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Post by juicewinslow on Feb 7, 2010 22:27:08 GMT -5
Where does the wrestling term "MARK" come from? Was there some dude named Mark who really liked wrestling? Anyone know?
I have also heard rappers say "mark a$$ b*tches". Is this related in any way?
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Post by Deadshot on Feb 7, 2010 22:34:51 GMT -5
Mark is generally used as a term for targets being sold something..usually with some kind of deception. By buying into "kayfabe" marks are "sold" on the idea that the stories are real.
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Post by kahnspiricy on Feb 7, 2010 22:35:00 GMT -5
thread made me lol.
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Post by Jimmy on Feb 7, 2010 22:36:13 GMT -5
It's an old carny term synonymous with 'rube', the kind of people you get to buy into your little show because they don't know better.
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Post by Keyboard Cat on Feb 7, 2010 22:37:43 GMT -5
Mark is generally used as a term for targets being sold something..usually with some kind of deception. By buying into "kayfabe" marks are "sold" on the idea that the stories are real. Pretty much it. As to where it came from? It was first used by carnival folk to note other's if someone is gullible or has spent a lot of money to win a carnival game.
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Post by juicewinslow on Feb 7, 2010 22:39:39 GMT -5
So it's Carny slang. I wonder if the dude's name was Mark. ::googles mark::
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Post by juicewinslow on Feb 7, 2010 22:42:35 GMT -5
According to Wikipedia: A fan of professional wrestling, notably, one who treats professional wrestling as real and not scripted.
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Post by slappy on Feb 7, 2010 22:43:14 GMT -5
According to Wikipedia: A fan of professional wrestling, notably, one who treats professional wrestling as real and not scripted. You can also be a mark for a wrestler and not just wrestling as a whole.
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Post by purplekangaroo on Feb 7, 2010 22:44:59 GMT -5
HHH once said in a recent Powerslam mag interview that marks used to be people who thought wrestling was a real sport, not pre-determined stuff.
But then he said nowadays marks are people who read up on dirtsheets on the internet and think they know what's going on even though they never stepped into a ring.
My question to HHH, what's wrong with being a mark?
If it wasn't for passionate fans who cared about what's going on, i wonder how many casual fans would invest emotionally and monetarily (going to shows, buying t-shirts, ppvs, etc) in the WWE product.
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Post by juicewinslow on Feb 7, 2010 22:47:09 GMT -5
So I wonder if "Mark" could be interchanged with "Groupie"..?
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Bret_Hart_Mark™
Main Eventer
Joined on: Apr 5, 2005 13:34:12 GMT -5
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Post by Bret_Hart_Mark™ on Feb 7, 2010 22:59:35 GMT -5
So I wonder if "Mark" could be interchanged with "Groupie"..? Nope. Groupie=Ring rat
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2010 23:04:08 GMT -5
you can be a mark for anything not just wrestling. Say you really like pearl jam, than your a mark for pearl jam. its just carny talk.
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Post by Scarlet Begonias on Feb 7, 2010 23:15:50 GMT -5
So I wonder if "Mark" could be interchanged with "Groupie"..? Nope. Groupie=Ring rat =Sunny
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Post by carly1988 on Feb 7, 2010 23:20:20 GMT -5
Nope. Groupie=Ring rat =SunnyA Lita fan calling Sunny a ring rat?
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Post by Calcifer Boheme on Feb 7, 2010 23:21:20 GMT -5
mark isn't just a carny term, it's a grifting term... But since the early days of pro wrestling and and carnivals were essentially big cons anyway, it was still applicable.
It doesn't really mean the same anymore and is more just someone who is a big fan, there are fewer negative connotations too. Lance Storm talked about that in a Q&A once.
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sevb30
Main Eventer
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Post by sevb30 on Feb 7, 2010 23:25:01 GMT -5
WHAT IS A MARK? Ric 'The Equalizer" Drasin
In essence, we are all 'Marks' in some form. When we go to a movie, aren't we marks for the film and the actors? We know it's not real and it's special effects, but we are taken in by the story and the visual and we want to believe that it's real for those two hours of sitting.
What about Football, Basketball, Baseball? Those people are called 'fans', but aren't they really 'Marks?" I think so! What about Concerts with Rock Groups? There are 'fans' and there are 'groupies." But are they 'Marks?" Yep!
Anytime we are involved in something of interest and we are a 'Fan' of it, we are a 'Mark' in some form.
There are people who admire Policemen, Firemen, Military, etc. These people hero worship to some degree to fulfill their dreams as it's something that maybe they wanted to do with their lives.
There is really nothing wrong with that. Marks are die-hard fans that will fight for you and defend you and build your self-esteem and promote you. In every sport and in wrestling, you need marks. These are the mainstay of any business. They are the supporters and without them, you have nothing.
Now here's another little tidbit. I guarantee you that every wrestler that you see today on TV, with the WWF or any other federation at one time prior was a "Mark/" Triple H, Steve Austin, Big Show, etc., etc. They were all 'marks.' They just didn't decide one day to become a Wrestler. They had to grow up watching it, getting involved, having favorites, and then pursued it and made it a reality. They all had someone that they looked up to and developed their style from that person.
It says right on Superstar Graham's website that he was in 'awe' of Pat Patterson and his work as a heel and how he could piss off the fans. He patterned his work after him. So, basically he was a 'mark' for Pat.
