You are correct and obviously know the business. I can remember my late GrandDad watching ‘wrasslin’ on an old black & white TV on Friday nights, this was just prior to Gorgeous George retiring from the ring, I remember seeing Chief Jay Strongbow and marveled at his sleeper hold.
For all the scripting that is rumored to go on (what? wrestling scripted? who knew!?!) one match I’m convinced was NOT scripted was a grudge match I saw at the Capitol Center near Laurel Maryland in the late 70’s, former champion Bruno Sammartino came out of retirement to face Niklolai Volkoff, and not sure how it happened (deliberate, accident?), but Volkoff kicked Bruno right in the groin, and he was obviously in pain, but after a few moments, Bruno recovered sufficiently to open up a serious can of whoop-ass on Volkoff, if that was staged, it was worthy of an Academy Award, lol
Great times! :)
The Sammartino-Volkoff "feud" was very infamous. My Dad used to take us and his Mom to see the matches in Trenton and Philly. Grandmom was great. She'd start screaming at the bad guys as soon as they came in. One time one of them, maybe Lou Albano, ran out of the ring to get away and he came near enough to her that she bopped him with her cane. Lou reacted well (went staggering off), made it part of the action (act). The highlight of my rasslin' fan days was to go into the locker room once and get some photos with the guys (for a price, of course). I had one where Killer Kowalski did his "claw" move on my head. Then he gave me a hug. Damned if I can find those pics now.
Freddie Blassie, "Haystacks" Calhoun, Bobo Brazil with his signature coco-butt (head butt), Bruno, "Dr." Jerry Graham, they were all such good guys and great fun to watch.