Professional wrestling possesses a global appeal across national, regional, racial, and gender boundaries. The essays collected in this volume represent the most diverse array of topics and contributors ever assembled for the academic study of pro wrestling. Utilizing a wide variety of academic disciplines, including communications, literary studies, history, kinesiology, psychology the eighteen contributors deal with various issues of national, regional, and gender identity in pro wrestling, from the construction of a positive Iranian identity in the wake of the Iran hostage crisis, to fan culture clashes between wrestling and MMA fans, to Brazilian and French authorities' efforts to regulate the sport at the turn of the twentieth century, among many others. This volume is an important contribution to the growing body of academic literature on professional wrestling, especially on the issues of national, regional, racial, and gender identity.

This work explores the experiences of Hans Werner Richter and Alfred Andersch, authors who served in the German army during World War II, were captured by U.S. forces, and enlisted into a secret program to promote American democracy to their fellow POWs while imprisoned in the United States. Upon repatriation, they brought their experiences with the POW publication Der Ruf back to Germany, where they founded a periodical of the same name. Having grown disillusioned with the American occupation, the authors' stark criticisms of U.S. policies led to their dismissal from the second Der Ruf after only fifteen issues. This study attempts to understand their journey from acceptance and endorsement of American democratic ideals to disappointment and opposition to U.S. occupation policies. This transition played a crucial role in the foundation of the most influential West German literary circle: Group 47, organized a few months after the authors' dismissal.