From Ranch to Ring and the Rise of Western Culture in Pro Wrestling

TLDR

Professional wrestling has drawn influence from western culture, with cowboys, ranches and rodeos intertwining with the sport's rugged spirit. The article explains that western culture's appeal of risk and spectacle parallels professional wrestling, as both involve competitors entering unpredictable situations that create "controlled chaos" for audiences. The cowboy character has become a dependable archetype in wrestling, with many wrestlers from the Southern and Midwestern United States bringing their farm and rodeo backgrounds into the ring.