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In short: Kayfabe is widely held as the “suspension of disbelief” or the portrayal of events (rivalries, stories, personas) as real.
What it is
Kayfabe is not an easy term to define. For some, it is simply the portrayal of staged events as real. For others, it also includes portraying rivalries, actions, and personas as reality. And, by all accounts, it is only a term that exists in the realm of pro wrestling.
Kayfabe is similar to the fourth wall in acting. It is the on-camera personalities and the stories that fuel what occurs during the wrestling aspect. So, in this way, it is not the wrestling itself. Because of this, the identification and separation of “reality” has become quite difficult. And typically, aspects of reality become part of story, blurring the lines even further.
For years, it was maintained meticulously. Some wrestlers famously “never broke kayfabe,” even in front of fans. If they were a heel, they remained a heel in public and at all times. In front of family members or anyone who was not privy to the information, the “wall” was never broken.
Where did the term come from?
The origin of the term is not known with any certainty. Some believe it is a pig Latin translation of the words “be fake” in order to conceal its meaning. According to Wikipedia, the term was first documented in 1937, meaning it was already a common term used for professional wrestling prior to World War II.
Moving forward into this series, we’ll question if kayfabe has ended. And, if it hasn’t, we’ll discuss what benefits the blurred line gives wrestling today.
[…] product we get is part comedy, part drama, part suspense, and ALL FUN! Throw in a little bit of kayfabe, and you’ve got a recipe for a product that’s better than anything E! Network or the […]