The world of professional wrestling has seen a remarkable evolution, with women taking center stage in increasingly prominent roles. This article explores the history of female wrestling shows, highlighting key milestones and the rise of women in the sport. One of the earliest and most influential examples is the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, also known as GLOW.
Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW)
Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, or GLOW, was a professional wrestling promotion for women that began in 1986, with the pilot filmed in December 1985. GLOW was co-founded in 1985 by David McLane, a promoter, and Jackie Stallone, the mother of actor Sylvester Stallone. Colorful characters, beautiful women, and over-the-top comedy sketches were integral to the series' success.
Formed as a television-oriented promotion, GLOW was the first full-time American women's wrestling company to have a regular television program. GLOW also differed from other TV wrestling shows in that, while the other shows aired on a continual weekly basis throughout the calendar year, GLOW aired in seasons where wrestlers came, went or were changed during the off-season. Throughout the show's run, TV tapings for the program took place at the Riviera.
The women involved in GLOW were primarily actresses, models, dancers and stunt performers who got into wrestling as a means to enter show business. The initial crop of wrestlers in GLOW were trained by Mando Guerrero, a member of the famed Guerrero family.
The pilot episode for a planned TV show was taped on December 5, 1985 at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event of that show, Tammy Jones defeated Matilda the Hun to become the first GLOW Champion, while Tina Ferrari and Ashley Cartier defeated Hollywood and Vine in one of four tag team bouts as part of the undercard.
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The GLOW Format
The original GLOW interspersed vicious wrestling matches with sketch comedy, infomercials, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the wrestlers' lives. GLOW also began touring the United States with live shows to introduce the new competitors to fans prior to the start of the new season.
With the debut of the fourth season of GLOW in September 1989, two new segments were introduced on the show-Life in the GLOW House, a comedy sketch segment focusing on the misadventures of the GLOW roster while living in a dormitory, and Another GLOWing Moment, a classic match segment presenting previously-unseen matches from the third season.
Steven Blance, who was GLOW's senior referee during the second season, became the figurehead commissioner and the show's head writer during the final two seasons, while John Cafarella (as Johnny C) became the new ring announcer.
GLOW Champions
During GLOW's third season, Ninotchka vacated her title in Episode 12 following a title defence against top contender Daisy after Ninotchka had a falling out with tag team partner Major Tanya during the match, leading to a 20-woman tournament for the vacant championship called the Run for the Rubies. Although the show did quite well in syndication in many markets in North America (and later when it was sold into international syndication), GLOW eventually ended production after four seasons and 104 episodes, airing its final episode on May 26, 1990 (in which Daisy defeated GLOW Champion Cheyenne Cher to win the title in the main event).
There was also a GLOW Tag Team Championship, but it was an in-name-only title which was not physically represented by title belts or, as with the GLOW Championship, crowns. The teams of The Beverly Hills Girls (Tina Ferrari and Ashley Cartier) and Hollywood & Vine were the only two teams known to have held this title.
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GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling Documentary
GLOW: THE STORY OF THE GORGEOUS LADIES OF WRESTLING [Official Trailer - AGFA]
GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling is a documentary film about professional wrestling. Released in 2012, it tells the story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (abbreviated G.L.O.W. or GLOW), a women's wrestling promotion. GLOW staged live events that were filmed and then shown on American television for four seasons in the late 1980s.
The film was directed by Brett Whitcomb and written by Bradford Thomason. It premiered on April 27, 2012, at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. It won the Best Documentary award at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con film festival. It was released on DVD in the United States on March 26, 2013.
The film combines footage from the television series with interviews of some of the wrestlers, done about 15 years after the TV show ended. Towards the end of the movie, the women of GLOW have a reunion party in Orange County, California.
Netflix's GLOW Series
In Los Angeles in 1985, Ruth Wilder, a struggling actress, auditions along with many other women in a fledgling professional wrestling promotion called the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW). Traditionally minded in her approach to acting and highly idealistic, she clashes with GLOW's director Sam Sylvia due to his cynical demeanor and often unconventional work style.
Ruth discovers early on that Sylvia has employed her former best friend, retired soap opera actress Debbie Eagan, to star in the show. Ruth and Debbie had fallen out with one another after Ruth had an affair with Debbie's husband, Mark, whom Debbie then divorced. The tension between the two women promises either to make or break the developing show.
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The idea for the series came when Flahive and Mensch, who at the time were looking to make a new female-centric show, came across the 2012 documentary GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. Ursula Hayden, the owner of the GLOW company, served as a consultant on the series and helped Flahive and Mensch with creating the show. Chavo Guerrero Jr. of the famous Guerrero wrestling family also served as a consultant on the series and helped train the actresses. His uncle, Mando Guerrero, had served in the same role for the original series.
GLOW's Critical Reception
GLOW was praised by critics upon its release. With spot-on 1980s period detail, knockout writing, and a killer cast, GLOW shines brightly. The first season has a Metacritic score of 81 out of 100, based on 37 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". The second season received even higher critical acclaim. The third season has an 87% approval rating with an average score of 8/10 based on 68 reviews.
The Rise of Women's Wrestling in Sports
Girls and women's wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States and around the world. The United States is a leader in women’s wrestling at the international level, with vibrant growth at the youth, high school and college levels as well.
Key Milestones in Women's Wrestling
Here are some of the milestone events that show the rich history of growth for the sport in America:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Helen Maroulis won her fourth World title at the Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. |
| 2024 | Amit Elor wins a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, becoming the youngest American wrestler of any gender or discipline to win Olympic gold. |
| 2023-24 | The University of Iowa announces it will add women's varsity wrestling, becoming the first school from a Power Five conference to add the sport. |
| 2020 | Tamyra Mensah-Stock becomes the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in women's freestyle wrestling at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. |
| 2006 | Michaela Hutchison of Soldotna, Alaska became the first girl to ever win a state high school wrestling championship competing against boys. |
| 2004 | Patricia Miranda wins the United State's first Olympic medal in women's wrestling, a bronze medal at 48 kg. |
| 1990 | Hawaii holds the first official girls state high school wrestling championship. |
| 1989 | Female to referee at the Olympics, working the 1988 Seoul Olympics. |
From the campy and entertaining world of GLOW to the growing recognition and achievements in amateur and Olympic wrestling, women have made significant strides in the sport. The future looks bright for women's wrestling, with increasing opportunities and recognition at all levels.