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Professional Wrestling Authority Figures
This list brings together authority figures—people who hold on-screen power—in professional wrestling promotions or brands within North America. The North American wrestling industry portrays authority figures as responsible for making matches, providing rules and generally keeping law and order both in and outside the ring. The role can vary according to disposition as a face authority figure tends to give what the fans want and does what is fair while a heel authority figures tend to run their shows out of their own self-interest. WWE authority figures From its founding in 1963 to 1997, the WWE looked to a president as an authority figure. The president had booking power and controlled all wrestlers. However, in 1997 the commissioner replaced the president, with Sgt. Slaughter serving as the first WWE commissioner. During the Attitude Era (1997–2002), not only the commissioner, but also Vince McMahon (through his position as WWE chairman under his evil character ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling, kayfabe (pronounced ) is the portrayal of staged events within the industry as "real" or "true", specifically competition, rivalries, and relationships between participants. The term has evolved to become a code word of sorts for maintaining this "reality" within the direct or indirect presence of the general public. In the United States, kayfabe is often seen as the suspension of disbelief that is used to create the non-wrestling aspects of promotions, such as feuds, angles, and gimmicks in a manner similar to other forms of fictional entertainment. In relative terms, a wrestler breaking kayfabe would be likened to an actor breaking character on-camera. Since wrestling is performed in front of a live audience whose interaction with the show is crucial to its success, kayfabe can be compared to the fourth wall in acting, since hardly any conventional fourth wall exists to begin with. Because of this lack of conventional fourth wall, wrestlers we ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Raw (WWE Brand)
WWE Raw, Raw is a WWE brand extension, brand of the American professional wrestling promotion WWE that was established on March 25, 2002. Brands are divisions of WWE's roster where wrestlers are assigned to perform on a weekly basis when a brand extension is in effect. Wrestlers assigned to Raw primarily appear on the brand's weekly television program, ''WWE Raw, Monday Night Raw'', which began in 1993, also referred to simply as ''Raw''. It is one of WWE's two main brands, along with SmackDown (WWE brand), SmackDown, which was made in 2002 after absorbing the WCW. They are collectively referred to as WWE's main roster. The brand extension was discontinued between August 2011 and July 2016. In addition to Raw's main television program, less-utilized wrestlers also appear on the brand's supplementary show, ''WWE Main Event, Main Event''. Raw's wrestlers also perform on the branded and co-branded pay-per-view and livestreaming List of WWE pay-per-view and WWE Network events, events a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ladder Match
A ladder match is a type of match in professional wrestling, most commonly one in which an item (usually a title belt) is hung above the ring, and the winner is the contestant who climbs a ladder and retrieves the item. The ladder itself becomes a key feature of the match, as wrestlers will use the ladder as a weapon to strike the opponent(s), as a launching pad for acrobatic attacks, and frequently these matches include impressive falls from the top of the ladder. There have been a few matches in which the hung item must be used in a special manner in order to win the match, such as striking the opponent with the item (see Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Scott Hall taser match, where one must strike the opponent with the taser, regardless of who retrieved the taser first). Ladder matches are often used as a finale to storylines and it is more common to have symbolic briefcases (usually "containing" a contract for a future championship match) or championship belts hung above the ring. La ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Linda McMahon
Linda Marie McMahon ( ; ; born October 4, 1948) is an American politician, business executive, and former professional wrestling promoter who has served as the 13th United States Secretary of Education, United States secretary of education since 2025. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, she previously served as the 25th administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019. McMahon, along with her husband, Vince McMahon, founded sports entertainment company Titan Sports, Inc. (later WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.) where she worked as the President (corporate title), president and later CEO from 1980 to 2009. During this time, the company grew from a regional business in the Northeastern United States, northeast to a large multinational corporation. Among other things, she initiated the company's civic programs, ''Get R.E.A.L.'' and ''SmackDown! Your Vote''. She made occasional on-screen performances, most notably in a Feud ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Regal
Darren Kenneth Matthews (born 10 May 1968), better known by the ring name William Regal, is an English retired professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he serves as the vice-president of Global Talent Development. He is also known for his tenures in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and All Elite Wrestling (AEW), having served as a manager in the latter promotion. Trained by Marty Jones, Matthews started his career at the age of 15 in 1983. His first matches took place at one of the rare final wrestling carnival booths at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. He went on to wrestle for national promotions on the Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom, British wrestling circuit and wrestled on television for ITV (TV network), ITV. He then progressed to touring around the world until 1993 when he was signed to WCW, where he took the ring name Steven Regal and became a four-time WCW World Television Championship, WCW World Television Champion. In 1998, Matthews joined the WWF ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Debra Marshall
