The Ultimate Guide to Wrestling Styles & Major Wrestling Organizations Worldwide
Wrestling is one of the oldest and most diverse sports in human history. Practiced in various forms across cultures, wrestling includes both traditional athletic styles and modern sports entertainment promotions. Each style carries unique origins, rules, traditions, and fan bases.
Below is a complete overview of major wrestling styles and organizations, including their inception years, viewership numbers, social media presence, and notable records.
| Wrestling Style/Organization | Inception Year | Average Viewership | Social Media Following (Approx.) | Unique Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freestyle Wrestling | Ancient Greece | Olympic Sport; varies per event | Not applicable | One of the two Olympic wrestling styles |
| Greco-Roman Wrestling | 19th Century | Olympic Sport; varies per event | Not applicable | Featured in the first modern Olympics (1896) |
| Sumo Wrestling | 17th Century | Millions in Japan; international growth | Not applicable | Only wrestling style with a raised platform ring |
| WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) | 1953 | RAW ~1.7M viewers (U.S.) | 600M+ followers across platforms | Largest professional wrestling promotion globally |
| AEW (All Elite Wrestling) | 2019 | Dynamite ~1M viewers (U.S.) | Millions across social platforms | First major U.S. competitor to WWE in 20 years |
| NJPW (New Japan Pro-Wrestling) | 1972 | Strong in Japan; global stream viewership | Large domestic following; global growth | Hosts the prestigious 'G1 Climax' tournament |
| CMLL (Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre) | 1933 | Widely viewed in Mexico | Large Mexican fan base | Oldest professional wrestling promotion still active |
Highlights of Major Wrestling Styles
Freestyle & Greco-Roman Wrestling
- Both are official Olympic sports
- Freestyle allows the use of legs; Greco-Roman does not.
- Greco-Roman was included in the first modern Olympics (1896).
Sumo Wrestling
- Originated in Japan in the 17th century.
- Features ritual ceremonies and traditional culture.
- The only wrestling sport with a raised clay ring (dohyō).
WWE
- Founded in 1953.
- Generates 1.7 million+ weekly viewers in the U.S
- Over 600 million social media followers, making it the largest wrestling promotion in the world.