One In Ten Fans Will Have Trouble With This WWE Lingo Quiz

Despite a popular misconception, most fans of the WWE Universe are well aware the unique program they love isn’t entirely on the up and up. Of course, there’s a difference between simply knowing pro wrestling exists in it’s own world and fully understanding the unique verbiage that comes with being a part of it. In fact, it’s entirely possible for a person to watch WWE and other promotions their entire lives without ever really knowing how wrestlers talk to one another behind closed doors.

On the other hand, thanks to the Internet and tell all shoot interviews, fans have the opportunity to learn it all and talk just like their favorite athletes. Fair warning, though—not every wrestler appreciates “armchair bookers” who sit at home and assume they know every last thing about the business just because they picked up a few insider terms and phrases.

What this means is that if anybody is going to start talking like a real pro, they better make sure they genuinely know it all. The last thing anyone wants when trying to look like an expert is to get a simple word or phrase wrong, exposing themselves as a mere imitator. To prove who truly is the real deal, keep reading and take the ultimate wrestling lingo quiz only a true WWE fan will be able to pass.

Question 1

What is WWE’s alternate term for professional wrestling?

For whatever reason, despite being without a doubt the most popular professional wrestling company in the world, WWE rarely actually uses the term “professional wrestling” on its programming. Some fans criticize the company for this fact, but it’s really just an issue of corporate branding and marketing. Plus, it’s a matter of fact that a whole lot goes on inside the WWE Universe that doesn’t really have anything to do with in-ring action. So, what do the McMahon’s call the unique form of content they produce?

Question 2

What does the WWE Universe call its wrestlers?

Because WWE rarely uses the term “pro wrestling,” it almost makes sense that the world’s most famous wrestlers rarely get referred to as such. Instead, the McMahon’s have created another term that more accurately describes the actors, athletes, gymnasts, public speakers, and all-around performance artists they employ to entertain the fans. Similar to the sports entertainment term, in many respects WWE’s preferred word is more fitting overall, acknowledging that employees of the company generally do a great deal more than mix it up inside the squared circle.

Question 3

What is the illusion that pro wrestling is real?

Just about everyone watching pro wrestling over a certain age knows full well the events of WWE are heavily scripted. That said, it can be incredibly easy to suspend disbelief and get caught up in the action once the show begins. In this sense, WWE is no different than any other show on TV with good enough writing that viewers can form emotional bonds with the characters. Even so, wrestling is a unique enough form of entertainment that promoters came up with a word to describe their particular brand of verisimilitude.

Question 4

What does a wrestler call his or her character?

Even if someone didn’t catch on to the fact wrestling was scripted, they’d probably realize it’s impossible for WWE superstars to act like they do inside the ring during their every day lives. This almost could have been the case during the New Generation era, when taxmen and plumbers were moonlighting as grapplers, but the meaner wrestlers still couldn’t get away with bullying and intimidating everyone they meet. The heroes couldn’t always run in and save the day, either, since that usually involves getting more physical than the real world allows.

Question 5

Who is the CEO of WWE?

Ultimately, the only title in WWE that really matters is “CEO,” because it describes the man who has the final say in absolutely everything that takes place inside his ring. While the answer to this question didn’t necessarily invent every last term on this list, he is the reason they’re commonplace in the industry today. Some reports even suggest the company owner is constantly in the ear of WWE announcers giving them very specific instructions on how to refer to the action as it unfolds.

Question 6

What is the Grandest Stage of Them All?

In a given year, the WWE Universe can put on well over 300 shows, and every one of them can feel important to the fans in attendance. It’s always been said that anything can happen in sports entertainment, so one never knows which random event is going to change WWE history. That said, once per year, there’s at least one massive super show known as the Greatest Spectacle in Pro Wrestling, the Showcase of Immortals, and the Grandest Stage of Them All, amongst a number of other extremely hyped subtitles.

Question 7

What word describes a non-wrestling segment that forwards storylines?

Exciting as the in-ring product of WWE can be to long term fans, the real bread and butter of Vince McMahon’s company is the intricate storylines that inspire them to fight so valiantly during their matches. It’s all well and good when two talented athletes lock up for no particular reason aside from love of the sport, but given them a solid back story and reason to truly want to beat the tar out of one another, and the emotions such an encounter can bring will become significantly stronger.

Question 8

Which wrestler was The People’s Champion?

Professional wrestling has no shortage of championship belts that get passed from one athlete to the next, yet there’s another type of metaphorical title that feels much more personal to those who wear them. Now and again, fans will become so attached to a given wrestler they’ll given them an unofficial moniker to express this devotion, with the most straightforward of all having been “The People’s Champion.” Only one wrestler truly deserved this title, and nowadays, he continues to wear it in Hollywood as one of the most popular actors in the game.

Question 9

What is the term for a pro wrestling hero?

The real world doesn’t exist in black and white, but pro wrestling is typically a simpler situation. Because there’s a booker writing the show, most wrestling matches are held between at least one hero and one villain, telling the audience who deserves applause and who deserves to hear a resounding round of boos. For the most part, the heroes of wrestling are the most virtuous men and women on TV, always rushing to the ring when others are in danger and doing whatever it takes to make fans leave happy.

Question 10

What is the term for a pro wrestling villain?

While fans in a live crowd always cheer for the traditional heroes, there will always be a big portion of the wrestling audience that prefers a villain. Of course, this is true of just about any form of entertainment, as something about a truly despicable individuals is often an absolute blast to watch. With how physical pro wrestling can get, the bad guys of the WWE Universe can get especially heinous in their actions, ripping unsuspecting victims apart in the ring after verbally harassing them on the microphone, all for no reason.

Question 11

What term describes someone who isn’t quite a hero or villain?

For the most part, wrestlers are very straightforward about their motivations inside the ring, making it easy for fans to decide if they’re a good guy or a bad guy. However, once a while, a truly unique individual comes along with the ability to blur the lines and play both teams, as it were. Typically, this is achieved by having split loyalties throughout the roster, and for this reason, it rarely lasts long, as eventually, the wrestler will have to choose which side they’re really on.

Question 12

What’s the word for when a wrestler makes a mistake?

Pro wrestling is easily one of the most physical professions a human being can enter, and even the absolute best athletes in the game are bound to make a mistake now and again. Hopefully, it won’t result in any serious injury, but it’s still embarrassing to the wrestlers involved when fans notice them failing to perform their jobs with the expert poise expected of a WWE superstar. Luckily, the company execs generally understand that these things happen and move on, yet that won’t erase the inevitable videos mocking their errors that will appear online.

Question 13

Which wrestler calls himself the Beast Incarnate?

Just about every pro wrestler could be considered an intimidating presence compared to the average human. That said, it takes an especially powerful force to get called the Beast Incarnate amongst the WWE Universe, and the man who uses the moniker has an appropriately destructive resume. In addition to his current status as the longest reigning Universal Champion, this monster of an athlete was already a former UFC Champion feared across all sports as one of the most dominant fighters in history. If that doesn’t say it all, his Advocate would be happy to tell you a whole lot more.

Question 14

What term was used for the most prosperous period in modern WWE history?

To the diehard sports entertainment enthusiast, just about any era of WWE—or any other promotion, for that matter—has something worth watching. When it comes to mainstream attention, though, the company has never received more spotlight than the years 1996 to 2001. Lead by the reckless spirit of the nWo and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, this period of wrestling history was marked with record high ratings for both WCW and WWE, not to mention crowds who rarely got off their feet as they loudly participated in the show.

Question 15

What is the area directly behind the WWE stage?

Few areas in the entertainment world are more exciting than directly behind the curtain at a live WWE event. This is where wrestlers stand before their matches, brimming with excitement as have their last minute thoughts about how to best entertain the crowd. When the match is over, it’s where they have their first off-camera chance to reflect on what went down. In either scenario, it can help to have a veteran performer around to offer advice, and the fact a certain Hall of Famer used to fill that role for years gave the area its name.

