Kayfabe: Difference between revisions

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"[[Kayfabe]]" is a Carny term thought to have originated from the [[Pig Latin]] for "be fake", possibly originally by pronouncing it backward ("kay-feeb"). [[Professional Wrestling]] adopted the term as a reference to the standard [[Fourth Wall]] features of separating the audience from the action. It is meant to convey the idea that, [[Suspiciously Specific Denial|yes, Pro Wrestling is a genuine sport, and yes, this is how these people act in real life]]. It is essentially [[Willing Suspension of Disbelief]] specifically for Pro Wrestling.

Back in the old days, though, Kayfabe was much more; it was pro wrestling's real-life [[Masquerade]]. Wrestlers, promoters, and everybody else involved with the business alike resorted to any means necessary to guard the secret that wrestling was rigged, from wrestlers roughing up any reporters who dared ask, "It's all fake, right?" to (alleged) death threats towards anybody who threatened to expose the secret, through contacts with the Mafia and other organized crime. Heels and faces weren't allowed to travel, eat, or be seen with their 'enemies' in public. Regardless, fans started to figure out the truth in the '70s ([[Open Secret|if indeed they ever really didn't know before]]—with any live TV audience there is a certain amount of kayfabe of a sort going on with them too, remember), and once Vince McMahon's [[~~WWE~~|WWF]] rose to prominence in the '80s, the secret was pretty much out for any but the most die-hard (and thick-headed) fans. And even they finally got it in the '90s, when Vince himself revealed it on ''Monday Night RAW''.

Back in the old days, though, Kayfabe was much more; it was pro wrestling's real-life [[Masquerade]]. Wrestlers, promoters, and everybody else involved with the business alike resorted to any means necessary to guard the secret that wrestling was rigged, from wrestlers roughing up any reporters who dared ask, "It's all fake, right?" to (alleged) death threats towards anybody who threatened to expose the secret, through contacts with the Mafia and other organized crime. Heels and faces weren't allowed to travel, eat, or be seen with their 'enemies' in public. Regardless, fans started to figure out the truth in the '70s ([[Open Secret|if indeed they ever really didn't know before]]—with any live TV audience there is a certain amount of kayfabe of a sort going on with them too, remember), and once Vince McMahon's [[World Wrestling Entertainment|WWF]] rose to prominence in the '80s, the secret was pretty much out for any but the most die-hard (and thick-headed) fans. And even they finally got it in the '90s, when Vince himself revealed it on ''Monday Night RAW''.

"Breaking kayfabe", for a pro wrestler, is tantamount to "breaking character" for an actor.

Note that even in the current era, when pro wrestling is known to be staged, kayfabe is still a big deal; most wrestling organizations expect wrestlers to maintain kayfabe at all times, and one (Deep South Wrestling, one of [[WWE]]'s farm leagues) levied substantial fines on its wrestlers for breaking kayfabe at public appearances, before it was shut down.

Note that even in the current era, when pro wrestling is known to be staged, kayfabe is still a big deal; most wrestling organizations expect wrestlers to maintain kayfabe at all times, and one (Deep South Wrestling, one of [[World Wrestling Entertainment|WWE]]'s farm leagues) levied substantial fines on its wrestlers for breaking kayfabe at public appearances, before it was shut down.

Some people compare 'modern' kayfabe to [[Penn & Teller]]'s tricks which seem to give away the 'magic secret', while actually setting you up for a different, more impressive effect.