Women of Wrestling (WOW) is an American women's professional wrestling promotion founded in 2000 by David McLane (who also founded Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW)). WOW is based in Los Angeles, California, and is owned by McLane and Los Angeles Lakers owner/president Jeanie Buss.[1]
| Women of Wrestling | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Professional wrestling Women's professional wrestling |
| Created by | David McLane |
| Developed by | Jeanie Buss |
| Starring | WOW Superheroes roster |
| Narrated by | David McLane Stephen Dickey |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 10 |
| No. of episodes | 207 |
| Production | |
| Production locations | Los Angeles, California |
| Camera setup | Multicamera setup |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | Broadcast syndication (2000–2001; 2022–present) AXS TV (2019–2020) |
| Release | September 1, 2000 – present |
Initially broadcasting in syndication in the 2000–01 television season,[2] WOW is a sports entertainment–styled product where its talent portrays heavily dramatized characters.[3]
History
editEarly years and relaunch
edit
WOW has been recognized as one of the few nationally broadcast wrestling promotions featuring an all-female roster.[4] Only 24 television episodes and a pay-per-view event were produced during its initial run.[5] In 2002, McLane sought a partnership with Kiss frontman Gene Simmons to revive the promotion.[6] In July 2011, WOW TV reruns began airing on the ABC affiliate KTNV in Las Vegas.[7]
On May 29, 2012, McLane and Buss announced their intention to revive WOW and produce new episodes.[8][9] Later that year, WOW reruns began airing on The CW Las Vegas station KVCW starting on December 9.[10]
In December 2014, WOW announced that it would be producing content for digital media in 2015. Marketed as "WOW Superheroes", its roster of characters are portrayed as empowered women from all different backgrounds and professions.[11] A second season premiered on March 1, 2016, on YouTube.[12] Its fourth season premiered February 28, 2017.[13]
On April 20, 2017, MGM Television announced that Mark Burnett, MGM's President, Television Group & Digital, and Jeanie Buss formed a partnership to develop new WOW content across a range of unscripted programming and digital formats.[14] In June 2018, it was announced that tapings for a new weekly program on AXS TV titled WOW: Women of Wrestling would begin on October 10, 2018, at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles,[15] with episodes airing in early 2019.[16] WOW debuted that January 18 as part of AXS TV's "Friday Night Fights" lineup of shows.[15][17] The AXS TV premiere marked WOW's first television broadcast of new content in almost eighteen years.[18] WOW: Women of Wrestling ran for two seasons on AXS TV. In June 2020, it was reported that AXS had cancelled the series.[19]
Return to syndication
editOn October 6, 2021, it was announced that CBS Media Ventures, the syndication arm of Paramount Global, had entered into a multi-year distribution agreement for WOW that will see new episodes produced for weekend syndication starting in Fall 2022.[20][21] On October 7, WOW announced that April Mendez (formerly AJ Lee in WWE) joined the company as an executive producer and color commentator.[22]
On January 21, 2022, WOW announced in a press release that "never-before-seen" episodes from "season 7" would debut on Pluto TV and The CW app starting January 22.[23] On August 1, 2022, it was announced that new episodes of the series will begin airing on September 17, 2022, internationally from Paramount Global Content Distribution, the international arm of its United States syndicator CBS Media Ventures. It has also been licensed for broadcast in Canada, Australia (where it airs on Paramount-owned 10 Play) and Indonesia.[24] In December 2022, The New York Times reported that WOW was the highest rated wrestling television show produced outside of WWE and All Elite Wrestling, ahead of those produced by TNA Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling.[25] This was attributed to the show being available in every cable home in the United States, as well as airings in Canada and Australia.[26]
