To accommodate Rogers' condition, the match was booked to last under a minute.

Mondt left the company in the late sixties for unclear reasons, probably due to old age.

Although the WWWF had withdrawn from the NWA, Vince McMahon Sr. still sat on the NWA Board of Directors, no other territory was recognized in the Northeast, and several "champion vs. champion" matches occurred (usually ending in a double disqualification or some other non-decisive ending).

In March 1979, the WWWF became the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The change was purely cosmetic, and the ownership and front office personnel remained unchanged during this period.

                                                          WWE Roster

Alex Riley • Alicia Fox • Brianna Bella • CM Punk • Chris Jericho • Daniel Bryan • Darren Young • David Hart Smith • David Otunga • Evan Bourne • Eve • Ezekiel Jackson • Gail Kim • Goldust • Heath Slater • Jerry Lawler • Jey Uso • Jillian • Jimmy Uso • John Cena • John Morrison • Justin Gabriel • Justin Roberts • Mark Henry • Maryse • Melina • Michael Cole • Michael Tarver • Natalya • Nikki Bella • Primo • R-Truth • Randy Orton • Ranjin Singh • Santino Marella • Sheamus • Skip Sheffield • Tamina • Ted DiBiase • The Great Khali • The Miz • Triple H • Tyson Kidd • Vladimir Kozlov • Wade Barrett • William Regal • Yoshi Tatsu • Zack Ryder SmackDown Alberto Del Rio • Beth Phoenix • Big Show • Caylen Croft • Chavo Guerrero • Chris Masters • Christian • Cody Rhodes • Curt Hawkins • Dolph Ziggler • Drew McIntyre • Edge • Finlay • Hornswoggle • Jack Swagger • JTG • Kane • Kelly Kelly • Kaval • Kofi Kingston • Layla • Luke Gallows • Matt Striker • Michelle McCool • Montel Vontavious Porter • Paul Bearer • Rey Mysterio • Rosa Mendes • Shad • Theodore Long • Tiffany • Todd Grisham • Tony Chimel • Trent Baretta • Tyler Reks • The Undertaker • Vance Archer • Vickie Guerrero NXT 2010 Naomi • Maxine • Aksana • Jamie Keyes • AJ Lee • Katlin WWE Hall Of Fame/WWE Legends Roster * Andre the Giant (Andre Rene Rousimoff)

   Inducted posthumously with no formal ceremony. A video package was shown on an episode of WWF Superstars in 1993 that announced his induction. 

Class of 1994 Edit href= Edit

   * Arnold Skaaland 

   Inducted by Bob Backlund 

   * Bobo Brazil (Houston Harris) 

   Inducted by "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd 

   * "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers (Herman C. Rohde, Jr.) 

   Inducted (posthumously) by Bret "The Hitman" Hart 

   * Chief Jay Strongbow (Joe Scarpa) 

   Inducted by Tatanka 

   * "Classy" Freddie Blassie 

   Inducted by Shane McMahon 

   * Gorilla Monsoon (Robert Marella) 

   Inducted by Jim Ross 

   * James Dudley 

   Inducted by Vince McMahon 

Class of 1995 Edit href= Edit

   * Antonino Rocca (Antonino Biasetton) 

   Inducted (posthumously) by Diesel 

   * "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd 

   Inducted by Bobo Brazil 

   * George "The Animal" Steele (William James Myers) 

   Inducted by Doink the Clown 

   * Ivan Putski (Josef Bednarski) 

   Inducted by Scott Putski 

   * The Fabulous Moolah (Lillian Ellison) 

   Inducted by Alundra Blayze 

   * The Grand Wizard (Ernie Roth) 

   Inducted (posthumously) by Sgt. Slaughter 

   * Pedro Morales 

   Inducted by Savio Vega 

Class of 1996 Edit href= Edit

   * "Baron" Mikel Scicluna 

   Inducted by Gorilla Monsoon 

   * "Captain" Lou Albano 

   Inducted by Joe Franklin 

   * "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka (James Edward Reiher) 

   Inducted by Don Muraco 

   * Johnny Rodz (John Rodriguez) 

   Inducted by Arnold Skaaland 

   * Killer Kowalski (Wladek Kowalski) 

   Inducted by Hunter Hearst Helmsley 

   * Pat Patterson (Pierre Clemont) 

   Inducted by Bret "The Hitman" Hart 

   * Vincent J. McMahon 

   Inducted (posthumously) by Shane McMahon 

   * The Valiant Brothers (Jimmy Valiant [James Fanning] & Johnny Valiant [John L. Sullivan]) 

   Inducted by The British Bulldog & Owen Hart 

Class of 2004 Edit href= Edit

   * "Big" John Studd (John Minton, Sr.) 

   Inducted (posthumously) by The Big Show. Represented by his son, John Minton, Jr. 

   * Don Muraco 

   Inducted by Mick Foley 

   * Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (Gregory Wisniski) 

   Inducted by "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart 

   * Harley Race 

   Inducted by "Nature Boy" Ric Flair 

   * Jesse "The Body" Ventura (James Janos) 

   Inducted by Tyrell Janos 

   * Junkyard Dog (Sylvester Ritter) 

   Inducted (posthumously) by "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd. Represented by his daughter, LaToya Ritter. 

