The WWE, or “World Wrestling Entertainment,” formerly known as the WWF (World Wrestling Federation), has been an institution in professional wrestling for more than 25 years, but the world of sports entertainment has grown to a multibillion-dollar industry in recent years.

As the WWE brings its nationally televised event, “WWE RAW,” to Hilton Coliseum on Monday at 6:30 p.m., with tickets going for $16.50-$41.50, Cyclone wrestlers and coaches have mixed feelings about professional wrestling.

Wrestling head coach Bobby Douglas says he follows professional wrestling as a form of entertainment. He’s reluctant to call it a sport.

“Wrestling is pure entertainment – nothing much else,” Douglas says. “I do admire the way they promote it and other sports probably could use their tactics.”

Douglas wrestled with former professional wrestler Gerald Brisko during college at Oklahoma State in the 1960s. Although Douglas watches professional wrestling, he says he does have some reservations toward the WWE’s influence on its fans.

“The biggest thing I have against wrestling is the sex and violence it portrays a lot of times – especially toward the children who watch it the most,” Douglas says. “Other than that I can’t talk about pro wrestling too much because I have too many friends in the business.”

Two current WWE stars with “real” wrestling experience are Kurt Angle, who captured the 220-lb. freestyle championship at the 1996 summer Olympics, and 2000 NCAA heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.

Former Cyclone wrestler Trent Hynek defeated Lesnar, known as the WWE’s “Undisputed Champion,” during Hynek’s senior year at Iowa State, Douglas said.

Some Cyclone wrestlers who don’t hold much interest in professional wrestling respect Angle and Lesnar. Nathan Meyer, Cyclone wrestler and junior in dairy science, says Lesnar and Angle’s respective professional wrestling styles are likely influenced by their collegiate experience.

“Lesnar and Angle are probably the most technically sound when it comes to actual wrestling since they both wrestled collegiately,” Meyer says.

Assistant wrestling coach Chris Bono says he loves watching the WWE.

“It’s great and entertaining – just like sitting back watching a soap opera or a movie,” Bono says. “When I was younger, I was a big Jimmy `Supa Fly’ Snuka and Andre The Giant fan. They were the greatest.”