Wrestling is a sport that people usually associate with the USA, mainly because that is where the action is centred. The country is home to the WWE, which is without question the biggest professional wrestling league.
Almost all of the main WWE events are held in the USA – although Canada has landed the Elimination Chamber this year. To achieve that, it had to see off competition from the UK among other places.
The growing popularity of wrestling in Canada and the dominance of the WWE have led some to suggest that the country needs its own league. It would require a lot of planning to take on the North American juggernaut though.
This article will take a look at whether a Canadian wrestling league could really be a commercial success.
Where League Events could be Held
One thing that we can say for sure is that Canada is not short of places where major wrestling league events could be held. Most of its large cities and provinces – from Toronto in the province of Ontario to Montreal in Quebec – boast lots of fine venues.
These major cities also come with the benefit of other activities, ranging from live music to clubs and casinos. That would be important to the success of any league, because wrestling fans have come to expect the matches to be just one part of an evening’s entertainment.
Toronto will be the host for the Elimination Chamber 2025 event and the city certainly fits that bill. It could be viewed as a possible test case for how viable a Canadian league would be.
Of course, turning such a league into something that can rival a commercial behemoth like the WWE will take more than just the right locations. Does Canada have what is needed though?
Landing Star Attractions
For a potential wrestling league in Canada to hit the commercial spot, it would have to attract stars that fans want to watch. The sport in the USA has lots of big name wrestlers who have cult followings among fans.
If the organisers of a Canadian league were able to persuade any of those wrestlers to switch to it, this would greatly increase the odds of its success. Star power means bigger crowds at the events and also means television companies are more likely to be interested in broadcasting the league.
That sort of live television coverage would be crucial to engaging global audiences. The WWE has a following all over the world, so that is what any league in Canada has to be aiming for.
When it comes to top-class wrestling talent though, it should be acknowledged that Canada has produced more than its share. The country has given the sport many all-time legends.
Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart, Edge and Trish Stratus are just three examples. All are members of the WWE Hall of Fame, and an endorsement from any one would help a Canadian league commercially.
Then there are the Canada-born wrestlers who are still active. Kevin Owens, Kyle O’Reilly and Natalya are among the popular performers in the WWE. If a Canadian league enticed any of them away, it would earn significant publicity and increase public interest in the league.
The organisers could also target attracting wrestlers who are still based in the country. Amar Dhesi and Justina Di Stasio both starred for their country at the Olympic Games and boosted viewing figures in Canada. They would be real coups if they were recruited to a league.
Growth through Engagement
The WWE has worked hard to build its commercial profile. Merchandise and products based on WWE prove to be hugely popular, the WWE Legends slot game is available at an online casino Canada, increasing brand awareness and enhancing the reputation of the league throughout Canada. If a Canadian league is launched, launching similar products and entering similar partnerships would be hugely beneficial.
There is certainly an audience base for a league in Canada. 2023 saw a rise of 29% in viewing figures for WWE events, with 40% of fans being women.
It would be important for any league to focus as much on female wrestling as male, to ensure it retained those fans. The league would also need to exploit social media to drive engagement.
These platforms can be used for content like backstage clips and wrestler stories that help to create narratives and attract new fans for each performer. This is the model pursued by the WWE and a Canadian league would have to follow it.
Canadian wrestling could match the sport in the USA, if it attracts stars and uses social media.
