WWE and pro wrestling in general are widely considered something of a niche interest. While WWE is bigger than ever in terms of revenue, ticket sales, and social media engagement, it remains on the cusp of the mainstream. As a result, it can feel fairly inaccessible for newer fans due to its storied history of legendary matches, backstage controversies, and ‘insider’ terms and phrases. One such term is “sandbagging”, but what does it mean in WWE and why do fans say it?
If you follow WWE and pro wrestling on social media, you will know that fans love to stir up trouble. Even though wrestling is scripted and its outcomes are pre-determined, there is constant speculation about real-life issues impacting the in-ring action.
This can include personal issues between wrestlers, which can sometimes stem from errors in the ring (known as ‘botches’). In the world of pro wrestling, a wrestler’s number one priority is to protect their opponent from any legitimate harm. While the action should look as real and convincing as possible, no one should walk away hurt.
Despite this, real backstage beefs can sometimes spill over into the ring. In the past, this has led to accusations of wrestlers deliberately ruining a match to make their opponent look bad. And this is where terms like “sandbagging” come in.
What is Sandbagging in WWE?
Sandbagging is the deliberate attempt by a wrestler to sabotage their opponent’s move or throw by making it look weak or difficult to perform.
For example, a pro wrestler may attempt to lift their opponent for a body slam but the opponent deliberately goes limp to prevent the slam from being executed correctly.
There have been countless instances of sandbagging in WWE history. It is widely considered reckless and dangerous. Arguably the most famous occurrence of alleged sandbagging took place in 2002 during a match between Brock Lesnar and Hardcore Holly.
Lesnar attempted to lift Holly for a powerbomb. It is believed that Holly refused to cooperate as Lesnar pulled him into the air, which resulted in Lesnar dropping Holly on his neck. Hardcore Holly broke his neck and was subsequently sidelined for thirteen months.
Today, fans regularly accuse wrestlers of sandbagging on social media. Often, these accusations are totally unfounded and based solely on speculation. But that doesn’t mean sandbagging is a thing of the past and there is no question that it still happens (albeit discreetly) throughout the pro wrestling industry.
What are your thoughts on sandbagging in WWE? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other Film & TV articles…
