Mark

What does Mark mean in Pro Wrestling?

A person who truly believes that professional wrestling is not staged

A Mark is a term used within the world of pro wrestling to describe a fan who believes everything that happens in the sport is real and not scripted. This means they see every wrestling match as a genuine competition, without any pre-planned outcomes or storylines.

Even though this term may seem to be used in a negative way, it’s important to note that all wrestling fans are considered marks to some extent. The main reason being that to fully enjoy wrestling, fans need to accept and immerse themselves in the sport’s unique reality, known as kayfabe, even if it’s just temporarily.

Interestingly, some fans who are aware that wrestling is scripted still refer to themselves as marks, or more specifically, smarks (short for ‘smart marks’). This shows a certain level of self-awareness and understanding of the sport’s intricacies, but doesn’t take away from their passion and love for pro wrestling.

Additionally, the term mark can also be used to describe devoted fans of specific wrestlers. These fans, often referred to as easy marks, are likely to support their favorite performer regardless of their role in the wrestling storyline, be it a hero (face) or villain (heel).

Example for using ‘Mark’ in a conversation

Hey, did you watch the wrestling match last night?

Yeah, I’m such a mark for pro wrestling! It’s so entertaining!

Haha, I know what you mean! We all get caught up in the excitement.

Definitely! I love how they make it seem real, even though it’s scripted.