Wrestling 101: The Ultimate Glossary of Professional Wrestling Terms

SI Wrestling Staff | Oct 17, 2024

IMAGO / Gonzales Photo

Professional wrestling has its own unique language developed over decades. Whether you're new to the sport or you're just looking to find a quick answer, this glossary will will explain everything from "kayfabe" to "signature move." Here's you'll find a comprehensive guide to help you understand wrestling like a pro.

A

• Angle: A storyline or ongoing plot between wrestlers.

• A-Show: The primary, flagship wrestling show of a promotion.

• Attitude Era: A period in WWE characterized by edgy content that started in the late 1990's.

B

• Babyface (Face): A wrestler who is portrayed as a hero and fan favorite.

• Backyard Wrestling: Wrestling typically performed by non-professionals (usually teengaers) in makeshift rings.

• Blading: When a wrestler intentionally cuts oneself (usually on the forehead) to produce blood.

• Botch: A mistake during a match, usually involving a missed move or a mistimed spot.

• B-Show: Low to mid-level talent show of a promotion.

• Bump: A fall or hit that a wrestler takes to sell an opponent’s move.

• Busted Open: When a wrestler is bleeding.

C

• Call: When a wrestler gives instructions to other wrestlers during a match.

• Card: The lineup of matches scheduled for a particular show or event.

• Cheap Heat/Pop: Earning crowd boos or cheers by making easy, often local insults or praise.

• Cheap Shot: When a wrestler uses an unsportsmanlike ove to gain an unfair advantage.

• Clean Finish: A match conclusion without any cheating or interference.

• Closeline: A strike where a wrestler extends their arm and knocks down an opponent.

• Cross-Promotion: A single event involving two or more promotions.

D

• Dark Match: A match that happens before or after the televised portion of a wrestling event.

• Dirt Sheets: Wrestling publications that report backstage information and rumors.

• Draw: A wrestler who attracts crowds and money.

• Dusty/Dirty Finish: A match finish where a false conclusion leads to a controversial or ambiguous result.

E

• Enforcer: A wrestler used as muscle or backup for another wrestler or authority figure.

F

• Face Turn: A storyline development in which a heel becomes a face.

• Feud: A prolonged rivalry between two or more wrestlers, usually played out over multiple matches.

• Finish: The planned conclusion of a match, typically a big move or pinfall.

• Finisher: A move used to finish off an opposing wrestler.

G

• Gimmick: The character or persona that a wrestler portrays.

• Go Home: The signal given to wrestlers to finish the match and proceed to the planned finish.

• Go Over: Beating another wrestler.

H

• Hardcore Match: A match that allows the use of weapons and other objects and usually has fewer rules.

• Heat: Negative crowd reactions, such as a boo, typically aimed at a heel. It can also refer to behind-the-scenes tension between wrestlers.

• Heel: A villain or bad-guy character.
  

• Hot Tag: When a face wrestler, after being beaten down, tags their partner to make a dramatic comeback.

• House Show: An event that isn't televised.

I

• Indy (Indies): A short term used to describe an independent promotion.

• Interference: When someone not in the match gets involved, usually to influence the outcome.

J

• Job: Losing a match, often in a way that makes the winner look stronger.

• Jobber: A wrestler whose role is to lose in order to elevate other wrestlers.

K

• Kayfabe: The illusion that wrestling’s storylines and events are real and not staged.

L

• Legit: Something real or unscripted as opposed to part of the show.

• Low Blow: A shot to the crotch.

• Lucha Libre: A Mexican style of wrestling known for it's acrobatics and high-flying moves.

• Lumberjack Match: A match where wrestlers surround the ring and throw competitors back in when they exit.

M

• Main Eventer: A wrestler who is a top draw for a company and usually headlines events.

• Mark: A fan who believes wrestling characters and events are real.

• Mid-Carder: A wrestler who typically does not have main event status but is still featured prominently.

• Monster Heel: A dominant and villainous wrestler.

• Mouthpiece: A manager who speaks for a wrestler.

N

• No-Sell: When a wrestler does not act hurt or affected by a move, either intentionally or by mistake.

O

• Over: When a wrestler is popular with the crowd, whether as a face or heel.

• Oversell: When a wrestler exaggerates the effects of a move.

P

• Pop: A loud reaction from the crowd, typically for a face or a big move.

• Promo: A speech or interview segment used to hype a match, feud, or character.

R

• Ref Bump: When the referee is knocked out or incapacitated during a match, often leading to interference or cheating.

• Rest Hold: A move, typically a submission hold, where the wrestlers can take a brief break during the match.

• Ring General: A wrestler who is highly skilled at controlling the pacing and flow of a match.

S

• Sell: The art of making a move look painful to the audience.

• Shoot: When something real happens in wrestling, breaking the script.

• Signature Move: A move closely associated with a wrestler, that may or may not be their finisher.

• Spot: A pre-planned sequence of moves in a match.

• Squash Match: A short match where one wrestler dominates the other to showcase their strength.

• Stable (Faction): A group of wrestlers who align together.

• Submission Match: A match that can only be won by forcing the opponent to submit.

T

• Tag Team: A match where teams of two or more wrestlers compete, with only one wrestler from each team allowed in the ring at a time.

• Turn: A shift in a wrestler’s alignment, such as turning from a heel to a face.

• Tweener: A wrestler who is neither a full heel nor a full face.

W

• Work: The scripted or planned aspects of wrestling.

• Work-rate: A wrestler’s in-ring ability, typically referring to their speed, skill, and intensity.

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