Answer: Imperial Japan

Context: During World War II, Imperial Japan invaded most of the former western colonies. The Shōwa occupation regime committed violent actions against civilians such as the Manila massacre and the implementation of a system of forced labour, such as the one involving 4 to 10 million romusha in Indonesia. A later UN report stated that four million people died in Indonesia as a result of famine and forced labour during the Japanese occupation. The Allied powers who defeated Japan in the South-East Asian theatre of World War II then contended with nationalists to whom the occupation authorities had granted independence.

Question: The western colonies were invaded by whom during World War II?


Answer: 4 to 10 million

Question: According to the UN report, what was the count of people who perished due to famine?


Answer: Manila massacre and the implementation of a system of forced labour

Question: What violent acts did the Showa regime commit?


Answer: The Allied powers

Question: Who defeated Japan during the World War II?


Answer: Indonesia

Context: Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia and it also the largest archipelago in the world by size (according to the CIA World Factbook). Geologically, the Indonesian Archipelago is one of the most volcanically active regions in the world. Geological uplifts in the region have also produced some impressive mountains, culminating in Puncak Jaya in Papua, Indonesia at 5,030 metres (16,500 feet), on the island of New Guinea; it is the only place where ice glaciers can be found in Southeast Asia. The second tallest peak is Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia on the island of Borneo with a height of 4,095 metres (13,435 feet). The highest mountain in Southeast Asia is Hkakabo Razi at 5,967 meters and can be found in northern Burma sharing the same range of its parent peak, Mount Everest.

Question: Name the largest country in Southeast Asia.


Answer: volcanically active

Question: Geologically what is Indonesia's region most active for?


Answer: tropical–hot and humid

Context: The climate in Southeast Asia is mainly tropical–hot and humid all year round with plentiful rainfall. Northern Vietnam and the Myanmar Himalayas are the only regions in Southeast Asia that feature a subtropical climate, which has a cold winter with snow. The majority of Southeast Asia has a wet and dry season caused by seasonal shift in winds or monsoon. The tropical rain belt causes additional rainfall during the monsoon season. The rain forest is the second largest on earth (with the Amazon being the largest). An exception to this type of climate and vegetation is the mountain areas in the northern region, where high altitudes lead to milder temperatures and drier landscape. Other parts fall out of this climate because they are desert like.

Question: What is the climate like in Southeast Asia?


Answer: Southeast Asia

Question: Which region has the 2nd largest rain-forest in the world?


Answer: Northern Vietnam and the Myanmar Himalayas

Question: Which regions in Southeast Asia see cold winter with snow?


Answer: The tropical rain belt

Question: What causes additional rainfall during monsoon?


Answer: seasonal shift in winds or monsoon

Question: What causes the Southeast Asian regions to experience wet & dry seasons?


Answer: Wallace Line

Context: The Indonesian Archipelago is split by the Wallace Line. This line runs along what is now known to be a tectonic plate boundary, and separates Asian (Western) species from Australasian (Eastern) species. The islands between Java/Borneo and Papua form a mixed zone, where both types occur, known as Wallacea. As the pace of development accelerates and populations continue to expand in Southeast Asia, concern has increased regarding the impact of human activity on the region's environment. A significant portion of Southeast Asia, however, has not changed greatly and remains an unaltered home to wildlife. The nations of the region, with only few exceptions, have become aware of the need to maintain forest cover not only to prevent soil erosion but to preserve the diversity of flora and fauna. Indonesia, for example, has created an extensive system of national parks and preserves for this purpose. Even so, such species as the Javan rhinoceros face extinction, with only a handful of the animals remaining in western Java.

Question: Name the line that splits the Indonesian Archipelago?


Answer: The islands between Java/Borneo and Papua

Question: What region comprises of the Wallacea?


Answer: Indonesia

Question: Which country has created a system of national parks & preserves?


Answer: Javan rhinoceros

Question: Which species in Java face extinction?


Answer: impact of human activity on the region's environment.

Question: What is the concern in Southeast Asian region due to development & population expansion?


Answer: Raja Ampat

Context: The shallow waters of the Southeast Asian coral reefs have the highest levels of biodiversity for the world's marine ecosystems, where coral, fish and molluscs abound. According to Conservation International, marine surveys suggest that the marine life diversity in the Raja Ampat (Indonesia) is the highest recorded on Earth. Diversity is considerably greater than any other area sampled in the Coral Triangle composed of Indonesia, Philippines, and Papua New Guinea. The Coral Triangle is the heart of the world's coral reef biodiversity, the Verde Passage is dubbed by Conservation International as the world's "center of the center of marine shorefish biodiversity". The whale shark, the world's largest species of fish and 6 species of sea turtles can also be found in the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean territories of the Philippines.

Question: Where on Earth is the highest marine activity recorded?


Answer: Indonesia, Philippines, and Papua New Guinea.

Question: Which areas are composed as the Coral Triangle?


Answer: The Coral Triangle

Question: Which area is called the heart of the world's Coral reef biodiversity?


Answer: The whale shark

Question: Name the largest species of fish in the world.


Answer: 40%

Context: While Southeast Asia is rich in flora and fauna, Southeast Asia is facing severe deforestation which causes habitat loss for various endangered species such as orangutan and the Sumatran tiger. Predictions have been made that more than 40% of the animal and plant species in Southeast Asia could be wiped out in the 21st century. At the same time, haze has been a regular occurrence. The two worst regional hazes were in 1997 and 2006 in which multiple countries were covered with thick haze, mostly caused by "slash and burn" activities in Sumatra and Borneo. In reaction, several countries in Southeast Asia signed the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution to combat haze pollution.

Question: What percentage of plant and animal species extinction is predicted in the 21st century?


Answer: Sumatra and Borneo

Question: Where has haze been predominant?


Answer: caused by "slash and burn" activities

Question: How is a haze formed?


Answer: Transboundary Haze Pollution

Question: What agreement has the Southeast Asian countries signed to combat haze pollution?


Answer: 1997 and 2006

Question: When did the 2 worst haze pollution occur in Southeast Asia?


Answer: pepper, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg

Context: Even prior to the penetration of European interests, Southeast Asia was a critical part of the world trading system. A wide range of commodities originated in the region, but especially important were spices such as pepper, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. The spice trade initially was developed by Indian and Arab merchants, but it also brought Europeans to the region. First Spaniards (Manila galleon) and Portuguese, then the Dutch, and finally the British and French became involved in this enterprise in various countries. The penetration of European commercial interests gradually evolved into annexation of territories, as traders lobbied for an extension of control to protect and expand their activities. As a result, the Dutch moved into Indonesia, the British into Malaya and parts of Borneo, the French into Indochina, and the Spanish and the US into the Philippines.

Question: Name some important commodities that originated in Southeast asian region?


Answer: Indian and Arab merchants

Question: Who developed the spice trade initially?


Answer: Dutch

Question: Which European traders moved into Indonesia?


Answer: Chinese

Context: The overseas Chinese community has played a large role in the development of the economies in the region. These business communities are connected through the bamboo network, a network of overseas Chinese businesses operating in the markets of Southeast Asia that share common family and cultural ties. The origins of Chinese influence can be traced to the 16th century, when Chinese migrants from southern China settled in Indonesia, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries. Chinese populations in the region saw a rapid increase following the Communist Revolution in 1949, which forced many refugees to emigrate outside of China.

Question: The origin of which community can be traced to the 16th century?


Answer: Communist Revolution

Question: The rise of Chinese population saw a rapid increase during which revolution?


Answer: 1949

Question: When did the Chinese revolution start in Southeast Asia?


Answer: the bamboo network

Question: What is the name of the network through which the Chinese communities were connected with?


Answer: Oil reserves

Context: The region's economy greatly depends on agriculture; rice and rubber have long been prominent exports. Manufacturing and services are becoming more important. An emerging market, Indonesia is the largest economy in this region. Newly industrialised countries include Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, while Singapore and Brunei are affluent developed economies. The rest of Southeast Asia is still heavily dependent on agriculture, but Vietnam is notably making steady progress in developing its industrial sectors. The region notably manufactures textiles, electronic high-tech goods such as microprocessors and heavy industrial products such as automobiles. Oil reserves in Southeast Asia are plentiful.

Question: What reserves are abundant in Southeast Asia?


Answer: Vietnam

Question: Which region manufactures textiles, heavy industrial products & high-tech electronic goods?


Answer: Indonesia

Question: Of the Southeast Asian countries, which country has the largest economy?


Answer: agriculture

Question: Which sector is the Southeast Asia heavily dependent on?


Answer: Cambodia

Context: Tourism has been a key factor in economic development for many Southeast Asian countries, especially Cambodia. According to UNESCO, "tourism, if correctly conceived, can be a tremendous development tool and an effective means of preserving the cultural diversity of our planet." Since the early 1990s, "even the non-ASEAN nations such as Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Burma, where the income derived from tourism is low, are attempting to expand their own tourism industries." In 1995, Singapore was the regional leader in tourism receipts relative to GDP at over 8%. By 1998, those receipts had dropped to less than 6% of GDP while Thailand and Lao PDR increased receipts to over 7%. Since 2000, Cambodia has surpassed all other ASEAN countries and generated almost 15% of its GDP from tourism in 2006.

Question: Of the Southeast Asian countries, which one's key economic development is based on Tourism?


Answer: UNESCO

Question: According to which entity can tourism be a tremendous development tool & means to preserving the cultural diversity of the planet?


Answer: Singapore

Question: Who was the regional leader in tourism in 1995?


Answer: tourism

Question: From 2000, Cambodia has surpassed other ASEAN countries in generating GDP on which sector?


