I realize that some of the newer online fans may not know some of the lingo used by us asshole onliners...so, I've compiled this little Glossary...hell, I remember how long it took me to find out just whatta hell people were talking about. Remember though, there really is NO concrete definition for most of these.
ANGLE : The current storyline or sequence of events a worker is involved in.
BABY : Term uses to describe the "good" wrestler. People on the net tend to use the word
"face" as the full name is Babyface. Wrestlers themselves tend to use "baby".
BLADE : To cut oneself with a sharp object (ie: to blade). May also refer to the object used (ie:
he used a razor blade to blade himself). Often used by net people but wrestlers more
commonly refer to it as a GIG.
BOOKER : Formerly, one or two people were in charge of deciding everything involved in the
storylines of a promotion - who wins, who loses, how they lose, who gets pushed, etc.
Currently, the trend is to have a booking commitee made up of serveral members who
contribute to the idea. It is considered dangerous to have a worker (be it manager or wrestler)
in a booking position. A worker would have to have their ego in check all the time to be a
booker.
BUMP : The way in which a wrestler lands on the mat, floor, etc. in order to lessen the impact
and damage on their bodies. Online fans often refer to a person taking a nasty "bump". The
worker is in fact doing a spot while falling and then taking the "bump" correctly.
CARNY : Most people on the net have never heard of this and fewer still know what it means.
Carny is a "language" once used by wrestlers (some still know it today) to call moves and
spots in the ring. The thought was that even if someone heard you call a spot, they would not
know that is what it was since the wrestlers would be speaking "carny".
FACE : Common net term for a "good" wrestler. Derived from Babyface, wrestlers use
"baby" instead.
FEEDING : The act where an experienced wrestler will set himself up in positions to let less
experienced wrestlers execute moves easier. Only formally trained wrestlers can identify
these moves in a match and it is generally regarded as the sign of an excellent wrestler. Ric
Falir and Arn Anderson are some of the best "feeders" in the world while Hulk Hogan, Kevin
Nash, Scott Hall and most other "top" names are terrible feeders. Feeding your oponent is
one of the key elements of making your opponent look good.
FINISH(er) : Before a match, the wrestlers will work out what the ending (finish) of the match
will be. Usually, the wrestler going over will do so with his finisher (final move).
GIG : Same as blade but used by wrestlers when speaking to one another. As with blade, you
can use a "gig" (sharp object) or "gig" yourself (cut your self).
HEAT : The level that a crowd is involved in a wrestling match and / or a wrestler. Good heat
ensures continued employment and a push. Wrestlers often interject themselves in other
wrestler's "heat" situations to "steal" their "heat". This is of course considered extremely
bad and unprofessional. There is also CHEAP HEAT which is getting a crowd reation based
not on any move or character developement but on a proven, simple act (IE: giving the fans
the middle finger)
HEEL : Description of the "bad" wrestler. Used by both online fans and wrestlers.
HOOKER : Years ago, wrestling would from time to time become a legitimate contest
(especially if someone put a shoot on another wrestler). There were wrestlers that began to
learn moves that could seriously injure a man to defend themselves against such a threat.
There were only a handful of these men - Ed Lewis and Lou Thesz being two of the greatest
ever. They were used primarily to settle disputes - be it business or territorial. Hooker's
basically employed a full-blown shootfighting style when the time required it. Due to the
"softness" and "weakness" of the current wrestling scene, hookers no longer exist or are
used.
INSIDER : People in the wrestling business. Workers or office personel that make their living
off the wrestling world. There are VERY few insiders online and they will never let it be
known who they are. Information is NEVER leaked to the online community by these people
as they have information that would upset most of the wrestling fans in the world. There are
currently NO ONLINE news services (including Bob Ryder and 1wrestling.com) that are
insiders. Bob Ryder is presented information first but only information that has been cleared
to be released to the public. 1wrestling.com has all of their news / interviews fully worked.
