[Commlist] CFP for Book Proposal on Professional Wrestling

Wrestling in the Pandemic CFP

Editors: Lowery Woodall, Jessica Fontaine, and CarrieLynn D. Reinhard



On April 9, 2020, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Florida 
governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order that declared 
professional wrestling, among other sports and

entertainment industries with national audiences, to be an “essential 
service.” DeSantis’ order enabled the two largest American professional 
wrestling companies World Wrestling Entertainment and All Elite 
Wrestling to work out of their Florida production headquarters despite 
intermittent stay-at-home orders across the state.



While other national entertainment organizations like Major League 
Baseball and the National Basketball Association postponed or canceled 
2020 season games, pro wrestling CEOs Vince McMahon and Tony Khan 
implemented procedures almost immediately that ensured the weekly 
television programming and special events (i.e., pay-per-views) on which 
their products were built would move ahead more or less unabated. While 
the on-air product underwent a significant overhaul and arguably 
suffered from the restrictions imposed by Covid, the pro wrestling 
industry stands as an intriguing microcosm of the anger, vitriol, and 
incredulity that surrounded cultural discourse of the virus.



As with many forms of live performance and entertainment, professional 
wrestling relies on the physical and the intimate: traditionally, 
wrestlers need close physical contact with one another to execute their 
moves and matches -- thereby developing their characters and storylines 
-- and engage their live audience in their performances. Yet, at many 
points during the pandemic, physical touch was discouraged and the live 
in-house audiences typical (some might dare say necessary) of pro 
wrestling events were banned.



Professional wrestling during the pandemic raised and continues to raise 
questions about essential labor, physical and social distance/proximity, 
risk, and “the need for entertainment” in times of crisis. Alongside 
these discussions, promoters like McMahon and some wrestlers through 
social media channels engaged in debates, both explicit and implied, 
regarding the very nature of the pandemic and whether Covid constituted 
a crisis at all. The pandemic represented a unique moment of collision 
between the spheres of social commentary, politics, and entertainment 
that have so often been exemplified in professional wrestling.



This anthology aims to examine pro wrestling in the pandemic to bring 
into relief issues and questions about art and entertainment, industry, 
communication, sociality, labor, precarity, bodies and physicality, and 
care under the uncertain conditions of late capitalism and the ongoing 
COVID-19 pandemic.



We invite submissions from across disciplines on topics including but 
not limited to

·        Labor and industry during a pandemic

·        Safety and care of wrestlers, industry workers, and fans

·        Bodies and disability

·        COVID-19 misinformation and vaccine hesitancy

·        Social movement (Speaking Out, Black Lives Matters)

·        Genre ruptures, shifts, and continuances (wrestling with no 
fans, cinematic matches)

·        Fans’ experiences

·        Digital commensality and social media

·        Political economy of major and indie pro wrestling promotions

·        Creative and platformed economies, including merchandise and 
ecommerce

·        Ethnographies of pandemic wrestling

·        Use of video games, livestreaming during pandemic by wrestlers 
and fans.



We are seeking 10-12 chapter proposals. Proposals should include 500 
word descriptions of the chapter, with a 250-word abstract summation 
that could be submitted with the book proposal. Additionally, proposals 
should include the contributor’s 100-word bio.



If you have already written an essay on this topic and would allow us to 
submit it with the book proposal, then please let us know. While 
completed essays will be considered, the author will still be required 
to submit the documentation listed above. No previously published essays 
will be considered.



Final chapters would be 6500 words, including references (citation style 
to be determined based on conversations with potential publishers).



NO PAYMENT FROM CONTRIBUTORS WILL BE REQUESTED AT ANY TIME.



Proposals are due August 31, 2022



Proposals and questions should be directed to Lowery Woodall: 
(Lowery.Woodall /at/ millersville.edu)



Tentative timeline (dependent on publisher):

·        First drafts: December 31, 2022

·        Internal peer review process: February 28, 2023

·        Final drafts: April 30, 2023

·        Submit manuscript to publisher: June 30, 2023





This year’s motto: fight the good fight.


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