Answer: 4,000,000 km2

Context: Southeast Asia has an area of approximately 4,000,000 km2 (1.6 million square miles). As of 2013, Around 625 million people lived in the region, more than a fifth of them (143 million) on the Indonesian island of Java, the most densely populated large island in the world. Indonesia is the most populous country with 255 million people as of 2015, and also the 4th most populous country in the world. The distribution of the religions and people is diverse in Southeast Asia and varies by country. Some 30 million overseas Chinese also live in Southeast Asia, most prominently in Christmas Island, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, and also, as the Hoa, in Vietnam.

Question: What is the approximate area of Southeast Asia?


Answer: Indonesia

Question: Among the Southeast Asian countries, which one is densely populated?


Answer: Java

Question: Which Island in Southeast Asia is densely populated?


Answer: the Javanese

Context: In modern times, the Javanese are the largest ethnic group in Southeast Asia, with more than 100 million people, mostly concentrated in Java, Indonesia. In Burma, the Burmese account for more than two-thirds of the ethnic stock in this country, while ethnic Thais and Vietnamese account for about four-fifths of the respective populations of those countries. Indonesia is clearly dominated by the Javanese and Sundanese ethnic groups, while Malaysia is split between half Malays and one-quarter Chinese. Within the Philippines, the Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, and Hiligaynon groups are significant.

Question: name the largest ethnic group in Southeast Asia.


Answer: Javanese and Sundanese

Question: Which ethnic groups dominate in Indonesia?


Answer: Philippines

Question: The Tagalog, Cebuano,Ilocano & Hiligaynon groups are significant within which country in Southeast Asia?


Answer: Malaysia

Question: The ethnic groups Malays & Chinese are predominant in which country?


Answer: Islam

Context: Islam is the most widely practised religion in Southeast Asia, numbering approximately 240 million adherents which translate to about 40% of the entire population, with majorities in Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and in Southern Philippines with Indonesia as the largest and most populated Muslim country around the world. Countries in Southeast Asia practice many different religions. Buddhism is predominant in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Vietnam and Singapore. Ancestor worship and Confucianism are also widely practised in Vietnam and Singapore. Christianity is predominant in the Philippines, eastern Indonesia, East Malaysia and East Timor. The Philippines has the largest Roman Catholic population in Asia. East Timor is also predominantly Roman Catholic due to a history of Portuguese rule.

Question: Which religion is widely practiced in Southeast Asia?


Answer: Indonesia

Question: Among the Southeast Asian countries, which country has the most populous Muslims among them?


Answer: Philippines

Question: Roman Catholic population is predominant in which Asian country?


Answer: 40%

Question: What percentage of the population in Southeast Asia practice Islam?


Answer: Portuguese

Question: East Timor is predominantly catholic due to which European rule's history?


Answer: Philippines

Context: Religions and peoples are diverse in Southeast Asia and not one country is homogeneous. In the world's most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia, Hinduism is dominant on islands such as Bali. Christianity also predominates in the rest of the part of the Philippines, New Guinea and Timor. Pockets of Hindu population can also be found around Southeast Asia in Singapore, Malaysia etc. Garuda (Sanskrit: Garuḍa), the phoenix who is the mount (vahanam) of Vishnu, is a national symbol in both Thailand and Indonesia; in the Philippines, gold images of Garuda have been found on Palawan; gold images of other Hindu gods and goddesses have also been found on Mindanao. Balinese Hinduism is somewhat different from Hinduism practised elsewhere, as Animism and local culture is incorporated into it. Christians can also be found throughout Southeast Asia; they are in the majority in East Timor and the Philippines, Asia's largest Christian nation. In addition, there are also older tribal religious practices in remote areas of Sarawak in East Malaysia,Highland Philippines and Papua in eastern Indonesia. In Burma, Sakka (Indra) is revered as a nat. In Vietnam, Mahayana Buddhism is practised, which is influenced by native animism but with strong emphasis on Ancestor Worship.

Question: Which is Asia's largest christian nation?


Answer: Thailand and Indonesia

Question: Garuda is the national symbol of which 2 countries?


Answer: Hinduism

Question: Which religion is dominant on the Island of Bali?


Answer: Indonesia

Question: Name the most Muslim populous region in Asia?


Answer: Vietnam

Question: What is practiced in Vietnam?


Answer: Brunei

Context: The culture in Southeast Asia is very diverse: on mainland Southeast Asia, the culture is a mix of Indochinese (Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand) and Chinese (Singapore and Vietnam). While in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia the culture is a mix of indigenous Austronesian, Indian, Islamic, Western, and Chinese cultures. Also Brunei shows a strong influence from Arabia. Singapore and Vietnam show more Chinese influence in that Singapore, although being geographically a Southeast Asian nation, is home to a large Chinese majority and Vietnam was in China's sphere of influence for much of its history. Indian influence in Singapore is only evident through the Tamil migrants, which influenced, to some extent, the cuisine of Singapore. Throughout Vietnam's history, it has had no direct influence from India - only through contact with the Thai, Khmer and Cham peoples.

Question: Arabia has a strong influence in which Southeast Asian country?


Answer: Chinese

Question: Singapore & Vietnam shows which influence predominantly?


Answer: Singapore

Question: The Indian influence is evident in which country through the Tamil migrants?


Answer: into their court

Context: The arts of Southeast Asia have affinity with the arts of other areas. Dance in much of Southeast Asia includes movement of the hands as well as the feet, to express the dance's emotion and meaning of the story that the ballerina is going to tell the audience. Most of Southeast Asia introduced dance into their court; in particular, Cambodian royal ballet represented them in the early 7th century before the Khmer Empire, which was highly influenced by Indian Hinduism. Apsara Dance, famous for strong hand and feet movement, is a great example of Hindu symbolic dance.

Question: Where did the Southeast Asians introduce their dance?


Answer: Apsara Dance

Question: Which dance was famous for strong feet & hand movements?


Answer: Indian Hinduism

Question: The Khmer Empire was influenced by what?


Answer: Puppetry and shadow plays

Context: Puppetry and shadow plays were also a favoured form of entertainment in past centuries, a famous one being Wayang from Indonesia. The arts and literature in some of Southeast Asia is quite influenced by Hinduism, which was brought to them centuries ago. Indonesia, despite conversion to Islam which opposes certain forms of art, has retained many forms of Hindu-influenced practices, culture, art and literature. An example is the Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet) and literature like the Ramayana. The wayang kulit show has been recognized by UNESCO on November 7, 2003, as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Question: What were the favorite forms of entertainment in Southeast Asia?


Answer: Hinduism

Question: Art & literature in Southeast Asia is influenced by which religion?


Answer: The wayang kulit

Question: The UNESCO has recognized which show as a Masterpiece of Oral & Intangible Heritage of Humanity


Answer: Indonesia

Question: Which country despite converting to Islam has retained many forms of Hindu practices, culture, art & literature?


Answer: the life of the gods

Context: It has been pointed out that Khmer and Indonesian classical arts were concerned with depicting the life of the gods, but to the Southeast Asian mind the life of the gods was the life of the peoples themselves—joyous, earthy, yet divine. The Tai, coming late into Southeast Asia, brought with them some Chinese artistic traditions, but they soon shed them in favour of the Khmer and Mon traditions, and the only indications of their earlier contact with Chinese arts were in the style of their temples, especially the tapering roof, and in their lacquerware.

Question: What did the Khmer & Indonesian classical arts depict of?


Answer: Tai

Question: Which group brought with them the Chinese artistic traditions to the Southeast Asian country?


Answer: life of the peoples themselves

Question: According to the Southeast Asian people, the life of the Gods were comparable to what?


Answer: palm leaf

Context: The antiquity of this form of writing extends before the invention of paper around the year 100 in China. Note each palm leaf section was only several lines, written longitudinally across the leaf, and bound by twine to the other sections. The outer portion was decorated. The alphabets of Southeast Asia tended to be abugidas, until the arrival of the Europeans, who used words that also ended in consonants, not just vowels. Other forms of official documents, which did not use paper, included Javanese copperplate scrolls. This material would have been more durable than paper in the tropical climate of Southeast Asia.

Question: Which form of writing extended before the invention of paper?


Answer: abugidas

Question: What were the alphabets of Southeast Asia?


Answer: copperplate scrolls

Question: What other forms of writing materials were used during this period?


Answer: longitudinally

Question: In what direction were the writings on a palm leaf?


Answer: twine

Question: The sections of the palm leafs were bound by what material?


Answer: pro wrestling

Context: Professional wrestling (colloquially abbreviated to pro wrestling or wrestling) is an athletic form of entertainment based on a portrayal of a combat sport. Taking the form of live events held by touring promotions, it portrays a unique style of combat based on a combination of adopted styles, which include classical wrestling, catch wrestling and various forms of martial arts, as well as an innovative style based on grappling (holds/throws), striking, and aerialism. Various forms of weaponry are sometimes used.

Question: What is professional wrestling abbreviated as?


Answer: classical wrestling, catch wrestling

Question: What are a couple of styles of combat based on?


Answer: touring promotions

Question: Who are live events held by?


Answer: an athletic form of entertainment based on a portrayal of a combat sport

Question: What is professional wrestling?


Answer: it portrays a unique style of combat based on a combination of adopted styles, which include classical wrestling

Question: What kind of style does wrestling show?


Answer: the combative actions and reactions are executed in special manners designed to both protect from, yet simulate, pain

Context: The content including match outcomes is choreographed and the combative actions and reactions are executed in special manners designed to both protect from, yet simulate, pain. These facts were once kept highly secret, but they are now openly declared as the truth. By and large, the true nature of the content is ignored by the performing promotion in official media in order to sustain and promote the willing suspension of disbelief for the audience by maintaining an aura of verisimilitude. Fan communications by individual wrestlers and promotions through outside media (i.e., interviews) will often directly acknowledge the fictional nature of the spectacle.

Question: How are the actions conducted?


Answer: willing suspension of disbelief for the audience

Question: What are the fan encouraged to do?


Answer: match outcomes is choreographed

Question: How is the end result of the match planned out?


