Working Stiff: Wrestling's History With Playboy Magazine

As time created distance from those dirty days, the company itself was repeatedly haunted by its past. WWE was left red-faced during Linda McMahon's run for senate in 2012 when opponent Chris Shay likened the promotion's executive to the softcore impresario. It was a claim she could hardly deny; the group had enjoyed a very profitable working relationship with Hefner, effectively supplying him with models for the better part of a decade. It was also with some element of sheer hypocrisy that WWE repeatedly cited Chyna's adult movie experience as a reason she could not be considered eligible for their farcical Hall of Fame. It was good enough to profit from Chyna's sexuality when she worked for the company, but once money was to be lost from such exploitation, the behaviour was now demonised.

For the same reason, Sable has yet to be inducted into the elite club, despite many female performers far less instrumental to the business' growth being given the coveted ring - Madusa amongst them. It was only this year that the Ninth Wonder was finally deemed suitable for inclusion, albeit sneakily secreted amongst a broader 'D-Generation X' induction.

Playboy itself continued to court the wrestling industry after the WWE link dissipated, with the appropriately titled TNA the most frequent collaborator. It was a fitting marriage; the Tennessee company often felt like a second-rate, pale imitation of WWF in their pomp, and the association with the outdated facetiae emphasised the perception. Just as WWF and the magazine made fitting partners at their height, there was a comforting sense of shared irrelevance between two companies with little remaining pop-culture currency.

At the time of Hefner's death, women's wrestling had finally attained the ennobled position Vince McMahon hoped for in 1993. Sexist attitudes are no longer tolerated in a world where public outrage can be fomented in an instant and 'misogynist' is the kiss of death for a brand. Female 'talent' strictly refers to in-ring acuity, with jug-based judgement gladly consigned to the same bin as Madusa's pink women's title.

As we approach the first ever female WrestleMania main event, things look to be sticking, but it's a volatile business. With TV ratings in perpetual decline, we've already beared witness to a slight reversion to the dark old days. A full blown reversal seems unlikely so long as the acronym 'PG' adorns WWE product, but who knows - after all, the 'Attitude Era' seemed a million miles from the WWF product of the early-90s.

For now at least, wrestling's carnal chronicle has been folded up and discretely shoved under the bed.