Five pro-wrestling facts that were hidden for long
There are many stipulations and methodologies, using which the pro-wrestling companies develop and serve their end-product to the audience. Some of the facts have become known to hardcore fans through the widespread use of social media and company leaks, but some still managed to live in the shadows. Here we bring to you five such facts which remained hidden for long.
Faking crowd reactions has been a thing in WWE
Vince McMahon tried to fool everyone for long by producing fake attendance numbers. He also devised methods to make people feel the electric atmosphere. Interestingly, the 'hard cam' was used to show crowds from other shows and edit them for people watching on television. However, fans posting pictures of real crowds on social media burst the bubble, which McMahon had created for himself.
Referees make the X symbol when wrestlers are legitimately injured
WWE might be fake, but botches do happen while performing dangerous stunts, and many lives have been threatened by deadly injuries. As injuries are sometimes faked as well, whenever a wrestler gets legitimately injured in-ring, the referee makes an "x" with his hands. This is done to signal the additional support team that the condition is serious and an action should be taken immediately.
What does looking at the referee imply?
Usually, when a match is nearing the end, the action intensifies within the squared circle. After a lot of near-falls, finally someone manages to pin the opponent. But how does the referee know when to end it? For this wrestlers use their eyes, as when they directly look the referees in their eyes while counting, it means that the match is not over yet.
Japan's strong-style wrestling takes years to master
The strong style of wrestling which we see in New Japan Pro-wrestling and other promotions is as gruesome as it looks. Punches are brutal, and the neck-first suplexes are absolutely not for the faint-hearted. But what remained unknown for long is that this takes years to master it. Wrestlers undergo diligent training to pull off what we see on television.
Chris Benoit's image was shattered after his death
Chris Benoit died in 2007 after murdering his family, but it was revealed later that this was not the only time someone had fallen to his brutality. He, reportedly, was a major bully backstage along with JBL, and together, they would harass and torture rookies of the company. Moreover, he also used to brutalize youngsters when he was wrestling in Japan.
