Enforcer
Made famous by “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson. Enforcer refers to a wrestler who acts as a bodyguard for another wrestler. It is also known as someone who acts as a “special guest referee” on the outside of the ring to maintain order. Sometimes they may enter the ring to take control of the match if the original referee is bumped; the position is usually filled by a Hall Of Famer or celebrity.
Extreme
EC-DUB! DC-DUB! DC-DUB! Extreme wasn’t about using weapons and crazy spots .. well, to some degree it was, but the term “Extreme” (coined by mad scientist Paul Heyman) was more of a mindset than a way of wrestling. It was something felt by the fanbase, as the blood, sweat, and tears of the ECW Originals created a cult-like following. The fans continue to relive the moments, an era which saw a small independent promotion grow into a household name in a few short years.
And while we love the original ECW, the mindset of extreme led to many wrestlers passing away before their time. The wrestlers took their work (and lifestyle) to the extreme with no sign of slowing down. While no one asked them to risk their lives, they did it because they needed to work, and the passion and hard work combined with the ECW fanbase created a legacy remembered long after the doors closed.
Enmascarado
The Spanish term for a masked wrestler. El Santo pictured.
External Occipital Protuberance
You have to be over a certain age to understand how funny this term is. It was used by WWF commentator Gorilla Monsoon to describe the back of someone’s head.
Ego / Egomaniac
Well we all know who has the biggest ego. Wait, who does? Hogan? Or Vince? It’s close if ya ask me.
Face / Face Of The Company
Simple one really. Shorterned term for babyface, the guys/girls the promotion wants you to cheer for. The term’s becoming less popular as fans cheer for who they like instead of who the company gets behind.
It also may refer to the phrase “I am the face of (promotion)“, which is when a heel wrestler states they are/should be the #1 guy in the company and has/should have their face centered on promotional posters. Also used by WWE to refer to the WWE Champion whether they are babyface or heel.
Face-In-Peril
In tag team matches when the heel team cuts off the ring and uses frequent tags to beat down the face to garner heat, and encourage fans to cheer the “Face-in-Peril” to get the hot tag on his team mate. On this occasion Sami Zayn couldn’t wait.
Faction
A group of wrestlers and non-wrestlers banded together with the same goals in mind. The term is used less nowadays as fans prefer the word “stable”.
Fall / Finish
Losing a fall is the same thing as taking a pin-fall loss or other result which ends a match or round. Some matches may have a special stipulation which states it has more than one fall, such as a Two Out Of Three Falls match.
The finish is different than taking a fall, it’s how the fall came to be. Was it a clean finish? Dirty finish? Dusty finish? DQ? Count Out? Before every show the wrestlers discuss their matches, and they have to agree on the finish otherwise they may end up with an incident like The Montreal Screwjob.
False Comeback / False Finish
False comeback is when the face makes a comeback after spending time on the receiving end, but the heel halts it with a smart counter and regains the advantage. It is used as an attempt to make the real comeback more exciting.
A false finish is a sequence of moves which in normal circumstances would end a match, but because the result is important and the match competitive, the pinned wrestler kicks out. The best matches use false finishes to build to an exciting conclusion. Some may see too many false finishes as detrimental to the perceived strength of the wrestler’s finishing moves.
Fan Cam
A video shot by a fan at non-televised events.
Feeding
When heels repeatedly run into opponents offense it is known as “feeding the babyface”. Jobbers and enhancement talent are “fed” to heel monsters in squash matches for the opposite effect.
Feud
One of the most important terms. The best feuds elicit the loudest reactions, and remain lodged in the memories of wrestling fans for years. Most feuds end with one side claiming superiority over the other after beating their opponent(s) in a gimmick match (like Hell in a Cell). There’s also on-and-off feuds, with two sides reigniting a rivalry after many years, or after moving promotion.
Fighting From Underneath
A phrase used to describe a small underdog wrestler fighting a large and formidable opponent.
Fighting Champion / Fighting Spirit
A fighting champion takes on all challengers on a frequent basis til they lose the title or forced to vacate. They are less common in recent times.
Fighting spirit is seen more in Japan. It’s when a wrestler no-sells a large amount of offense and makes a comeback. This is used to show the wrestler’s toughness and fighting spirit in an attempt to gain the fans respect.
Finisher
Every wrestler has at least one finishing move to end matches. Or if your name is Stone Cold Steve Austin … a finisher can be used any time and anywhere!
Five Moves Of Doom
A sequence of match winning moves which become a trademark of the wrestler’s arsenal. Every wrestler has a sequence of finishing moves which may vary in presentation, but inevitably will happen in most matches. Some are more predictable than others. Hulk Hogan’s sequence is arguably the most popular (in the 80’s at least), despite the tired reactions later in his career.
Five Star Match
A match highly praised by fans and critics for having everything. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter grades matches, and with their rating system, five star matches are rare. When they do happen it’s usually in Japan, so sit back and enjoy a five star match between Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura.
Flair Flip & Flop
Flair’s overselling has a place here. Vintage Naitch.
Flat Back Bump
The method used by wrestlers to lower the impact of slams, suplex, clotheslines and other moves. It’s the first thing you learn before training to be a wrestler.
Flub Coverup
When a botched move is covered up by the commentary team by calling it a “variation”. Michael Cole is guilty of coverups and falling asleep on the job.
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