   * Sgt. Slaughter (Robert Remus) 

   Inducted by Pat Patterson 

   * "Superstar" Billy Graham (Eldridge Wayne Coleman) 

   Inducted by Triple H 

   * Tito Santana (Merced Solis) 

   Inducted by "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels 

   * Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Raymond Heenan) 

   Inducted by Blackjack Lanza 

   * Pete Rose 

   Inducted by Kane 

Class of 2005 Edit href= Edit

   * Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea) 

   Inducted by Sylvester Stallone 

   * "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Roderick Toombs) 

   Inducted by "Nature Boy" Ric Flair 

   * "Cowboy" Bob Orton (Bob Orton, Jr.) 

   Inducted by Randy Orton 

   * "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart 

   Inducted by Jerry "The King" Lawler 

   * "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff 

   Inducted by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan 

   * Nikolai Volkoff (Josip Peruzovic) 

   Inducted by Jim Ross 

   * The Iron Sheik (Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri) 

   Inducted by Sgt. Slaughter 

Class of 2006 Edit href= Edit

   * Bret "The Hitman" Hart 

   Inducted by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin 

   * Eddie Guerrero (Eduardo Guerrero Llanes) 

   Inducted (posthumously) by Chris Benoit, Rey Mysterio, and Chavo Guerrero. Represented by his wife, Vickie Guerrero. 

   * "Mean" Gene Okerlund 

   Inducted by Hulk Hogan 

   * "Sensational" Sherri Martel (Sherri Russell) 

   Inducted by "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase 

   * Verne Gagne 

   Inducted by Greg Gagne 

   * "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas (Anthony White) 

   Inducted by S.D. Jones 

   * William "The Refrigerator" Perry 

   Inducted by John Cena 

   * The Blackjacks (Blackjack Mulligan [Robert DeRoy Windham] & Blackjack Lanza [Jack Lanza]) 

   Inducted by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan 

Class of 2007 Edit href= Edit

   * "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes (Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr.) 

   Inducted by Cody Rhodes and Dustin Rhodes 

   * "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig 

   Inducted (posthumously) by Wade Boggs. Represented by his wife Leonice Hennig, his children, his mother and his father Larry "The Axe" Hennig. 

   * Jerry "The King" Lawler 

   Inducted by William Shatner 

   * Nick Bockwinkel 

   Inducted by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan 

   * Mr. Fuji (Harry Fujiwara) 

   Inducted by Don Muraco 

   * The Sheik (Ed Farhat) 

   Inducted (posthumously) by Rob Van Dam and Sabu. Represented by his wife Joyce Farhat. 

   * Jim Ross 

   Inducted by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin 

   * The Wild Samoans (Afa [Arthur Anoa'i, Sr.] & Sika [Leati Anoa'i]) 

   Inducted by Samula Anoa'i and Matt Anoa'i 

Class of 2008 Edit href= Edit

   * "Nature Boy" Ric Flair (Richard Fliehr) 

   Inducted by Triple H 

   * "High Chief" Peter Maivia (Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia) 

   Inducted (posthumously) by The Rock. Represented by his daughter, Ata Maivia Johnson. 

   * "Soulman" Rocky Johnson (Wayde Bowles) 

   Inducted by The Rock 

   * Mae Young (Johnnie Mae Young) 

   Inducted by Pat Patterson 

   * Eddie Graham (Edward Gossett) 

   Inducted (posthumously) by "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. Represented by his son, Mike Graham. 

   * Gordon Solie (Jonard Frank Labiak) 

   Inducted (posthumously) by Jim Ross. Represented by his five children. 

   * The Brisco Brothers (Gerald Brisco [Floyd Gerald Brisco] & Jack Brisco [Freddie Joe Brisco]) 

   Inducted by John "Bradshaw" Layfield 

Class of 2009 Edit href= Edit

   * "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (Steven Williams) 

   Inducted by Vince McMahon 

   * Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat (Richard Henry Blood) 

   Inducted by "Nature Boy" Ric Flair 

   * "Cowboy" Bill Watts 

   Inducted by Jim Ross 

   * Koko B. Ware (James Ware) 

   Inducted by The Honky Tonk Man 

   * The Rock

   Inducted by "Mean" Gene Okerlund 

   * The Funks (Dory Funk, Jr. & Terry Funk) 

   Inducted by "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes 

   * The Von Erichs 

(-Fritz Von Erich [Jack Adkisson], -Kerry Von Erich [Kerry Adkisson], -Kevin Von Erich [Kevin Adkisson], -David Von Erich [David Adkisson], -Mike Von Erich [Michael Adkisson], -Chris Von Erich [Chris Adkisson])

   Inducted by Michael "P.S." Hayes 

Class of 2010Edit href= Edit

   * The "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase 

   Inducted by Ted DiBiase, Jr. and Brett DiBiase 

   * Antonio Inoki 

   Inducted by Stan Hansen 

   * Wendi Richter 

   Inducted by Roddy Piper 

   * Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon 

   Inducted by Pat Patterson 

   * Gorgeous George 

   Inducted by Dick Beyer 

   * Stu Hart 

   Inducted by Bret Hart 

   * Bob Uecker