Date

4-29-2026

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD)

Chair

Charles Carter

Keywords

Cold War, Professional Wrestling, pop culture, cathartic release

Disciplines

History | Sports Studies

Abstract

This dissertation examines how professional wrestling functioned as a cultural arena through which Americans interpreted, dramatized, and emotionally processed the Cold War from the 1950s to the early 1990s. By analyzing wrestling storylines, character archetypes, promotional narratives, and fan responses, the study demonstrates that wrestling not only reflected prevailing geopolitical tensions but also actively shaped public perceptions of the ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. Throughout the Cold War, promotions deployed foreign “heel” characters—initially German and Japanese, later Soviet and Iranian—to embody national anxieties and reinforce patriotic sentiment. Soviet characters, including Nikolai Volkoff, Ivan Koloff, and the Kalmikoff brothers, played prominent roles within this symbolic context, provoking audience responses that reflected overarching political discourse and prevailing stereotypes. Drawing on interviews with fans and historians, the study reveals that wrestling served as a primary cultural touchstone for Cold War narratives, offering emotional catharsis through audience participation and dramatized conflict. The 1980s wrestling boom, fueled by the WWF’s integration with MTV and mainstream media, amplified these themes through iconic patriotic heroes like Hulk Hogan and the U.S. Express, whose feuds with Soviet and Middle Eastern antagonists aligned with Reagan era nationalism. Parallel developments in the NWA and women’s promotions, such as GLOW and POWW, further expanded Cold War storytelling across diverse audiences.

As U.S.–Soviet relations thawed in the mid 1980s, wrestling narratives shifted accordingly. Soviet characters underwent notable transformations—from villains to allies—symbolizing political rapprochement and cultural reconciliation. The end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union precipitated a broader narrative shift in wrestling, as promotions abandoned cartoonish geopolitical archetypes in favor of edgier, anti-authoritarian personas that defined the Attitude Era. By situating professional wrestling within the larger landscape of Cold War media, including television, music, and film, this dissertation offers the first comprehensive analysis of wrestling as a vehicle for ideological expression and cultural meaning-making. Through archival research, wrestler autobiographies, and 1980s wrestling magazines, it demonstrates that professional wrestling played a significant role in shaping American understandings of the Cold War and its aftermath, serving as both a mirror and a mediator of national identity during a pivotal period in modern history.

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