World Wrestling Entertainment, abbreviated as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion company based in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. Founded in 1953 as ‘Capitol Wrestling Corporation’, this sports entertainment entity has been through multiple name and ownership changes since then.
As of August 2025, WWE is a wholly-owned division of TKO Group Holdings, a company that also owns mixed martial arts promotion company Ulimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Yes, two of the most popular fighting brands are now under the same roof. Now that we’re aware of the company’s brief history and whereabouts, let’s now tackle the million-dollar question that’s been haunting people in and out: Is WWE fake?
Well, dear reader, this heavily depends on how you define the word ‘fake’. Firstly, WWE, does not claim a legitimate sporting contest but rather entertainment-based performance theatre. In simpler terms, the matches showcased are entirely scripted as a part of the storyline penned by a group of writers.
But what people fail to understand is that the moves performed by players (referred to as ‘Superstars’) are real, thus putting them under a risk of injury or even death. And for those claiming the use of Computer Generated Imagery (CGI), sorry of disappointing you. While the matches are choreographed (partially) and rehearsed, they are performed like that of stunts in feature films, but in front of a live audience.
Needless to say, the wrestlers are NOT really angry at each other and fighting (with a result decided beforehand) only to serve the contracts signed. This pre-determined aspect of WWE was publicly acknowledged by the stakeholders in 1989 to avoid regulations of athletic commissions. It is for this exact reason, a term called ‘sports entertainment’ was coined to refer to the content of this type.
Today, WWE is the biggest professional wrestling company on the planet and dwarfs all its rivals in terms of salaries, viewership and fan following. WrestleMania, the company’s flagship yearly pay-per-view is one of the most watched events on live television and streaming platforms.
