How to support professional wrestling in the time of COVID-19

COVID-19 continues to impact the professional wrestling industry but there are ways to continue to support wrestlers and promotions across the industry.

Professional wrestling, along with the rest of the sports and entertainment industry is in disarray. COVID-19 has forced states to begin to take steps to protect the public by shuttering businesses and limiting the number of people that can gather in one location.

Even the almighty WrestleMania 36 had to to bow in the wake of the ever-growing pandemic. While eyes are focused on the largest organization in the industry, there are a variety of smaller or independent promotions that are going to suffer as a result of this massive shift.

Both these promotions and the wrestlers they book are going to face massive repercussions. Here are some ways to continue to support those groups in the times when they need it the most.

Purchasing Merchandise

Outside of being booked on shows, merchandising is a source of revenue for wrestlers who have built their brand through hours and years of hard work. Platforms such as Pro Wrestling Tees have created an outlet where younger wrestlers such as Bandido, all the way to legends like Bret Hart and Lex Luger can sell branded t-shirts.

Even though all the proceeds don’t go directly into their pocket, it creates an avenue for wrestlers of all levels to earn money on their merchandise and make it available for purchase at all times.

Pro Wrestling Tees isn’t the only avenue that makes merchandising sales available, as some wrestlers have created other outlets using the various custom t-shirt distributors available online. If you are fortunate enough to have disposable income available, purchasing some items from your favorite independent wrestlers will go a long way in this time.

Subscribing to Content Networks

Streaming has become one of the most prevalent ways to consume content today. Watching major television events “live” is an anomaly as time commitments pull viewers in multiple directions. Professional wrestling has leveraged streaming by developing platforms where content can be viewed on demand.

Just like the WWE Network, platforms such as the WWN and Highspots wrestling feature several promotions where viewers can catch current broadcasts and go back to watch classic shows from previous years. Shimmer is an example of another promotion that has put together a popular network.

The promotions that have created and are involved with these streaming services reap the benefits of subscriptions to their platforms. The larger the subscription base, the more revenue these platforms generate which can benefit both the promotions and the wrestlers that are booked there. These streaming platforms help promotions exist which creates more opportunities for wrestlers outside of larger organizations.

There are millions of people throughout the country and around the world that are feeling the impact of COVID-19. As “social distancing” becomes the norm, it’s OK to want to find ways to continue to support the independent contractors that make wrestling enjoyable.

Purchasing merchandise and subscribing to network content is an excellent way to do so if you have the disposable income to do so. When the industry makes it through this there may be less promotions around to enjoy and any help to save them will be appreciated by all.