Rub (professional wrestling)

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In professional wrestling, a rub is a situation where a wrestler that is new and/or not popular is paired with one that is, either as his ally or enemy, with the hope that some of the popularity enjoyed by the popular wrestler will "rub off" on the one that is not either in the form of pops or heat. The wrestler that receives the exposure and attention is referred to as "getting the rub."

Some examples of a rub.

• In World Wrestling Entertainment, the former tag team wrestler turned singles performer Shelton Benjamin was allowed to pin Triple H, the number one heel in the promotion, in a singles match. Benjamin would go on to defeat Triple H two more times, making it three times in a row, and enjoy a short time as a fan favorite afterwards.

• When WWE rookie Chris Masters was not receiving much of a fan reaction he was paired off with WWE legend Shawn Michaels who feuded with Masters.

• In the American Wrestling Association, Greg Gagne, in an attempt to make him as popular as his father Verne, would be paired with the most popular/hated wrestlers in the promotion.

• After floundering for a time with no direction or fan support, newcomers Randy Orton and Batista were inserted into the heel faction consisting of Triple H and Ric Flair known as Evolution. Through that association, they became two of the biggest and hated heels during that time.

[edit] Passing the Torch

This is a variation of "getting the rub." It usually involves a popular, aging wrestler having a match, or a series of matches against a young and rising star to put that wrestler on the track to becoming a legend in the business.

Examples of passing the torch include:

• In the National Wrestling Alliance, "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers having a big feud with a young Ric Flair in the late 1970s. The result saw Flair become the one and only "Nature Boy" and follow in Rogers' footsteps as a multiple time world champion.

• Hulk Hogan had a match with The Rock at WrestleMania X8. It was hard fought and had the crowd shifting loyalties and emotions throughout the contest. Ultimately, The Rock won. After the match, they shook hands in the ring. This was considered a match instrumental in The Rock becoming a legend on the level of Hogan. Others considered this match a fleeting attempt for Hogan to cash in one last time in the twilight of his career.

Ric Flair had a match with Shawn Micahels at WrestleMania 24 that saw a 59 year old Flair turn back the clock by having an amazing perfrormance that many consider one of the biggest matches in Mania history. It was something of a passing of the torch between the greatest skilled wrestler from one generation to the current greatest in ring worker so many see this as a passing of the torch in pro wrestling. Shawn Michaels gave Flair one more 5 star classic and it enhanced the legend that is Shawn Michaels just the same