World Wrestling Entertainment (doing business as WWE, Inc.) (WWE) is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales. It is currently the largest professional wrestling company in the world, reaching 13 million viewers in the U.S. and broadcasting its shows in 30 languages to more than 145 countries.
Vince McMahon is the majority owner, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the company. Together with his wife Linda McMahon, and their children Shane McMahon and Stephanie McMahon-Levesque (WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and Creative Writing), the McMahons hold about 70% of WWE's economic interest and 96% of the voting power in the company. The company's headquarters is located in Stamford, Connecticut with offices in Los Angeles, New York City, London, Tokyo, Toronto, and Sydney.
WWE holds an extensive library of videos, representing a significant portion of the visual history of professional wrestling. The company began as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation in 1952, which promoted under the banner of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and later the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). In 1982 it was sold to the same family's Titan Sports company, which later changed its name to World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, before finally becoming World Wrestling Entertainment in 2002.
Wellness Program
The Talent Wellness Program is a comprehensive drug, alcohol, and cardiac screening program initiated in February 2006, shortly after the sudden death of one of their highest profile talents, 38 year-old Eddie Guerrero. The policy tests for recreational drug use and abuse of prescription medication, including anabolic steroids. Under the guidelines of the policy, talent is also tested annually for pre-existing or developing cardiac issues. The drug testing is handled by Aegis Sciences Corporation. The cardiac evaluations are handled by New York Cardiology Associates P.C.
After the double murder and suicide committed by one of its performers, Chris Benoit, with a possible link to steroids abuse encouraged by WWE, the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform requested that WWE turn over any material regarding its talent wellness policy.
In August 2007, the program was defended by WWE and its employees in the wake of several illegal pharmacy busts that linked WWE performers to steroid purchases even after the policy was put into place. Ten professional wrestlers were suspended for violating the Wellness Policy after reports emerged they were all customers of Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, Florida. According to a statement attributed to WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt, an eleventh wrestler was later added to the suspension list.
Because of the Wellness Policy, physicians were able to diagnose one of its performers with a heart ailment that otherwise would have likely gone unnoticed until it was too late. In August 2007, then-reigning United States Champion Montel Vontavious Porter (real name Hassan Assad) was diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, which can be potentially fatal if gone undiagnosed. The ailment was discovered while Assad was going through a routine Wellness Policy checkup.
On September 13, 2010, WWE updated their list of banned substances to include muscle relaxers.
Championships and accomplishments
Current champions
- RAW
Current Appearance | Championship | Champion(s) | Defeated | Date Won | Event | Days Held |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WWE Championship | Brock Lesnar | Kofi Kingston | October 4, 2019 | SmackDown | 1659+ | |
WWE United States Championship | A.J. Styles | Ricochet | July 14, 2019 | Extreme Rules | 1741+ | |
WWE Raw Women's Championship | Becky Lynch | Ronda Rousey Charlotte |
April 7, 2019 | WrestleMania 35 | 1839+ | |
WWE Raw Tag Team Championship | The Viking Raiders (Ivar & Erik) | Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode | October 14, 2019 | RAW | 1649+ |
Smackdown
Current Appearance | Championship | Champion(s) | Defeated | Date Won | Event | Days Held |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WWE Universal Championship | Bray Wyatt | Seth Rollins | October 31, 2019 | Crown Jewel 2019 | 1632+ | |
WWE Intercontinental Championship | Shinsuke Nakamura | Finn Bálor | July 14, 2019 | Extreme Rules | 1741+ | |
WWE Smackdown Women's Championship | Bayley | Charlotte Flair | October 11, 2019 | SmackDown | 1652+ | |
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship | The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) | The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) | November 8, 2019 | SmackDown | 1624+ |
NXT UK
