Despite a widespread perception of the sport as immature and accusations that professional wrestling spurs violence, dozens of independent, or "backyard" wrestling leagues have sprung up throughout the continent. 

Matthew Firth (aka "Sett"), an 18-year-old student at Loyola High School in Toronto, has been involved with the Back Yard Wrestling Federation (BYWF) since 1998.

He said the BYWF came to fruition because he and his friends used to imitate their favorite WWF characters.  One day they decided to create their own federation, complete with original images and gimmick, and literally hold matches in the backyard of one of the federation's members. 

Along the way, however, the federation, and Firth's participation therein, has received somewhat of a backlash. 

Firth said parents, not legislators or oversensitive media watchdogs, are often the most outspoken critics of professional wrestling. 

"Sometimes they overreact to many of the issues that are talked about on the show," he said.  "I honestly feel they have to calm down and look for something else to bitch about in life because there are more serious issues than wrestling to complain about."

Firth concedes, however, that the story lines of the WWF and WCW sometimes stretch the boundaries of good taste.  He said, for example, the male-dominant sexist behavior among wrestlers has played itself out and become more of a nuisance than an attraction.

Likewise, 21-year-old James Thornberry (aka "ThOrN") of the Wild Wayland Wrestling federation in Kentucky, said professional wrestling has fallen away from the "sports" associated with its distinction as "sports entertainment."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but it does still say "wrestling" on the marquee, right?" Thornberry said.  "It doesn't say, "Large-breasted women who may or may not get naked,"  but it might as well."

Nevertheless, Thornberry said, people should not expect any more or less from wrestling than they would expect from any other show on television.  Sexual innuendo and strong language have become commonplace in the entertainment industry, and if parents don't like it, they can change the channel.