I always said that wrestling feuds and rivalries get mixed up or used just used interchangeably.
When you’re watching wrestling Monday night or on Tuesday, Wednesday—whenever—are you watching a rivalry or a feud?
Rivalries In Wrestling Can Have An Ending
A rivalry is purely competitive. There might be some bad blood action but 95-percent of that story is seeing who is the better of the two or who is the best.
There might even be lots of boasting when charismatic wrestlers are involved. Think Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels when it was just those two going at it.
Other rivalries you might know are the “Best of…” series between Booker T and Chris Benoit, Rey Mysterio vs. Psicosis, Flair vs. Steamboat, Owen vs. Bret, and Banks vs. Flair.
It’s pretty much ROH’s go-to for major storylines. Wrestler X and wrestler Y think they’re the best in the world and this thing will finish in this epic match at Best in the World.
Rivalries tend to have a definite ending. Once the better of the opponents is decided, the competitors tend to move on to other things.
Wrestling Feuds Never Really End
Finally, what really brought ECW to the dance: feuds. Ongoing storylines where there’s bad blood.
Things are no longer competitive, the venue is where guys and gals show up to settle violent disputes…violently.
It’s the entertainment end of wrestling storytelling whereas rivalries are on the sports end. Feuds tend to go on longer and can be rekindled from any slight in the future.
Backstage attacks, shadiness with rules, bringing in lawyers, ambush tactics, tossing someone off a bridge into the river—all kinds of shenanigans, folks.
Some examples would be Roman vs. Jey, Austin vs. The Rock, Triple H vs. Foley, and Sting vs. the new World order.
A rivalry can have a definite ending. Feuds end in parts. No one’s ever really satisfied if they win because their foe is still in the company.
Important to note: a rivalry can grow into a feud when someone takes or makes it personal. On the flip side, a feud doesn’t become a rivalry.
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get The Overtimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
Remember to stay up to date with the latest news on TheOvertimer. Don’t forget to visit Gamestingr for great videos, news, and gameplay!
