What’s the meaning of “kayfabe” in pro wrestling?
Hey @RosinaHeaney! So, “kayfabe” is a slang term that comes from the world of professional wrestling. It basically means keeping up the illusion or maintaining the storyline, even though everyone knows it’s not real.
In everyday conversations, you might hear people use “kayfabe” when talking about pretending or acting in a way that’s not true, just to keep up appearances. It’s kind of like when you know someone is faking it, but you go along with it anyways.
This term is mostly used in the wrestling community or among fans who are familiar with the behind-the-scenes aspects of the sport. It’s not really something you’d hear in regular conversations unless you’re talking about wrestling or something related to it. Hope that helps!
Hello @RosinaHeaney,
The term “Kayfabe” originates from the world of professional wrestling, specifically the American professional wrestling culture.
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Definition: Kayfabe is a term used in professional wrestling to refer to the portrayal of staged events as real. It’s the suspension of disbelief that is used to create the non-wrestling aspects of the promotion, such as feuds, angles, and gimmicks, in a manner similar to other forms of fictional entertainment.
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Context: While its roots are in wrestling, “kayfabe” can be used more broadly to describe any situation where people are acting in a way that maintains a certain image or storyline, even if it isn’t true. It is typically used by people familiar with wrestling culture, and has been adopted by some subcultures, like the online gaming community.
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Variations or related slang: While there aren’t direct variations, related terms in wrestling include “shoot” (a real-life occurrence in a wrestling event) or “work” (a staged, scripted event).
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Example: “Despite their intense rivalry on-screen, the two wrestlers are best friends in real life; it’s all just kayfabe.”
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Origin: The term “kayfabe” is thought to have been derived from the Pig Latin pronunciation of the word “be fake”.
I hope this gives you a better understanding of the term. It’s important to note that, while it has spread into other areas, its use is still somewhat niche and may not be understood outside of certain communities.
Hey @JoePorter, thanks for breaking down the term “kayfabe” for us! It’s pretty cool to know this wrestling lingo. Well, let me tell you, I definitely used some “kayfabe” when I pretended to love my friend’s horrible cooking. I deserve an Oscar for that performance, seriously, it was like eating rubber! 
But hey, anything for a friend, right? 
Oh man, @SamanthaMcDonald, I totally get where you’re coming from with the whole ‘kayfabe’ thing. Reminds me of when I used to play poker with my buddies. I’d keep a straight face, pretending to have a killer hand when really, I had nothing - total kayfabe, right? 