Answer: will often directly acknowledge the fictional nature of the spectacle.

Question: What do wrestlers have to say about the realness or fakeness of the matches?


Answer: it has greatly declined in Europe

Context: Originating as a popular form of entertainment in 19th-century Europe and later as a sideshow exhibition in North American traveling carnivals and vaudeville halls, professional wrestling grew into a standalone genre of entertainment with many diverse variations in cultures around the globe, and is now considered a multimillion-dollar entertainment industry. While it has greatly declined in Europe, in North America it has experienced several different periods of prominent cultural popularity during its century and a half of existence. The advent of television gave professional wrestling a new outlet, and wrestling (along with boxing) was instrumental in making pay-per-view a viable method of content delivery.

Question: What part of the world has wrestling become less popular in?


Answer: Originating as a popular form of entertainment in 19th-century Europe

Question: Where did wrestling originally come from?


Answer: later as a sideshow exhibition in North American traveling carnivals and vaudeville halls

Question: Where was wrestling later showcased in North America?


Answer: is now considered a multimillion-dollar entertainment industry

Question: What is wrestling now thought to be?


Answer: The advent of television gave professional wrestling a new outlet

Question: What did television do for wrestling?


Answer: live event ticket sales, network television broadcasts, pay-per-view broadcasts, personal appearances by performers, branded merchandise and home video

Context: Although professional wrestling started out as petty acts in sideshows, traveling circuses and carnivals, today it is a billion-dollar industry. Revenue is drawn from live event ticket sales, network television broadcasts, pay-per-view broadcasts, personal appearances by performers, branded merchandise and home video. Particularly since the 1950s, pro wrestling events have frequently been responsible for sellout crowds at large arenas, including Madison Square Garden, as well as football stadiums, by promotions including the WWE, the NWA territory system, WCW, and AWA. Pro wrestling was also instrumental in making pay-per-view a viable method of content delivery. Annual shows such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and formerly Bash at the Beach, Halloween Havoc and Starrcade are among the highest-selling pay-per-view programming each year. In modern day, internet programming has been utilized by a number of companies to air web shows, internet pay-per-views (iPPVs) or on-demand content, helping to generate internet-related revenue earnings from the evolving World Wide Web.

Question: Where does the money made from wrestling come from?


Answer: Madison Square Garden, as well as football stadiums

Question: Where large places are some of the major wrestling shows held at?


Answer: to air web shows, internet pay-per-views (iPPVs) or on-demand content

Question: What has the internet been utilized for in wrestling?


Answer: WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and formerly Bash at the Beach, Halloween Havoc and Starrcade

Question: what wrestling shows occur yearly?


Answer: Particularly since the 1950s, pro wrestling events have frequently been responsible for sellout crowds at large arenas

Question: In which decade did wrestling start becoming very popular?


Answer: 2008 film The Wrestler

Context: Due to its persistent cultural presence and to its novelty within the performing arts, wrestling constitutes a recurring topic in both academia and the media. Several documentaries have been produced looking at professional wrestling, most notably, Beyond the Mat directed by Barry W. Blaustein, and Wrestling with Shadows featuring wrestler Bret Hart and directed by Paul Jay. There have also been many fictional depictions of wrestling; the 2008 film The Wrestler received several Oscar nominations and began a career revival for star Mickey Rourke.

Question: What is one popular wrestling film?


Answer: several Oscar nominations

Question: What award was The Wrestler nominated for?


Answer: Beyond the Mat directed by Barry W. Blaustein, and Wrestling with Shadows

Question: What are the names of a couple wrestling documentaries?


Answer: in both academia and the media

Question: Where does wrestling keep coming up as a subject?


Answer: the United States-based WWE

Context: Currently, the largest professional wrestling company worldwide is the United States-based WWE, which bought out many smaller regional companies in the late 20th century, as well as its primary US competitors WCW and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in early 2001. Other prominent professional wrestling companies worldwide include the US-based Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and Ring of Honor (ROH), Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) in Mexico, and the Japanese New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), and Pro Wrestling Noah (NOAH) leagues.

Question: What is the biggest wrestling company?


Answer: WCW and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW)

Question: Which companies are some of WWE's competition?


Answer: Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and Ring of Honor (ROH), Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA)

Question: What are some other major wrestling companies?


Answer: Japanese New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW)

Question: What is the name of a Japanese wrestling company?


Answer: prominent figures in the wrestling business (including WWE owner Vince McMahon)

Context: Gradually, the predetermined nature of professional wrestling became an open secret, as prominent figures in the wrestling business (including WWE owner Vince McMahon) began to publicly admit that wrestling was entertainment, not competition. This public reveal has garnered mixed reactions from the wrestling community, as some feel that exposure ruins the experience to the spectators as does exposure in illusionism. Despite the public admission of the theatrical nature of professional wrestling, many U.S. states still regulate professional wrestling as they do other professional competitive sports. For example, New York State still regulates "professional wrestling" through the New York State Athletic Commission (SAC).

Question: Who confessed that wrestling was not competition?


Answer: This public reveal has garnered mixed reactions from the wrestling community

Question: How have people reacted to the revelation that wrestling is purely entertainment?


Answer: many U.S. states still regulate professional wrestling as they do other professional competitive sports

Question: How do many U.S. states handle wrestling?


Answer: The audience is recognized and acknowledged by the performers as spectators

Context: Professional wrestling shows can be considered a form of theatre in the round, with the ring, ringside area, and entryway comprising a thrust stage. However, there is a much more limited concept of a fourth wall than in most theatric performances. The audience is recognized and acknowledged by the performers as spectators to the sporting event being portrayed, and are encouraged to interact as such. This leads to a high level of audience participation; in fact, their reactions can dictate how the performance unfolds. Often, individual matches will be part of a longer storyline conflict between "babyfaces" (often shortened to just "faces") and "heels". "Faces" (the "good guys") are those whose actions are intended to encourage the audience to cheer, while "heels" (the "bad guys") act to draw the spectators' ire.

Question: How do the wrestlers treat the audience?


Answer: This leads to a high level of audience participation

Question: How does the audience being acknowledged by the wrestlers impact the show?


Answer: their reactions can dictate how the performance unfolds.

Question: What can the audience do during a show?


Answer: Often, individual matches will be part of a longer storyline conflict between "babyfaces" (often shortened to just "faces") and "heels".

Question: What kind of conflict can arise during a show?


Answer: "heels" (the "bad guys")

Question: Which of the wrestlers are the bad guys?


Answer: the first side to achieve the majority number of pinfalls, submissions, or countouts being the winner.

Context: Most wrestling matches last for a set number of falls, with the first side to achieve the majority number of pinfalls, submissions, or countouts being the winner. Historically, matches were wrestled to 3 falls ("best 2 out of 3") or 5 falls ("best 3 out of 5"). The standard for modern matches is one fall. However, even though it is now standard, many announcers will explicitly state this (e.g. "The following contest is set for one fall with a 20-minute time limit"). These matches are given a time limit; if not enough falls are scored by the end of the time limit, the match is declared a draw. Modern matches are generally given a 10- to 30-minute time limit for standard matches; title matches can go for up to one hour. British wrestling matches held under Admiral-Lord Mountevans rules are 2 out of 3 falls.

Question: Who wins in a wrestling match?


Answer: Historically, matches were wrestled to 3 falls ("best 2 out of 3") or 5 falls ("best 3 out of 5").

Question: How could a wrestler win in the past?


Answer: The standard for modern matches is one fall.

Question: How can a wrestler win in modern times?


Answer: if not enough falls are scored by the end of the time limit, the match is declared a draw.

Question: In what instance will a match be declared a draw?


Answer: title matches can go for up to one hour

Question: How long can a title match be?


Answer: is forced out of the match

Context: In matches with multiple competitors, an elimination system may be used. Any wrestler who has a fall scored against them is forced out of the match, and the match continues until only one remains. However, it is much more common when more than two wrestlers are involved to simply go one fall, with the one scoring the fall, regardless of who they scored it against, being the winner. In championship matches, this means that, unlike one-on-one matches (where the champion can simply disqualify themselves or get themselves counted out to retain the title via the "champion's advantag"), the champion does not have to be pinned or involved in the decision to lose the championship. However, heel champions often find advantages, not in champion's advantage, but in the use of weapons and outside interference, as these poly-sided matches tend to involve no holds barred rules.

Question: What happens when a wrestler has a fall against them?


Answer: no holds barred rules

Question: What kind of rules does a poly-sided match usually have?


Answer: to simply go one fall, with the one scoring the fall, regardless of who they scored it against, being the winner.

Question: What usually happens when two or more wrestlers are involved?


Answer: does not have to be pinned or involved in the decision to lose the championship.

Question: How can a champion lose a championship?


Answer: The most common of these is the ladder match

Context: Many modern specialty matches have been devised, with unique winning conditions. The most common of these is the ladder match. In the basic ladder match, the wrestlers or teams of wrestlers must climb a ladder to obtain a prize that is hoisted above the ring. The key to winning this match is that the wrestler or team of wrestlers must try to incapacitate each other long enough for one wrestler to climb the ladder and secure that prize for their team. As a result, the ladder can be used as a weapon. The prizes include – but are not limited to any given championship belt (the traditional prize), a document granting the winner the right to a future title shot, or any document that matters to the wrestlers involved in the match (such as one granting the winner a cash prize). Another common specialty match is known as the battle royal. In a battle royal, all the wrestlers enter the ring to the point that there are 20-30 wrestlers in the ring at one time. When the match begins, the simple objective is to throw the opponent over the top rope and out of the ring with both feet on the floor in order to eliminate that opponent. The last wrestler standing is declared the winner. A variant on this type of match is the WWE's Royal Rumble where two wrestlers enter the ring to start the match and other wrestlers follow in 90 second intervals (previously 2 minutes) until 30-40 wrestlers have entered the ring. All other rules stay the same. For more match types, see Professional wrestling match types.

