Is WWE Fake? What Is Scripted and What Is Real

It is one of the most searched questions about wrestling: is WWE fake? The honest answer is that the results are planned, but a lot of what you see is very real. Here is how it works.

The outcomes are planned

WWE matches have predetermined results, and the wrestlers play characters in ongoing storylines. Wrestling has a word for keeping up that illusion: kayfabe. Source: Kayfabe on Wikipedia.

When it was admitted

In 1989, then WWF owner Vince McMahon told the New Jersey State Senate that wrestling was not a competitive sport. It was seen as the first public admission by a major insider. One reason was practical: it kept the company free of state athletic commission rules, some event taxes and the need for medical staff at ringside that real contact sports required.

What is real

• The athletes. Wrestlers train for years and need strength, timing and fitness to perform.
• The falls. Being slammed onto a ring still hurts, and wrestlers work hard to protect each other.
• The injuries. Wrestlers do get hurt, and kayfabe is often dropped when a serious injury happens.
• The schedule. Touring and live shows are a demanding job.

So is it fake?

Planned results do not make it fake in the way people mean. It is closer to a stunt show or action film performed live, with real athletes and real risk. That mix of sport and story is why fans care so much about who holds the belt.

The belts are a big part of it

Championship belts are how wrestling tells its stories, which is why fans collect them. Read how many belts are in the WWE or are WWE belts real gold, and browse our WWE replica belts. Our belts are fan replicas and are not made or licensed by WWE.

FAQ

Are WWE matches scripted?

Yes. The results are decided ahead of time.

Do wrestlers really get hurt?

Yes. The action is physical and injuries are real.

When did WWE admit wrestling is scripted?

In 1989, in testimony to the New Jersey State Senate.