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For an industry that has birthed some of the most flamboyant characters in all of entertainment, it strangely took several decades before the ring attire matched the package. This is not to say wild robes, hats and make up weren't prevalent -- they have been around for nearly half a century. But when the gear came off, and it was time to wrestle, there were very few things that would differentiate the attire of one wrestler from the other.
Standard trunks were the most actively worn item in the ring. A few wrestlers wore long tights or plain singlets, cut in the amateur style, or overalls, if playing a hillbilly gimmick. These styles were not the norm, and most of them were quite plain. Almost everything was black or in a sedate primary color. Even Gorgeous George -- the most outrageous of all the early performers -- wore regulation trunks in the ring, with no adornment whatsoever. Looking back to this period, young fans must wonder why George was considered so outrageous, if they base their experience solely on his in-ring attire.
But you cannot blame the old guard for not dressing up to their gimmick. Fabrics at the time were not as they are today. Nothing could hold up to regular use better than wool, and later a jersey blend. It was cumbersome and there was not much you could do with it, but the fabric did the job. And for a guy wrestling 5 nights a week, always on the road, it was the smartest way to go.
A few wresters managed to break the style barrier, by introducing different cuts and color combinations. Jesse "The Body" Ventura, "Superstar" Billy Graham, Mil Mascaras, Sweet Daddy Siki and "Gentleman" Ken Timbs were early pioneers. But as a whole, the limitations set by fabrics of the era held back the general populace.
In the early 80s, Spandex was introduced to the mass market, and suddenly everything changed for the wrestling business. Wilder and wilder looks soon began to appear. Spandex truly revolutionized the business, and it has never been the same since.
The World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) took the new liberties to the next level, as part of their marketing strategy. They began designing their performers like they were comic book heroes, rather than presenting them as mere wrestlers. All of a sudden the industry had to follow suit to keep up, as their high-end designs became the rule, rather than the exception.
We have designed many of the looks you have seen on WWE and WCW programs, and are more than willing to provide you with that same quality and innovation. Any look you can dream up can be provided by us Who knows, maybe your look will become the one that others will start to emulate!
SINGLETS
An outfit that wears almost like a 1-piece bathing suit, with straps going over the shoulders. These are based on amateur singlets, but have a much different style. Here are a few popular varieties...
THE TARZAN CUT - (Seen right) Has one strap across the shoulder. Worn on its own or with contrasting tights underneath. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and Jerry "The King" Lawler wear this style.
THE STEINER CUT - Like a singlet with legs. The Steiner Brothers and Kurt Angle wear this style.
THE HENNIG CUT - Like The Steiner, but it covers up most of the chest instead of dipping down. Curt Hennig made this look popular.
THE OLYMPIC CUT - Styled like Olympic wrestling gear, where the front is more narrow and the middle is slightly raised. Ken Patera and Bob Armstrong wear this style.
BUTCHER
Looks like a singlet, but has another use. Worn in conjunction with other wrestling wear, like the Assassin-style costume (seen right), where the Butcher goes over the tights and wrestling-cut shirt. Can also be worn underneath the standard trunk -- an effective tool for wrestlers trying to hide their stomachs.
T-STRAP BUTCHER - We always recommend this cut, as the straps do not slip down during the match. As the name implies, there is a t-strap in the back, for support.
STANDARD BUTCHER - Features two separate straps.
TIGHTS
The wrestling names for anything that functions as pants. You have incredible amounts of leeway with this style. Here are a few popular styles...
STANDARD TIGHTS - Long tights that cut off at the ankle. This is the style worn by most wrestlers today.
BOOT-CUT TIGHTS - Long tights with footing down at the bottom, so they won't ride up. We don't recommend this style, as they get tugged down during the match.
TAJARI/BAGGY PANTS - Pants that go over the boot, instead of inside. Very popular.
