World Wrestling Entertainment is the dominant force in American professional wrestling, with revenues of $1.4bn in 2024. It was co-founded by Vince McMahon, who resigned in disgrace after a sex scandal. McMahon's ex-wife Linda McMahon is Donald Trump's education secretary. Trump's own style of politics is often compared to "kayfabe", the wrestling term for how everybody knows the action is fake but agrees to pretend it is not.
WWE's weekly shows include "Smackdown" and "Raw". Viewership of Smackdown has declined after a change of television networks; Raw moved to Netflix.
All Elite Wrestling has been eating into WWE's market share. Indie and alternative wrestling shows are booming, promoted through YouTube and social media rather than traditional television.
When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President. Now I'm beginning to believe it.