pro wrestling
Theatrical combat sport
Pro wrestling is theatrical combat presented as competitive sport.
Matches follow scripted outcomes with choreographed moves designed to look painful while minimizing actual injury.
The drama extends beyond the ring—rivalries, betrayals, and storylines unfold across weeks of television.
Fans understand the artifice but engage with it like any fiction: Is pro wrestling fake? Yes, but so is Game of Thrones.
Staged authenticity in wrestling
- heelFoot's rear underside
- babyfaceYouthful, innocent appearance
- promoBrief publicity piece
- gimmickAttention-getting device or trick
storyline · feud · angle · manager · valet · mic skills · heat · pop
Forced grounding maneuver
- submissionYielding to another's will
- pinfallPins toppled in bowling
- strikesRefusals to work collectively
- suplexOverhead backward wrestling slam
piledriver · reversal · chokehold · armbar · headlock · sleeper hold · sharpshooter · clothesline
Power to exert force
- agilityQuickness and ease
- staminaCapacity for sustained effort
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
acrobatics · coordination · endurance · powerlifting · gymnastics · muscularity · physique · fitness
Audio for dramatic arrivals
- pyrotechnicsArt of explosive displays
- championship beltAward worn around waist
- signature movesDistinctive characteristic actions
- catchphrasesMemorable associated expressions
crowd chants · pay-per-view · merchandise · arena · turnbuckle · steel cage · ladder match · WrestleMania
Pro grappling promotion
- AEWAmerican wrestling promotion
- rosterList of members
- bookerArranges engagements professionally
- promoterOne who organizes events
territory · tryout · developmental · contract · main event · undercard · house show · ratings
kayfabe
Staged authenticity in wrestling
gimmick · storyline · feud · angle · manager · valet · mic skills · heat · pop · mark
takedown
Forced grounding maneuver
- submissionYielding to another's will
- pinfallPins toppled in bowling
- strikesRefusals to work collectively
suplex · piledriver · reversal · chokehold · armbar · headlock · sleeper hold · sharpshooter · clothesline · DDT
strength
Power to exert force
- agilityQuickness and ease
- staminaCapacity for sustained effort
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
flexibility · acrobatics · coordination · endurance · powerlifting · gymnastics · muscularity · physique · fitness · training
entrance music
Audio for dramatic arrivals
- pyrotechnicsArt of explosive displays
- championship beltAward worn around waist
- signature movesDistinctive characteristic actions
catchphrases · crowd chants · pay-per-view · merchandise · arena · turnbuckle · steel cage · ladder match · WrestleMania · ring announcer
WWE
Pro grappling promotion
promoter · territory · tryout · developmental · contract · main event · undercard · house show · ratings · touring
- violent mediaslasher films, slasher movies, gore, snuff films, horror films
- grapplingsubmission hold, chokehold, arm bar, triangle choke, ankle lock
- lowbrowreality TV, tabloids, gossip magazines, trash TV, celebrity gossip
- Pseudosportscompetitive eating, beer pong, cornhole, darts, billiards
- Wrestling Culturefandom, fans, rivalries, traditions, WWE
- martial arts filmskung fu, karate, ninja, samurai, wuxia
pro wrestlingamateur wrestling
Unpaid competitive grappling sport
Olympic wrestling · collegiate wrestling · freestyle wrestling · Greco-Roman wrestling · catch wrestling
pro wrestlingMMA
Hybrid combat sport
mixed martial arts · boxing · UFC · judo · Brazilian jiu-jitsu
wrestle, professional, wrestling, wrestler, grappling, wrestled, wrestles, wrestlings, professional wrestling