History Main / TheatricsOfPain

A common place to find ''unscripted'' Theatrics of Pain is in UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball (which goes by its surname "football" in most places and its nickname "soccer" in several countries). The injury is usually vaguely real, but typically so minor that even a five-year-old would laugh it off in normal circumstances. However, since injuries get penalties for the other team, and potentially get your team the advantage, many players sell even the most minor injuries with shrieks of pain, theatrical rocking, and, if possible, rivers of tears, in order to convince the referees that they're serious. Why referees haven't adopted a rule of "If you're not bleeding profusely/can't walk/can still play, you don't deserve the foul" is beyond many fans of the sport (particularly English-speaking ones; the tactic is perceived as a hallmark of non-Anglo, and specifically Latin American/European play). [[note]]That's because fouls are there to prevent not only injury, but unsportsmanlike behavior and cheating: e.g. a player lifting his lega above his waist will get a whistle, even if he didn't actually hit anyone, because such a move is dangerous; so will grabbing an opponent's shirt, which isn't dangerous but dirty.[[/note]]

A common place to find ''unscripted'' TheatricsOfPain is in UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball (which goes by its surname "football" in most places and its nickname "soccer" in several countries). The injury is usually vaguely real, but typically so minor that even a five-year-old would laugh it off in normal circumstances. However, since injuries get penalties for the other team, and potentially get your team the advantage, many players sell even the most minor injuries with shrieks of pain, theatrical rocking, and, if possible, rivers of tears, in order to convince the referees that they're serious. Why referees haven't adopted a rule of "If you're not bleeding profusely/can't walk/can still play, you don't deserve the foul" is beyond many fans of the sport (particularly English-speaking ones; the tactic is perceived as a hallmark of non-Anglo, and specifically Latin American/European play). [[note]]That's because fouls are there to prevent not only injury, but unsportsmanlike behavior and cheating: e.g. a player lifting his lega above his waist will get a whistle, even if he didn't actually hit anyone, because such a move is dangerous; so will grabbing an opponent's shirt, which isn't dangerous but dirty.[[/note]]

* Mr. Perfect's legendary career of bouncing around like a pinball for his opponents cannot be overstated. Perfect was nimble and dexterous enough that he would practically pirouette off of a simple punch.
* Ric Flair sold like he'd been ''shot.'' One of his trademark bits is getting the crap beat out of him, then getting up, taking a few dizzy, awkward steps [[FacePlant and falling on his face]]. Longtime fans call it the [[https://youtu.be/XNfDSnX2mDw?t=6s Flair Flop.]]
** If Wrestling/RicFlair wants to blade[[note]]Wrestling lingo for self-induced bleeding, typically done by slicing open your own forehead after a spot with a concealed razor blade or the like[[/note]], ''Ric Flair will fucking '''blade'''''. His bleached blond hair will quickly turn orange-red, and his entire face will be caked in blood in moments. Even a simple knockdown punch will have him banging his own fist against his forehead until he's more bloody face than man.

** If Wrestling/RicFlair wants to blade[[note]]Wrestling lingo for self-induced bleeding, typically done by slicing open your own forehead after a spot with a concealed razor blade or the like[[/blade]], ''Ric Flair will fucking '''blade'''''. His bleached blond hair will quickly turn orange-red, and his entire face will be caked in blood in moments. Even a simple knockdown punch will have him banging his own fist against his forehead until he's more bloody face than man.

* Ric Flair sold like he'd been ''shot.'' One of his trademark bits is getting the crap beat out of him, then getting up, taking a few dizzy, awkward steps [[FaceFault and falling on his face]]. Longtime fans call it the [[https://youtu.be/XNfDSnX2mDw?t=6s Flair Flop.]]

* Ric Flair sold like he'd been ''shot.'' One of his trademark bits is getting the crap beat out of him, then getting up, taking a few dizzy, awkward steps and falling on his face. Longtime fans call it the [[https://youtu.be/XNfDSnX2mDw?t=6s Flair Flop.]]

* Demonstrated in ''RosencrantzAndGuildensternAreDead'' when Guildenstern seizes the Player's dagger and tries to stab him to death. Guildenstern thinks the Player has been KilledOffForReal, when the Tragedians start applauding and congratulating the Player on a death scene well played. (He considers his own performance "merely competent.")

* In PunchOut, especially the Wii version, boxers react in differing degrees to punches; depending on how you hit them, they'll either stand there stunned and take a flurry, take one hit and back off, or, depending on if you knock them down with a jab or a body blow, get sent flying or twirling backwards instead of merely falling over as real boxers usually do. Of course, the comical reactions are there to help the player [[CatharsisFactor and give them a rush from clobbering their opponent]].

Wrestling has the most literal version; the theatrics of pain is called "selling" in that medium. Many wrestlers find themselves praised or derided based on their ability (or lack thereof) to sell an opponent's attacks.