Seasons
editWOW Unleashed 2001
edit| WOW Unleashed | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Women of Wrestling | ||
| Date | February 4, 2001 | ||
| City | Inglewood, California | ||
| Venue | Great Western Forum | ||
| Attendance | ~9,500 | ||
| Pay-per-view chronology | |||
| |||
WOW Unleashed was a professional wrestling pay-per-view from Women of Wrestling. It took place on February 4, 2001, from the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The PPV suffered from technical difficulties and a low buyrate.[27] A second PPV, Spring Vengeance, was announced for April 8, 2001, during Unleashed, but never came to fruition. The announcers were Lee Marshall and former manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Regular announcer David McLane, also the promotion's President, served as Master of Ceremonies.[28][29]
- Event results
| Match No. |
Episode 18 (taped on February 2, 2001, aired on February 4, 2001) | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Randi Rah Rah defeated Jacklyn Hyde | Singles match | 2:15 |
| 2 | The Beach Patrol (Sandy and Summer) vs. Farah the Persian Princess and Paradise ended in a draw | Tag team match | 2:30 |
| 3 | Tanja the Warrior Woman defeated Jane Blond | Singles match | 2:47 |
| 4 | Nicky Law (with Kristy Order) defeated Hammerin' Heather Steele | Singles match | 2:02 |
| 5 | Boom Boom the Volcano and Caliente defeated The Asian Invasion (Jade and Lotus) | Tag team match | 4:43 |
| 6 | Bronco Billie defeated The Disciplinarian | Singles match | 3:55 |
| 7 | Roxy Powers vs. Slam Dunk ended in a double disqualification | Singles match | 6:16 |
| 8 | Riot defeated Wendi Wheels | Hardcore match | 9:40 |
| 9 | Jungle Grrrl defeated Beckie the Farmers Daughter | Splash match | 9:45 |
| 10 | Caged Heat (Delta Lotta Pain and Loca) defeated Harley's Angels (Charlie Davidson and EZ Rider) (with Thug) | Tag team tournament final match for the inaugural WOW World Tag Team Championship | 5:42 |
| 11 | Terri Gold defeated Danger (c) | Singles rematch for the WOW World Championship | 4:20 |
| 12 | Lana Star and Patti Pizzazz vs. Ice Cold and Poison no contest Lana Star defeated Ice Cold and Poison |
Handicap hair vs. hair match (Since Ice Cold was pinned, she had her head shaved) |
5:16 |
| 13 | Thug (with Charlie Davidson and EZ Rider) defeated Selina Majors | Steel cage match | 15:01 |
Personnel
editAlumnae
editSingles roster
edit| Ring name | Real name | Season(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Adrenaline | Priscilla Zuniga | Season 6 Season 7 |
| Amber O'Neal | Kimberly Dawn Davis | Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 Season 9 Formerly known as The Beverly Hills Babe |
| Amber Rodriguez | Amber Rodriguez | Season 8 Season 9 Formerly known as Sahara Spars |
| Azteca | Gisele Shaw | Season 5 Who later Reyna Reyes |
| Azúcar | Vanessa Herrera | Season 2 |
| Beckie The Farmers Daughter | Renee Intlekofer | Season 1 |
| The Beverly Hills Babe | Kimberly Dawn Davis | Season 4 Season 5 Formerly known as Amber O'Neal |
| Boom Boom The Volcano | Patty Bunya-Ananta | Season 1 |
| Bronco Billie | Lisa Danielle Rachuba | Season 1 |
| Buggy Nova | Season 4 | |
| Caliente | Rachel Iverson | Season 1 |
| Cali Ray | Kirsten Young | Season 7 |
| Candice LeRae | Candice Dawson | Season 2 Season 3 |
| Charlie Davidson | Charlie Davidson | Season 1 |
| Christina Von Eerie | Season 4 | |
| Cow Girl Casey Dakota | Sarah Stallman | Season 7 |
| Dagger The Widow | Michelle Blanchard | Season 4 Who later The Dagger |
| The Dagger | Michelle Blanchard | Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 Formerly known as Dagger The Widow |
| Danger | Elle Alexander | Season 1 Former WOW World Champion |
| Delta Lotta Pain | Jwaundace Candece | Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 |
| Desdemeana The Soldier Of Darkness | Andrea VanEpps | Season 2 |
| The Disciplinarian | Kristen Davidson | Season 1 Who the secret identity of Misery |
