Wrestling Insider Glossary

Sometimes when I discuss wrestling with my fellow wrestling fans, I often discuss it using what are known as "Wrestling Insider Terms". These are words which describe what goes on in the pro-wrestling world, as used by many people on the Internet as well as those in the business itself. So, for the uninformed, he's a list of terms that us "Wrestling Insiders" use. Maybe you won't get so confused the next time you read R.S.P.W. (the pro-wrestling newsgroup, rec.sport.pro-wrestling)

Note: When a word is highlighted, it means that its definition can be found elsewhere in the list.

Angle:

The storyline of a feud.

Blade:

When a wrestler cuts himself during a match to shed blood with a razor blade, which is usually hidden in the tape wrapped around their wrists.

Booker:

Person who comes with angles, picks the winners of matches, comes up with ideas for gimmics, and hires & fires wrestlers.

Bump:

A hard fall taken by a wrestler.

Face:

The good guy, the fan favorite.

Gimmic:

The "character" that a wrestler portrays.

Heat:

When a wrestler gets a large response from the fans, good or bad.

Heel:

The bad guy, the rule breaker

House Show:

Wrestling show that is not shown on TV.

Job:

To lose the match

Jobber:

Wrestler who constantly loses his matches in order to put another wrestler over with the fans.

Kayfabe:

To stay in character.

Mark:

Fans who think all the angles in wrestling are real.

Over:

To be popular with fans.

Push:

When a wrestler goes on a winning streak.

Screw Job:

When a match ends in a DQ, count-out, or no-contest.

Shoot:

When some bumps in a match are real. Something real that happens when it is not supposed to happen.

Shoot Interview:

Interview where the wrestler breaks kayfabe.

Tweener:

A wrestler who isn't quite a heel or a face.

Work:

Something that is planned out ahead of time.