10 Obscure Wrestling Secrets That Took Years To Discover

5. The X Symbol

Triple H Blade
WWE

“Yes, this is entertainment—but the hazards are real.”

So ran WWE’s safety ad circulated around the time of the Attitude Era, which didn’t really work, because if you went to school between 1998-2001, there’s a good chance you were on the receiving end of a powerbomb, and still wondered why girls went for older boys. Or, your history teacher said “I’ve got two words for you…” and you popped yourself right into detention.

Those who went full-on in their fandom (and still wondered why girls went for older boys) came to understand that, when the hazards were real, the referee immediately threw their hands into an X-shape to convey that a performer had genuinely injured themselves.

Now that wrestling, to varying success, has long experimented with meta storytelling, the device is used sparingly to put over simulated wrestling angles as the real deal, thus unleashing a maelstrom of tedious online nobody-knows-anything debate.

“His arm is hanging out of its socket. Pretty sure he’s injured.”

“You smarks will get worked by anything! His arm was hanging out of its socket, and then they popped it back in. Guess plans change, huh?”

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Chris Benoit
 
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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!