Why are there so many Canadians in Pro Wrestling?
In this episode, the Secret Life of Canada explores the fun and problematic past of performance wrestling and learns why it was as popular as hockey in its early days.
The sport rivaled hockey in popularity in its early days
Why are there so many Canadians in pro wrestling? The Secret Life of Canada explores the fun and problematic past of performance wrestling and learns why it was as popular as hockey in its early days.
Leah and Falen talk to Nug Nahrgang about how carnivals and sideshows created the modern day world of entertainment sports. They learn what the territory system was and who some standouts were as TV made pro wrestling more popular than ever.
Then, with help from Scarlett Harris, author of A Diva Was a Female Version of a Wrestler, they learn about the uphill battle female pro wrestlers and fans have had and why even though the WWE is changing, there is still a long way to go.
Key References
- A Diva Was a Female Version of a Wrestler by Scarlett Harris.
- The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Canadians by Greg Oliver.
- Death of the Territories by Tim Hornbaker.
- Sweet Daddy Siki The Documentary Channel / CBC Gem.
- Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling by Bret Hart.
- Soulman : the Rocky Johnson story by Rocky Johnson.
- The History of Wrestling from the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
- Wrestling Dictionary of Terms
- Cagematch: The Internet Wrestling Database
- #GiveDivasAChance Turns 5: How A Simple Hashtag Changed Women's Wrestling In The WWE Forever by Rachel Miller.
- Before the ADA, There Was the Freak Show by Kim Kelly.
- Dangerous Bodies: Freak Shows, Expression, and Exploitation by Brigham A. Fordham.
- Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women's Wrestling by Pat Laprade, Dan Murphy.
- Mohawk Elder Billy Two Rivers talks wrestling, the Oka Crisis, and being a grandparent by Tom Fennario.