Question 16

Which wrestler is known as the Lunatic Fringe?

In some respects, a person has to be crazy if they want to be a pro wrestler, meaning everyone in the WWE Universe is a little bit off-kilter. Only a few of them are truly insane, though, and the man also called the “Lunatic Fringe” certainly fits that bill. Even when he was in The Shield, this superstar was prone to recklessly putting himself in danger with self-destructive moves intend to hurt his opponent even more. Of course, considering he’s a Grand Slam Champion, there’s clearly a method to his madness.

Question 17

Which authority figure coined the phrase “best for business?”

The WWE Universe is a land of a great many catchphrases, yet none are quite as integral to the very nature of the company as “best for business.” Coined by a top ranking member in The Authority, these words are used to justify the strangest and most indefensible decisions the McMahon family has ever made. Unfortunately for fans booing their hearts out, the WWE is still the worldwide leader in sports entertainment suggests they know what they’re doing…not that this makes it any more bearable when they brag about it to a disapproving crowd.

Question 18

What word do wrestlers use to describe a cheering audience?

Theoretically speaking, the one sound every wrestler wants to hear is the roar of a crowd as they win the WWE Championship. Well, that’s what faces want to hear, anyway—bad guys probably don’t care much about how the audience reacts at all. Point is, any wrestler that speaks for the people aspires to have the WWE Universe in the palm of their hands, shooting to their feet every time they deliver an expert move in the ring, or even say something especially cool on the microphone.

Question 19

What word do wrestlers use to describe a crowd booing?

In any scenario other than pro wrestling, hearing a crowd resoundingly reject a form of entertainment with overwhelming boos would be a pretty bad sign. Should they be reacting this way because a hated villain pulled a fast one on a hero, however, it might just be music to Vince McMahon’s ears. It’s even better if the audience reaches that fever pitch of hate the second a wrestler starts making his or her way to the ring, already dying to see a face come along and give them what they deserve.

Question 20

Which wrestler claims to be neither a good guy nor bad guy, but simply The Guy?

Typically, when a pro wrestler picks a nickname, they try and come up with something flashy and memorable that will make them standout the second people hear it. When deciding he was “not a good guy or a bad guy,” but just “The Guy,” the current face of WWE took a decidedly different approach. Apparently thinking bland is the new extravagant, he choose to let the actions of main eventing four consecutive WrestleMania’s speak louder than these rather demure words. To his credit, nondescript as the moniker is, every wrestling fan at least knows his actual name.

Question 21

What does Jim Ross call bigger, brawler style wrestlers?

Not every wrestling fan appreciates the big rough and tumble monsters who rely on brute force and intimidation over actual technical wrestling acumen—but Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross most certainly does. While JR obviously appreciates pretty much every style of grappling there is, the man has always had a reputation for championing a certain sort of plus-sized muscle bound super heavyweight in his commentary and as a talent scout. In fact, he likes this sort of wrestler so much he has a special word for them.

Question 22

Which WWE Hall of Famer defined the term Latino Heat?

Out of context, the phrase “Latino Heat” sounds like a way to describe weather conditions south of the border. In the WWE Universe, it has a much different connotation, describe the unique yet unmistakable appeal of a classic Hall of Fame athlete. Outrageously charismatic in his every move, this wrestler was also one of the best ever inside the ring, able to adapt to any opponent’s style and create classic matches that fans will never forget. While only one wrestler truly exemplified Latino Heat in all it’s glory, he had plenty of family members with similar qualities.

Question 23

What term is used for the wrestling fans?

By and large, the WWE Universe feels the same way about it’s audience as any entertainment company does: they’re very grateful for the attention and money you give them. That said, given some of the other terms on this list, it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear wrestlers have a special term for their fans. Originally, the word was kind of a put down, mocking the idea fans bought into wrestling being real. Now that it’s an open secret, though, the term is more of a catch-all phrase to describe people who appreciate wrestlers and pro wrestling in general.

Question 24

Which wrestler is known as the Monster Amongst Men?

