Work (professional wrestling)

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In professional wrestling, a work is slang for a staged event (that is, one that enforces kayfabe). The term originates from "working a crowd."

As pro wrestling is staged, virtually everything that is seen during house shows or on televised shows is "a work", also referred to as "scripted" or "fixed." When a non-fan expresses the common "pro wrestling is fake" sentiment, they are referring to its nature as a work.

The opposite of a work is a shoot (the term "shoot" can actually refer to more than simply a "real" fight; see article for details). On several (infamous) occasions, professional wrestling matches have devolved into "shoot matches", in effect a form of mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. Professional wrestlers generally avoid "shoots" at all costs, due to the high probability of sustaining injury, and also because audiences of professional wrestlers generally prefer the exaggerated and theatrical antics of pro wrestling to the calculated striking and grappling of MMA.

On occasion, works are presented in such a way that some fans will perceive them as shoots. This is typically done to fool smarks, who tend to pay more attention to off-screen "backstage" events than the average fan. Such events are referred to as "worked shoots."