Debra Gale Marshall (formerly McMichael and Williams; born March 2, 1960) is an American retired professional wrestling valet, professional wrestler, and actress. She is best known for her time with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) between 1995 and 1998 as Queen DebraTuscaloosa Magazine. August 2013 and with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) between 1998 and 2002 as simply Debra. Marshall began her career in professional wrestling in 1995, accompanying her husband Steve "Mongo" McMichael to the ring in WCW. She joined the WWF in 1998, where she managed the tag team of Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart until Hart's in-ring death in May 1999. Later that year, she won the WWF Women's Championship from Sable in an evening gown match. She later appeared on-screen with her second husband Stone Cold Steve Austin until 2002, when the duo left the company. Early life Raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Marshall became a track-runner, cheerleader, and Homecoming Queen in high school be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Roddy Piper
Roderick George Toombs (April 17, 1954 – July 31, 2015), better known as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, was a Canadian professional wrestler and actor. In professional wrestling, Piper was best known to international audiences for his work with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) between 1984 and 2000. Although he was Canadian, Piper was billed as coming from Glasgow and was known for his signature kilt and bagpipe entrance music; this was because of his Scottish heritage. Piper earned the nicknames "Rowdy" and "Hot Rod" by displaying his trademark "Scottish" short temper, spontaneity, and quick wit. According to ''The Daily Telegraph'', he is "considered by many to be the greatest ' heel' (or villain) wrestler ever". One of wrestling's most recognizable stars, Piper headlined multiple pay-per-view events, including the WWF and WCW's respective premier annual events, WrestleMania and Starrcade. He accumulated 34 championships and hoste ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gorilla Monsoon
Robert James "Gino" Marella (June 4, 1937 – October 6, 1999), better known by his ring name of Gorilla Monsoon, was an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, Sports commentator, play-by-play commentator, and Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Book, booker. Monsoon is famous for his run as a villainous super-heavyweight main eventer, and later as the voice of the WWE, World Wrestling Federation (WWF), as commentator and backstage manager during the 1980s and 1990s. He also portrayed the on-screen role of WWF President from 1995 to 1997. In professional wrestling, the staging area just behind the entrance curtain at an event, a position which Marella established and where he could often be found during WWF shows late in his career, is named the "Gorilla Position" in his honor. Early life Marella attended Thomas Jefferson High School (Rochester, New York), Jefferson High School in Rochester, New York, becoming a standout athlete in American football, foot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jack Tunney
John Tunney Jr. (January 21, 1935 – January 24, 2004) was a Canadian professional wrestling promoter. He was known worldwide for his appearances on World Wrestling Federation television as Jack Tunney under the character of the promotion's president. Tunney's tenure was during the company's Golden Era, the peak days of " Hulkamania". Queensbury Athletic Club/Maple Leaf Wrestling Early life In 1930, Jack Corcoran set up Toronto's Queensbury Athletic Club (QAC, later known by the unofficial name of Maple Leaf Wrestling), along with Jack's father, John Tunney Sr., his uncle, Frank Tunney, and Toots Mondt. Working for his uncle In 1952, Jack entered into employment with the promotion, first as a referee and later in the booking office working alongside Frank, Norm Kimber, Frank Ayerst, Ed Noonan, and wrestlers Whipper Billy Watson and Pat Flanagan, as they promoted all over southern Ontario. The offices were in Maple Leaf Gardens for many years. In the mid 1970s, the office ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hisashi Shinma
was a Japanese booker and promoter. Shinma is noted for having been an on-screen authority at the World Wrestling Federation, from 1978 to 1984, billed as the President of the promotion. He was succeeded by Jack Tunney. Career Shinma was chairman and one of the bookers for New Japan Pro-Wrestling at the time and negotiated a talent-sharing arrangement with the World Wrestling Federation within the junior heavyweight division, which ultimately launched Tatsumi Fujinami as an international superstar and an eventual successor to Antonio Inoki. Shinma's most famous moment as WWF President occurred on December 6, 1979, after Bob Backlund regained the WWF title from Antonio Inoki at the end of his Japan tour. Shinma overruled the decision due to interference from Tiger Jeet Singh. Inoki refused to accept the belt, but Backlund regained the vacant title after returning to the United States. Backlund's title loss to Inoki is still not officially acknowledged by WWE and was kept ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Willie Gilzenberg
William Louis Gilzenberg (October 14, 1901 – November 15, 1978) was an American booker, boxing and wrestling promoter in the New York and New Jersey areas. Gilzenberg is noted for being the very first on-screen authority at the World Wide Wrestling Federation, becoming the first president of the WWWF in June 1963. He held the position until his death in 1978, at which point he was succeeded by Hisashi Shinma was a Japanese booker and promoter. Shinma is noted for having been an on-screen authority at the World Wrestling Federation, from 1978 to 1984, billed as the President of the promotion. He was succeeded by Jack Tunney. Career Shinma was c .... Gilzenberg was also a boxing promoter in New Jersey. Gilzenberg died from cancer at age 77 on November 15, 1978, in a hospital in South Miami, Florida. He was 77. A few weeks after his death on December 2, Gilzenberg was inducted by the Veterans Boxing Social Club in Belleville, New Jersey. In 2010, he was inducted i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Laurinaitis
John Hodger Laurinaitis (born July 31, 1962), also known by his former ring name Johnny Ace, is an American retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and business executive. He has wrestled for such promotions as World Championship Wrestling (WCW), All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and WWE. He is the brother of Road Warrior Animal, Joe (Road Warrior Animal; one half of the former wrestling tag team The Road Warriors) and The Terminator (wrestler), Marcus, and is also the uncle of former National Football League player James Laurinaitis. In WWE, Laurinaitis worked in the talent relations office for eight years, and as occasional professional wrestler from 2011 until 2012. After his on screen firing, he stepped down from his corporate backstage role to being a producer. He was promoted again to Head of Talent Relations in 2021 until his release in 2022. Prior to joining WWE, Laurinaitis worked as an executive for WCW. Early life John Hodger Laurinaitis was born on July ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