| Eye Candy | Danielle Paultre | Season 5 |
| EZ Rider | Eleanor Kerrigan | Season 1 |
| Faith The Lioness | Faith Jefferies | Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 |
| Farah The Persian Princess | Telma Roshanravan | Season 1 |
| Fire | Kiera Hogan | Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 |
| Fire | Taylor Lewis | Season 3 |
| Frenchie | Marie Gibeault | Season 3 |
| Frost The Olympian | Janeshia Adams-Ginyard | Season 2 Season 3 |
| Glitch The Gamer | Alicia Bellamy | Season 8 |
| Hammerin' Heather Steele | Christina Tomaziesski Colby | Season 1 |
| Hazard | Elizabeth Crist | Season 6 |
| Ice Cold | Inga Waggoner | Season 1 |
| Ivy Quinn | Season 4 | |
| Jacklyn Hyde | Vasilika Vanya Marinkovic | Season 1 |
| Jade | Jennifer Lee Chan | Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 |
| Jane Blond | Ella Carter | Season 1 |
| Jennifer Florez | Jazmin Allure | Season 8 Season 9 |
| Jessicka Havok | Jessica Cricks | Season 5 Season 6 |
| Jolene Dixie | Airial Le | Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 |
| Jolynn Dixie | Cathy Le | Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 |
| Jungle Grrrl | Erica Porter | Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 Former WOW World Champion |
| Katarina Waters | Katarina Waters | Season 4 Who later The Temptress |
| Kharma | Season 4 | |
| Khloe Hurtz | Katie Forbes | Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 |
| Kiara Dillon | Season 4 | |
| Kobra Moon | Melissa Cervantes | Season 5 Who later Serpentine |
| Krissy Vaine | Kristin Eubanks | Season 7 |
| Kristy Order | Season 1 | |
| La Niña | Melissa Santos | Season 3 |
| Lady London | Georgina Rawlings | Season 2 |
| Lana Star | Lana Kinnear | Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Former WOW World Champion |
| Leia Makoa | Reka Tehaka | Season 8 |
| Loca | Cher Ferreyra | Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 |
| Lotus | Jeannie Kim | Season 1 |
| Malia Hosaka | Malia Hosaka | Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 Season 8 |
| Mezmeriah | Arelys Rodriguez Silva | Season 6 Season 7 Season 8 |
| Misery | Kristen Davidson | Season 1 The secret identity of The Disciplinarian |
| Mystery | Nicole Ochoa | Season 1 The secret identity of Vendetta |
| Nicky Law | Season 1 | |
| Nikki Krampus | Ragnhild Bjoerge | Season 5 Season 6 |
| Paradise | Maria Nunez | Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 |
| Patti Pep | Season 1 Who later Patti Pizzazz | |
| Patti Pizzazz | Season 1 Formerly known as Patti Pep | |
| The Phantom | Lynnette Thredgold | Season 1 |
| Poison | Kina Van Vleet | Season 1 |
| Randi Rah Rah | Season 1 | |
| Randi Rah Rah | Kelsey Hornack | Season 8 |
| Ray Lyn | Season 4 | |
| Razor | Christina Von Eerie | Season 4 |
| Razor | Sarah Wolfe | Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 Season 8 |
| Reyna Reyes | Gisele Shaw | Season 6 Season 7 Formerly known as Azteca |
| Riot | April Kathryn Littlejohn | Season 1 Season 4 |
| Robbie Rocket | Johnnie Robbie | Season 8 |
| Roxy Powers | Natalie T. Yeo | Season 1 |
| Sandy | Tamie Sheffield | Season 1 |
| Sahara Spars | Amber Rodriguez | Season 8 Season 9 who later as Amber Rodriguez |
| The Sassy Massy | Alisha Edwards | Season 6 Season 7 |
| Selina Majors | Selina Majors | Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 |
| Serpentine | Melissa Cervantes | Season 6 Season 7 Formerly known as Kobra Moon |
| Slam Dunk | Famisha Jones-Millman | Season 1 |
| Spike | Hudson Envy | Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 7 |
| Summer | Bobbi Billard | Season 1 |
| Sunshine | Jamila Griffith | Season 2 Season 3 |
| Sunny | Rebecca Gravell | Season 1 Who later Wendi Wheels |
| Tanja The Warrior Woman | Tanja Richter | Season 1 |
| Tatevik The Gamer | Tatevik Hunanyan | Season 2 Season 3 |
| The Temptress | Katarina Waters | Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 |
| Terri Gold | Heather Lee-Millard | Season 1 Former WOW World Champion |
| Tessa Blanchard | Tessa Blanchard | Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 Former WOW World Champion |
