For the reader new to professional wrestling, I am developing a glossary of terms to make my posts easier to follow. I will add new terms as I think of them--or someone asks!
Blading--when a wrestler uses something (usually a piece a razor blade) to produce a cut on his own head, or his opponent.
Catch wrestling--American style of wrestling that emerged in carnivals in the nineteenth century and evolved into the modern professional style.
Chair shot--when one competitor strikes another in the head with a chair. Direct blows to the head have become popular with the rise of "hard core" style wrestling. Now, as evidence amounts of the long term effects, the industry is beginning to look for ways to move away from this gimmick.
Count-out--match ends with one or both wrestlers unable to return to ring within allotted time.
DQ--disqualification.
Draw--results when no competitor is able to score a fall within time limit.
Face--the apparent good guy in a wrestling match.
Heat--the emotion a skilled performer can produce from the audience during a match, or interview.
Heel--the apparent bad guy in a wrestling match.
Lucha--Mexican style of pro wrestling. Acrobatic moves, and maxked competitors are featured.
Potato--a blow that actually lands with full force. Usually because of crossed signals, or botched timing.
Selling--When a wrestler reacts to opponent's offense in a realistic, and convincing, manner.
Shoot--a match where one, or both, competitors are genuinely trying to win. These are extremely rare.
Shooter--a genuine wrestler, often used by promoters to control other wrestlers behavior.
Show air--when a wrestler obviously misses the opponent with a blow, often compounded when the target reacts as though he, or she, had been shot.
Swerve--when a "shocking turn" takes place, e.g. one partner turns on another.
Work--match (pretty much all pro matches) where finish is predetermined. Competition is to achieve a level of believability that allows audience to suspend their disbelief.
Worker-wrestler skilled at generating audience emotion.
Working "Stiff"--a style of pro wrestling wherein, even though the end is agreed upon, blows, and holds are applied with true force.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment