A mark is a professional wrestling fan who believes that everything associated with pro wrestling is real, rather than recognizing the existence of kayfabe (that is, it is a work). Marks are often (but not always) children or young teenagers who are devoted fans of pro wrestling. Professional wrestling show at the World Wrestling Entertainments Tribute to the Troops. Shown here is WWEs Chris Masters. ... In professional wrestling, kayfabe (pronounced KAY-fayb; IPA: ) refers to the portrayal of events within the industry as real, that is the portrayal of professional wrestling as not staged or worked. ... In professional wrestling, a work is slang for a staged event (that is, one that enforces kayfabe). ...

Some examples of beliefs which a 'mark' might hold would be:

• That the wrestlers are actually striking each other (and causing injury as a result), even though the punishment they appear to be inflicting would badly incapacitate or kill anyone else.
• That the wrestlers' gimmicks are their real-life personalities, and that they engage in behavior associated with the gimmick outside the wrestling ring (even if said behavior is not socially or legally acceptable). Sometimes, a mark will believe that a wrestler who has changed gimmicks is a totally different person.
• That face and heel wrestlers truly despise each other.
• That rival wrestling organizations do not exist (especially if they are not acknowledged by announcers), and that the career of a veteran wrestler who is new to a promotion does not exist. This was especially common during the 1980s in the WWF.

A mark can also refer to a devoted fan, either of a particular wrestler, wrestling company, or the sport itself. In professional wrestling, a gimmick is slang that refers to a wrestlers on-screen personality. ... The squared circle of professional wrestling is the ring where the match takes place (at least initially and primarily) and is a term borrowed from boxing, as is the ring itself; legitimate amateur wrestling takes place on a mat on a floor, not in a boxing ring. ... In professional wrestling, a face is a character who is portrayed as being moral or approving (that is, faces are good guys or crowd favorites). The vast majority of wrestling storylines (though not all) place a heel (or bad guy) against a face. ... In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character who is portrayed as behaving in an immoral manner; sometimes they are humourously referred to as evil. ... A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that performs regular shows involving professional wrestling for monetary gain. ... The 1980s decade refers to the years from 1980 to 1989, inclusive. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ...

Another common meaning of the word mark is someone who believes everything about a certain wrestling organization is good. This type of mark tends to overlook bad decisions that the organization makes (or to cast said descisions in a positive light) and overreact to the good ones.

Background

The term mark derives from pro wrestling's early days as a carnival sideshow, where those who were unaware or not privy to the workings of the business were seen as gullible 'marks' who would believe anything they were told. The victim of a confidence game is often called the mark, or the vic. ...

Another source may be that the operator of a carnival booth would identify potential customers whom they thought were gullible, and then persuade them to patronize their booth (which often included a game rigged so it could not be won, or one that sold shoddy, overpriced merchandise); someone who fell for the operator's tricks would be seen as a mark.

Followings

Following is a term for a wrestlers fanbase. For the most part, followings are composed of marks that tend to favor a certain wrestler, despite work rate, in ring ability, or being facing/heel. They tend to have an undying loyalty to their particular wrestler. Wrestlers such as John Cena, Randy Orton, and Carlito are known for having large followings. Most of their followers tend to jump to their defense, despite being greatly disliked by smarks. Jonathan Felix Anthony Cena, Jr. ... Randall Keith Orton (born April 1, 1980 in Knoxville, Tennessee), is an American professional wrestler, currently working for the SmackDown! brand of World Wrestling Entertainment . ... Carlos Colón, Jr. ... A smark is abbreviated professional wrestling slang. ...

Smarks and marking out

Not all pro wrestling fans are marks, but rather smarks who know that wrestling is staged but enjoy it anyway. Smarks often take great offense at being called a "mark", since it implies that they are stupid and/or gullible. Both marks and smarks also become offended when another person attempts to "educate" them on the sport's staged nature, since it would greatly diminish or ruin his/her enjoyment. A smark is abbreviated professional wrestling slang. ...

Someone who enjoys wrestling "for what it is" rather than analyzing its staged nature often marks out (which such moments called marking out). Marking out is a moment of enjoying professional wrestling for what it is rather than analyzing its staged nature, and can be a sought-after experience for fans whose insider knowledge can make them jaded toward its entertainment aspect. ...

Critics of the WWE often allege that the organization plays to the marks' liking, while poking fun at the smarks. However, this is not always true, particularly with storylines associated with The Clique as well as the feud that involved the real life turmoil of Matt Hardy and Edge over an affair with female wrestler Lita. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... In professional wrestling, an angle is a fictional storyline (the wrestler Kurt Angles name is a coincidence). ... The Clique, featuring Triple H, Kevin Nash, Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall and Sean Waltman. ... For the Australian comedian, see Matthew Hardy. ... Adam Joseph Copeland (born October 30, 1973 in Orangeville, Ontario), is a Canadian professional wrestler, better known under his ring name, Edge, currently performing for World Wrestling Entertainment on the RAW brand. ... Amy Christine Dumas (born April 14, 1975 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida), better known by her ring name, Lita, is an American professional wrestler currently working for World Wrestling Entertainments RAW brand. ...

See also

• Professional wrestling slang