10 Times You Forgot Pro Wrestlers Broke Kayfabe On The Air

Yeah, that's right, Vince McMahon practically introduced the concept of shattering kayfabe during a promo for the newly-rebranded Attitude Era.

To get out of paying taxes that all pure sports-based organizations have to pay, Vince adopted the "sports entertainment" moniker to describe his programming. That was way back in 1989, and the language he used to define this new term was a little vague. So when it came time to introduce his edgier, more "realistic" product, he stood in front of the camera and confirmed to the world what most people had already suspected: pro wrestling is fake.

"Even though we call ourselves 'sports entertainment' because of the athleticism involved, the key word in that phrase is 'entertainment.' The WWF extends far beyond the strict confines of sports presentation into the wide-open environment of broad-based entertainment."

Translation: We're not an actual sport, you dummies. Our matches are pre-determined. We're just like every other fictional TV show.

He then goes on to compare the WWF to soap operas, music videos, daytime talk shows, sitcoms, and even cartoons. Vince was delivering a solid, assured slap to the face of his predecessors and to anyone who took his programming too seriously.

"We in the WWF think that you, the audience, are quite frankly tired of having your intelligence insulted."

Translation: Yes, you are an idiot if you still think what we do isn't scripted. You big stupid dum-dum moron schmuck.