Grappling with Representation in the WWE

In this book, Lowery A. Woodall III explores the ways that diverse populations are portrayed, stereotyped, and sometimes villainized in the WWE's colorful and dramatic programming. Each chapter examines the surprisingly complex and multilayered representation of marginalized populations throughout the modern history of the WWE under the leadership of Vincent K. McMahon. Through weekly shows like Raw and SmackDown, pay-per-view spectaculars like WrestleMania, and a vast library of wrestling-related material on their streaming platform, Woodall argues that the WWE and McMahon have created calculated and carefully curated representations of diversity that are viewed by millions of fans worldwide. What effects do those representations have on the men, women, and children who consume WWE content? How are wrestlers and performers impacted by their on-screen portrayals? This book explores these questions and demonstrates that when representations are inaccurate or problematic, more than just kayfabe is in danger of being broken. Scholars of professional wrestling studies, media studies, and communication studies will find this book of particular interest.

Lowery A. Woodall III is associate professor of the Communication and Theatre Department at Millersville University.

Table of Contents
Introduction: Coming Down the Aisle
Chapter 1: 'But I Don't Want to Be a Diva': The Struggle for Gender Equality Within WWE Programming
Chapter 2: "Well, Let Me Tell You Something Brother": The Glass Ceiling For African American Performers in the WWE
Chapter 3: The Missing Link: Exploring the WWE's Attitude Towards Mental Health
Chapter 4: Wrestling With God: Representations of Religion and Spirituality in the WWE
Chapter 5: Behind the Curtain: The WWE's Problematized Relationship With LGBT Characters
Conclusion: Sticking Around for the Dark Match
Bibliography
About the Author