Awrestling ring, also known as thesquared circle, is the stage on which aprofessional wrestling match usually occurs. It is similarly constructed to aboxing ring and is traditionallysquare-shaped. InJapan, it is also common to seemixed martial arts fights contested in a wrestling ring, owing to Japanese MMA's roots inpuroresu.
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The configuration and construction of the traditional wrestling ring closely resembles that of a boxing ring. Like boxing rings, wrestling rings are also known by the poetic name of the "squared circle", which derives from how combative exhibitions would often be held in a roughly drawn circle on the ground.[1]
Wrestling rings are generally composed of an elevated steel beam and wood plank stage topped byfoam padding and acanvas cover.[2]
Around the ring are threering ropes, one fewer than modern boxing rings, which have had four ropes since the 1970s. The materials used for the ropes differ depending on the ring builder or promotion. Some, likeWWE, use natural fiber ropes wrapped in tape, while others use steel cables that are encased in rubber hose.[3] Unlike a boxing ring, the ring ropes in a wrestling ring are not tethered together. These ropes are held up and tensioned byturnbuckles, which, in turn, hang on steelring posts, which also support the frame. The ends of the turnbuckles facing into the ring are padded, either individually, or with a large pad for all three similar to a boxing ring, as inNew Japan Pro-Wrestling. A portion of the mat extends outside the ring ropes, known as thering apron. The elevated sides of the ring are covered with a fabric skirt to prevent spectators from seeing underneath.[4] In the case of WWE'sRaw andSmackDown brands and main roster pay-per-view events, the traditional ring posts and two ring aprons had been replaced withLED versions as part of an upgrade in 2015.
Usually around ringside there are steel steps that wrestlers can use to enter and exit the ring. All parts of the ring are often used as part of various offensive and defensive moves.[1]
Wrestling rings vary in shape and size, with most measuring between 14 and 20 feet (4.3 and 6.1 m) on each side. WWE,All Elite Wrestling, andRing of Honor[a] use a 20-foot ring, while in the pastWorld Championship Wrestling,Extreme Championship Wrestling and ROH[b] used, andTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling andMajor League Wrestling currently use, an 18-foot ring. Typically, wrestling rings are smaller than boxing rings.[1]
The mat of the ring can feature the promotion's logo, but it can also feature advertising all across the ring, such as WWE, following its acquisition byEndeavor in 2023.[5]
While the traditional ring is four-sided, other configurations exist, such as six-sided rings. The first known regular use of hexagonal rings in professional wrestling was for the Japanese lucha libre based promotionToryumon 2000 Project which held its first show in 2001.[6] Hexagonal rings have been used for special occasions such asLucha Libre AAA World Wide's annualTriplemania event. TNA first used one beginning in June 2004, before reverting to a four-sided ring in January 2010. In June 2014, the six-sided ring returned to the promotion,[7] but was dropped again in January 2018.[8]