Mexico

Mexico is the southernmost country in North America.  There is water on both sides of the country with the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Gulf Of Mexico to the east.

 

Its population is 131,946,900 according to the 2025 census and the area is 1,972,500 kilometers or 761,610 square miles.

 

According to history, pro wrestling began in the 19th century but became popular in the 1930s.  A promotion known as Empressa Mexicana de Lucha Libre became the first wrestling operative one in the country in 1933.  It was founded by Salvador Lutteroth Gonzalez.  In 1934-35, El Santo, Blue Demon and Mil Mascaras were dubbed as the "Big Three" of the Lucha Libre tradition.   

 

Before the "Big Three," Enrique Ugartechea was the first professional wrestler and pioneer of sports entertainment.

 

Empressa Mexicana de Lucha Libre is the oldest active wrestling promotion today worldwide.  It is now known as Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre or CMLL. That occurred in 1991 when CMLL broke away from the NWA.  Currently, as of 2011, CMLL has a partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

 

There are several other promotions in Mexico that rival CMLL, the biggest being Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide or AAA.  It was founded in 1992 by Marisela Pena and Dorian Roldan.  The promotion was acquired by the WWE in 2011.

 

Here are the links to the two major Mexico pro wrestling promotions...

 

https://cmll.com/

 

https://lucha-libreaaa.myshopify.com/?shpxid=5d392c12-3678-45ff-bfa0-f662c992b9f1

Canada

The country of Canada comprises of 10 provinces and three territories.  They extend from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans from west to east, and north to the Arctic Ocean.  It's population is 41,528,680 per the first quarter 2025 census.  It's land area is 9,984,670 kilometers or 3,855,100 square miles.

 

The history of pro wrestling in Canada dates back to the year 1930.  Jack Corcoran, a Toronto, Ontario boxing promoter founded the company, Maple Leaf Wrestling (no relation to Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling that exists today).  He would hold on to the promotion until 1939 when the Tunney family took over.  

 

In 1931, Corcoran became aligned with Maple Leaf Gardens, a building in which the NHL Maple Leafs played for years.  When there was no hockey on a specific day, wrestling would keep the Gardens busy.  At that point, Corcoran assumed full control as a promoter in the region.

 

As mentioned, Corcoran would step down and the Tunney's (John and Frank) would take over.  In the late 1940s, Maple Leaf Wrestling would be part of a territorial setup known as the National Wrestling Alliance.  

 

Up until 1984, the area would promote shows with the NWA as well as another territory known as Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling in the Carolinas led by promoter, Jim Crockett Sr.  Eventually, John Tunney, the younger son of John would split from Crockett.  Vince McMahon Jrs., World Wrestling Federation was expanding and the rest was history.

 

Many great Canadian wrestlers including Bret Hart, Roddy Piper, Chris Jericho, Trish Strattus and Kenny Omega have been in MLW rings and have gone on to achieve great success.

 

One of the greatest wrestling matches took place at the Maple Leaf Gardens in 1979.  AWA Champion, Nick Bockwinkel and WWF Champion, Bob Backlund battled to a double count out.  It's been said by fans that this match "changed pro wrestling forever!"

 

About 11 months ago, Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling has emerged and is likely the number one promotion in Canada.  Former TNA great, Scott D'Amore, is heading the promotion.

 

At last check, there are 129 wrestling promotions in Canada.  WrestleMap has a listing of all the promotions.  If there is one that you like, please check them out.

 

Here are the links to WrestleMap as well as the link to Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling and a very special wrestling promotion that, I believe, a wrestler I know (???) works for.  Thank you.

 

 https://www.wrestlemap.com/news/

 https://mlpwrestling.com/ 

  https://hammerlockpurewrestling.weebly.com/hammerlock.html

Norway

Norway is a Nordic country located on Scandinavian peninsula of Northern Europe.  It's population is 5,601,049 (estimated per the 2025 census).  The area is 385,207 km. or 148,729 square miles.

 

According to sources, the Greco Roman version of wrestling began in 1913.

 

However, it wasn't until 1994 when there would be a pro wrestling breakthrough in the country.  A young wrestler under the ring name of Eric Isaken began his career in England under the direction of Doc Dean (per Fandom).  He wrestled in Brian Dixon's All Star Wrestling shows.  Over a period of several years, he wrestled throughout the Scandinavian countries, throughout Europe and in Japan.

 

In 2001, Erik Isaksen would return to Norway and build his own wrestling company known as Norges Wrestlingforbund.  The promotion would hold their first show on 18 October 2001.  The event was called  Teltet in Trondheim, Trøndelag, Norway.