Next to the average Joe, even a smaller wrestler can look somewhat like a monster. In the WWE Universe, however, there’s only one big, destructive beast powerful enough to deserve the moniker. Originally, he was just a background character in the Wyatt Family, but as soon as this beast struck out on his own, he became one of the most popular giants in wrestling history. Of course, random acts of kindness like splitting the Tag Team Championship belts with a 10-year-old fan will quickly endear an audience to supporting a fella, no matter how scary he looks.

Question 25

What is it called when a wrestler leaves one company for another?

Because WWE is pretty much the only game in town when it comes to mainstream wrestling, few superstars are willing to voluntarily exit their contracts and seek employment elsewhere these days. On the other hand, this term still comes up when someone works for a smaller company and decides to move up in life, or perhaps a foreign star in New Japan Pro Wrestling is considering to test the waters stateside. Back in the day, though, this phrase generally meant someone in WCW or WWE switching teams in the Monday Night Wars.

Question 26

What nickname is used by Seth Rollins?

From the day he turned on the Shield onward, Seth Rollins has been one of the biggest superstars in the WWE Universe. Able to make crowds love him or hate him in a heart beat, Rollins has already played just about every role there is, largely settling in his current status as a beloved hero through this hard work and dedication. One consistent thing about his character is that Rollins always does whatever it takes to write his own path, a fact that definitely comes through in his best known nickname.

Question 27

In which division are wrestlers weighing 205 lbs. or less?

Despite a misconception that wrestlers always have to be big muscle bound monsters, an increasing trend has seen grapplers on the smaller side entirely capable of finding great success, as well. In fact, this has been going on since the 1990s or earlier, though it’s definitely kicked into high gear recently with the re-introduction of a certain WWE championship that every superstar on 205 Live strives to hold. The number has been getting smaller in smaller over the years, but nowadays this is the marker of what separates a heavyweight from the answer to this question.

Question 28

What’s another word for a lengthy in-ring speech or interview?

Perhaps even more so than matches or backstage angles, one of the most common segments sports entertainment has to offer is when a wrestler walks out to the ring pretty much just to talk. For some athletes, this requires about 30 seconds worth of shouting before the point should be pretty clear, while others have been known to ramble on in monologues that can kill a whole 15 minutes or more. Unless someone runs out to interrupt them, that is. Either way, wrestlers use the same word to describe what they’re doing.

Question 29

Which wrestler is the King of Strong Style?

Throughout the 1990s, a wrestler needed to win a whole lengthy tournament before crowning themselves King. Not that the wrestler currently reigning over the art of Strong Style isn’t deserving, having won plenty of tournaments and championships while a top star for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He instantly affirmed that status would continue in the US by winning the NXT Championship, and a groundbreaking Royal Rumble victory would soon follow on the main roster. Whether or not you agree that he’s royalty, do you know the King’s name?

Question 30

What’s it called when a wrestler switches loyalties from heel to face or vice versa?

In some respects, it’s almost appropriate that the average wrestler should only be able to trust their co-workers as far as they can throw them. Due to the ever changing landscape of the WWE Universe, it’s an extremely common occurrence in wrestling for a hero to become a villain seemingly overnight due to some minor issue a more rational mind might overlook. Of course, the opposite is also true, as the meanest monster around can suddenly look like a man of the people simply by making the right choice at the right time.

Question 31

Which Attitude Era tag team became famous for shouting “Get the tables!?”

For whatever reason, the McMahon family rarely sees it fit to give tag teams that much attention these days outside of NXT. That certainly wasn’t the case during the Attitude Era, however, as quite a few teams were taking things to the extreme with Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches that forever revolutionized the sport. This type of match was originally spawned when three teams each known for a certain weapon did battle, and the table-loving duo may have been the most iconic of all.

Question 32

What’s the term for when a wrestler acts hurt or injured?

Ideally, no matter how hurt a wrestler looks after a given move, they’ll never suffer any injuries inside a ring so severe that it lands them in the hospital. Of course, such is the nature of the trade that wrestlers constantly make it look like their opponents are beating them into a pathetic pulp to make the other athlete look good. In the very least, they’ll need to act completely incapacitated for a solid three seconds or so when taking a loss. What’s it called when they do?

