10 ways in which the internet has killed pro-wrestling

#3 The ‘smark’ effect

It is difficult to trace the roots of the word ‘smark’ in the professional wrestling industry. While a mark is considered as someone who believes, or is deeply invested in the product or the characters, a smark -- or a smart mark, is someone that understands the nuances of the business, and has the nous to think for himself.

However, the true meaning of the word has been lost in translation, and everyone that goes against the grain is now considered a smark.

The members of the internet wrestling community (or IWC) often criticise wrestling promotions for the product they put on, and often try to ‘hijack’ wrestling events, as it often happens during the RAW after Royal Rumble or WrestleMania.