In professional wrestling, the term kayfabe refers to the practice of maintaining the illusion that everything is real—including the scripted personas, rivalries, and storylines. This often extends beyond the in-match performance to other contexts, such as backstage footage and interviews.
Why is it called kayfabe?
Pro wrestling can trace some of its stylistic origins back to carnivals and Catch Wrestling, where the term "kayfabe" is thought to have originated as carny slang for "protecting the secrets of the business." The term "kayfabe" itself may ultimately originate from the Pig Latin form of "fake" ("ake-fay") or the phrase ...
What does breaking kayfabe mean?
Referring to events as kayfabe means that they are worked events, and/or part of a wrestling storyline. In relative terms, a wrestler breaking kayfabe during a show would be likened to an actor breaking character on camera.
Does kayfabe still exist?
Kayfabe isn't 100 percent gone in today's world, as wrestlers do still occasionally speak and post publicly in character, but it's usually fairly clear where their character ends and they begin.
When did wrestling become kayfabe?
In the 1980s, wrestlers began using the code word kayfabe in reference to the staged performance presented as authentic as well as to the act of maintaining the fiction by staying in character. "When you know you're faking and the audience knows you're faking and you know the audience knows you know you're faking..."
41 related questions foundWho broke kayfabe first?
Triple H went from a King of the Ring hopeful winner to being jobbed out to the Godwins. Of course, things worked out well for The Game in the end. This was one of the earliest incidents of kayfabe being broken and the fans in live attendance had to question what had just transpired before their eyes.
Who came up with the word kayfabe?
— Pat Patterson, describing his interaction with a ring attendant in the Pacific Northwest Wrestling territory during the early 1960s. The term kayfabe was often used as a warning to other wrestlers that someone who was not "in the know" was in the vicinity.
What is a Smark?
smark (plural smarks) A fan of professional wrestling who is aware that the matches are scripted but enjoys them nonetheless.
What does Kfab stand for?
Sidles, prior to the station's December 4 debut, the call sign KFAB was substituted, reportedly standing for "Keep Following A Buick".
What is the forbidden door wrestling?
An example of opening the forbidden door is when talent (whether they be wrestlers, managers, commentators, or ring announcers) unexpectedly shows up in another rival's promotion. These exciting moments start a fire and leave their mark on fans.
What is Gorilla in WWE?
The "Gorilla Position" is the area backstage where the show is directed. Vince McMahon takes the helm. It's where his creative genius shines i.e. it's where he screams himself stupid at some commentator for using pronouns instead of some hysterically convoluted nickname.
What is a Jobber in WWE?
Jobber is a professional wrestling term used to describe a wrestler who is routinely defeated by main eventers, mid-carders, or low-carders. Most promoters do not use the term because of the negative connotation.
What does bump mean in wrestling?
The next, and probably most important step for any inspiring wrestler, is learning how to take a "bump." A bump in when a wrestler lands solidly on their back with high impact, spread over as much surface as possible.
When did WWE admit fake?
The most famous investigation into the legitimacy of Professional Wrestling and the then World Wrestling Federation (WWF) came in 1984 when John Stossel, investigative reporter for the hit US show 20/20, confronted 'Dr D' David Schultz and flat out stated “I think this is fake”.
What is a Smak?
an openmouthed kiss in which your tongue is inserted into the other's mouth.
What is a mark fan?
The term “mark” is perhaps the most commonly used term among wrestling fans. To be a wrestling “mark” is to be someone who buys into the emotion and characteristics of the storyline and characters. All wrestling fans are marks, some to different levels of it than others.
What is a dusty finish?
Dusty finish. A finish in which the face appears to win a big match, but the decision is later reversed due to some sort of technicality, such as interference by other heels to save the heel champion, as, in most federations, the title could not change hands on such a disqualification.
Who exposed the wrestling business?
An incident occurred on December 28th, 1984, when Dr. D David Schultz got invited onto 20/20 for a report on the legitimacy of professional wrestling. Host John Stossel had a type of reporting known at the time to expose untruths in all kinds of businesses.
What is a wrestling win called?
Win by Fall: The object of the entire wrestling match is to attain victory by what is known as the fall. A fall, also known as a pin, occurs when one wrestler holds both of his opponents' shoulders on the mat simultaneously.
What does heat mean in wrestling?
In professional wrestling, heat can refer to both crowd reactions and real-life animosity between those involved in a professional wrestling angle, or match. In terms of crowd reaction, heat is usually used to denote how much of a reaction a heel wrestler receives, but can also be used for a babyface.
What does Bye mean in wrestling?
A bye is defined as the position of a participant in a tournament who advances to the next round without playing. Suppose that a bracket has 12 entries. The result is that there will be four contestants who will not have a first round match. Those four contestants will be said to have received a bye.
Who is the best pro wrestler of all time?
Stone Cold Steve Austin has narrowly edged out fellow WWE legend The Undertaker to be crowned the best wrestler of all time. The 55-year-old wrestling icon became a linchpin figure for Vince McMahon's promotion during the 1990s and was at the forefront of the fan-favourite Attitude Era.
Who is highest paid wrestler in WWE?
For example, Brock Lesnar is WWE's highest-paid performer, and he made $12 million in 2020, putting him among the top 10 NHL salaries.
Why do wrestlers lose their last match?
The biggest reason WWE Superstars retire by losing their final match is so they can give back to the company that made them who they are. Since they're on their way out of the wrestling business, they can afford to give someone a rub without suffering any consequences to their own career.
What does heel mean in wrestling?
In professional wrestling, a heel (also known as a rudo in lucha libre) is a wrestler who portrays a villain, "bad guy" or "rulebreaker" and acts as an antagonist to the faces, who are the heroic protagonist or "good guy" characters.
