Intergender wrestling

Intergender wrestling, also known as mixed wrestling, is a type of professional wrestling match between a man and a woman, and may also refer to tag team matches with both men and women on each team.

Intergender tag team matches are not to be confused with mixed tag team matches: there is a rule governing mixed tag team matches that restrict male and female competitors from attacking each other. If a tag is made, the other team has to automatically switch wrestlers, who should be of the same gender as the opposing team's legal wrestler. This type of tag team match continue to be popular in the present. On the other hand, male and female competitors in an intergender tag team match are free to wrestle and pin each other.

For most of its history, men and women would rarely compete against each other in professional wrestling, as it was deemed to be unfair and unchivalrous. Intergender wrestling was first popularized in the late-1970s/early-1980s by controversial song-and-dance man Andy Kaufman. Kaufman participated in several filmed staged matches of this nature and proclaimed himself the "Intergender Champion", issuing an open challenge to any female challenger who can defeat him. This is the beginning of a famous crossover feud between him and wrestling legend Jerry "The King" Lawler.

From the mid-1990s into the early-2000s intergender matches experienced a surge of popular interest, and were often introduced to the roster of events in major North American promotions such as Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling. Perhaps the most successful female wrestler who competed in intergender matches was Chyna. Regularly booked to wrestle her male counterparts during the WWF Attitude Era, she was a three-time Intercontinental Champion, a championship traditionally only contested by men. and was briefly #1 contender for the company's world championship. Other women wrestlers who had notable wrestling feuds with their male counterparts, and even portrayed as their equals in the ring during that time period include Luna Vachon, Jazz, Jacqueline, Madusa, Sable and Lita. 4 women briefly held the company's now discontinued Hardcore Championship: Terri, Mighty Molly, Trish Stratus and one of Gofather's Hos. The discontinued Cruiserweight championship as also been held by 3 women: Jacqueline (while under the WWE logo) Daffney and Madusa (the latter while the title was under WCW's banner).

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