The news that you read (including the news that is collected on this page) is clean, sanatized
news for your protection. If we let out just some of the insider information we had the
wrestling fan would turn a bitter nose and head the other way. It is safer and for more
profitable to give nice, clean news (no matter what other news pages may tell you and no
matter how "shocking" the news is - it can not even begin to touch reality.)
JOB : To lose a match - take a fall. Jobbing is the core of the business and in recent times we
have scene an influx of top-card wrestlers refusing to job. This is an indication of just how far
the wrestling world has slipped and just how bad of ego-maniacs there are out there. A truly
great wrestler will job to anyone at any time and fully understands the usefullness of jobbing
to the business.
KAYFABE : Old carny term used to refer to the level of secrecy about the inner workings of
the wrestling world. Once used to describe letting out even the mildest of hints that wrestling
was not real it is now thrown around carelessly to describe any revealed knowledge of the
inner workings of the business.
MARK : Traditionally used to refer to people who did not know the business was fake.
Currently, the term can be expanded to people who simply enjoy certain wrestlers (ie: I am a
Ric Flair mark). With the advent of wrestling news pages and sheets, several people who
know it is fake and think they have inside information (they really don't) created a term to
describe themselves - smarts..who suck (see definition)
OVER : To be popular or to have people come to see a worker based solely on their character
and wrestling ablilty. Can refer to both heels and babies but is usually reserved for babies.
PUSH : A worker who is featured positively in an angle. They do not have to be a "good" guy,
they simply must have a progression in their storyline. Workers that draw good heat tend to
get better pushes.
SCREW JOB : When a wrestling match does not have a clean finish in the middle of the ring.
Can be anything from a ref-bump to a run-in to having your feet on the ropes. This finish has
become more and more popular as workers ego's grew and they refused to job. Screw jobs
are generally considered a let down to the fans and a cheap way for a worker to get out of
jobbing. Occasionally, screw jobs can be used to further an angle and if so, hold more
crediblity.
SHOOT : Traditionally used to describe when two wrestlers stop cooperating with one another
in the ring. In the early years of wrestling, shoots were common. After the 60's, shoot became
EXTREMELY rare and you can probably count on 2 hands the number of legitimate shoots
captured on tape in the last 30 years. Also sometimes used to refer to interviews done where
it appears that the worker is talking about something that the promotion would not want
people to hear (ie: rival promotions, back-stage fights). In reality, there has not been a
"shoot" interview in years. All current "shoot" interviews are actually fully worked and
worded to seem like they are "shoots". (see INSIDER definition for more on secreacy in
wrestling)
SMART : Sometimes called SMART-MARK. Smarts came about as fans grew to know more
and more about the business. In recent times, "smart" has taken on an almost negative
image since from time to time it is revealed just how little "smarts" know. Most online fans
and especially news-posters consider themselves "smarts" or even somethine above that
(although few know what an insider is). In reality, most online fans and especially
news-posters are MARKS. They may know it is fake but they have no idea what it is really
all about and they still find it exciting and fun to watch. There is nothing wrong with being
either a mark or a smart.
SOLD SHOW: Indie promotions will sometimes be able to get schools or other oranizations to
pay for them to wrestle. The school or other organization then sells the tickets and takes the
profit (minus there cost for the show). Sold shows tend to be VERY profitable and are
preferred by indie groups. They are however hard to get.
SPOT : A move or series of moves or fall taken by a worker in the course of the match.
Difficult or aerial moves are often referred to as "high-spots". Wrestlers must notify their
opponent in the ring of what spot is next and this is referred to as "calling" the spot.
SPOT SHOW : Most independent promotions rely on renting out a venue and then selling
tickets. This is referred to a spot show and is the most common form. It is a dangerous
venture as you must get enough paying customers to cover the rental, paying your workers
and insurance.
WORKER : Usually used to refer to a wrestler but may also refer to a referee or manager. A
worker is anyone who gets into the ring. (except of course those annoying fans who jump over
the guard rails and invariably get beat up by a referee!)
