Fool me once, shame on – shame on you. Fool me – you can’t get fooled again. George W. Bush
In professional wrestling, razor blade cutting, commonly referred to as “blading”, is the practice of intentionally cutting oneself (or sometimes a fellow wrestler) to produce bleeding for dramatic effect. The technique has been used for decades to enhance storytelling, making matches feel more brutal and emotional, especially in hardcore wrestling promotions like ECW, CZW, and classic NWA-era bouts.
How Blading Works
- Hidden Blade: Wrestlers typically conceal a small, thin razor blade—often broken off from a safety razor—in their wrist tape, boot, or even a referee’s pocket.
- The Spot: A predetermined moment in the match, often after a chair shot, cage collision, or punch barrage, signals when the wrestler will blade.
- Execution: The wrestler discreetly pulls out the blade and quickly makes a small incision—usually on the forehead, where blood vessels are close to the skin and bleed heavily but safely. Some wrestlers use a slight “X” motion rather than a single cut to ensure a more controlled bleed.
- Selling the Blood: After blading, wrestlers increase blood flow by rubbing or tapping the wound and working up a sweat, which makes the blood mix with perspiration for a dramatic effect. Excessive bleeding (known as “juicing hard”) can sometimes result in a crimson mask—a face completely covered in blood.
- Disposal: The blade is quickly discarded, sometimes flicked away in the ring or handed off to a referee to avoid detection.
Famous Blading Incidents
- Ric Flair – One of the most notorious blade users, Flair was known for turning his white-blond hair bright red in nearly every big match.
- Eddie Guerrero (2004) – In his WWE match against JBL at Judgment Day, Guerrero bladed too deeply, causing a horrifying amount of blood loss.
- Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho (2008) – In the PG-era WWE, Michaels got “hardway” busted open (real injury), but the effect was similar to blading.
- Mick Foley – A hardcore legend, Foley often bladed in brutal matches, such as his Hell in a Cell bout with The Undertaker.
Blading vs. Hardway Bleeding
- Blading is controlled, with the wrestler deciding when and where to bleed.
- Hardway Bleeding occurs when a wrestler is legitimately busted open due to impact (e.g., a stiff punch, chair shot, or headbutt).
Safety & Controversy
- Many promotions, including WWE, have banned blading due to health concerns, especially the risks of infections like Hepatitis.
- Some wrestlers have suffered excessive blood loss from bad cuts, leading to serious health risks.
- Promotions like AEW occasionally allow blading for dramatic effect, but under strict supervision.
Blading remains a controversial yet legendary aspect of pro wrestling history, forever linked to the industry’s most dramatic and hardcore moments.