About this episode

This episode explores the marketing strategies behind violent sports, tracing their origins to Tex Rickard and examining the influence on WWE and UFC.

This week, we look at the marketing of violent sports. Starting with a man named Tex Rickard, who wrote the playbook on fight promotion back in the 1920s. We’ll analyze how WWE pro wrestling took a page from Rickard to create spectacles. And we look at the phenomenon that is the UFC – and how mixed martial arts promotion can be carbon-dated all the way back to Rickard in the ‘20s. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you  don’t ,  subscribe ad-free here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More episodes of Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

• Brand Envy (2026) · April 25, 2026 · 27 min
• Rue McClanahan: Every Kick's A Boost · April 18, 2026 · 13 min
• Unhinged Advertising: The Power of the Absurd · April 4, 2026 · 28 min
• Nobody's Ugly on Radio: The Superpower of Audio · March 28, 2026 · 28 min
• It's a Floor Wax and a Dessert Topping: Unintended Product Uses · March 21, 2026 · 28 min
• Sweaty Billboards: Marketing The Movies · March 14, 2026 · 28 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly podcast page.