5 Reasons Kayfabe is dead in pro wrestling, and 5 reasons it isn't

Kayfabe is not dead: Wrestling promotions still try to work the fans.

Austin Aries no-sells an ENTIRE MATCH for Impact wrestling, sowing confusion among the fans.

While the average wrestling fan is possessed of the knowledge that pro wrestling is, in fact, a scripted dramatic entertainment performance and not a legitimate athletic contest, that doesn't stop the wrestling promotions from trying to work them.

A great, recent example is Austin Aries and Johnny Impact. Bound For Glory is Impact's answer to Wrestlemania, their biggest show of the year. Fans were thrilled by an epic encounter between Johnny Impact and Aries. Both men delivered very stiff strikes, and even simple wear down holds seemed to have a lot more emphasis put on them than is normal.

So imagine the fan's surprise when Austin Aries popped up off the mat and acted as if he'd just played a few rounds of golf. Not even limping a little, Austin flipped off Impact executive Don Callis and then the fans in attendance. For days, fans on social media were rabid, thinking Austin had just broken a sacred wrestling rule and was probably on bad terms with Impact.

It is now known that Aries is still under contract, and the whole affair was scripted to give him a 'loose cannon' gimmick. The fact that promoters are still trying to fool the fans means Kayfabe may have changed, but it hasn't gone anywhere.