* Wrestling has the most literal version; the theatrics of pain is called "selling" in that medium. Many wrestlers find themselves praised or derided based on their ability (or lack thereof) to sell an opponent's attacks.
** One of the most memorable examples of a wrestler ''over''-selling is the Wrestling/ShawnMichaels vs Wrestling/HulkHogan match at Wrestling/{{WWE}}'s Summerslam 2005.
** And a great example of a wrestler [[NoSell no-selling]] is Wrestling/HulkHogan no selling Wrestling/TheUndertaker's chokeslam so badly that Undertaker actually has to remind Hogan he needs to jump for the move to work.
** Wrestling/HulkHogan often refuses to sell hit. Sitting up seconds after taking what was supposed to be a knockout blow is one of his trademarks.
** Wrestling/DolphZiggler is probably one of the best sellers in WWE history, to the point where there are montages on YouTube on him doing nothing but selling. Although sometimes he gets criticised for taking crazy bumps such that they look cartoony, still others like him for emulating the likes of [[Wrestling/CurtHennig Mr. Perfect]] and Wrestling/RicFlair who revolutionised how entertaining selling could be and for making his opponents look strong.
** Wrestling/TripleH. For all the flak he gets for his burials and metaphorical shovel, when Hunter wants to get a guy over, ''he will get that guy over''. His selling is as good as Ziggler's -- as shown when Wrestling/RomanReigns beat him down at the end of ''TLC 2015''.

Usually, it is quite easy to tell in wrestling if someone has been injured for real or is "selling" the move by its absence. It is harder in film and television because the stuntmen (whose job it is to do all the dangerous maneuvers) are trained to handle such situations professionally in a contained environment--and such things are all behind the scene anyway.[[note]] Which isn't surprising, as many professional wrestlers are former stuntmen and many stuntmen are failed professional wrestlers. (Successful professional wrestlers are more often the ''actors'' in the role, and usually do require the use of a stuntman.)[[/note]]

A common place to find ''unscripted'' TheatricsOfPain is in UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball (which goes by its surname "football" in most places and its nickname "soccer" in several countries). The injury is usually vaguely real, but typically so minor that even a five-year-old would laugh it off in normal circumstances. However, since injuries get penalties for the other team, and potentially get your team the advantage, many players sell even the most minor injuries with shrieks of pain, theatrical rocking, and, if possible, rivers of tears, in order to convince the referees that they're serious. Why referees haven't adopted a rule of "If you're not bleeding profusely/can't walk/can still play, you don't deserve the foul" is beyond many fans of the sport (particularly English-speaking ones; the tactic is perceived as a hallmark of non-Anglo, and specifically Latin American/European play).[[note]That's because fouls are there to prevent not only injury, but unsportsmanlike behavior and cheating: e.g. a player lifting his lega above his waist will get a whistle, even if he didn't actually hit anyone, because such a move is dangerous; so will grabbing an opponent's shirt, which isn't dangerous but dirty.[[/note]]

A common place to find ''unscripted'' TheatricsOfPain is in UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball (which goes by its surname "football" in most places and its nickname "soccer" in several countries). The injury is usually vaguely real, but typically so minor that even a five-year-old would laugh it off in normal circumstances. However, since injuries get penalties for the other team, and potentially get your team the advantage, many players sell even the most minor injuries with shrieks of pain, theatrical rocking, and, if possible, rivers of tears, in order to convince the referees that they're serious. Why referees haven't adopted a rule of "If you're not bleeding profusely/can't walk/can still play, you don't deserve the foul" is beyond many fans of the sport (particularly English-speaking ones; the tactic is perceived as a hallmark of non-Anglo, and specifically Latin American/European play).

A common place to find ''unscripted'' TheatricsOfPain is in [[TheBeautifulGame association football]] (which goes by its surname "football" in most places and its nickname "soccer" in several countries). The injury is usually vaguely real, but typically so minor that even a five-year-old would laugh it off in normal circumstances. However, since injuries get penalties for the other team, and potentially get your team the advantage, many players sell even the most minor injuries with shrieks of pain, theatrical rocking, and, if possible, rivers of tears, in order to convince the referees that they're serious. Why referees haven't adopted a rule of "If you're not bleeding profusely/can't walk/can still play, you don't deserve the foul" is beyond many fans of the sport (particularly English-speaking ones; the tactic is perceived as a hallmark of non-Anglo, and specifically Latin American/European play).

Combat choreography is often done using explicit and implicit cooperation by all involved to minimize injuries while doing maneuvers that remain extremely dangerous. To help maintain the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, the person at the receiving end of the dangerous maneuver must appear to show that the move ''hurt.'' This is the TheatricsOfPain.

