For a long time, people argued whether wrestling was real or fake until revelations that the sport was scripted came to light.
However, even with this revelation, the question of whether wrestling is real or fake is very contentious, with vocal voices on both sides.
Those arguing that wrestling is fake base it on the fact that it is scripted. However, being scripted does not mean that it is fake in any way.
Below is an in-depth look at the world of wrestling and the various ways it is real despite being scripted.
The History of Professional Wrestling
To understand the contention between the real of fake arguments, you must look back into the early years of professional wrestling.
For long, executives, wrestlers and performers maintained an illusion that wrestling events were real. The wrestling industry went to great lengths to maintain this illusion (known as “kayfabe”).
For example, rivals in storylines were banned from being seen together in public, skeptics were invited into the ring to experience professional wrestling, and Lou Albano, a performer, once took a televised lie detector test to defend this illusion.
This ended in 1989 when WWE admitted that professional wrestling was scripted. Since then, the entire industry has adopted the image that wrestling is a “sports entertainment” instead of a pure sport.
What Does “Wrestling Is Scripted” Mean?
Wrestling is scripted, which means that the events that occur during each show are planned and (often) produced in advance.
Below is a look at some of the top aspects of professional wrestling that are scripted:
1. Outcomes of Each Match
In professional wrestling, promoters decide the match outcome in advance, often to advance an ongoing storyline.
Promoters also use other factors, such as fan appeasement, backstage politics, and a wrestler’s skills and popularity, to decide the winner of a match.
2. Wrestling Storylines
Storylines (including rivalries and friendships) in professional wrestling are scripted.
For example, WWE hires professional writers to create the storylines the wrestlers play out in front of a live audience. Therefore, it is unsurprising that some bitter on-screen rivals are friends in real life and vice versa.
3. Wrestling Moves and Sequences
All wrestling moves and sequences, including high-flying stunts, kicks, punches, and fishing, are planned and rehearsed.
In some wrestling companies, for example, WWE, these moves are sometimes choreographed.
Just How Real Is Professional Wrestling?
While it is true that wrestling is scripted, with matches being planned and outcomes determined in advance, the sport is, by far, not fake.
Below is a look at the top ways in which professional wrestling is real:
1. The Athleticism and Skills of the Wrestlers
It is easy to dismiss wrestling as fake because it is scripted. However, to perform successfully, wrestlers require high levels of strength, power, agility, flexibility, endurance, and physical fitness.
As a result, professional wrestlers undergo rigorous training and conditioning while maintaining a strict diet to ensure they are fit to perform. Therefore, it can be argued that pro wrestlers are athletes who perform to entertain fans.
Several wrestlers are former professional athletes. The most famous ones include:
- Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: A former professional footballer.
- Bill Goldberg: A former NFL footballer.
- Dennis Rodman: A former professional basketball player.
- Kurt Angle: A former professional wrestler who won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics.
- Ronda Rousey: A former professional MMA fighter and UFC champion.
Other professional athletes who have become wrestlers include Mark Henry, Charlotte Flair, Titus O’Neil, Naomi, and Alexa Bliss.
2. Physicality of Performances and the Likelihood of Injuries
While wrestling moves are rehearsed in advance, wrestlers still need to perform them, putting their bodies through immense stress and strain.
As a result, injuries such as muscle strain, concussions, and broken bones are very common.
In some cases, injuries are career-ending. Famous WWE wrestlers like Tyson Kidd, Mick Foley, and Edge (Adam Joseph Copeland) had their careers cut short by injuries.
Professional wrestling injuries are not just career-ending; they can also be fatal. In some dire cases, wrestlers have died while performing in the ring.
3. The Emotional Investment of the Fans
Wrestling may be scripted, but this does not stop millions of fans worldwide from enjoying the performances.
Many of these fans are emotionally invested in the characters of professional wrestlers and the scripted storylines, especially the rivalries.
And it is not just fans who are emotionally invested; many wrestlers are also invested in their characters and storylines, leading to genuine connections with the fans.
So, who is to say that wrestling is fake if the wrestlers and performers live for the ring performances?