Terminology
A list of the terminology you’ll see used by the online professional wrestling community. You’ll never be lost again on a wrestling forum!
Angle: A storyline.
Babyface (or face): A character which the fans like and cheer for. A good guy.
Backyard Wrestling: Wrestling that isn’t endorsed by an official organisation. If a group of guys get together and decide to have a wrestling match in a field, it’s called backyard wrestling.
Blade: When a wrestler will use a blade to cut himself open to make an injury look more effective. Usually happens when a wrestler is struck with a foreign object to the head.
Bury: To dimish a wrestlers respectability. If a wrestler has been disrespectful backstage or has a bad attitude, to punish them an organisation may book them to lose to a wrestler that has a lower prestige than him.
Carry: Where the better wrestler will work hard to make the other look good.
Cheap heat: A heel may try and attain boos by being disrespectful towards the audience, this is deemed ‘cheap heat’.
Count out: When a wrestler is outsdie of the ring for the referee’s 10 count and loses the match.
Draw: If a wrestler is very well liked by the fans, he is considered to be a draw as people will pay for tickets or the PPV to watch that wrestler. The Undertaker is considered a huge draw, as he ‘draws’ fans to buy tickets, merchandise etc.
Finisher: The trademark move used by a wrestler which usually will end a match. John Cena’s finishers include the Attitude Adjustment and the STF.
Gimmick: A term used for a characters persona. Being a leprechaun is Hornswoggle’s gimmick.
Hardcore: A match making foreign objects legal.
House Show: A wrestling event that isn’t televised.
Jobber: A wrestler whose job is to make the opponent look good. The Brooklyn Brawler was a famous jobber as he would lose most of his matches.
Kayfabe: The notion that everything that happens on screen in professional wrestling is real.
Over: Well-liked or well-respected. If a wrestler is over with the crowd, it means they get a good reception.
Promo: A chance for wrestlers to talk about their opponent or an upcoming PPV.
Punt: A vicious kick to the head, a move used recently by Randy Orton.
Push: When a wrestler receives more time on TV, or gets a run at a championship he is receiving a push.
Rib: A joke or prank.
Sell: To make the audience believe something is real. For example, a wrestler may pretend to have a leg injury and will therefore limp or be able to do less on the leg. He therefore sells the injury to the audience.
Shoot: Something that is real and isn’t kayfabe (in character). In a shoot interview a wrestler will give his honest opinions on a matter, not the opinions portrayed by his on screen character.
Squash: A match that one wrestler is completely dominant in and win without any trouble.
Stable: A group of wrestlers that have formed an alliance. For example, Legacy or D-X.
Submission: A hold which attempts to get the other wrestler to give up. For example, The Undertaker uses Hell’s Gate which is a submission hold in order to get the opponent to submit.
Tap Out: A form of submitting. If a wrestler taps while in a submission hold, it means he is giving up.
Turn: A change in character which results in a wrestler becoming a babyface or a heel. At Bragging Rights 2009, Batista turned heel after attacking Rey Mysterio.
Work: To perform in the ring. A wrestler will work a match.
A list of the terminology you’ll see used by the online professional wrestling community. You’ll never be lost again on a wrestling forum!
Angle: A storyline.
Babyface (or face): A character which the fans like and cheer for. A good guy.
Backyard Wrestling: Wrestling that isn’t endorsed by an official organisation. If a group of guys get together and decide to have a wrestling match in a field, it’s called backyard wrestling.
Blade: When a wrestler will use a blade to cut himself open to make an injury look more effective. Usually happens when a wrestler is struck with a foreign object to the head.
Bury: To dimish a wrestlers respectability. If a wrestler has been disrespectful backstage or has a bad attitude, to punish them an organisation may book them to lose to a wrestler that has a lower prestige than him.
Carry: Where the better wrestler will work hard to make the other look good.
Cheap heat: A heel may try and attain boos by being disrespectful towards the audience, this is deemed ‘cheap heat’.
Count out: When a wrestler is outsdie of the ring for the referee’s 10 count and loses the match.
Draw: If a wrestler is very well liked by the fans, he is considered to be a draw as people will pay for tickets or the PPV to watch that wrestler. The Undertaker is considered a huge draw, as he ‘draws’ fans to buy tickets, merchandise etc.
Finisher: The trademark move used by a wrestler which usually will end a match. John Cena’s finishers include the Attitude Adjustment and the STF.
Gimmick: A term used for a characters persona. Being a leprechaun is Hornswoggle’s gimmick.
Hardcore: A match making foreign objects legal.
House Show: A wrestling event that isn’t televised.
Jobber: A wrestler whose job is to make the opponent look good. The Brooklyn Brawler was a famous jobber as he would lose most of his matches.
Kayfabe: The notion that everything that happens on screen in professional wrestling is real.
Over: Well-liked or well-respected. If a wrestler is over with the crowd, it means they get a good reception.
Promo: A chance for wrestlers to talk about their opponent or an upcoming PPV.
Punt: A vicious kick to the head, a move used recently by Randy Orton.
Push: When a wrestler receives more time on TV, or gets a run at a championship he is receiving a push.
Rib: A joke or prank.
Sell: To make the audience believe something is real. For example, a wrestler may pretend to have a leg injury and will therefore limp or be able to do less on the leg. He therefore sells the injury to the audience.
Shoot: Something that is real and isn’t kayfabe (in character). In a shoot interview a wrestler will give his honest opinions on a matter, not the opinions portrayed by his on screen character.
Squash: A match that one wrestler is completely dominant in and win without any trouble.
Stable: A group of wrestlers that have formed an alliance. For example, Legacy or D-X.
Submission: A hold which attempts to get the other wrestler to give up. For example, The Undertaker uses Hell’s Gate which is a submission hold in order to get the opponent to submit.
Tap Out: A form of submitting. If a wrestler taps while in a submission hold, it means he is giving up.
Turn: A change in character which results in a wrestler becoming a babyface or a heel. At Bragging Rights 2009, Batista turned heel after attacking Rey Mysterio.
Work: To perform in the ring. A wrestler will work a match.
