In 1989, WWE began expanding its presence beyond America and set its sights on London. The first WWE show (then WWF) was held at the London Arena in front of 15,000 fans and broadcast exclusively on Sky One.

Since then, WWE has grown into one of the world’s biggest entertainment phenomena. Beyond wrestling, the organization has produced global movie stars such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dave Bautista, and John Cena. There’s no denying that WWE has secured its place in the pop culture zeitgeist.

Of all the things that make WWE memorable—from its theatrical fights to the superstars it has catapulted to fame—one often overlooked element is its costumes. While the men are usually relegated to Speedos and singlets and the women often to bikini-like outfits, WWE attire has always embraced camp, spectacle, and stage drama.

This season at London Fashion Week, WrestleMania itself inspired designers. One of the strongest statements on the runway was oversized, decorative waistbands, seen in collections from Conner Ives, Denzilpatrick, and Keburia. What made these wrestling pants and shorts-inspired designs stand out was that, while comfortable, they leaned away from athleisure and toward high-fashion reinterpretation.

Conner Ives, who rose to prominence with his “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt supporting trans rights, showcased a lime green rugby shirt paired with royal blue, ruffle-trimmed, wrestling-style boxer shorts. Sporty at first glance, the look was elevated into warm-weather fashion rather than mere loungewear.

Keburia’s Spring 2026 collection took an eclectic approach. Their wrestling shorts-inspired look featured gray shorts printed with crosses, styled with a military vest. Though footwear wasn’t the focal point, the unexpected pairing of heels with wrestling shorts turned heads—proof that, with the right styling, even the ring’s most casual gear can be dressed up.