| Thug | Peggy Lee Leather | Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 |
| Vendetta | Nicole Ochoa | Season 1 Who the secret identity of Mystery |
| Venomous | Ruby Raze | Season 7 Who later Reina Del Rey |
| Vivian Rivera | Everly Rivera | Season 8 Season 9 |
| Wrecking Ball | Sarah Slack | Season 8 Season 9 |
| Wendi Wheels | Rebecca Gravell | Season 1 Formerly known as Sunny |
Tag Team roster
edit| Ring name | Team name | Season(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Abilene Maverick The Governors Daughter Candice LeRae |
Season 2 Season 3 | |
| Abilene Maverick The Governors Daughter The Disciplinarian |
Season 6 | |
| Adrenaline Fire |
Season 6 Season 7 Former WOW World Tag Team Champions | |
| Amber O’Neal Krissy Vaine |
Team Blondage | Season 7 |
| Amber O’Neal Santana Garrett |
The All American Girls | Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Former WOW World Tag Team Champions |
| Azteca Princess Aussie |
Season 5 Season 6 | |
| Beckie The Farmers Daughter Bronco Billie |
Season 1 | |
| BK Rhythm Glitch The Gamer |
Season 8 | |
| Boom Boom The Volcano Caliente |
Season 1 | |
| Chantilly Chella The Sassy Massy |
Season 6 Season 7 | |
| Charlie Davidson EZ Rider Thug |
Harley's Angels | Season 1 |
| The Dagger The Temptress |
The Vengeful Vixens | Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 |
| Danger Riot |
Season 1 | |
| Delta Lotta Pain Loca Vendetta |
Caged Heat | Season 1 Former WOW World Tag Team Champions |
| Delta Lotta Pain Loca |
Caged Heat | Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Former WOW World Tag Team Champions |
| Exodus Genesis Malia Hosaka |
Exile | Season 7 Season 8 |
| Faith The Lioness Lana Star |
Season 6 | |
| Farah The Persian Princess Paradise |
Season 1 | |
| Hazard Jessicka Havok |
Monsters Of Madness | Season 6 |
| Ice Cold Poison |
Season 1 | |
| Ivy Quinn Ray Lyn |
Season 4 | |
| Jade Lotus |
The Asian Invasion | Season 1 |
| Jessie Jones Jolene Dixie Jolynn Dixie |
The Dixie Darlings | Season 7 |
| Jessie Jones Selina Majors |
Southern Pride | Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 |
| Jolene Dixie Jolynn Dixie |
The Dixie Darlings | Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 |
| Kristy Law Nicky Law |
Law & Order | Season 1 |
| La Niña Paradise |
Tropical Storm | Season 3 |
| Lana Star Patti Pizzazz |
Season 1 | |
| Misery Mystery |
The Daughters Of Darkness | Season 1 |
| Patti Pep Randi Rah Rah |
Team Spirit | Season 1 |
| Razor Riot Spike |
Season 4 | |
| Reyna Reyes Princess Aussie |
Season 6 | |
| Roxy Powers Tanja The Warrior Woman |
Season 1 | |
| Sandy Summer |
The Beach Patrol | Season 1 |
| Sandy Sunny |
The Beach Patrol | Season 1 |
Championships
editAs of November 14, 2024.
| Championship | Current champion(s) | Reign | Date won | Days held |
Location | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOW World Championship | The Beast | 2 | December 14, 2023 | 336+ | Los Angeles, CA | Defeated Abilene Maverick, to win the title. This episode aired on tape delay on June 1, 2024, at WOW Season 9: Episode 37 | |
| WOW World Tag Team Championship | Miami's Sweet Heat (Lovely Laurie Carlson and Luscious Lindsey Carlson) | 4 | December 14, 2023 | 336+ | Los Angeles, CA | Won the titles from The Mother Truckers (Big Rig Betty and Holly Swag) for the WOW World championship tag team title match. This episode aired on tape delay on August 31, 2024, at WOW Season 9: Episode 51 | |
| WOW Trios Tag Team Championship | Top Tier (Coach Campanelli, Gloria Glitter and Kandi Krush) | 1 | December 13, 2023 | 337+ | Los Angeles, CA | Coach Campanelli have a big surprise her own Team Spirit (Ariel Sky, Pep Riley and Sasha Sparks)...to out of this ring and replaced, Coach Campanelli, Gloria Glitter and Kandi Krush known as Top Tier to defeats Team Exile (Exodus, Genesis and Ice Cold) to become the inaugural trios champions. This episode aired on tape delay on March 16, 2024, at WOW Season 9: Episode 27 |
References
edit- ^ "Why the Lakers' Jeanie Buss loves Jungle Grrrl and is putting her money into a female wrestling show". Los Angeles Times. September 14, 2016.