Question: What is the most common of the special matches?


Answer: In the basic ladder match, the wrestlers or teams of wrestlers must climb a ladder to obtain a prize that is hoisted above the ring.

Question: What must the wrestlers do in a ladder match?


Answer: the wrestler or team of wrestlers must try to incapacitate each other long enough for one wrestler to climb the ladder and secure that prize for their team.

Question: How does one win a ladder match?


Answer: championship belt

Question: What is a common prize in a ladder match?


Answer: 20-30 wrestlers

Question: How many wrestlers are in a standard battle royal match?


Answer: their actions are also frequently scripted for dramatic effect

Context: Due to the legitimate role that referees play in wrestling of serving as liaison between the bookers backstage and the wrestlers in the ring (the role of being a final arbitrator is merely kayfabe), the referee is present, even in matches that do not at first glance appear to require a referee (such as a ladder match, as it is no holds barred, and the criteria for victory could theoretically be assessed from afar). Although their actions are also frequently scripted for dramatic effect, referees are subject to certain general rules and requirements in order to maintain the theatrical appearance of unbiased authority. The most basic rule is that an action must be seen by a referee to be declared for a fall or disqualification. This allows for heel characters to gain a scripted advantage by distracting or disabling the referee in order to perform some ostensibly illegal maneuver on their opponent. Most referees are unnamed and essentially anonymous, though the WWE has let their officials reveal their names.

Question: What determines how the referee acts?


Answer: The most basic rule is that an action must be seen by a referee to be declared for a fall or disqualification.

Question: What is a common rule about referees?


Answer: Most referees are unnamed and essentially anonymous, though the WWE has let their officials reveal their names.

Question: What are referees called?


Answer: distracting or disabling the referee in order to perform some ostensibly illegal maneuver on their opponent.

Question: How can a wrestler gain an advantage by using a referee?


Answer: Special guest referees may be used from time to time;

Context: Special guest referees may be used from time to time; by virtue of their celebrity status, they are often scripted to dispense with the appearance of neutrality and use their influence to unfairly influence the outcome of the match for added dramatic impact. Face special referees will often fight back against hostile heel wrestlers, particularly if the special referee is either a wrestler themselves or a famous martial artist (such as Tito Ortiz in the main event at TNA's THard Justice in 2005). They also have the power to eject from ringside any of the heel wrestler's entourage/stable, who may otherwise interfere with the match.

Question: What kind of referees are occasionally used?


Answer: often scripted to dispense with the appearance of neutrality and use their influence to unfairly influence the outcome of the match for added dramatic impact. F

Question: What are famous referees directed to do?


Answer: They also have the power to eject from ringside any of the heel wrestler's entourage/stable, who may otherwise interfere with the match.

Question: What do special referees have the ability to do?


Answer: an elevated square canvas mat with posts on each corner.

Context: Matches are held within a wrestling ring, an elevated square canvas mat with posts on each corner. A cloth apron hangs over the edges of the ring. Three horizontal ropes or cables surround the ring, suspended with turnbuckles which are connected to the posts. For safety, the ropes are padded at the turnbuckles and cushioned mats surround the floor outside the ring. Guardrails or a similar barrier enclose this area from the audience. Wrestlers are generally expected to stay within the confines of the ring, though matches sometimes end up outside the ring, and even in the audience, to add excitement.

Question: What material is within a wrestling ring?


Answer: Three horizontal ropes or cables surround the ring,

Question: What is around the ring?


Answer: For safety, the ropes are padded at the turnbuckles and cushioned mats surround the floor outside the ring.

Question: What is used for protection in the ring?


Answer: Two wrestlers must make physical contact (typically palm-to-palm) in order to transfer this legal status.

Context: In some team matches, only one entrant from each team may be designated as the "legal" or "active" wrestler at any given moment. Two wrestlers must make physical contact (typically palm-to-palm) in order to transfer this legal status. This is known as a "tag", with the participants "tagging out" and "tagging in". Typically the wrestler who is tagging out has a 5-second count to leave the ring, whereas the one tagging in can enter the ring at any time, resulting in heels legally double-teaming a face.

Question: What does a "tag" entail?


Answer: "tagging out" and "tagging in".

Question: What are two things that can be done with tagging?


Answer: has a 5-second count to leave the ring

Question: How long does a wrestler have to leave the ring once they are tagged out?


Answer: the one tagging in can enter the ring at any time, resulting in heels legally double-teaming a face.

Question: How much time does a wrestler have once they tag in?


Answer: four wrestlers, each for themselves, fight in a match, but only two wrestlers can be in the match at any given time.

Context: Sometimes, poly-sided matches that pit every one for themselves will incorporate tagging rules. Outside of kayfabe, this is done to give wrestlers a break from the action (as these matches tend to go on for long periods of time), and to make the action in the ring easier to choreograph. One of the most mainstream examples of this is the four-corner match, the most common type of match in the WWE before it was replaced with its equivalent fatal four-way; four wrestlers, each for themselves, fight in a match, but only two wrestlers can be in the match at any given time. The other two are positioned in the corner, and tags can be made between any two wrestlers.

Question: What happens in a fatal four-way?


Answer: tags can be made between any two wrestlers.

Question: In a fatal four-way, who can make tags?


Answer: four-corner match

Question: What was the most common type of match before the fatal four-way?


Answer: this is done to give wrestlers a break from the action

Question: Why are tagging rules made?


Answer: any time that a wrestler's shoulders are down (both shoulders touching the mat), back-first and any part of the opponent's body is lying over the wrestler.

Context: A count may be started at any time that a wrestler's shoulders are down (both shoulders touching the mat), back-first and any part of the opponent's body is lying over the wrestler. This often results in pins that can easily be kicked out of, if the defensive wrestler is even slightly conscious. For example, an attacking wrestler who is half-conscious may simply drape an arm over an opponent, or a cocky wrestler may place their foot gently on the opponent's body, prompting a three-count from the referee.

Question: At what point can a count be started?


Answer: a cocky wrestler may place their foot gently on the opponent's body, prompting a three-count from the referee.

Question: What can happen to an arrogant wrestler?


Answer: wrestler who is half-conscious may simply drape an arm over an opponent

Question: What might a partially conscious wrestler do?


Answer: one wrestler is covering another prone, back-first wrestler can be considered a pin attempt

Context: However, although almost any scenario where one wrestler is covering another prone, back-first wrestler can be considered a pin attempt, there is one important exception to that rule: Pin attempts broken up by other wrestlers. In matches involving multiple wrestlers (such as triple threat matches or tag team matches), wrestlers who see a pin attempt that, if successful, would result in them losing the match are expected to run in and break the pin attempt by performing some sort of offensive maneuver on the wrestler attempting the pin. The most common attacks for breaking pins are a stomp to the back and an elbow to the back of the head, as they are simple to pull off in the spur of the moment. However, these moves, simple as they are, still leave the pinning wrestler on top of the pinned wrestler. Despite the pinning wrestler still technically being on top of the pinned wrestler, the referee will still consider the pin attempt to be broken.

Question: What happens during a pin attempt?


Answer: a stomp to the back and an elbow to the back of the head

Question: What is a common offensive move to break a pin attack?


Answer: broken

Question: What can the referee consider a pin attempt to be, even if the attacker is still on top of the pinned wrester?


Answer: using the ropes for leverage and hooking the opponent's clothing,

Context: Illegal pinning methods include using the ropes for leverage and hooking the opponent's clothing, which are therefore popular cheating methods for heels, unless certain stipulations make such an advantage legal. Such pins as these are rarely seen by the referee (as they have to see if their shoulders are down) and are subsequently often used by heels and on occasion by cheating faces to win matches. Even if it is noticed, it is rare for such an attempt to result in a disqualification (see below), and instead it simply results in nullification of the pin attempt, so the heel wrestler rarely has anything to lose for trying it, anyway.

Question: What is a pinning method that isn't allowed?


Answer: Such pins as these are rarely seen by the referee

Question: How often are illegal pinning methods seen by the referee?


Answer: cheating

Question: What are the illegal pinning methods called?


Answer: it is rare for such an attempt to result in a disqualification

Question: Can illegal pinning methods result in being disqualified?


Answer: results in nullification of the pin attempt,

Question: What happens with an illegal pinning move when it is seen by a referee?


Answer: verbally informing the referee

Context: A wrestler may voluntarily submit by verbally informing the referee (usually used in moves such as the Mexican Surfboard, where all four limbs are incapacitated, making tapping impossible). Also, since Ken Shamrock (a legitimate UFC competitor in its early days) popularized it in 1997, a wrestler can indicate a voluntary submission by "tapping out", that is, tapping a free hand against the mat or against an opponent. Occasionally, a wrestler will reach for a rope (see rope breaks below), only to put their hand back on the mat so they can crawl towards the rope some more; this is not a submission, and the referee decides what their intent is.

Question: How can a wrestler willingly submit?


Answer: Mexican Surfboard

Question: What is the move called where all limbs are incapicitated?


Answer: tapping out

Question: What can a wrestler do to show a willing submission?


Answer: submission

Context: Submission was initially a large factor in professional wrestling, but following the decline of the submission-oriented catch-as-catch-can style from mainstream professional wrestling, the submission largely faded until the rise of the legitimate sport of mixed martial arts. Despite this, some wrestlers, such as Chris Jericho, The Undertaker, Ric Flair, Bret Hart, Kurt Angle, Ken Shamrock, Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit, and Tazz, became famous for winning matches via submission. A wrestler with a signature submission technique is portrayed as better at applying the hold, making it more painful or more difficult to get out of than others who use it, or can be falsely credited as inventing the hold (such as when Tazz popularized the kata ha jime judo choke in pro wrestling as the "Tazzmission").

Question: Several well-known wrestlers were famous for winning with a move called what?


