THE WORKINGS OF WRESTLING
What exactly does kayfabe mean, and what are its origins ?
Kayfabe is actually old carnival talk meaning "fake." In wrestling it is used to talk about inside information about the business, which in the past would have been kept secret from the fans. The term "breaking kayfabe" is used when character is broken. The word has been used both as an adjective and noun in today's wrestling world, especially since the business is now so exposed, and "breaking kayfabe" or revealing the secrets is not the big deal it once was.
Do the chair shot's really hurt ?
The truth is, it does cause pain. Many wrestlers have suffered concussions from being hit with chairshots. Now, there are two things to consider when watching a chairshot. One, is the chair itself. Most chairs are made of a lighter aluminium than the old, heavier, steel chairs. That is why they often crumble around the person's head on the shot. Still, they can pack a wallop when swung at full force. Second, most wrestlers put up a hand or two to take away from the impact. When they don't, the wrestler takes the full brunt of the "unprotected" chairshot. It is far from harmless, as wrestlers like Mick Foley will attest to.
Hey how do wrestlers like Muta and Tajiri do that mist thing ?
According to one independent wrestler who also uses mist, he explained that capsules are used. Placed between the cheek and gums on the sides of the mouth, the wrestler pulls them over with his tongue, chews them, then spews the mist. Whether or not Muta and Tajiri use the same technique is unknown.
Is the entire match more or less planned before hand, or is the finish known and the wrestlers fill in the rest ?
Depends on the match, circumstances, and wrestlers. Sometimes a match is scripted and planned out move for move, while other times, a booker may just tell them who will win, and allow them to build the match from there. Some wrestlers like to work out a few specific spots for a match, and work the rest out in the ring. It really depends on the people involved, and the circumstances of a match.
What do wrestlers use to make their hair all wet and stringy (ie. Triple H) ... like they just took a shower. It just isn't water is it ?
Actually, in the case of Triple H and many others, it is water. They douse their head before heading out to the ring, and in longer matches, you'll notice the hair drying.
What is a shoot interview ?
Before the term became overused, a shoot interview referred to wrestlers doing an interview out of character, essentially speaking as them selves as opposed to following a storyline. A shoot simply meant that the person was speaking the truth, as opposed to a scripted or pre-determined speech.
I found out that Johnny Ace is now booking finishes for WCW. What exactly is booking finishes?
"Finishes is how a match ends." As opposed to creating the storylines or putting the matches together, booking the "finish" is determining the end of the match, preferably in a way that achieves the desired result (like making one man look strong in defeat, or having both men come out of the match looking equal). Ace gained a reputation in All Japan for coming up with exciting, believable finishes.
What happened to the "tag rope" ?
The tag rope was used so partners would stay in their corner, and be forced to hold the rope when they made the tag. This prevented them from walking down the apron to make tags. It being discontinued was just something that slowly happened over the years.
How do wrestlers such as Eddie Gilbert throw fire ?
It is an old magic trick called flash paper. Flash paper is chemically treated paper that burns up with no smoke or ash. The wrestler uses a wad of the paper, and ignites it, usually with a cigarette lighter, and "throws fire". Wrestlers like Eddie Gilbert made it pretty obvious that he was using a lighter, while others, like the Sheik in his prime, used a little slight of hand to try and make it seem as if the fire magically appeared.
I was wondering if the announcers know the results of the matches they are calling beforehand, or are they not told the result, so they're emotions during the broadcast will be a little more "real" ?
Sometimes they are, and sometimes they aren't. WCW tried not telling their announcers anything about what would happen for some time, so that they would get that "real" reaction. Usually, the announcers do know what is going to take place, so that they know what to put over, and how they should portray the events to the TV audience.
When a wrestler climbs the turnbuckle preparing to leap, the referee begins counting. What is this count for ?
Wrestlers are supposed to stay off the ropes. If the referee reaches a five count, technically he is supposed to disqualify the wrestler. It is an outdated rule that referees continue to pretend to enforce.
What is a dark match ? What is a jabroni ?
A dark match is a match at a television taping that isn't taped. Usually it is a tryout match. The WWF and to a lesser extent WCW will have local wrestlers who are highly recommended by local promoters perform at TV tapings in the opening matches. WWF management and top wrestlers can then evaluate the wrestler and decide if they have potential. A jobroni is a slang term for jobber, or a wrestler who gets in very little offense while getting squashed by a star wrestler.
What is a luchador ?
A luchador is Spanish term for wrestler. Lucha libre means "free fight" in Spanish, and a luchador is a free fighter, or a wrestler. Wrestlers from Mexico are often called luchadors.
Are microphones placed underneath the ring ?
Yes, often microphones are put underneath the ring as a way to amplify the sounds of bumps wrestlers take, although today the mic'ing of rings has become much more sophisticated than simply putting a mic underneath the ring.
Do wrestlers ever blade other wrestlers ?
Yes, some wrestlers who are inexperienced or squeamish about blading prefer their opponent blade them during the match.
Do wrestlers use blood capsules because blading would cause disease to spread ?
When you see blood, 99 percent of the time it is real blood. There are often occasions of what is called "hardway bleeding" where a cut is suffered without blading. Capsules are only used to simulate bleeding from the mouth.
Is wrestling considered a sport ?
No, because the matches are pre-determined. As a result, both the WWF and WCW have adopted alternative terms to calling it an actual sport. The WWF chooses to call it's product "sports entertainment" while WCW usually refers to it as the "wrestling business".