[[StoneColdSteveAustin http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/austin_sell_3604.png]][[caption-width:202:I KNOW NOTHING BUT PAAAIN]][[quoteright:220:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/real_injury.jpg]] [[caption-width-right:220: I know nothing but a broken neck.]]
->"When you do it right, it hurts. When you do it wrong, you get hurt."
-->--Wrestling/JimCornette

[[hardline]]

----

*** Hogan is notorious for refusing to sell if [[ItsAllAboutMe he thinks the move will make him look weak.]] Sitting up seconds after taking what was supposed to be a knockout blow is one of his trademarks, and it pisses other wrestlers off to no end.
** Wrestling/DolphZiggler is probably one of the best sellers in WWE history, to the point where there are montages on YouTube on him doing nothing but selling.
*** Although sometimes he gets criticised for taking crazy bumps such that they look cartoony, still others like him for emulating the likes of [[Wrestling/CurtHennig Mr. Perfect]] and Wrestling/RicFlair who revolutionised how entertaining selling could be and for making his opponents look strong.

* This was so common in the NFL, especially in the last few minutes of a half as a way of giving a team a time out if they had already used the three allowed (or they were trying to save an official time out), that new rules were put into place which essentially penalized the team that stopped the clock. [[SarcasmMode Miraculously, the vast majority of those late-half injuries stopped happening.]]
** This was an NFL problem at the other end of the half too, when the team receiving the opening kickoff would sprint onto the field for its first play and run a no-huddle offense for several plays. Some bright soul figured out that mysterious injuries to defensive linemen who'd got poked in the eye (sic) would cause injury time-outs that negated the strain the no-huddle placed on the defense. These injuries too went away following the obvious rules change.
* The NHL allows referees to call a 2 minute minor penalty on a player who takes a dive or tries to sell a fake injury, and the league can also fine or suspend a player after reviewing the incident. Of course, this can sometimes lead to players ''not'' reporting a serious injury during gameplay, especially if it's not a visible one that's undisputable. NHL players tend to have high post-game injury reports for this exact reason.
* This is called "flopping" in the NBA. "Flopping" generally refers to receiving light, completely painless contact from an opposing player and acting like you've been shot repeatedly in the chest, but in some cases there's ''no'' contact at all. As in soccer, the idea is to provoke a foul call on an opposing player. Hallmarks of flopping include screaming as if hurt, clutching your head, and just plain throwing yourself on the ground. The NBA started cracking down on flopping in 2012, fining players who are caught faking, though the most notorious floppers have gone unpunished due to being really huge stars.
** Somewhat related is "selling" real foul contact so the ref will call it. Some consider this no better than flopping because it involves a lot of the same histrionics and overreacting; if you didn't get the call, tough luck.
* Averted in cricket. A game where hitting the batsman is perfectly legal, you are expected to grin and bear being '' ''[[Series/{{Bodyline}} hit with 90mph+ fast balls]]'' ''. And a cricket ball is rock hard. The reason is that showing pain is likely to get yourself hit again as the opposition smells blood thinking you are rattled. [[note]]England batsman Mike Gatting had his face totally destroyed by a direct impact to his nose, despite wearing a protective helmet. It took lots of painful restorative surgery to rebuild his nose, cheekbones and upper jaw.[[/note]]

[[StoneColdSteveAustin http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/austin_sell_3604.png]][[quoteright:220:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/real_injury.jpg]][[caption-width:202:I KNOW NOTHING BUT PAAAIN]] [[caption-width-right:220: I know nothing but a broken neck.]]

* Averted in cricket. A game where hitting the batsman is perfectly legal, you are expected to grin and bear being '' ''[[Series/{{Bodyline}} hit with 90mph+ fast balls]]'' ''. And a cricket ball is rock hard. The reason is that showing pain is likely to get yourself hit again as the opposition smells blood thinking you are rattled.

* Averted in cricket. A game where hitting the batsman is perfectly legal, you are expected to grin and bear being '' ''hit with 90mph+ fast balls'' ''. And a cricket ball is rock hard. The reason is that showing pain is likely to get yourself hit again as the opposition smells blood thinking you are rattled.

* In ''Film/TheReturnOfTheKing,'' Saruman gets stabbed in the back. Creator/PeterJackson attempted to direct ChristopherLee on how someone reacts when stabbed like that. Lee replied that he knew perfectly well how people ''really'' reacted, from his time in the Special Forces during WWII. Make of that what you will.

** One of the most memorable examples of a wrestler ''over''-selling is the ShawnMichaels vs HulkHogan match at Wrestling/{{WWE}}'s Summerslam 2005.
** And a great example of a wrestler [[NoSell no-selling]] is HulkHogan no selling the Undertaker's chokeslam so badly that Undertaker actually has to remind Hogan he needs to jump for the move to work.

** Dolph Ziggler is probably one of the best sellers in WWE history, to the point where there are montages on YouTube on him doing nothing but selling.
*** Although sometimes he gets criticised for taking crazy bumps such that they look cartoony, still others like him for emulating the likes of Mr. Perfect and Ric Flair who revolutionised how entertaining selling could be and for making his opponents look strong.

* The NHL allows referees to call a 2 minute minor penalty on a player who takes a dive or tries to sell a fake injury, and the league can also fine or suspend a player after reviewing the incident.

*** Hogan is notorious for refusing to sell if he thinks the move will make him look weak. Sitting up seconds after taking what was supposed to be a knockout blow is one of his trademarks, and it pisses other wrestlers off to no end.