Wrestling Glossary of Terms
Wrestling is one of the world's oldest and toughest sports, blending strength, technique, strategy, and stamina. Whether it's Olympic freestyle or the over-the-top world of WWE, wrestling has captivated millions of fans and athletes around the globe. The world of wrestling even stretches far beyond the mat, with plenty of people tuning in to watch matches on TV every week or even dressing up as their favorite wrestlers for Halloween.
If you've never watched or participated in wrestling, though, the terminology of this sport can be a bit confusing. It's especially important to get a grasp on the jargon of wrestling if you're a high school student stepping into the sport, as coaches rely on this language to call out directions during matches and teammates use it to communicate quickly and clearly. Learning the lingo can also help casual fans better appreciate and enjoy what they're watching, whether it's a pay-per-view event or a match at a nearby school or college.
A
Arm Bar : A submission hold that locks the opponent's arm and elbow joint using body leverage
Arm Throw : A hip-level toss that uses your opponent's momentum and arm control to flip them
B
Bottom Position: When a wrestler is underneath their opponent and attempting to escape or reverse
Bout: The official term for a single wrestling match, sometimes divided into periods or rounds
Bridge: A move in which a wrestler being held down arches their back to avoid a pin
C
Cradle: A move where a wrestler wraps an arm around the opponent's neck and a leg, then locks their hands together
D
Decision: A win where a wrestler out-scores their opponent without achieving a pin
Double-Leg Takedown : A classic move involving grabbing both legs and driving the opponent to the mat
E
Escape: When a wrestler in the bottom position returns to neutral and earns one point
F
Fall: A pin
Feud: In pro (WWE-style) wrestling, an extended storyline rivalry between two or more wrestlers
Fireman's Carry : A dynamic takedown where you scoop your opponent across your shoulders and roll
G
Gimmick: A wrestler's persona or character, including their costume, entrance, and in-ring behavior
Grapevine: A move where a wrestler hooks their legs around the opponent's legs to immobilize them
H
Headlock: A fundamental hold where a wrestler wraps their arm around the opponent's head
Heel: A villain character in pro wrestling
I
Illegal Hold: A move or grip that's not allowed for safety reasons
J
Job: The act of intentionally losing a match to help build another wrestler's popularity or storyline
K
Kayfabe: The long-standing tradition of presenting staged wrestling as real, including rivalries and personas
L
Leg Shot: A quick move aiming to grab the opponent's leg(s) to initiate a takedown
Level Change: A foundational skill involving lowering your stance to prepare for takedowns
M
Mat Return: When a wrestler lifts and returns their opponent from a standing escape back to the mat
N
Neutral Position: When both wrestlers are standing and neither has control of the other
O
Overtime: An additional period used to break a tie score, often in a sudden-death format
P
Pin: Holding an opponent's shoulders on the mat for a few seconds, resulting in a win
Promo: A pre-written speech or hype segment delivered by wrestlers to boost interest in a storyline
R
Reversal: A move in which a wrestler switches from being in a defensive position to taking control over their opponent
S
Singlet: A one-piece costume with shoulder straps that's worn by wrestlers
Suplex: A powerful throw in which a wrestler lifts and flips their opponent backward over their head
T
Takedown: When a wrestler brings their opponent down to the mat and gains control
Tag Team: A match format in which two teams of wrestlers take turns competing against their opponents, tagging each other in and out
V
Victory by Fall: A win by pinning the opponent's shoulders to the mat
Victory by Decision: A win based on having more points than the opponent at the end of the match
Z
Zebra: Slang for a referee
