Glossary of Professional Wrestling Terms - S

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Sandbag

To sabotage a throw by letting one's body go limp instead of cooperating. This makes the throw much harder, if not impossible, to execute and may cause injury to either wrestler. This is typically done to make the attacker appear weak or unskilled.

Screwjob

An unfair and controversial finish, often involving cheating or outside interference. A worked screwjob is part of the story, and is used to generate heat or sympathy. A shoot screwjob occurs when the finish is changed without informing the losing wrestler.

Segment

Any part of a wrestling show that is not a wrestling match, such as a promo, a skit or an interview.

Sell

To react to an opponent's attacks in a manner that suggests to the audience that the attacks actually hurt.

Signature move

A move regularly performed by a wrestler, for which the wrestler is well-known.

Slow burn

A storyline that develops over a long period of time.

Smark

A fan who is aware of and interested in the backstage and non-scripted aspects of wrestling. (compare "mark").

Smart

Having inside knowledge of the wrestling business.

Spot

Any planned action or series of actions in a match. A "high spot" is a particularly exciting move. (See "missed spot")

Squash

An extremely one-sided, usually short match. They generally feature star wrestlers against relatively unknown jobbers, usually to help get a gimmick or moveset over.

Stable

A team of three or more wrestlers, who generally share common motives, allies and adversaries within a storyline (or through multiple storylines).

Stiff

Using excessive actual force when executing a move, deliberately or accidentally.

Strap

Championship belt.

Strong Style

A Japanese-inspired professional wrestling style that is worked, yet aims to deliver realistic performances, through stiff attacks and worked shoots.

Superstar

A wrestler working for WWE.

Swerve

A sudden change in the direction of a storyline, to surprise the fans. Often, it involves one wrestler turning on an ally in order to join a supposed mutual enemy. Swerves frequently start feuds between the former allies. Also, when a booker leads fans to believe that something is going to happen (or someone will appear) at a show, before doing something entirely different.