Wrestling Secrets Exposed

Two wrestlers compete in WWE Monday Night Raw

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Just like magic, the world of wrestling is highly secretive in nature. For decades, the wrestlers spoke in their own language to keep the secret of their sport alive. Just two decades ago, John Stossel was beaten up for daring to ask a wrestler if wrestling was real. Today, the secret is out of the bag.

Fake or Real?

Wrestling is just as fake as Gone With the Wind, any Shakespeare play, and critically acclaimed television shows like The Sopranos and The West Wing. The only difference between a pro wrestler and Al Pacino is that Al gets many chances to nail a scene while if a wrestler screws up, the entire world sees their mistake.

Why Choose to Lose?

Why would a wrestler choose to lose since the bigger stars make more money? For the same reason that an actor agrees to get clipped by Tony Soprano. It is what the script calls for and they are professional. If a wrestler decided to go into business for himself, he would find himself unemployed very quickly.

Do the Wrestlers Get Hurt?

The art form that wrestlers participate in is very dangerous and has even resulted in death for those that have made a mistake in the ring. While a WWE wrestler would never intentionally hurt his opponent, accidents do happen. It is very rare for any wrestler to end their career without suffering a major injury at one point in their career. However, sometimes the physical nature of the sport allows the writers to create a fake injury. Even when they don't get injured, the sport is very physically demanding and the constant repetition and travel take a very physical toll on the wrestlers.

Blood: Real or Fake?

Any blood you may see is likely real. It is usually created by a wrestler using a blade on their forehead. However, accidents do happen and sometimes the blood on the face of a wrestler is caused by a legitimate shot to the face. As far as the blood that a wrestler spits up due to an internal injury, that is created by a blood capsule. Contrary to popular belief, ketchup is not used in the WWE.

Performance Enhancements

It would be naive to think that some people on the roster aren't taking something. Since there are no reliable tests for growth hormone, that aspect of the WWE Wellness Policy as well as every other testing program by any other sport is really based on the honor system and we all know that cheaters have no honor. Sadly, we live in an era where everyone is guilty until proven innocent and there is currently no way for anyone to prove their innocence. This is not just a WWE problem, this is a problem every other sport is facing. Unlike the other sports, there is no real competitive advantage to taking steroids. However, a better physique can lead to a better push for a wrestler.

Friends and Family

It's true: Sometimes relationships are faked in wrestling to give a push to a wrestler's story or to create a family drama. However, wrestling can be a family affair and some wrestlers truly are connected in real life.

Are Referees in on It?

Unlike referees in other sports, the referees in wrestling are a part of the show. Their incompetence is used to create added drama in a match. In addition to being knocked out by a glancing blow and then waking up after the bad guy has cheated, the wrestler is also used to communicate to the wrestlers. They have an ear piece that communicates with someone in the back and allows them to know when a match should end, if the ending of a match should change, and anything else that needs to be communicated to them. The referee also communicates with the wrestlers. They relay information to other wrestler if their opponent is hurt and sometimes pass the blade to a wrestler that they cut themselves with.

The Fate of the Ultimate Warrior

Tragically, many wrestlers have passed before their time, so when a wrestler disappears from television people tend to assume the worst. Paul Orndorff and the Ultimate Warrior are the two most well-known examples of wrestlers rumored to be dead before their time.

Sadly, in 2014 the Ultimate Warrior passed away.

Multiple Wrestlers Playing the Same Part

In the history of wrestling, it is not uncommon for several men to have portrayed the same character, especially if they wear a mask or have their face painted. Even Kiss has toured with a fake Ace Frehley and Peter Chris. However, in the cases of the Ultimate Warrior, the Undertaker, and Kane, the men that originally played those characters are the only men to have played them. There have been rip-offs of their gimmicks and sometimes as part of a storyline there was a fake Undertaker or Kane but in those instances the imitator was always revealed. The most famous wrestler in WWE history to have been portrayed by multiple people has been Doink the Clown.

Is Vince McMahon a Billionaire?

The WWE is a publicly traded company. Vince McMahon is the CEO and the Chairman of the Board of Directors. He does not own 100% of the company—which has a market cap that usually hovers in the $1 billion range—so, you can purchase shares of the company and become a part-owner!

However, when Linda McMahon ran for Senate, she had to file a financial disclosure form. Based upon an analysis of that statement, it has been inferred that Vince and Linda are worth anywhere from $850 million to $1.1 billion.