What does the phrase kayfabe mean?

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.

Where did the phrase kayfabe come from?

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 ...

Is kayfabe a real word?

The task requires a thorough mastery of "kayfabe," a carny-derived term for the extreme strain of method acting peculiar to the sport. American pro wrestlers treat kayfabe with a devotion that requires denying the obvious.

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.

What is a kayfabe injury?

WWE: The 15 Worst Kayfabe-Breaking Moments in WWE History

But exactly what does it mean? Well, according to Wikipedia, kayfabe is "the portrayal of events within the industry as 'real. ' That is, the portrayal of professional wrestling as being genuine or not worked." In other words, kayfabe is like acting.

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.

Who 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.

What is a Smark?

smark (plural smarks) A fan of professional wrestling who is aware that the matches are scripted but enjoys them nonetheless.

When did WWE admit it was 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 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".

Why is it called a go home show?

The final televised show before a pay-per-view event. So named because the promotion will often have no house shows in the next few days before the pay-per-view, in order to give the wrestlers a chance to literally go home and rest up so they may bring their A-game at the pay-per-view.

How did wrestling become fake?

Wrestlers considered themselves among a select group, and often kept the fact that their sport was commonly faked—to an extent—in high secrecy. They used a jargon of their own (often shared with carnies) to communicate so the audience would not understand them, including the word "kayfabe."

What does K Fab mean in wrestling?

In professional wrestling, kayfabe /ˈkeɪfeɪb/ (also called work or worked), as a noun, is the portrayal of staged events within the industry as "real" or "true", specifically the portrayal of competition, rivalries, and relationships between participants as being genuine and not staged.

What is a spot in wrestling?

Spot: A scripted move or series of moves. These are generally pre-planned and have a huge effect on the structure of match as well as the crowd's reaction to it. Squash: A short match in which one wrestler beats another easily and quickly.

Who writes scripts for WWE?

WWE's practice of heavily scripting all their wrestlers and segments has been much maligned by fans and former WWE superstars alike, but Bryan Danielson has revealed he enjoyed his time with the writing staff.

Why do male wrestlers have wet hair?

So yeah, Just some leave-in conditioner and some water and let it fly.” Thus, Roman Reigns explained that he wets his hair because he finds it cool. Perhaps, he might be applying it so that he can stay calm inside the ring and focus on the match.

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 Stiff mean in wrestling?

Stiff is a term for when a wrestler puts excessive force into his attacks or maneuvers on his opponent, deliberately or accidentally.

What is WWE kayfabe?

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.

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 F mean in wrestling?

-F- Fall. When both of the opponent's shoulders are in contact with the mat (a pin), a wrestler is awarded a fall, which wins the match.

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.

What is a rib in wrestling?

In professional wrestling, a rib is a prank played on a wrestler, or backstage employee of a wrestling promotion, by another wrestler. Ribs may be practiced as a form of stress relief from the grueling schedule of traveling, experiencing the physical exertion of wrestling, and sleeping in a different town most nights.

Do wrestlers know who is going to win?

In some cases, the two wrestlers will know who's supposed to win, how long the match is supposed to take, and then plan out with their opponent the sequence of three or four moves that will make the finishing montage, ending with the pin (1-2-3), the count-out, the disqualification, or general mayhem.

Where is wrestling most popular in the US?

Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles is one of the most popular and mainstream cities in the world. WWE holds SummerSlam at the Staples Center every year to tap into some of the mainstream media flow LA is so famous for.