World Wrestling Entertainment

World Wrestling Entertainment, known today simply as WWE, traces its roots back to 1953, when it was founded as Capitol Wrestling Corporation by Jess McMahon and Toots Mondt. Ten years later, in 1963, the company stepped out on its own, breaking away from the National Wrestling Alliance and changing its name to the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). This was the start of its rise as a national force in pro wrestling.

In 1979, the company shortened its name to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and began to focus more on entertainment, not just wrestling. Then in 2002, after a legal dispute with the World Wildlife Fund over the initials “WWF,” the company officially became World Wrestling Entertainment—or WWE for short.

As WWE grew, so did its weekly shows and brand identity. Monday Night Raw kicked off in 1993 and quickly became the company’s main show. SmackDown followed in 1999, giving fans another weekly program with its own set of superstars and stories.

After WWE bought out its competitors WCW and ECW in 2001, the company made a big move in 2002 called the “brand split.” This turned Raw and SmackDown into separate brands with their own rosters, championships, and storylines—all under the WWE umbrella. The idea was to give more wrestlers a chance to stand out and to keep things fresh for fans.

In 2010, WWE launched NXT, which started as a reality-style competition show for up-and-coming talent. By 2012, NXT had shifted into WWE’s official developmental system, helping new wrestlers get ready for the big stage.

Over the years, NXT grew into something much bigger, earning a loyal following and eventually getting its own weekly TV show and live events. By 2019, NXT had become WWE’s third major brand, joining Raw and SmackDown on national television and cementing WWE’s place as the top name in sports entertainment.