Current Appearance | Championship | Champion(s) | Defeated | Date Won | Event | Days Held |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WWE United Kingdom Championship | WALTER | Pete Dunne | April 5, 2019 | NXT TakeOver: New York | 1840+ | |
WWE United Kingdom Women's Championship | Kay Lee Ray | Toni Storm | August 31, 2019 | NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff | 1693+ | |
WWE United Kingdom Tag Team Championship | Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews | Triple Threat Match | August 31, 2019 | NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff | 1693+ |
NXT
Current Appearance | Championship | Champion(s) | Defeated | Date Won | Location | Event | Days Held |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NXT Championship | Adam Cole | Johnny Gargano | June 1, 2019 | Bridgeport, Connecticut | NXT TakeOver: XXV | 1784+ | |
NXT North American Championship | Roderick Strong | The Velveteen Dream | September 18, 2019 | Winter Park, Florida | NXT | 1675+ | |
NXT Women's Championship | Shayna Baszler | Kairi Sane | October 28, 2018 | Uniondale, New York | Evolution 2018 | 2000+ | |
NXT Tag Team Championship | The Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) | Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) | August 15, 2019 | Winter Park, Florida | NXT | 1709+ |
NXT/205 Live
Current Appearance | Championship | Champion(s) | Defeated | Date Won | Event | Days Held |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NXT Cruiserweight Championship | Lio Rush | Drew Gulak | October 9, 2019 | NXT | 1654+ |
All brands
Current Appearance | Championship | Champion(s) | Defeated | Date Won | Event | Days Held |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WWE 24-7 Championship | R-Truth | Samir Singh | November 18, 2019 | RAW | 1614+ | |
WWE Women's Tag Team Championship | The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) | Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross | October 6, 2019 | Hell in a Cell | 1657+ |
Accomplishments
Accomplishment | Latest winner | Date Won |
---|---|---|
Men's Royal Rumble | Seth Rollins | January 27, 2019 |
Women's Royal Rumble | Becky Lynch | January 27, 2019 |
Money in the Bank contract for the WWE Universal Championship | Brock Lesnar | May 19, 2019 |
Money in the Bank contract for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship | Bayley | May 19, 2019 |
Defunct championships
- WWE Divas Championship (2008-2016)
- World Tag Team Championship (WWE) (1971-2010)
- WWE Unified Tag Team Championship (2009-2010)
- ECW Championship (2006-2010)
- WWE Women's Championship (1956-2010)
- WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1991-2007)1
- WWE Hardcore Championship (1998-2002)
- WWE European Championship (1997-2002)
- WCW World Heavyweight Championship (2001)2
- World Heavyweight Championship (2002-2013)3,4
- WCW World Tag Team Championship (2001)2
- WCW United States Championship (2001)2
- WWF Light Heavyweight Championship (1981-2001) (recognized officially 1997-2001)
- WWF Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (1991)
- WWF Women's Tag Team Championship (1983-1989)
- WWF Canadian Championship (1985-1986)
- WWF International Heavyweight Championship (1959-1963, 1982-1985)
- WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship (1967-1985)
- WWF International Tag Team Championship (1969-1985)
- WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship (1978-1985)
- WWF North American Heavyweight Championship (1979-1981)
- WWWF United States Championship (1970-1975)
- WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (1963-1967)
1 WCW Cruiserweight title from 1991 to 2002
2 Acquisition of WCW and ECW.
3 Though WWE considers this title separate from the WCW World title and spun off from the WWE Undisputed title, commentators in WWE programming and certain WWE superstars still claim the WCW World title's lineage to this title's history when it was active.
4 Though the title was retired, the physical belt was still used as a component of the WWE World Heavyweight title until August 18, 2014.
Previous Logos
See also
- History
- Roster
- Alumni
- Event history
- WWE PPV
- Hall of Fame
- WWE House Show
- Gallery of WWF/E Championships
- WWE Board of Directors
- WWE General Managers
- WWE Draft
- Monday Night RAW (1993–Present)
- SmackDown LIVE (1999–Present)
- ECW (2006-2010)
- WWE Superstars (2009–2016)
- WWE NXT (2010–Present)
- WWE Main Event (2012–Present)
- 205 Live (2016–Present)
- NXT UK (2016–Present)
- Wildest Superstars in WWE
- Greatest RAW Moments
- WWE Network
- WWE Magazine
- WWE Shop
- Brand Triple Crown Championship
External links
- WWE.com (Official Website)
- Official WWE Corporate Website
- WWEShop
- WWE on YouTube
- WWE on Facebook
- WWE on Twitter
- WWE Stock
- Official WWE Japanese Website
- WWE iPhone/iPad App