10 Wrestling Moments Everyone Misunderstood As Kids

2. Why Didn't I Get That Pun?

Paul Bearer
WWE.com

Maybe this is just the subjective stupidity of your writer, but the not-so-elegant wordplay of 'Paul Bearer' was completely lost - probably because most parents wish to shield their children from the grim prospect of death at all costs, what with it utterly ruining of that carefree thing we called life.

Paul Bearer/Pallbearer. Get it? We didn't.

We just thought it was some guy named Paul because, at that point in time, our early learning grief hamster was still happily exercising in his wheel. It seems so obvious in retrospect, and that's because it was, but also because wrestling is absolutely laden with puns. So many finishing moves are plays on words. The Bank Statement (which made sense when NXT deemed her of any worth); Twisted Bliss (because Alexa Bliss twists in midair); the Big Ending (the worst of the bloody lot, surely); the Edgecator (no, that's significantly worse, come to think of it).

'Taker's previous manager, Brother Love, was another play on words too. Until he turned face a couple of years ago, everybody loved his brother and hated the sight of him.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK 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 AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and 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!