- ^ "Partners pin hopes on women wrestlers | Indianapolis Business Journal | Professional Journal archives from". AllBusiness.com. 2000-08-28. Retrieved 2012-01-24.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Vanes. "Women of Wrestling". Shootangle.com. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
- ^ TV.com. "Women of Wrestling". TV.com. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (July 2003). "WOW did 24 episodes of television that aired from October 2000 through March 2001...". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. p. 8.
WOW did 24 episodes of television that aired from October 2000 through March 2001 on major stations in about 100 markets, buying tin [sic?] most markets. The money was supposed to be recouped by holding a PPV show. They did one from the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, that ended up doing 12,000 buys, and the venture lost several million dollars in the process. In fact, they lost more money in their last three months than ECW did in its last year, and ECW had many wrestlers under six-figure contracts. WOW has been largely dormant ever since
- ^ "INTERACTIVE WRESTLING RADIO INTERVIEW - Terri Gold". Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ^ "Women of Wrestling - WOWE - New Website Coming Soon". WOWE. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
- ^ "Jeanie Buss executive producer for women's wrestling reality show". Los Angeles Times. May 29, 2012.
- ^ "Women of Wrestling -- Don't Call It a Comeback!". TMZ.
- ^ "Women Of Wrestling". Women Of Wrestling.
- ^ "The1stMovement Pins WOW -Women of Wrestling - Yahoo Finance". Archived from the original on 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
- ^ "Women of Wrestling Season 2 announcement". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ "WOW Superheroes". YouTube.
- ^ Calvario, Liz (April 20, 2017). "MGM Television Partners With 'Women Of Wrestling' To Create Content For TV And Digital Platforms".
- ^ a b Powell, Jason (2019-01-19). "1/18 WOW on AXS review: Tessa Blanchard appears, Santana Garrett vs. Jungle Grrrl for the WOW Championship, The Beast vs. Stephy Slays, Abilene Maverick vs. Fire, Khloe Hurtz vs. Eye Candy". Retrieved 2019-01-21.
- ^ "'WOW — Women Of Wrestling' Series Sells to AXS TV (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 18 June 2018.
- ^ Pritchard, Bill (2019-01-19). "AXS TV Announces New Friday Night Fights Lineup Featuring Women Of Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling". Retrieved 2019-01-21.
- ^ Sapp, Sean Ross (2019-01-08). "Exclusive: How WOW And AXS' TV Deal Came Together With Two NBA Owners". Retrieved 2019-01-21.
- ^ "Report: AXS TV And Women Of Wrestling Part Ways". fightful.com. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- ^ ViacomCBS Signs Distribution Deal With WOW — Women of Wrestling – The Hollywood Reporter
- ^ ViacomCBS Syndicating ‘WOW – Women Of Wrestling’ In 160 U.S. Markets – Deadline
- ^ @wowsuperheroes (October 7, 2021). "BREAKING NEWS AJ Mendez is WOW Wrestling! Welcome to the team!" (Tweet). Retrieved 2021-10-07 – via Twitter.
- ^ "WOW Wrestling never-before-seen episodes to premiere on Pluto TV and The CW App - Wrestling News". Wrestling News. January 21, 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ "'WOW – Women Of Wrestling' Launching This September In Syndication". Wrestling News. August 1, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
- ^ Needelman, Joshua (2022-12-15). "In the World of Wrestling, a Heavy Hitter Steps Into the Ring". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
- ^ "TV Ratings For Women Of Wrestling's First Two Episodes Revealed". Wrestling Inc. 2022-10-10. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
- ^ Steve Bryant (October 28, 2018). "Before There Was Evolution There Was Unleashed". SoCal Uncensored. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
- ^ Scott Keith (July 28, 2002). "The smark retro repost women of wrestling february 4 2001". 411Mania. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
- ^ Scott Keith (October 30, 2018). "The SmarK Rant for Women of Wrestling (WOW) Unleashed–02.01.01". Blog of Doom. Retrieved 19 December 2019.