WWE (formerly World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment), an American professional wrestling promotion based in Stamford, Connecticut in the United States owned by TKO previously the McMahon family, has been promoting events in Canada since its founding in 1980.
| WWE in Canada | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Created by | Vince McMahon |
| Promotions | WWE |
| Brands | Raw SmackDown NXT |
History
editOn January 24, 1963, Toots Mondt of the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) got into a dispute with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) over "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers losing the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Lou Thesz in a one-fall match in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This disagreement led to Mondt, McMahon, and the CWC leaving the NWA in protest, creating the World Wide Wrestling Federation (the predecessor to the WWE) in the process.[1][2]
In 1984 Vince McMahon purchased Stampede Wrestling, before selling it back the following year.[3] Also in 1984, WWF acquired Maple Leaf Wrestling, and continued to run it for a couple of years. In 1986 Maple Leaf Wrestling was shut down, and the name was used for the Canadian broadcasts of WWF Superstars of Wrestling.
In 1985 WWF created the WWF Canadian Championship, which was given to Dino Bravo. Bravo was the Canadian International Heavyweight Championship for many years for Lutte Internationale. Due to his previous success, Bravo was billed as the WWF Canadian Champion in some Canadian cities until January 1986, when the title was abandoned.[4]
In 1986 WWF hosted The Big Event in Toronto which drew over 74,000 fans.[5] Ten years later, the WWF held an anniversary show of The Big Event, WWF Xperience, which drew over 21,000 fans.[6]
In 1997 Survivor Series was broadcast from Montreal and is infamous for the Montreal Screwjob.[7]
WrestleMania X8 in 2002 set the attendance record for an indoor event in Canada, at the Rogers Centre 68,236 people.[8]
In 2019, Montreal hosted the 2019 WWE Superstar Shake-up.[9]
Broadcast
editIn its early days, WWF/E programming was shown on TSN for Monday Night Raw and The Score for SmackDown! broadcasts. The programs were also aired on CHCH Hamilton, CJNT Montreal, CKMI Quebec and CKVR Barrie. ECW and NXT were seen on Global Television Network until 2010.
Beginning in 2014, WWE content is distributed exclusively via Rogers Media.[10] As part of this agreement, Rogers distributes WWE's weekly television shows, Raw, SmackDown, NXT, Main Event, and This Week in WWE on Sportsnet 360.[10] This deal excludes reality series, such as Total Divas (which is produced for E! and shown on its Canadian counterpart owned by Bell Media).
As part of this deal, the WWE Network's live stream was offered as a traditional TV channel for subscribers to cable providers, instead of a standalone service.[11][12][13]
On September 7, 2017, WWE and TVA Sports announced a multi-year agreement to air a weekly recap of Raw in French.[14]
Beginning January 1, 2025, all the Canadian rights to its weekly series Raw, and rights to all other programming (including content currently associated with the WWE Network), would move to Netflix in stages. Netflix and WWE confirmed on January 23, 2024 that the Canadian rights to Raw would move in January 2025—aligning with Rogers' contract having been previously announced as ending in 2024, and suggesting that other Canadian rights would move at the same time.[15][16][17]
From 2019 to 2024, SmackDown aired on Fox which is available to Canadian providers. Since 2024, NXT also airs on The CW, that is also available for distribution in Canada.
Pay-per-view/WWE Network events
editWeekly Television shows
edit1995-2000
edit| Date | Name | Brand | Venue | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 23, 1995 | Raw | Brandon, Manitoba | |||
| October 23, 1995 Aired October 30, 1995 |
Raw | Brandon, Manitoba | |||
| October 23, 1995 Aired November 6, 1995 |
Raw | Brandon, Manitoba | |||
| October 23, 1995 Aired November 13, 1995 |
Raw | Brandon, Manitoba | |||
| January 31, 1997 Aired February 3, 1997 |
Raw | SkyDome | Toronto, Ontario | This was the first 2-hour Raw | |
| July 7, 1997 | Raw | Northlands Coliseum | Edmonton, Alberta | ||
| July 21, 1997 | Raw | Halifax Metro Centre | Halifax, Nova Scotia | ||
| November 10, 1997 | Raw | Corel Centre | Ottawa, Ontario | ||
| November 11, 1997 Aired November 17, 1997 |
Raw | Cornwall Civic Complex | Cornwall, Ontario | ||
| February 8, 1999 Aired February 13, 1999 |
Raw | SkyDome | Toronto, Ontario | ||
| May 29, 2000 | Raw | General Motors Place | Vancouver, British Columbia |
2001-2010
edit2011-2024
editReferences
edit- ^ "Online World of Wrestling". www.onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
- ^ "World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation". www.kayfabememories.com. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
- ^ Jun 30, foxsports; ET, 2017 at 10:28p (November 17, 2016). "WWE's 10 Greatest Canadian Wrestlers of All Time". FOX Sports. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Canoe – Slam! Wrestling – the Big Event 21 years later
- ^ "WWF House Show « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (November 9, 2015). "11/9 This Day in History: Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels in Montreal". PWInsider. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ^ "Carl Demarco, former WWE Canada president, developing new TV show". Toronto Sun. February 11, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ "2019 WWE Superstar Shakeup results: Raw and SmackDown roster moves, changes, news, surprises". CBSSports.com. April 17, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
- ^ a b Nowak, Peter (August 1, 2014). "Working from NHL playbook, Rogers locks down 10-year cable deal with WWE wrestling". Canadian Business. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
- ^ Rogers Communications; WWE (July 31, 2014). "Rogers and WWE® Announce Landmark Television and WWE® Network Agreement". Retrieved August 6, 2014.
