Intergender wrestling
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Intergender wrestling, also known as mixed wrestling, is a type of professional wrestling match between a man and a woman and may also refer to tag team matches with both men and women on each team.
Intergender tag team matches are not to be confused with mixed tag team matches; there is a rule governing mixed tag team matches that restrict male and female competitors from attacking each other. If a tag is made, the other team has to automatically switch wrestlers, who should be of the same gender as the opposing team's legal wrestler. This type of tag team match continues to be popular in the present. On the other hand, male and female competitors in an intergender tag team match are free to wrestle and pin each other.
History
For most of its history, men and women would rarely compete against each other in professional wrestling, as it was deemed to be unfair and unchivalrous. Intergender wrestling was first utilized in the late-1970s/early-1980s by comedian Andy Kaufman. Kaufman participated in several filmed staged matches of this nature and proclaimed himself the "World Intergender Wrestling Champion," issuing an open challenge to any female challenger who could defeat him.[1] This was the beginning of a famous crossover feud between Kaufman and wrestling legend Jerry "The King" Lawler.
Cathy Davis sued the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) in 1977 because she was denied a boxing license because she was a woman, and the case was decided in her favor later that year, with the judge invalidating New York State rule number 205.15, which stated, “No woman may be licensed as a boxer or second or licensed to compete in any wrestling exhibition with men.”[2][3] In his opinion the judge cited the precedent set by Garrett v. New York State Athletic Commission (1975), which “found the regulation invalid under the equal protection clauses of the State and Federal Constitutions”. The NYSAC filed an appeal of the ruling, but later dropped it.[2][4]
After
In the Japanese wrestling promotion FMW, Superstar H (unmasked Hayabusa) wrestled Kyoko Inoue in a singles match on pay per view on March 27, 2000. Inoue pinned H in a tag match earlier that month. While Inoue was presented as a credible threat to H and repeatedly downed him with her strikes, H would win decisively.
Harvey Whippleman holds the distinction of being the only male in WWE's history to hold the now-discontinued Women's Championship having defeated The Kat in a snow bunny match while disguised in drag as Hervina.
At WrestleMania 22, The Boogeyman defeated both Booker T and Sharmell in an intergender handicap match.
A prominent intergender six-person hardcore tag team match took place on WWE at One Night Stand 2006, when the team of Edge, Lita and Mick Foley defeated the team of Beulah McGillicutty, Terry Funk and Tommy Dreamer, after male wrestler Edge speared and pinned female wrestler Beulah.[7]
This match-type continues to meet controversy across North America as matches often straddle the line between sporting events and pure erotic entertainment, and also allegations over the depiction of gratuitous physical violence against hapless women.
In Mexican
In one extreme, a 2011 intergender match in
See also
References
- ^ Parker, James. "The anti-comic". Boston.com – via The Boston Globe.
- ^ ISBN 9781442229952– via Google Books.
- ^ "People in Sports". The New York Times. January 22, 1975.
- ^ "Garrett v. New York State Athletic Commission, 82 Misc. 2d 524 (1975)". Caselaw Access Project Harvard Law School. June 16, 1975. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- ^ WWE Raw Six Person Intergender Match, requires Windows Media Player
- ^ "Ashley Returns; Will Replace Candice At WrestleMania by Andy Steven, PWMania.com March 24, 2008". Archived from the original on April 3, 2008.
- ^ "ECW One Night Stand Results - 6/11/06". Wrestlezone. June 11, 2006.
- ^ Altamura, Mike (June 9, 2003). "Inter-Gender Turmoil In Ontario". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "WWE Rumor: Possible reason why intergender matches have been banned in WWE". www.sportskeeda.com. December 6, 2018.
- ^ Garretson, Jordan (March 21, 2021). "Alexa Bliss def. Randy Orton, The Fiend re-emerged". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "LUCHA UNDERGROUND RESULTS 11/23: Sexy Star vs Johnny Mundo For The LU Title! | Fightful Wrestling". www.fightful.com.
- ^ Lunney, Todd (2012-03-09). "Lunney: Losing to a 9-year-old-girl?". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
- ^ "IMPACT WRESTLING UNBREAKABLE iPPV LINEUP FOR THIS FRIDAY AND MORE NEWS & NOTES | PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com.
- ^ "IMPACT Wrestling to Make History as Tessa Blanchard Challenges Sami Callihan for the IMPACT World Championship at 'Hard to Kill' on Sunday, January 12 - IMPACT Wrestling". Archived from the original on 2019-11-09.