It’s not lost on me how big a deal it is to see WWE featured all over ESPN—especially when I was standing in the gym, watching roundtable discussions and promos for Elimination Chamber on every TV. Growing up, wrestling wasn’t taken seriously by mainstream sports media, so seeing WWE events and wrestlers as real guests on ESPN feels like a long-awaited moment of validation. If my teenage self could see this, she’d be fucking stoked.

Last year’s WrestlePosium featured a standout moment with author Shannon O’Brien delivering the academic keynote, offering an incredible talk on the synergies between Donald Trump’s rhetoric and professional wrestling. The lecture was so popular that it caught the attention of Bloomberg journalist Daniel Flatley, who referenced PWSA in his insightful article, “What Trump Learned From Pro Wrestling Doesn’t Apply to Tariffs.”

Registration is open for the 7th Annual WrestlePosium––our dynamic virtual symposium that brings together wrestling fans, scholars, and professionals from around the globe. This event connects wrestling scholars, industry professionals, creators, fans, and critically curious individuals from around the world to share innovative research, creative insights, and diverse perspectives on wrestling culture, history, media, performance, and more.

The Pro Wrestling Studies Association (PWSA) welcomes submissions for WrestlePosium 2026, an engaging virtual symposium focused on the interdisciplinary study of professional wrestling.

PWSA is proud to offer free events like WrestlePosium, publish research, and connect wrestling fans, scholars, and professionals worldwide. Please consider making a small donation to help cover operational costs. Every contribution, big or small, helps us continue providing valuable content and events. Donations can be made easily through our PayPal collection pool.