WWE Magazine
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| Year founded | 1983 |
|---|---|
| Final issue | October 2014 (though the special edition issues are still being published) |
| Company | WWE |
| Country | USA |
| Based in | Stamford, Connecticut |
| Language | English |
| Website | www |
World Wrestling Entertainment Magazine was the official professional wrestling magazine of WWE. This incarnation of the magazine contains lifestyle sections, a monthly calendar, entertainment, work out tips, and other information. It was announced in July 2014 that after thirty years, the magazine would cease production, although special issues would continue to be published.
WWE Magazine has gone through many incarnations throughout the years. It was originally known as WWF Victory Magazine from its debut issue in 1983 through the third issue of publication.
Starting with the third issue (April/May 1984) it became known as World Wrestling Federation Magazine (or WWF Magazine for short), with newly crowned WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan on the cover. WWF Magazine would continue to be bi-monthly until June 1987, in which it would become a monthly operation and a staple of the WWF for the next decade. For several years, WWF Magazine operated as a kayfabe magazine; stories included biographies of wrestlers and feuds, as well as previews of upcoming events, editorials, and other features targeted at younger audiences; excerpts from letters to the editor, mainly from fans commenting on the wrestlers and angles, were also published.
In April 1996, the WWF decided to create a second magazine called Raw Magazine, which became a focus on behind the scenes activity, focusing on wrestlers real life profiles. It debuted with the May/June 1996 issue, and was bi-monthly until the January 1998 issue.
In May 2002, the World Wrestling Federation became known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and therefore the magazine was changed accordingly to WWE Magazine starting with the June 2002 issue.
Shortly before that, the WWF/E had split up into two brands, Raw and SmackDown!. WWE Magazine and Raw Magazine were unaffected, however, until the January 2004 issues, in which WWE decided to have separate magazines for their respective brands. Raw Magazine retained its name but followed the style of WWE Magazine however; it focused solely on the Raw brand. WWE Magazine became SmackDown! Magazine, and would focus solely on the SmackDown! brand. That lasted until the summer of 2006, in which Raw Magazine and SmackDown Magazine would be discontinued and a new WWE Magazine would debut with the August 2006 issue (Dave Batista cover).
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