Wrestling ring
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A wrestling ring is the ring stage that professional wrestlers wrestle in, or ameteur wrestling promotions such as OfficialwEw.
[edit] Composure
Wrestling rings are generally composed of an elevated steel beam and wood plank stage covered by a canvas mat, with the sides then covered with a "skirt" to prevent spectators from seeing underneath. Around the "ring" are three cables wrapped in various types of piping, held up by turnbuckles. World Wrestling Entertainment and some independent groups use real ropes, as opposed to cables.
Wrestling rings vary in shape and size, with most measuring between 12 and 20 feet on each side, measured between the turnbuckles. Rings typically include an "apron" area of the ring floor, extending between one and two feet beyond the ropes; the ring floor is generally between three and four feet above the ground.
Most rings include a suspension system that uses a large coil spring underneath the stage to reduce the impact of a wrestler landing on it; the stiffness of such springs varies, with softer springs providing a gentler impact, at the expense of the wrestlers bouncing visibly on impact; a stiffer spring provides a more "realistic" visual experience, but at a higher risk of injury due to the harsher impact. According to Mick Foley, rings built for the World Wrestling Federation before approximately 1998 were particularly "stiff," and one of them contributed to his injuries suffered during his famous Hell in the Cell match against The Undertaker.
The "traditional" ring -- such as that used by World Wrestling Entertainment -- is four-sided, but other configurations exist, such as the six sided ring of Asistencia Asesoría y Administración and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
The configuration and construction of the "traditional" ring is very similar to (and likely derived from) that of a boxing ring, though the wrestling version has fewer ring ropes (three, as opposed to boxing's typical four), and the ring ropes are not tethered together at their midpoint. Most wrestling rings also incorporate more in the way of padding and shock absorbing construction than boxing rings, although this varies according to the preferences of the promoter.
[edit] Squared circle
The term squared circle is often used by wrestling promotions and promoters to refer to the ring. It comes from the mathematical problem of squaring the circle, or simply that it is referred to as a "ring," but is square in shape (a squared ring, or circle).
There is also belief that it is a reference to traditional Greco-Roman wrestling, which consists of a mat on a floor with a ring painted on it in which the action takes place. This format is still used by amateur wrestling leagues throughout the world.