Answer: Tazzmission

Question: What move did Tazz make popular?


Answer: mixed martial arts

Question: What legitimate sport related to wrestling began to become popular?


Answer: an arm or leg

Context: Since all contact between the wrestlers must cease if any part of the body is touching, or underneath, the ropes, many wrestlers will attempt to break submission holds by deliberately grabbing the bottom ropes. This is called a "rope break", and it is one of the most common ways to break a submission hold. Most holds leave an arm or leg free, so that the person can tap out if they want. Instead, they use these free limbs to either grab one of the ring ropes (the bottom one is the most common, as it is nearest the wrestlers, though other ropes sometimes are used for standing holds such as Chris Masters' Master Lock) or drape their foot across, or underneath one. Once this has been accomplished, and the accomplishment is witnessed by the referee, the referee will demand that the offending wrestler break the hold, and start counting to five if the wrestler does not. If the referee reaches the count of five, and the wrestler still does not break the hold, they are disqualified.

Question: Many holds will leave what body parts free?


Answer: if any part of the body is touching, or underneath, the ropes,

Question: When must contact stop between wrestlers?


Answer: by deliberately grabbing the bottom ropes

Question: How might a wrestler attempt to break a submission hold?


Answer: the count of five

Question: How long does a wrestler have to get themselves free of the hold?


Answer: they are disqualified

Question: What happens if the wrestler doesn't break a hold?


Answer: a referee will wave their hand in front of the wrestler's face

Context: A wrestler can win by knockout (sometimes referred to as a referee stoppage) if they do not resort to submission holds, but stills pummels their opponent to the point that they are unconscious or are unable to intelligently defend themselves. To check for a knockout in this manner, a referee will wave their hand in front of the wrestler's face; if the wrestler does not react in any way, the referee will award the victory to the other wrestler. If all the active wrestlers in a match are down inside the ring at the same time, the referee will begin a count (usually ten seconds, twenty in Japan). If nobody rises to their feet by the end of the count, the match is ruled a draw. Any participant who stands up in time will end the count for everyone else. In a Last Man Standing match, this form of a knockout is the only way that the match can end, so the referee will count when one or more wrestlers are down, and one wrestler standing up before the 10-count doesn't stop the count for another wrestler who is still down.

Question: How does a referee check for a knockout?


Answer: If nobody rises to their feet by the end of the count, the match is ruled a draw.

Question: What happens if all wrestlers are down?


Answer: usually ten seconds, twenty in Japan

Question: If all wrestlers are down, how long do they have to rise?


Answer: Last Man Standing

Question: What kind of match has to end in a knockout?


Answer: referee stoppage

Question: What is another name for a knockout?


Answer: when they or official ring physician decides that a wrestler cannot safely continue the match

Context: A referee may stop the match when they or official ring physician decides that a wrestler cannot safely continue the match. This may be decided if the wrestler cannot continue the match due to an injury. At the Great American Bash in 2008, Chris Jericho was declared the winner of a match against Shawn Michaels when Michaels could not defend himself due to excessive blood loss and impaired vision. At NXT TakeOver: Rival in 2015, the referee stopped the match when Sami Zayn could not defend himself due to an injury sustained against Kevin Owens for the NXT Championship.

Question: In what case can a referee choose to end the match?


Answer: an injury

Question: What is one reason that a wrestler may not be able to continue?


Answer: due to excessive blood loss and impaired vision

Question: Why couldn't Shawn Michaels defend himself?


Answer: Great American Bash

Question: Where did Chris Jericho win in 2008?


Answer: "count-out" or "count out"

Context: A countout (alternatively "count-out" or "count out") happens when a wrestler is out of the ring long enough for the referee to count to ten (twenty in some promotions) and thus disqualified. The count is broken and restarted when a wrestler in the ring exits the ring. Playing into this, some wrestlers will "milk" the count by sliding in the ring, and immediately sliding back out. As they were technically inside the ring for a split second before exiting again, it is sufficient to restart the count. This is often referred to by commentators as "breaking the count." Heels often use this tactic in order to buy themselves more time to catch their breath, or to attempt to frustrate their babyface opponents.

Question: What are a couple other ways to write countout?


Answer: when a wrestler is out of the ring long enough for the referee to count to ten

Question: What happens during a countout?


Answer: sliding in the ring, and immediately sliding back out

Question: What will some wrestlers do to take advantage of the countout?


Answer: breaking the count.

Question: What is the trick of sliding in and then back out of the ring called?


Answer: DQ

Context: Disqualification (sometimes abbreviated as "DQ") occurs when a wrestler violates the match's rules, thus losing automatically. Although a countout can technically be considered a disqualification (as it is, for all intents and purposes, an automatic loss suffered as a result of violating a match rule), the two concepts are often distinct in wrestling. A no disqualification match can still end by countout (although this is rare); typically, a match must be declared a "no holds barred" match, a "street fight" or some other term, in order for both disqualifications and countouts to be waived.[citation needed]

Question: What else is disqualification called?


Answer: wrestler violates the match's rules, thus losing automatically

Question: How can a wrestler be disqualified?


Answer: must be declared a "no holds barred" match, a "street fight" or some other term

Question: In what case can a countout and disqualification be done away with entirely?


Answer: low blows, weapon usage, interference, or assaulting the referee

Context: In practice, not all rule violations will result in a disqualification as the referee may use their own judgement and is not obligated to stop the match. Usually, the only offenses that the referee will see and immediately disqualify the match on (as opposed to having multiple offenses) are low blows, weapon usage, interference, or assaulting the referee. In WWE, a referee must see the violation with their own eyes to rule that the match end in a disqualification (simply watching the video tape is not usually enough) and the referee's ruling is almost always final, although Dusty finishes (named after, and made famous by, Dusty Rhodes) will often result in the referee's decision being overturned. It is not uncommon for the referees themselves to get knocked out during a match, which is commonly referred to by the term "ref bump". While the referee remains "unconscious", wrestlers are free to violate rules until the referee is revived or replaced. In some cases, a referee might disqualify a person under the presumption that it was that wrestler who knocked them out; most referee knockouts are arranged to allow a wrestler, usually a heel, to gain an advantage. For example, a wrestler may get whipped into a referee at a slower speed, knocking the ref down for short amount of time; during that interim period, one wrestler may pin their opponent for a three-count and would have won the match but for the referee being down (sometimes, another referee will sprint to the ring from backstage to attempt to make the count, but by then, the other wrestler has had enough time to kick-out on their own accord).

Question: What are the usual reasons for an automatic disqualification?


Answer: must see the violation with their own eyes

Question: What must the referee do to rule the match at an end via disqualification?


Answer: Dusty finishes

Question: In what case can a referee's decision be overturned?


Answer: ref bump

Question: What is it called when a ref is knocked out?


Answer: free to violate rules

Question: What can wrestlers do when a ref is out?


Answer: in a draw

Context: A professional wrestling match can end in a draw. A draw occurs if both opponents are simultaneously disqualified (as via countout or if the referee loses complete control of the match and both opponents attack each other with no regard to being in a match, like Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker at Unforgiven in 2002), neither opponent is able to answer a ten-count, or both opponents simultaneously win the match. The latter can occur if, for example, one opponent's shoulders touch the mat while maintaining a submission hold against another opponent. If the opponent in the hold begins to tap out at the same time a referee counts to three for pinning the opponent delivering the hold, both opponents have legally achieved scoring conditions simultaneously. Traditionally, a championship may not change hands in the event of a draw (though it may become vacant), though some promotions such as TNA have endorsed rules where the champion may lose a title by disqualification. A variant of the draw is the time-limit draw, where the match does not have a winner by a specified time period (a one-hour draw, which was once common, is known in wrestling circles as a "Broadway").

Question: What is one way a match can end?


Answer: if both opponents are simultaneously disqualified

Question: What is one reason a draw can result?


Answer: may not change hands in the event of a draw

Question: What usually happens regarding a championship during a draw?


Answer: "Broadway"

Question: What is another name for a one hour draw?


Answer: debilitating

Context: A wrestling match may be declared a no contest if the winning conditions are unable to occur. This can be due to excessive interference, loss of referee's control over the match, one or more participants sustaining debilitating injury not caused by the opponent, or the inability of a scheduled match to even begin. A no contest is a state separate and distinct from a draw — a draw indicates winning conditions were met. Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably in practice, this usage is technically incorrect.

Question: What kind of injury can cause a no contest ruling?


Answer: state separate and distinct from a draw

Question: How is no contest related to a draw, if at all?


Answer: loss of referee's control over the match

Question: How can a referee's action result in a no contest?


Answer: to excite and entertain the audience

Context: While each wrestling match is ostensibly a competition of athletics and strategy, the goal of each match from a business standpoint is to excite and entertain the audience. Although the competition is staged, dramatic emphasis can be utilized to draw out the most intense reaction from the audience. Heightened interest results in higher attendance rates, increased ticket sales, higher ratings on television broadcasts (which result in greater ad revenue), higher pay-per-view buyrates, and sales of branded merchandise and recorded video footage. All of these contribute to the profit of the promotion company.

Question: What is the point of a match?


Answer: Heightened interest

Question: Higher attendance and more ticket sales can be the result of what?


Answer: dramatic emphasis

Question: Though the contest is staged, what can garner more interest from the crowd?


Answer: portray character roles

Context: In Latin America and English-speaking countries, most wrestlers (and other on-stage performers) portray character roles, sometimes with personalities wildly different from their own. These personalities are a gimmick intended to heighten interest in a wrestler without regard to athletic ability. Some can be unrealistic and cartoon-like (such as Doink the Clown), while others carry more verisimilitude and can be seen as exaggerated versions of the performer's real life personality (such as Chris Jericho, The Rock, John Cena, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and CM Punk). In lucha libre, many characters wear masks, adopting a secret identity akin to a superhero, a near-sacred tradition.

