Throw Down With This Quiz on the History of Wrestling

Gilgamesh was a bit of a loose cannon as a ruler. Just as he was set to enter his wedding chamber, the warrior Enkidu, created by the goddess Aruru as a challenger to the throne, blocks his way. According to the ancient poem “Epic of Gilgamesh,” the two competed so intensely that the walls shook. Though Gilgamesh ended up winning, the two men became friends, later teaming up to hunt the evil demon Humbaba.

Bought by wrestling patriarch Stu Hart in 1951, the Hart house is considered a landmark of Calgary. From the late 1950s through the ‘90s, Hart spent hours training not only his eight sons — including WWE stars Bret and Owen Hart — but wrestling legends such as Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, Davey Boy Smith, and Ken Shamrock. The action happened in the home’s basement, nicknamed “The Dungeon” for its low ceilings and Hart’s grueling training.

Every year, thousands of Turkish wrestlers douse themselves in olive oil and grapple with one another in a field in the northwest city of Edirne, on the country’s border with Greece. The action takes place as part of the Kirkpinar oil wrestling tournament, which has happened annually since the 1300s with few exceptions. In 2010, it was classified as an intangible cultural event by UNESCO.

In Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad,” the two famous Greek warriors competed during the funeral games of Patroclus, a close companion of the legendary fighter Achilles. The match is described as a tie, meaning they had to split the prize: a lot of oxen. Wrestling was extremely important in Greek life, with the top competitors gaining fame and accolades comparable to today’s star athletes.

The major difference between Greco-Roman and other wrestling styles is that competitors can only use their upper body, even when on the ground. It’s popular in Europe, particularly in the Scandinavian countries and the former Soviet Union. Greco-Roman wrestling was also featured in the first modern Olympics held in Athens in 1896.

Although high-flying acrobatics are now commonplace in professional wrestling matches, in the early 1980s, when Snuka made his famous leap onto Don Muraco during an Intercontinental Championship match, they weren’t performed frequently. The jump is considered one of the most famous moments in the history of pro wrestling.

Wrestler Mick Foley worked regional circuits in the 1980s as “Cactus Jack,” but he wouldn’t become a superstar until he joined the WWE in 1996 as “Mankind,” a mask-wearing character who used a sock puppet as a prop. Mankind became a fan favorite and staple of the WWE’s “Attitude” era. Foley is also a noted philanthropist who works with charitable groups.

In 1980, Vince McMahon bought his father’s company, Capitol Wrestling Corporation, marking the beginning of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Now known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the company was critical in the pro wrestling boom of the ‘80s and ‘90s, launching the careers of mainstream stars like Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea) and The Rock (Dwyane Johnson).

Born Andre Roussimoff in Grenoble, France, the massive wrestler known as “Andre the Giant” stood nearly 7 feet tall and weighed over 500 pounds. He became a star in the 1980s, feuding with Hulk Hogan and participating in several marquee matches toward the end of the decade. Non-wrestling fans, however, may remember him best as Fezzik, the giant in “The Princess Bride” who helps rescue the titular character, Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright).

According to historians, sumo matches have been performed as far back as the 3rd century CE, as part of the Shinto religion. At that time, sumo was considered an entertainment offering to the gods, who would hopefully provide a bountiful harvest and protection from disaster. In the 17th century, many shrines held “sumo benefit” matches to raise money for improvements and new construction.