Pro Wrestling FAQ: Your Questions Answered

The results are planned in advance and wrestlers work together to protect each other, so it is not a real contest. The athleticism, the bumps and the injuries are real. Think of it as a stunt-filled live performance.

Yes. Concussions, knee and neck injuries are common across a career, and companies have changed rules over time, for example banning unprotected chair shots to the head.

The promotion decides the winner and the storyline. Wrestlers and producers plan key moments, and good performers adjust the rest to the crowd live.

The old practice of presenting storylines as real, both inside and outside the ring. See our kayfabe page.

Most train for one to two years at a wrestling school, then work small independent shows for years. Big companies also recruit from college sports and other athletics.

Top full-time stars in big companies can work well over 100 dates a year when house shows are included, though schedules have become lighter for many.

WrestleMania, held each spring by WWE. In Japan, NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom on January 4 is the biggest night of the year.

A company that runs wrestling shows, such as WWE, AEW, NJPW, CMLL, AAA or TNA.

Masks are a central tradition in Mexican lucha libre, where a wrestler's mask is part of their identity and can be lost in a mask versus mask match.

No. Professionals train for years and perform in a ring built to absorb impact. Never copy moves at home.