- ^ "Eastlink launches WWE Network HD and breaks 200 HD milestone". CNW Group Ltd. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
- ^ "WWE Network coming to more Canadians". www.wwe.com. February 12, 2015. Archived from the original on February 12, 2015.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "TVA Sports and WWE Announce Broadcast Agreement". Archived from the original on September 14, 2017.
- ^ Hayes, Dade (January 23, 2024). "Netflix Gets In The Ring, Locking Up WWE's 'Monday Night Raw' In 10-Year, $5B-Plus Deal For Longtime TV Staple". Deadline. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Sherman, Alex; Pramuk, Jacob (January 23, 2024). "Netflix to stream WWE's Raw starting next year in its biggest jump into live entertainment". CNBC. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (January 23, 2024). "Netflix, WWE Strike Deal to Move 'Monday Night Raw' to Streamer Beginning in 2025 for $500 Million per Year". Variety. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ "WWF WrestleMania VI - "The Ultimate Challenge" « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
- ^ "WWF In Your House 4: Great White North". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
- ^ Martin, Finn (September 15, 1996). "Power Slam Magazine, issue 26". International Incident (In Your House 9). SW Publishing. pp. 24–25.
- ^ "WWF In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ "WWF Survivor Series 1997 - "Gang Rulz" « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ Powell, John (September 28, 1998). "Austin loses title at Breakdown". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved April 26, 2008.
- ^ Dunn, J.D. (February 20, 2008). "Dark Pegasus Video Review: In Your House 24 – Breakdown". 411mania. Retrieved April 26, 2008.
- ^ "Rock Bottom card". Complete WWE. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
- ^ "WrestleMania X8". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
- ^ "WWE No Way Out 2003". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
- ^ "Backlash 2004 results". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
- ^ "Backlash 2004 results". World Wrestling Entertainment. April 18, 2004. Archived from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
- ^ Clevett, Jason (August 15, 2004). "Orton-Benoit, Guerrero-Angle save SummerSlam". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
- ^ "Unforgiven 2006". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved December 22, 2007.
- ^ "Breaking Point Results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ^ "WWE Roadblock « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ "NXT: TakeOver added to Survivor Series Weekend in Toronto". WWE. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
- ^ "Get tickets to WWE Survivor Series 2016 in Toronto". WWE. July 15, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ^ a b "Toronto to host SummerSlam in 2019". WWE. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- ^ H, Triple (May 13, 2019). "@WWENXT is prepared to take over #SummerSlam weekend... Get ready for #NXTTakeOver: Toronto LIVE from the @ScotiabankArena on Saturday, August 10th. Tickets go on sale THIS Friday at 10am. #WeAreNXT @WWENXTpic.twitter.com/LjgrLnl6Ow". @TripleH. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ "4/15 Powell's WWE Raw TV Review: The 2019 WWE Superstar Shakeup Night One". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. April 15, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "4/16 WWE Smackdown Live Results: Barnett's review of the 2019 WWE Superstar Shakeup Night Two with Vince McMahon introducing the brand's biggest acquisition, Paige introduces her new tag team". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. April 16, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "8/12 WWE Raw Results: Powell's review of Seth Rollins appearing after winning the championship at SummerSlam, Steve Austin checks in, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross vs. The Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women's Tag Titles, The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre vs. Cederic Alexander". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "8/13 WWE Smackdown Live Results: Barnett's review of Roman Reigns vs. Buddy Murphy, Charlotte Flair vs. Ember Moon, SummerSlam fallout". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. August 13, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- ^ "WWE PRESENTS FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN". Rogers Arena. December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
- ^ "Finally, WWE Has Come Back to Vancouver?". 604 Now. April 12, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
- ^ "WWE Monday Night Raw". Bell MTS Place. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
- ^ Lapinski, Jessica (May 5, 2023). "Lutte: la WWE de retour au Centre Vidéotron, cette fois avec le «Monday Night RAW»". Le Journal de Québec. Retrieved April 21, 2024.