Then you have the 'Internet Marks' who just sit at their computers and hack away at tearing everyone down. I don't consider these real 'marks.' These are more destructive people who like to pass time just rambling and creating chaos with little to no knowledge of the business. They don't do the business any good other than it keeps wrestlers names out there. Good or Bad publicity doesn't matter as long as people are talking about you.
But as I said, the Internet Marks are destructive. It's the real ringside 'marks' that help the business.
The word 'Mark' is from the Carney Business or Carnival as you know it. Barkers or people at booths try to rope you in to hit the 3 dolls with a baseball. Making you believe you can do it. They consider you a mark, or a sucker for the business they sell you.
Wrestling originated in the Carney as a sideshow. They either had two wrestlers or people from the audience wrestle their wrestler. The audience person was planted there and no one knew the difference. OF course they were all 'marks' watching. Believers in what was going on.
So, today when we work a show and we see the marks, we are only trying to sell to them our story and make them believers. We want them there, and we want to convince them of what we do is real. Remember that and next time you call someone a 'mark', shake their hand and thank them for their support.
Now, take a look inside of you. What are you a 'mark' for? Huuuhhhh?
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Post by juicewinslow on Feb 8, 2010 0:03:33 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. So I'm a Jericho mark... CM Punk mark... The Rock mark... Macho Man mark... Ric Flair mark... Justus League mark... Outkast mark... Notorious B.I.G. mark... Jenna Jameson mark... <--marked off/out to many of her movies... Marky Mark mark (jk about that 1)... Atlanta Braves mark... Thanks y'all.
"IT'S STILL REAL TO ME DAMMIT!" lmao.
Oh I think Im becoming a Miz mark too...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2010 0:04:53 GMT -5
mark isn't just a carny term, it's a grifting term... But since the early days of pro wrestling and and carnivals were essentially big cons anyway, it was still applicable. It doesn't really mean the same anymore and is more just someone who is a big fan, there are fewer negative connotations too. Lance Storm talked about that in a Q&A once. I remember reading that...I'm quite a big Lance Storm mark, admittedly...
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Post by Byron F'N Saxton Fan on Feb 8, 2010 1:28:43 GMT -5
you can be a mark for anything not just wrestling. Say you really like pearl jam, than your a mark for pearl jam. its just carny talk. Exactly. I've heard the term "mark" used on ESPN Radio when you're crazy passionate to a team, they've got control of you in a lifestyle/business kind of way.
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Silent Jay
Main Eventer
Give Scrappy a thread, he'll follow you around the board
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Post by Silent Jay on Feb 8, 2010 2:42:24 GMT -5
WHAT IS A MARK? Ric 'The Equalizer" Drasin In essence, we are all 'Marks' in some form. When we go to a movie, aren't we marks for the film and the actors? We know it's not real and it's special effects, but we are taken in by the story and the visual and we want to believe that it's real for those two hours of sitting. What about Football, Basketball, Baseball? Those people are called 'fans', but aren't they really 'Marks?" I think so! What about Concerts with Rock Groups? There are 'fans' and there are 'groupies." But are they 'Marks?" Yep! Anytime we are involved in something of interest and we are a 'Fan' of it, we are a 'Mark' in some form. There are people who admire Policemen, Firemen, Military, etc. These people hero worship to some degree to fulfill their dreams as it's something that maybe they wanted to do with their lives. There is really nothing wrong with that. Marks are die-hard fans that will fight for you and defend you and build your self-esteem and promote you. In every sport and in wrestling, you need marks. These are the mainstay of any business. They are the supporters and without them, you have nothing. Now here's another little tidbit. I guarantee you that every wrestler that you see today on TV, with the WWF or any other federation at one time prior was a "Mark/" Triple H, Steve Austin, Big Show, etc., etc. They were all 'marks.' They just didn't decide one day to become a Wrestler. They had to grow up watching it, getting involved, having favorites, and then pursued it and made it a reality. They all had someone that they looked up to and developed their style from that person. It says right on Superstar Graham's website that he was in 'awe' of Pat Patterson and his work as a heel and how he could piss off the fans. He patterned his work after him. So, basically he was a 'mark' for Pat. Then you have the 'Internet Marks' who just sit at their computers and hack away at tearing everyone down. I don't consider these real 'marks.' These are more destructive people who like to pass time just rambling and creating chaos with little to no knowledge of the business. They don't do the business any good other than it keeps wrestlers names out there. Good or Bad publicity doesn't matter as long as people are talking about you. But as I said, the Internet Marks are destructive. It's the real ringside 'marks' that help the business. The word 'Mark' is from the Carney Business or Carnival as you know it. Barkers or people at booths try to rope you in to hit the 3 dolls with a baseball. Making you believe you can do it. They consider you a mark, or a sucker for the business they sell you. Wrestling originated in the Carney as a sideshow. They either had two wrestlers or people from the audience wrestle their wrestler. The audience person was planted there and no one knew the difference. OF course they were all 'marks' watching. Believers in what was going on. So, today when we work a show and we see the marks, we are only trying to sell to them our story and make them believers. We want them there, and we want to convince them of what we do is real. Remember that and next time you call someone a 'mark', shake their hand and thank them for their support. Now, take a look inside of you. What are you a 'mark' for? Huuuhhhh? Who the is he?
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