[wrestling slang] FEUD

A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or

alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in

events which are televised. Feuds may last for months or even years or be resolved

with implausible speed, perhaps during the course of a single match.

Feuds are often the result of the friction that is created between faces and heels .

Common causes of feuds are a purported slight or insult, although they can be

based on many other things, including conflicting moral codes or simple

professional one-upmanship such as the pursuit of a championship. Some of the

more popular feuds with audiences involve pitting former allies, particularly tag

team partners, against each other. Depending on how popular and entertaining the

feud may be, it is usually common practice for a feud to continue on for weeks,

usually building toward a match in a supercard.

Traditionally, most promoters wanted to "protect the business" by having wrestlers

act in character in public, and thus further convince the live audience that the

feuding wrestlers really did hate each other and looked to outdo each other.

Throughout the years, however, the wrestling business became more open, which

allowed the fans to see otherwise. An incident involving the The Kliq occurred

during a World Wrestling Federation house show, in which the face pair of Shawn

Michaels and Scott Hall embraced the heel pair of Kevin Nash and Triple H, thus

"breaking" this illusion.

While many feuds in professional wrestling are entirely fictional, there have been

successful feuds that actually originated from a real life rivalry and/or animosity

between wrestlers. A prime example of this was the off-screen feud between Bret

Hart and Shawn Michaels, who had genuine disdain for each other, evidenced by a

legitimate backstage fight between the two. Similarly, the on-screen feuds of Matt

Hardy and Edge and later, Mick Foley and Ric Flair both stemmed from a sincere

dislike for each other.