It ain't as pretty as the always exciting always moving “let me set you up to body slam me” WWE stuff - but it IS real.
GrecoRoman Wrestlers have a great foundation with MMA - they are used to cutting weight, and wrestling is a great fighting skill.
http://www.cracked.com/article_20029_5-insane-true-tales-wrestlers-refusing-to-break-character.html
As far as “politics” - talk to the “Iron Sheik” and “The Russian Nightmare”. ;)
The Iron Sheik came instantly to mind. But before he got involved as a professional, he was a “real” wrestler who had been on the Iranian Olympic team and later was the US national team coach.