Professional wrestling has always been a show that exists in a gray area between sport and show business. While fans have debated match outcomes for generations, gambling on professional wrestling was a more secretive venture in earlier days. Before online sportsbooks, bets were taken in a loose, unofficial manner, typically between friends or with bookmakers who would place bets on what was seen as a predestined event.
The Emergence of Online Sportsbooks
The internet changed everything for sports betting on wrestling. With sports betting online, sportsbooks began to post odds for major wrestling events. These odds were initially set with a degree of caution in mind, given the scripted nature of the business. With WWE and AEW keeping match outcomes secret, sportsbooks realized professional wrestling could be a part of their offerings.
At first, most books were hesitant to feature wrestling in their lines for fear of match-fixing and inside information leaks. With the evolution and maturation of the business, however, increasingly more sites started to release odds for high-level pay-per-view events. Betting limits and odd updates were put in place to counteract any leaks and no single bettor could use inside information to win massive profits. Having professional wrestling on mainstream betting sites allowed fans to engage with the product in a completely different way, adding a new element to their experience with a stake in what was occurring.
How Betting Odds in Wrestling Are Determined
Unlike sports such as football and basketball, odds for professional wrestling are not established via in-ring performance or statistical information. Oddsmakers rely on insider knowledge, storyline and betting patterns. Sportsbooks have their biggest challenge in keeping information from leaking into the market. To counteract this, sportsbooks have betting limits and usually modify odds to reflect betting patterns rather than actual outcomes.
Besides, sportsbooks need to balance risk with tracking betting. When a lot of money comes in on an underdog, the odds are adjusted to discourage more bets on that outcome. This is to maintain fairness and to avoid taking a profit from inside information. Oddsmakers have started using fan excitement and social media conversation as a way to move their lines, making for a dynamic and unpredictable betting experience.
The Role of International Markets
Betting on professional wrestling isn’t uniquely American. Foreign markets, particularly in Africa and in the UK, have embraced wrestling betting with enthusiasm. One of the largest such platforms is Betway Tanzania, which offers odds for major pay-per-view events. International appeal has led sportsbooks to include wrestling outside of WWE, like AEW, NJPW and even independent events.
Wagering on wrestling has been a staple in UK sports betting for years, with books even taking prop bets on a stipulation in a particular match, surprise payouts or even a principal event’s length. African markets have seen a surge in interest as well, with sites like Betway Tanzania providing competitive odds for top wrestling promotions. With international interest continuing to grow, even more betting sites will be likely to cater to wrestling fans worldwide, giving each major event even more depth.
Betting’s Influence on Storylines
As betting on wrestling increased in popularity, it started to influence storytelling in promotions. Companies started to have stricter confidentiality policies in place to prevent results from being leaked. Surprise endings increased to keep betting markets in doubt. In some cases, promotions even used betting odds as a way to mislead fans, creating surprise winners to get shock value.
Some fans and insiders believe that wrestling promotions have a deliberate tradition of developing misleading storylines to confound gamblers. A wrestler can be hyped to be a favorite to win a specific event and then a surprise swerve in the final stages would change everything. Such maneuvers have made wrestling betting both thrilling and maddening, with even smart speculation being upset by a sudden creative decision. Having betting markets has added a new depth to professional wrestling that makes it more dynamic to those who enjoy examining odds in conjunction with traditional storytelling elements.
Some Surprising Upsets in Wrestling History
One of wrestling’s largest betting upsets was Brock Lesnar’s defense of his Universal Championship against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 34. Reigns was a massive favorite to win coming into the contest, with sportsbooks listing him as low as -1000. When Lesnar came out with a win, many punters who had placed a bet on the underdog collected a massive payout. Other shocking finishes, like The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak being ended, have also resulted in massive betting swings.
There was another sensational betting upset when Goldberg defeated The Fiend for the Universal Championship in 2020. The Fiend had been booked as unbeatable and most sportsbooks had him favored to win by a landslide. Goldberg’s victory resulted in massive losses for those who had boldly placed bets on The Fiend. Such moments prove that even in a scripted environment, wrestling betting can be unpredictable.
The Future of Wrestling Gambling
The landscape of wrestling betting continues to evolve. With sportsbooks expanding options, live wrestling betting may be more ubiquitous, allowing fans to place wagers in real-time following action. Promotions may even use betting trends as a way to build interest in storylines. While betting on a scripted sport will never be without controversy, popularity guarantees it will be around to stay.
