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 | 8 |
No. of episodes | 110 (as of February 11, 2023 | )
Production | |
Production locations | Los Angeles, California |
Camera setup | Multicamera setup |
Running time | 60 minutes |
Release | |
Original network | Broadcast syndication (2000–2001; 2022–present) Streaming television (2015–2019) AXS TV (2019–2020) Pluto TV, CW Seed (past episodes; 2022–present) |
Picture format | NTSC HDTV 1080i |
Original release | September 1, 2000 present | –
WOW – Women of Wrestling, 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]
Initially broadcasting in syndication during in the 2000–01 television season,[2] WOW is a sports entertainment-styled product where its talent portrays heavily dramatized characters.[3]
WOW has been recognized as one of the few nationally broadcast wrestling promotions featuring an all-female roster.[4] Only twenty-four 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 just two seasons on AXS TV. In June 2020, it was reported that AXS had cancelled the series.[19]
On October 6, 2021, it was announced that ViacomCBS (now Paramount Global) had entered into a multi-year distribution agreement for WOW that will see new episodes produced for weekend syndication on 160 U.S. TV stations (CBS or The CW affiliates) owned by ViacomCBS or Sinclair Broadcast Group, with new episodes airing starting in Fall 2022.[20][21][22] On October 7, WOW announced that April Mendez (fka AJ Lee in WWE) joined the company as an executive producer and color commentator.[23]
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.[24] On August 1, 2022, it was announced that new episodes of the series will begin airing on September 17, 2022 via Paramount Global Content Distribution. The series is carried in the U.S on CBS-owned-and-operated stations, Sinclair Communications, Nexstar Broadcasting, Hearst Television, TEGNA Media, Weigel Broadcasting, Gray Media and Cox Television. It has also been licensed for broadcast in Canada, Australia and Indonesia.[25]
Main article: Women of Wrestling seasons |
WOW Unleashed | |||
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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.[26] 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.[27][28]
Match No. |
Episode 18 (February 4, 2001) | Stipulations | Times |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Randi Rah Rah defeated Jacklyn Hyde | Singles match | 2:15 |
2 | The Beach Patrol (Sandy and Summer) defeated 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 | Nicki Law (with Kristy Order) defeated Hammerin' Heather Steele | Singles match | 2:02 |
5 | Boom Boom 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 | Singles match for the Hardcore match | 9:40 |
9 | Jungle Grrrl defeated Beckie the Farmers Daughter | Singles match for the 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 match for the inaugural WOW World Tag Team Championship | 5:42 |
11 | Terri Gold defeated Danger (c) | Singles match 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 |
Tag team match for the Hair vs. hair match, ended in a Handicap match | 5:16 |
13 | Thug (with Charlie Davidson and Ez Rider) defeated Selina Majors (with Terri Gold) | Singles match for the Steel cage match | 15:01 |
See also: List of Women of Wrestling Personnel |
Championship | Current champion(s) | Reign | Date won | Days held |
Location | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WOW World Championship | The Beast | 1 | May 16, 2019 | 1,367+ | Los Angeles, CA | Defeated Tessa Blanchard at WOW Season 5: Episode 5 | |
WOW World Tag Team Championship | Miami Sweet Heat (Laurie Carlson and Lindsey Carlson) |
1 | September 21, 2022 | 143+ | Los Angeles, CA | Defeated The Tonga Twins (Kaoz and Kona) at WOW Season 8: Episode 13 in a tournament finals to win the vacant championship |