About this episode
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan of BJJ Mental Models and Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ are joined by wrestling historian David Wolf to unpack how Donald Trump turned American politics into a pro wrestling storyline. From Trump’s long history with Vince McMahon and WWE, to the political weaponization of kayfabe, we dig into how the tactics of the squared circle, like manufactured rivalries, inflated numbers, and outrageous storylines, became the blueprint for his rise. We also explore the deep parallels between wrestling promotions and political campaigns, how “alternative facts” mirror scripted outcomes, and why the UFC’s current culture war isn’t far removed from WWE’s most controversial angles. ⸻ 👥 Featuring: Steve Kwan @BJJMentalModels Jesse Walker @RoughHandsBJJ David Wolf ⸻ 🧠 Topics We Cover: • How Trump’s WWE career shaped his political persona • The carny roots of pro wrestling and the art of the “work” • Why politics may be more scripted than wrestling • The role of kayfabe in manufacturing enemies and controlling narratives • WWE’s history of exploiting controversy for attention • Sportwashing: how regimes use combat sports to launder their image • Why UFC’s embrace of MAGA mirrors WWE’s heel/face booking • What Trump’s obsession with ratings tells us about his decision-making ⸻ 📖 Chapters: 00:00 The Relevance of Professional Wrestling Today 02:29 The Evolution of Professional Wrestling 06:57 The Politics of Wrestling and Real Life 11:06 The Montreal Screwjob: A Case Study in Politics 15:37 Donald Trump: A Product of Wrestling Culture 19:58 The Performance of Politics and Wrestling 25:28 Sport Washing and the Role of Combat Sports 29:19 Wrestling's Controversial Storylines and Their Impact 37:11 The Disgust with Age and Politics in Wrestling 38:00 Creative Descent in WWE: The Triple H Era 39:29 The Evolution of Wrestling: From Morality Plays to Audience Participation 40:50 The Political Leanings of Wrestling Audiences 42:01 The Shift in Women's Representation in Wrestling 43:17 The Changing Dynamics of Wrestling Fans 45:40 The Role of Storytelling in Wrestling and Politics 46:10 The Schizophrenic Nature of WWE's Leadership 47:40 The Contradictions of WWE's Political Stance 49:02 Kayfabe in Politics: The Performative Nature of Governance 50:53 The Wild Card: Donald Trump in Politics and Wrestling 52:31 CM Punk: A Political Wrestling Narrative 58:36 The Depravity of WWE's Business Decisions 01:00:56 The Need for a Heel: Cultural Reflections in Politics 01:04:47 The Reflection of Society in Professional Wrestling