Glossary of professional wrestling terms

Professional wrestling has accrued a considerable amount of jargon throughout its existence. Much of it stems from the industry's origins in the days of carnivals and circuses. In the past, professional wrestlers used such terms in the presence of fans so as not to reveal the nature of the business. Into the 21st century, widespread discussion on the Internet has popularized these terms. Many of the terms refer to the financial aspects of professional wrestling in addition to in-ring terms. Gimmick (professional wrestling) Gimmick (professional wrestling) Valet (professional wrestling) Kayfabe X Division Beekman, Scott. Ringside: A history of professional wrestling in America (Greenwood, 2006) Kerrick, George E. "The jargon of professional wrestling". American Speech (1980): 142–145. JSTOR Mazer, Sharon. Professional wrestling: sport and spectacle (Univ. Press of Mississippi, 1998) Murray, Thomas E. "The language of bodybuilding". American Speech (1984): 195–206.