Professional Wrestling

Professional wrestling (often referred to as pro wrestling, or simply, wrestling) is a form of athletic theater[2] centered around mock combat and based on the premise that performers are competitive wrestlers. Professional wrestling is distinguished from amateur wrestling by its scripted outcomes and emphasis on entertainment and storytelling over genuine competition.[3] The staged nature of matches is an open secret: Through a practice known as kayfabe, both wrestlers and spectators—as well commentators and journalists—maintain the pretense that the performances are bona fide competitions,[4] which is likened to the suspension of disbelief employed when engaging with fiction.[3] Professional wrestlers perform as characters and usually maintain what is known in the industry as a "gimmick" — the persona, style and traits conveyed by distinctive attire, stage name, entrance theme music, and other distinguished characteristics and creative flourishes. Matches are the primary vehicle for advancing storylines, which typically center on interpersonal conflicts, or feuds, between heroic "faces" and villainous "heels". A wrestling ring, akin to the platform used in boxing, serves as the main stage; additional scenes may be recorded for television in backstage areas of the venue, in a format similar to reality television. Performers generally integrate authentic wrestling techniques and fighting styles with choreography, stunts, improvisation, and dramatic conventions designed to maximize entertainment value and audience engagement.[1] Professional wrestling as a performing art evolved from the common practice of match-fixing among American wrestlers in the 19th century, who later sought to make matches shorter, more entertaining, and less physically taxing. As the public gradually realized and accepted that matches were predetermined, wrestlers responded by increasingly adding melodrama, gimmickry, and outlandish stunt work to their performances to further enhance the spectacle. By at least the early 20th century, professional wrestling had diverged from the competitive sport to become an artform and genre of sports entertainment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_wrestling