User:The C of E/LPWB

Professional wrestling in London, England was banned in the 1930s. The ban was lifted in 1952 for male wrestlers and 1987 for female wrestlers.

History
Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom in the early 20th century was conducted under All-in rules, predominantly relying on amateur practitioners of Lancashire style Catch Wrestling to compete. Due to growing popularity of professional wrestling particularly in London along with a lack of skilled legitimate grapplers, promoters would start to feature more violent technically unskilled wrestlers as well as authorising the use of weapons in matches. In 1938, Professional wrestling was inspected at a criminal court case after Carl Reginsky was charged with assault after being disqualified for dropkicking Joe Devalto while he was on the ground. During the case, Justice Ernest Charles called the wrestlers "Tigers, wolves and all sorts of things" and declared "I don't call all-in wrestling a sport."

Professional wrestling was also discussed in the House of Commons with the MP for Dorset Eastern, Gordon Hall Caine mentioning an intergender wrestling match being advertised in London. The Home Secretary, Samuel Hoare revealed that from 1 January 1939, professional wresting would be banned in London by the London County Council.

Post 1952
In 1952, the professional wrestling ban was lifted for men, however a by-law authorised by the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police maintained the ban on women wrestling in London until 1987. There were attempts to get women's wrestling banned nationally, predominantly lead by the Conservative MP for The Hartlepools, Commander John Kerans. In 1964, he requested the Home Secretary support a bill banning women wrestling, citing evidence of a women's wrestling bout behind a pub in Wadhurst, Kent. The Home Secretary rejected the request citing a lack of evidence for justification and that the Wadhurst bout was an exhibition from a mixed combat club. Despite not having government support, Kerans still brought in a bill proposing the ban. The bill was defeated and afterwards, the Home Secratary declared "This House sees nothing obscene in women's wrestling. Carry on women wrestlers. The House of Commons will not interfere with you.