User:NegroSuave/Smark

(tag removed) merge|Smart (professional wrestling)|date=December 2006}}

Smark is abbreviated professional wrestling slang. The term is a portmanteau of "smart mark," two other terms in their own right. A "smart" is a person who is privy to the behind-the-scenes operations and understands that professional wrestling is choreographed, whereas a "mark" is one who believes that professional wrestling is real. A "smark", therefore, is a combination of the two, a wrestling fan who enjoys following the on-screen product and the off-screen, backstage affairs equally. Both of these terms are part of the overall atmosphere of kayfabe which is the term used to describe the choreographed goings on of the Professional Wrestling Industry.

Smarks are a subset of the professional wrestling fanbase. They come from many different social backgrounds and are often referred to as "smart" fans. Smarks also make themselves heard on TV through signs and crowd chants. Depending on who is using the term, it can either have a positive or negative connotation.

At their very best, smarks are fans who, while aware of the machinations of the wrestling industry, can still enjoy wrestling matches for what they are. Many so called smarks use the terminology as a badge of honor naming their personal sites with the word smark as a tribute to their fandom.

Criticisms of Smarks
Smarks have been looked down upon by wrestlers and other wrestling fans alike because they are seen as fans who are incapable of suspending their disbelief. Because of their rampant insider knowledge, it makes it hard to maintain kayfabe. Some within the industry see them as people who were once fans but now only watch wrestling out of habit.

Smark fans that attend arena shows also have a tendency to try to promote their knowledge of the business as well as their personal tastes over the action in the ring by initiating chants such as "Boring" and otherwise heckle the wrestlers in the ring. This is normally not appreciated by the wrestlers in the ring.