 

NWF, for short, has had shows throughout the country such as Oslo, the capital of Norway.  They've performed in Bergen (on the West Coast), Hamar and Nydalen to name several cities.

 

The promotion has three NWF Championships as well as two European Championships that are contested.  According to Cagematch, NWF has hosted at least 190 shows in their history.  That is definitely a good number considering the dark era of Covid-19 when wrestling shows were canceled.

 

There are two pro wrestling promotions in Norway.  Besides Norges Wrestlingforbund, there is Norsk Elite Wrestling.  They are a newer company that was organized in 2009 with their first show about a year later.  

 

Here are the website links followed by the two Facebook links to the two promotions listed below.  The sites are in Norwegian but if you have Google Translate, it will help to covert to the language you are familiar with.  Thank you.

 

 https://www.wrestling.no/

 https://sportsunderholdning.no/

 https://www.facebook.com/NorgesWrestlingforbund

 https://www.facebook.com/norskelitewrestling

Australia

Doing a world wide blog on this topic is not going to be an easy process.  This blogger decided to begin Pro Wrestling History with the continent and country of Australia.

 

Australia, a continent and country, has an estimated population of 27,923,100 according to the 2025 census.  The size is 7,688,287 km. (or 2,968,464 square miles).    

 

Per pro wrestling history, the first Australian pro wrestling championship of any kind was the Australian Wrestling Heavyweight Championship.  

 

William Miller, known as The Professor, laid claim to the Australian championship sometime before 1880.  Miller was an athlete in his day as a boxer, walker and weight lifter.

 

On 28 May 1883, Miller defeated Larry Foley, a boxer for the inaugural victory.  The match was originally declared a draw after three hours because of spectators climbing into the ring.  However, Foley conceded and Miller was awarded the title the next day.

 

In the history of the belt (1883-1967), there were 25 different champions.  Billy Meeske and Fred Atkins won the coveted championship three times apiece. 

 

The Australian Wrestling Heavyweight Champion lasted until February 11, 1967 after the title was won in a tournament two weeks earlier.  Billy White Wolf (later known as Adnan Al-Kaisie in WWE) would vacate it, and then go on to win the IWA World Heavyweight Championship.  At this time, the championship was part of WCW Australia.  The belt would be retired in 1971.  The first major promotion known as World Championship Wrestling Australia (WCW Australia) ran from 1964 to 1978.

 

For more information on wrestling history in Australia, Wikipedia has some good information under the History Of Pro Wrestling page.  There may be some fans reading this that  could tell you even more on the history of wrestling in the "Land Down Under."  

 

According to the website, Wrestlemap, the continent of Australia has 76 promotions that exist today.  Some of the more popular promotions today are Pro Wrestling League (Queensland), Australian Wrestling Entertainment (Sydney) and Melbourne City Wrestling (Melbourne) just to name several.

 

Please visit Wrestlemap for wrestling promotions in your area.  Thank you.  Here is the link below....

     https://www.wrestlemap.com/news/

Introduction

 

My first experience with pro wrestling was back in 1968.  In the area where this blogger lives, the era was known as The Territory Era.

 

Our area was known as Big Time Wrestling.  The Bay Area had a weekly show known as National All Star Wrestling.  KTVU Channel 2, located in Oakland, was the flagship station for the wrestling area.

 

The major shows would be held at the Cow Palace in Daly City about once a month.  Wrestlers from the Big Time Wrestling stable would appear in shows throughout Northern California roughly four to five times a week.

 

Over this period, local wrestling names such as Ray Stevens, Pepper Gomez, Pat Patterson, Peter Maivia and Rocky Johnson were well known in the area.  Walt Harris, pictured in the center above, called the action.

 

My first show was in July 1970.  In America, I've seen American wrestling shows in Daly City, Oakland, San Francisco, Newark, San Jose, Sacramento, Los Angeles and Eugene, OR.  

 

In the time of watching pro wrestling, this fan would see the NWA, AWA, WCW, WWE, ROH, NJPW, TNA and AEW.   The independent promotions were All Pro Wrestling (Daly City), West Coast Pro Wrestling (San Francisco) and Big Time Wrestling (Newark).

 

In 2022, this blogger would venture out of America and would take in a Southeast Asian show in Quezon City, Philippines.  It would have been earlier except for the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

This would continue in 2023 with three shows in eight days.  This fan was fortunate enough to see all three promotions.  They were the Manila Wrestling Federation, World Underground Wrestling - Philippines and Filipino Pro Wrestling.  The thoughts of this fan is to see other shows throughout Southeast Asia, Asia and Australia as well as Europe, Canada and Mexico.

 

The idea of doing a History Of Pro Wrestling blog is definitely far fetched.  However, this fan will give it an attempt.  Hope all of you enjoy it.