Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. "Promotion" also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event. Within the convention of the show, the company is a sports governing body which sanctions wrestling matches and gives authority to the championships and is responsible for determining the divisions, rankings, etc. of wrestlers. In truth, the company serves as a touring theatre troupe, as well as event promotion body for its own events.
Currently, the major national wrestling organizations in the United States are World Wrestling Entertainment, All Elite Wrestling, Impact Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Major League Wrestling and National Wrestling Alliance. The major Mexican lucha libre promotions are Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide. The top Japanese puroresu promotions are New Japan Pro-Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah, Pro Wrestling Zero1, Big Japan Pro Wrestling, DDT Pro-Wrestling, and Dragon Gate. Additionally, there are smaller Independent promotions or territories around the world.Structure
Most promotions are self-contained, organized around one or more championships and do not acknowledge or recognize the legitimacy of other promotions' titles unless they share a working agreement. Governing bodies, such as the United Wrestling Network, WWNLive, Allied Independent Wrestling Federations, Pro Wrestling International and, previously, the National Wrestling Alliance, act as an umbrella organization which governs titles that are shared among multiple promotions.
Major promotions have a roster of talent under contracts to them. Smaller promotions and indies use a combination of contracted workers and free agents.
