Research

The research was broken down into three work packages:

September 2020 – March 2021

The team interviewed numerous figures from across the British wrestling community. This included wrestlers, promoters and referees. Questions focused on issues such as: injury and management of pain, head injuries and concussion protocol, mental health, responsibility for wrestlers’ wellbeing, and the prevalence of medical support.

November 2021 –

The data was written up into three journal articles.

November 2021

The final stage of the initial project was a roundtable event which brought together stakeholders to engage with the findings of the project, an exhibition of images and stories, and a celebratory Wrestling Resurgence event to showcase the innovative practice of wrestlers.

After the initial data collection and sharing, we received follow on funding from Loughborough University to co-host (with Playfight Wrestling and the APPG) the first symposium of its kind at the Houses of Parliament (November 2022), bringing together change-makers from across British wrestling. We sincerely hope that this will lead to warmer relationships between wrestlers, promoters, trainers and artists, and, in turn, will allow the data from the Health and Wellbeing project to shape the future direction of British wrestling.