Question: What do most wrestlers do, as far as how they act?


Answer: Doink the Clown

Question: What is the name of one wrestler who acts like a cartoonish character?


Answer: exaggerated versions of the performer's real life personality

Question: The Rock's persona is seen as what?


Answer: masks

Question: What is common apparel in lucha libre?


Answer: by their stage names/characters

Context: An individual wrestler may sometimes use their real name, or a minor variation of it, for much of their career, such as Angelo Poffo, Ernie Ladd, Verne Gagne, Bret Hart, and Randy Orton. Others can keep one ring name for their entire career (cases in point include Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels, CM Punk and Ricky Steamboat), or may change from time to time to better suit the demands of the audience or company. Sometimes a character is owned and trademarked by the company, forcing the wrestler to find a new one when they leave (although a simple typeset change, such as changing Rhyno to Rhino, can usually get around this), and sometimes a character is owned by the wrestler. Sometimes, a wrestler may change their legal name in order to obtain ownership of their ring name (examples include Andrew Martin and Warrior). Many wrestlers (such as The Rock and The Undertaker) are strongly identified with their character, even responding to the name in public or between friends. It's actually considered proper decorum for fellow wrestlers to refer to each other by their stage names/characters rather than their birth/legal names, unless otherwise introduced. A professional wrestling character's popularity can grow to the point that it makes appearances in other media (see Hulk Hogan and El Santo) or even give the performer enough visibility to enter politics (Antonio Inoki and Jesse Ventura, among others).

Question: What is the popular way for wrestlers to refer to one another?


Answer: the wrestler

Question: Other than a company, who else can own a character?


Answer: typeset change

Question: How can a wrestler get around changing their ring name entirely?


Answer: change their legal name

Question: What else might a wrestler do to obtain their ring name?


Answer: babyface, or "the good guy"

Context: Typically, matches are staged between a protagonist (historically an audience favorite, known as a babyface, or "the good guy") and an antagonist (historically a villain with arrogance, a tendency to break rules, or other unlikable qualities, called a heel). In recent years, however, antiheroes have also become prominent in professional wrestling. There is also a less common role of a "tweener", who is neither fully face nor fully heel yet able to play either role effectively (case in point, Samoa Joe during his first run in TNA from June 2005 to November 2006).

Question: What are other names for a protagonist?


Answer: break rules

Question: What will an antagonist usually do?


Answer: tweener

Question: What is a wrestler whose persona is somewhere between the two norms called?


Answer: protagonist

Question: Who is generally the audience favorite?


Answer: turn

Context: At times a character may "turn", altering their face/heel alignment. This may be an abrupt, surprising event, or it may slowly build up over time. It almost always is accomplished with a markable change in behavior on the part of the character. Some turns become defining points in a wrestler's career, as was the case when Hulk Hogan turned heel after being a top face for over a decade. Others may have no noticeable effect on the character's status. If a character repeatedly switches between being a face and heel, this lessens the effect of such turns, and may result in apathy from the audience. Vince McMahon is a good example of having more heel and face turns than anyone in WWE history.

Question: What might a character do with their persona?


Answer: heel

Question: What did Hulk Hogan become?


Answer: Vince McMahon

Question: Who has the most turns in the WWE?


Answer: Ricky Steamboat

Context: As with personae in general, a character's face or heel alignment may change with time, or remain constant over its lifetime (the most famous example of the latter is Ricky Steamboat, a WWE Hall of Famer who remained a babyface throughout his entire career). Sometimes a character's heel turn will become so popular that eventually the audience response will alter the character's heel-face cycle to the point where the heel persona will, in practice, become a face persona, and what was previously the face persona, will turn into the heel persona, such as when Dwayne Johnson first began using "The Rock" persona as a heel character, as opposed to his original "Rocky Maivia" babyface persona. Another legendary example is Stone Cold Steve Austin, who was originally booked as a heel, with such mannerisms as drinking on the job, using profanity, breaking company property, and even breaking into people's private homes. However, much to WWF's surprise, the fans enjoyed Austin's antics so much that he became one of the greatest antiheroes in the history of the business. He, along with the stable of D-Generation X, is generally credited with ushering in the Attitude Era of WWF programming.

Question: Who is a wrestler who never turned?


Answer: heel

Question: What did Stone Cold Steve Austin start as?


Answer: Rocky Maivia

Question: What was The Rock's original character?


Answer: one of the greatest antiheroes

Question: What did Steve Austin become?


Answer: manager

Context: In some cases a wrestler may possess admirable physical traits but perceived mediocre public speaking abilities (such as Brock Lesnar), or their gimmick may be that of a "wild savage" needing a handler (such as Kamala). Such performers have historically employed a manager, who speaks on their behalf and adds to the performance. Managers have sometimes become major personalities, including Bobby Heenan, Paul Heyman, Ernie Roth, and Paul Bearer. A manager role may also be filled by a "valet", typically an appealing female who may participate in love triangle storylines, "damsel in distress" situations, and scripted fights with female wrestlers. Some of these have also gone on to become recognized stars, such as Tammy Lynn Sytch, Stacy Keibler, and Miss Elizabeth.

Question: Who helps out a wrestler with poor speaking abilities?


Answer: become major personalities

Question: What sometimes happens with managers?


Answer: "valet

Question: Who else can perform the manager role?


Answer: an appealing female

Question: Who might participate in a love triangle story?


Answer: a story analogous to a scene in a play or film, or an episode of a serial drama:

Context: While true exhibition matches are not uncommon, most matches tell a story analogous to a scene in a play or film, or an episode of a serial drama: The face will sometimes win (triumph) or sometimes lose (tragedy). Longer story arcs can result from multiple matches over the course of time. Since most promotions have a championship title, competition for the championship is a common impetus for stories. Also, anything from a character's own hair to their job with the promotion can be wagered in a match. The same type of good vs. evil storylines were also once popular in roller derby.

Question: What do most matches have?


Answer: tragedy

Question: What is it called when the protagonist loses?


Answer: triumph

Question: What do they call it when a protagonist wins?


Answer: from a character's own hair to their job with the promotion

Question: What can be wagered in a match?


Answer: feuds

Context: Other stories result from a natural rivalry between two or more characters. Outside of performance, these are referred to as feuds. A feud can exist between any number of participants and can last for a few days up to multiple decades. The feud between Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat lasted from the late 1970s into the early 1990s and allegedly spanned over two thousand matches (although most of those matches were mere dark matches). The career-spanning history between characters Mike Awesome and Masato Tanaka is another example of a long-running feud, as is the case of Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Mr. McMahon, one of the most lucrative feuds in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) during 1998 and 1999.

Question: What are rivalries often called?


Answer: a few days up to multiple decades

Question: How long might a feud last?


Answer: late 1970s into the early 1990s

Question: How long did the feud between Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat last?


Answer: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Mr. McMahon

Question: What is an example of a popular feud?


Answer: magic, curses, the undead and Satanic imagery

Context: Also, anything that can be used as an element of drama can exist in professional wrestling stories: romantic relationships (including love triangles and marriage), racism, classism, nepotism, favoritism, corporate corruption, family bonds, personal histories, grudges, theft, cheating, assault, betrayal, bribery, seduction, stalking, confidence tricks, extortion, blackmail, substance abuse, self-doubt, self-sacrifice; even kidnapping, sexual fetishism, necrophilia, misogyny, rape and death have been portrayed in wrestling. Some promotions have included supernatural elements such as magic, curses, the undead and Satanic imagery (most notably The Undertaker and his Ministry of Darkness, a stable that regularly performed evil rituals and human sacrifice in Satanic-like worship of a hidden power figure). Celebrities would also be involved in storylines.

Question: What supernatural things have been portrayed in matches?


Answer: anything that can be used as an element of drama

Question: What can be used in a wrestling story?


Answer: love triangles and marriage

Question: What romantic drama might be used in a story?


Answer: bookers in a company will place the title on the most accomplished performer,

Context: Behind the scenes, the bookers in a company will place the title on the most accomplished performer, or those the bookers believe will generate fan interest in terms of event attendance and television viewership. Lower ranked titles may also be used on the performers who show potential, thus allowing them greater exposure to the audience. However other circumstances may also determine the use of a championship. A combination of a championship's lineage, the caliber of performers as champion, and the frequency and manner of title changes, dictates the audience's perception of the title's quality, significance and reputation.

Question: What happens behind the scenes of a match?


Answer: those the bookers believe will generate fan interest

Question: Who else do bookers focus on?


Answer: performers who show potential

Question: Who might they use a lower ranked title on?


Answer: ability to maintain audience interest and/or a wrestler's ability to perform in the ring

Context: A wrestler's championship accomplishments can be central to their career, becoming a measure of their performance ability and drawing power. In general, a wrestler with multiple title reigns or an extended title reign is indicative of a wrestler's ability to maintain audience interest and/or a wrestler's ability to perform in the ring. As such, the most accomplished or decorated wrestlers tend to be revered as legends despite the predetermined nature of title reigns. American wrestler Ric Flair has had multiple world heavyweight championship reigns spanning over three decades. Japanese wrestler Último Dragón once held and defended a record 10 titles simultaneously.

Question: What does it show when a wrestler has many titles?


Answer: championship accomplishments

Question: What can be important in a wrestler's career?


Answer: performance ability and drawing power

Question: What do those accomplishments indicate?


Answer: multiple world heavyweight championship reigns spanning over three decades

Question: What has Ric Flair accomplished?


Answer: Último Dragón

Question: Who held 10 records at once?


Answer: accompanied by music

Context: All notable wrestlers now enter the ring accompanied by music, and regularly add other elements to their entrance. The music played during the ring entrance will usually mirror the wrestler's personality. Many wrestlers, particularly in America, have music and lyrics specially written for their ring entrance. While invented long before, the practice of including music with the entrance gained rapid popularity during the 1980s, largely as a result of the huge success of Hulk Hogan and the WWF, and their Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection. When a match is won, the victor's theme music is usually also played in celebration.