Question 33

What is the Mexican style of pro wrestling?

Since Vince McMahon took over the world, “sports entertainment” and “pro wrestling” have pretty much been interchangeable phrases in the United States. However, it’s not as though the US is the only country in the world that produces staged grappling, with Mexico and Japan in particular having vibrant scenes of their own. To differentiate the wildly different styles, each country also has a different term for the sport based on their own language and cultures. Indeed, there are many subtle differences for each kind, not the least of which being that most wrestlers south of the border wear masks.

Question 34

What’s another word for a wrestler losing a match?

Unfortunately, not every wrestler can win every single match—it just wouldn’t make any sense. Much to the contrary, virtually every contest in the WWE Universe requires at least one participant to lose, falling victim to an opponent with more strength, cunning, technical prowess, or in many cases, just better luck. While every wrestler is bound to win some and lose some, the least lucky of all are known for virtually never winning a single match, giving them a special title based on the word for losing in general. Do you know what it is?

Question 35

Which wrestler defined the meaning of 3:16?

To most wrestlers, the only number that matters is 3, as in the sound of a referee’s hand hitting the mat 1, 2, and then 3 times. Other than that, the numeric system doesn’t come into play when discussing their personal interests and character. Well, with one glaring exception that is. By mocking a fellow superstar known for quoting the Bible, the top superstar of the Attitude Era stumbled upon a phrase that defined the entire period. Meaning “I just whipped your ass,” the numbers 3:16 were a triumphant statement that he would never go down without a fight.

Question 36

What’s the term for violent anything goes style wrestling?

To an outsider, just about everything that takes place inside the squared circle probably looks shockingly violent. Without the proper context, it may also appear that wrestling is always a no holds barred affair, which fans know is definitely not the case. Chaotic as the WWE Universe can be, there are rules to the sport we know and love…well, most of the time, anyway. Now and again, individual feuds get so intense that wrestlers demand these restrictions get lifted so they can really take one another to task. During the Attitude Era, there was even a championship for the style.

Question 37

Which wrestler is known as The Phenomenal One?

Flying off the top rope with flashy moves and always sound impeccably cool on the microphone, just about every wrestler in the WWE Universe is “phenomenal” at their best. That said, only the absolute peak of the industry live up to a word like this every single day. If anyone deserves that sort of acclaim, it’s the reigning WWE Champion, who has been proudly heralded as one of the best in the game since his time in Impact Wrestling. On top of stunning forearms, every move he makes screams “superstar” in a way that’s, well, simply phenomenal.

Question 38

What term did WWE use for female wrestlers until the women’s revolution?

At long last, the ongoing women’s wrestling revolution has allowed WWE to abandon the long lasting and questionable trend of referring to female superstars in a way that was just a little bit insulting. Not that this was the intention, as the idea was simply to point out the average female wrestler also happened to be a gorgeous celebrity. The downside is this slightly undercut anything they could bring to the table inside the ring, which is probably why the company gradually ditched the phrase.

Question 39

What’s the word for pro wrestlers playing practical jokes on one another?

Living life on the road together 24/7, it’s perfectly understandable that wrestlers would get a little bit bored as they travel and find silly ways to pass the time behind the scenes. To get through the long flights and tense backstage environments, it’s apparently commonplace for wrestlers to pull light pranks on one another to blow off steam. Generally speaking, this is a form of bonding that brings wrestlers together, though at times the idea has gotten a bit controversial when jokes go too far.

Question 40

What term is used for wrestling companies outside of the WWE Universe?

When watching Raw or SmackDown, it may feel like the WWE Universe is the entire world (well, when it comes to wrestling, at least). In reality, however, there are plenty of other companies out there producing equally thrilling action. Some fans even consider the smaller better than anything WWE has to offer due to the intimate connections they can make with fans. You may not feel that extreme about things, but do you at least know what non-WWE American wrestling companies are called?

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