Question: What occurs when a wrestler enters the ring?


Answer: the wrestler's personality

Question: What does the music playing indicate?


Answer: victor's theme music is usually also played

Question: What typically happens when a match is won?


Answer: have music and lyrics specially written for their ring entrance

Question: What happens with many wrestlers?


Answer: Mildred Burke

Context: The women's division of professional wrestling has maintained a recognized world champion since 1937, when Mildred Burke won the original World Women's title. She then formed the World Women's Wrestling Association in the early 1950s and recognized herself as the first champion, although the championship would be vacated upon her retirement in 1956. The NWA, however, ceased to acknowledge Burke as their Women's World champion in 1954, and instead acknowledged June Byers as champion after a controversial finish to a high-profile match between Burke and Byers that year. Upon Byers' retirement in 1964, The Fabulous Moolah, who won a junior heavyweight version of the NWA World Women's Championship (the predecessor to the WWE's Women's Championship) in a tournament back in 1958, was recognized by most NWA promoters as champion by default.

Question: Who won the women's title in 1937?


Answer: Women's Wrestling Association

Question: What did Mildred Burke form?


Answer: 1964

Question: What year did June Byers retire?


Answer: 1956

Question: What year did Mildred Burke retire?


Answer: joshi puroresu

Context: In Japan, professional wrestling done by female wrestlers is called joshi puroresu (女子プロレス) or joshi puro for short. Female wrestling is usually handled by promotions that specialize in joshi puroresu rather than divisions of otherwise male-dominated promotions, as is the case in the United States. However, joshi puroresu promotions usually have agreements with male puroresu promotions such that they recognize each other's titles as legitimate, and may share cards. All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling was the dominant joshi organization from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Question: What is professional female wrestling called in Japan?


Answer: joshi puro

Question: What is the short form for joshi puroresu?


Answer: Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling

Question: What was the major joshi organization for two decades?


Answer: a male and female on each team

Context: In the 1980s, mixed tag team matches began to take place, with a male and female on each team and a rule stating that each wrestler could only attack the opponent of the same gender. If a tag was made, the other team had to automatically switch their legal wrestler as well. Despite these restrictions, many mixed tag matches do feature some physical interaction between participants of different genders. For example, a heel may take a cheap shot at the female wrestler of the opposing team to draw a negative crowd reaction. In lucha libre, cheap-shots and male-female attacks are not uncommon.

Question: What does a mixed tag team consist of?


Answer: 1980s

Question: When did mixed tag teams start?


Answer: the other team had to automatically switch their legal wrestler as well

Question: What happened when a tag was made?


Answer: cheap-shots and male-female attacks

Question: What isn't uncommon in lucha libre?


Answer: 1990s

Context: Intergender singles bouts were first fought on a national level in the 1990s. This began with Luna Vachon, who faced men in ECW and WWF. Later, Chyna became the first female to hold a belt that was not exclusive to women when she won the Intercontinental Championship. While it is a rare feat in WWE, in TNA, ODB participates in singles intergender matches. Also, ODB's kayfabe husband and tag team partner Eric Young held the Knockouts Tag Team Championship for a record 478 days before it was stripped by Brooke Hogan because Young was a male.

Question: When were intergender singles bouts fought on a national scale?


Answer: Chyna

Question: Who was the first woman to hold a belt that wasn't exclusive to women?


Answer: 478 days

Question: What was the record before it was stripped?


Answer: Brooke Hogan

Question: Who stripped the previous record?


Answer: mini me

Context: Some wrestlers may have their own specific "mini me", like Mascarita Sagrada, Alebrije has Quije, etc. There are also cases in which midgets can become valets for a wrestler, and even get physically involved in matches, like Alushe, who often accompanies Tinieblas, or KeMonito, who is portrayed as Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's mascot and is also a valet for Mistico. Dave Finlay was often aided in his matches by a midget known mainly as Hornswoggle while in WWE, who hid under the ring and gave a shillelagh to Finlay to use on his opponent. Finlay also occasionally threw him at his opponent(s). Hornswoggle has also been given a run with the Cruiserweight Championship and feuded with D-Generation X in 2009.

Question: A wrestler may have a small person called what?


Answer: become valets

Question: What else can a little person do in the match?


Answer: Hornswoggle

Question: Who was Dave Finlay often helped by?


Answer: occasionally threw him at his opponent(s

Question: What else did Finlay do with his little person?


Answer: given a run with the Cruiserweight Championship

Question: What happened to Hornswoggle?


Answer: Ginger, Victor, Hercules and Terrible Ted

Context: Though they have not had the level of exposure as other wrestlers, bears have long been a part of professional wrestling. Usually declawed and muzzled, they often wrestled shoot matches against audience members, offered a cash reward if they could pin the bear. They also wrestled professionals in worked, often battle royal or handicap, matches (usually booked so the bear won). Though they have wrestled around the world and continue to do so, wrestling bears enjoyed their greatest popularity in the Southern United States, during the 1960s and 1970s. The practice of bear wrestling has met strong opposition from animal rights activists in recent decades, contributing to its lack of mainstream acceptance. As of 2006, it is banned in 20 U.S. states. Perhaps the most famous wrestling bears are Ginger, Victor, Hercules and Terrible Ted.

Question: Who are the most well-known wrestling bears?


Answer: bears

Question: What animal has been a part of wrestling for a long time?


Answer: declawed and muzzled

Question: What condition are bears usually brought in in?


Answer: audience members

Question: Who do the bears fight?


Answer: 20

Question: How many states have banned bear wrestling as of 2006?


Answer: a story

Context: Professional wrestling in the U.S. tends to have a heavy focus on story building and the establishment of characters (and their personalities). There is a story for each match, and even a longer story for successive matches. The stories usually contain characters like faces and heels, and less often antiheroes and tweeners. It is a "triumph" if the face wins, while it is a "tragedy" if the heel wins. The characters usually have strong and sharp personalities, with examples like Doink the Clown, whose personality is melodramatic, slapstick and fantastical. The opposition between faces and heels is very intense in the story, and the heels may even attack the faces during TV interviews. The relationship between different characters can also be very complex.

Question: What does every match have?


Answer: characters like faces and heels

Question: Who is usually included in stories?


Answer: It is a "triumph" if the face wins, while it is a "tragedy" if the heel wins.

Question: What are the possibly outcomes of a story?


Answer: melodramatic, slapstick and fantastical

Question: What is Doink the Clown's persona like?


Answer: heels may even attack the faces

Question: What might happen during interviews?


Answer: they are less emphasized

Context: Although professional wrestling in Mexico (lucha libre) also has stories and characters, they are less emphasized. Wrestlers in Mexico are traditionally more agile and perform more aerial maneuvers than professional wrestlers in the U.S. who, more often, rely on power moves and strikes to subdue their opponents. The difference in styles is due to the independent evolution of the sport in Mexico beginning in the 1930s and the fact that wrestlers in the cruiserweight division (peso semicompleto) are often the most popular wrestlers in Mexican lucha libre. Wrestlers often execute high flying moves characteristic of lucha libre by utilizing the wrestling ring's ropes to catapult themselves towards their opponents, using intricate combinations in rapid-fire succession, and applying complex submission holds. Lucha libre is also known for its tag team wrestling matches, in which the teams are often made up of three members, instead of two as is common in the U.S.

Question: How do characters differ in Mexican wrestling?


Answer: more agile and perform more aerial maneuvers

Question: How are Mexican wrestlers different?


Answer: rely on power moves and strikes to subdue their opponents

Question: What do American wrestlers depend on?


Answer: tag team wrestling matches

Question: What else is lucha libre known for?


Answer: often made up of three members, instead of two as is common in the U.S

Question: How does lucha libre's tag team matches differ?


Answer: outcome of the matches remains predetermined

Context: The style of Japanese professional wrestling (puroresu) is again different. With its origins in traditional American style of wrestling and still being under the same genre, it has become an entity in itself. Despite the similarity to its American counterpart in that the outcome of the matches remains predetermined, the phenomena are different in the form of the psychology and presentation of the sport; it is treated as a full contact combat sport as it mixes hard hitting martial arts strikes with shoot style submission holds, while in the U.S. it is rather more regarded as an entertainment show. Wrestlers incorporate kicks and strikes from martial arts disciplines, and a strong emphasis is placed on submission wrestling, and unlike the use of involved storylines in the U.S., they are not as intricate in Japan, more emphasis is placed on the concept of Fighting Spirit, meaning the Wrestlers display of physical and mental stamina are valued a lot more than theatrics. Many of Japan's wrestlers including top stars such as Shinya Hashimoto, Riki Choshu and Keiji Mutoh came from a legitimate martial arts background and many Japanese wrestlers in the 1990s began to pursue careers in mixed martial arts organizations such as Pancrase and Shooto which at the time retained the original look of puroresu, but were actual competitions.

Question: How is Japanese wrestling similar to American?


Answer: the form of the psychology and presentation of the sport

Question: How does Japanese wrestling differ?


Answer: hard hitting martial arts strikes with shoot style submission holds

Question: What does Japanese wrestling combine?


Answer: Fighting Spirit

Question: What is the emphasis placed on in Japanese wrestling?


Answer: legitimate martial arts

Question: What is a common background for a Japanese wrestler?


Answer: to "pay their dues" for a few years by working in lower-profile promotions

Context: Those involved in producing professional wrestling have developed a kind of global fraternity, with familial bonds, shared language and passed-down traditions. New performers are expected to "pay their dues" for a few years by working in lower-profile promotions and working as ring crew before working their way upward. The permanent rosters of most promotions develop a backstage pecking order, with veterans mediating conflicts and mentoring younger wrestlers. For many decades (and still to a lesser extent today), performers were expected to keep the illusions of wrestling's legitimacy alive even while not performing, essentially acting in character any time they were in public. Some veterans speak of a "sickness" among wrestling performers, an inexplicable pull to remain active in the wrestling world despite the devastating effects the job can have on one's life and health.

Question: What is expected of newcomers?


Answer: keep the illusions of wrestling's legitimacy alive

Question: What were wrestlers expected to do for decades?


Answer: acting in character

Question: How did wrestlers have to act in public?


Answer: devastating effects the job can have on one's life and health

Question: What effects can wrestling have on the wrestlers?


Answer: their own subculture

Context: Fans of professional wrestling have their own subculture, comparable to those of science fiction, video games, or comic books (in some cases, the "fandoms" overlap; in recent years, some professional wrestlers, particularly those who nurture an anti-establishment rebel persona, such as CM Punk, have made guest appearances at comic book conventions). Those who are interested in the backstage occurrences, future storylines, and reasonings behind company decisions read newsletters written by journalists with inside ties to the wrestling industry. These "rags" or "dirt sheets" have expanded into the Internet, where their information can be dispensed on an up-to-the-minute basis. Some have expanded into radio shows.

Question: What do the fans have?


Answer: overlap

Question: What sometimes happens with fandoms?


Answer: comic book conventions

Question: Where have some wrestlers appeared?


Answer: collecting tapes of wrestling shows

Context: Some fans enjoy a pastime of collecting tapes of wrestling shows from specific companies, of certain wrestlers, or of specific genres. The Internet has given fans exposure to worldwide variations of wrestling they would be unable to see otherwise. Since the 1990s, many companies have been founded which deal primarily in wrestling footage. When the WWF purchased both WCW and ECW in 2001, they also obtained the entire past video libraries of both productions and have released many past matches online and on home video.

Question: What do some fans like to do?


Answer: exposure to worldwide variations of wrestling

Question: What has the internet done for wrestling fans?


Answer: 1990s

Question: Many companies who handle wrestling footage have been founded since what decade?


Answer: WCW and ECW

Question: What companies did WWF purchase in 2001?


Answer: fame within mainstream society

Context: From the first established world championship, the top professional wrestlers have garnered fame within mainstream society. Each successive generation has produced a number of wrestlers who extend their careers into the realms of music, acting, writing, business, politics or public speaking, and are known to those who are unfamiliar with wrestling in general. Conversely, celebrities from other sports or general pop culture also become involved with wrestling for brief periods of time. A prime example of this is The Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection of the 1980s, which combined wrestling with MTV.

Question: What kind of notoriety have wrestlers achieved?


Answer: combined wrestling with MTV

Question: What did the Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection do?


Answer: music, acting, writing, business, politics or public speaking

Question: What are some other career paths wrestlers embarked on?


Answer: Rocky series

Context: Many television shows and films have been produced which portray in-character professional wrestlers as protagonists, such as Ready to Rumble, ¡Mucha Lucha!, Nacho Libre, and the Santo film series. In the wildly popular Rocky series of films about the fictional boxer Rocky Balboa, Rocky III saw its hero fighting a "boxer vs. wrestler" exhibition match against the enormous and villainous wrestler "Thunderlips", portrayed by real-life soon-to-be wrestling icon Hulk Hogan. At least two stage plays set in the world of pro wrestling have been produced: The Baron is a comedy that retells the life of an actual performer known as Baron von Raschke. From Parts Unknown... is an award-nominated Canadian drama about the rise and fall of a fictional wrestler. The 2009 South Park episode "W.T.F." played on the soap operatic elements of professional wrestling. One of the lead characters on the Disney Channel series Kim Possible was a huge fan of pro wrestling and actually featured it on an episode (with two former WWE wrestlers voicing the two fictitious wrestlers featured in the episode). The 2008 film The Wrestler, about a washed-up professional wrestler, garnered several Oscar nominations.

Question: Name a popular series of boxing films?


Answer: Baron von Raschke

Question: Who is the movie The Baron about?


Answer: "W.T.F."

Question: What episode of South Park dealt with wrestling?


Answer: The Wrestler

Question: What critically acclaimed wrestling film came out in 2008?


Answer: television shows and films

Question: Many of what forms of entertainment have portrayed wrestlers?


Answer: academic study and journalistic criticism

Context: With its growing popularity, professional wrestling has attracted attention as a subject of serious academic study and journalistic criticism. Many courses, theses, essays, and dissertations have analyzed wrestling's conventions, content, and its role in modern society. It is often included as part of studies on theatre, sociology, performance, and media. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed a course of study on the cultural significance of professional wrestling, and anthropologist Heather Levi has written an ethnography about the culture of lucha libre in Mexico.

Question: What other areas has wrestling garnered interest from?


Answer: theatre, sociology, performance, and media

Question: What areas of study is wrestling talked about in?


Answer: an ethnography about the culture of lucha libre

Question: What did Heather Levi write?


Answer: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Question: What college has a course about the cultural impact of wrestling?


Answer: looked down on as a cheap entertainment for the uneducated working class

Context: However, this was not always the case; in the early 20th century, once it became apparent that the "sport" was worked, pro wrestling was looked down on as a cheap entertainment for the uneducated working class — an attitude that still exists to varying degrees today. The French theorist Roland Barthes was among the first to propose that wrestling was worthy of deeper analysis, in his essay "The World of Wrestling" from his book Mythologies, first published in 1957. Barthes argued that it should be looked at not as a scamming of the ignorant, but as spectacle; a mode of theatric performance for a willing, if bloodthirsty, audience. Wrestling is described as performed art which demands an immediate reading of the juxtaposed meanings. The logical conclusion is given least importance over the theatrical performers of the wrestlers and the referee. According to Barthes, the function of a wrestler is not to win: it is to go exactly through the motions which are expected of them and to give the audience a theatrical spectacle. This work is considered a foundation of all later study.

Question: What impact did the revelation of wrestling being "fixed" have?


Answer: 1957

Question: When was Roland Barthes book published?


Answer: a theatrical spectacle

Question: What did Barthes believe a wrestler give the audience?


Answer: "The World of Wrestling"

Question: What was the name of Roland Barthes' essay?


Answer: "soap opera for males"

Context: While pro wrestling is often described simplistically as a "soap opera for males", it has also been cited as filling the role of past forms of literature and theatre; a synthesis of classical heroics, commedia dell'arte, revenge tragedies, morality plays, and burlesque. The characters and storylines portrayed by a successful promotion are seen to reflect the current mood, attitudes, and concerns of that promotion's society (and can, in turn, influence those same things). Wrestling's high levels of violence and masculinity make it a vicarious outlet for aggression during peacetime.

Question: What is wrestling sometimes called?


Answer: vicarious outlet for aggression

Question: What is wrestling to people during a peaceful time?


Answer: past forms of literature and theatre;

Question: What role does wrestling fill?


Answer: Documentary filmmakers

Context: Documentary filmmakers have studied the lives of wrestlers and the effects the profession has on them and their families. The 1999 theatrical documentary Beyond the Mat focused on Terry Funk, a wrestler nearing retirement; Mick Foley, a wrestler within his prime; Jake Roberts, a former star fallen from grace; and a school of wrestling student trying to break into the business. The 2005 release Lipstick and Dynamite, Piss and Vinegar: The First Ladies of Wrestling chronicled the development of women's wrestling throughout the 20th century. Pro wrestling has been featured several times on HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. MTV's documentary series True Life featured two episodes titled "I'm a Professional Wrestler" and "I Want to Be a Professional Wrestler". Other documentaries have been produced by The Learning Channel (The Secret World of Professional Wrestling) and A&E (Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows). Bloodstained Memoirs explored the careers of several pro wrestlers, including Chris Jericho, Rob Van Dam and Roddy Piper.

Question: Who has studied the lives of wrestlers?


Answer: 1999

Question: When did Beyond the Mat come out?


Answer: Bryant Gumbel

Question: Who hosts Real Sports?


Answer: Chris Jericho, Rob Van Dam and Roddy Piper

Question: Who are a few wrestlers who have had memoirs written about them?


Answer: high chance of injury, and even death

Context: Although professional wrestling is worked, there is a high chance of injury, and even death. Strikes are often stiff, especially in Japan and in independent wrestling promotions such as Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) and Ring of Honor (ROH). The ring is often made out of 2 by 8 timber planks. Many of the injuries that occur in pro wrestling are shoulders, knee, back, neck, and rib injuries. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy and traumatic brain injuries have also been linked to pro wrestling, including in the double-murder suicide case involving Chris Benoit. Professional wrestler Davey Richards said in 2015, "We train to take damage, we know we are going to take damage and we accept that".

Question: What are the risks of wrestling?


Answer: 2 by 8 timber planks

Question: What is the ring commonly made of?


Answer: shoulders, knee, back, neck, and rib injuries

Question: What are common injuries in wrestling?


Answer: Chronic traumatic encephalopathy and traumatic brain injuries

Question: What other injuries have been connected with wrestling?


Answer: double-murder suicide case

Question: Chris Benoit was involved in what tragic event?


Answer: sensitivity

Context: Relatively insensitive film, with a correspondingly lower speed index, requires more exposure to light to produce the same image density as a more sensitive film, and is thus commonly termed a slow film. Highly sensitive films are correspondingly termed fast films. In both digital and film photography, the reduction of exposure corresponding to use of higher sensitivities generally leads to reduced image quality (via coarser film grain or higher image noise of other types). In short, the higher the sensitivity, the grainier the image will be. Ultimately sensitivity is limited by the quantum efficiency of the film or sensor.

Question: What does the film's quantum efficiency limit?


Answer: slow film

Question: What speed of film is produced by insensitive film?


Answer: reduction of exposure

Question: What leads to lower quality images?


Answer: Highly sensitive films

Question: What types of film are considered fast films?


Answer: reduced image quality

Question: What effect does highly sensitive film have on images?