Kabuki Moment
In professional wrestling, this is where a wrestler delivers a promo and pauses for a few seconds whilst delivering it, as if having briefly lost their train of thought.
(July 17th, 1983, the origin of the Kabuki Moment)
HARLEY RACE: I didn't think that there was anything on the face of the Earth that would ever push me to do what I'm going to do right now. But Flair, you have pushed me as far as you're going to push! Right here is $25,000! And it goes to any human being that can eliminate Ric Flair from wrestling! Take a look at it! Paul Jones! You and your whole entourage of people! Dick Slater!
(Race pauses for a few seconds, taking a breath as he does.)
HARLEY RACE: KABUKI! The names, the list, it goes on and on! Any human being that can eliminate Ric Flair for me has got $25,000 cash! I'll give it to any living human being! Jack Brisco! You are Worlds Champion! You took the belt from me! You're the man, you can do it! It's here for ya! COME AND GET IT, PLEASE! SOMEBODY TAKE THE DAMN MONEY!! I WANT RID OF FLAIR!!!
HARLEY RACE: I didn't think that there was anything on the face of the Earth that would ever push me to do what I'm going to do right now. But Flair, you have pushed me as far as you're going to push! Right here is $25,000! And it goes to any human being that can eliminate Ric Flair from wrestling! Take a look at it! Paul Jones! You and your whole entourage of people! Dick Slater!
(Race pauses for a few seconds, taking a breath as he does.)
HARLEY RACE: KABUKI! The names, the list, it goes on and on! Any human being that can eliminate Ric Flair for me has got $25,000 cash! I'll give it to any living human being! Jack Brisco! You are Worlds Champion! You took the belt from me! You're the man, you can do it! It's here for ya! COME AND GET IT, PLEASE! SOMEBODY TAKE THE DAMN MONEY!! I WANT RID OF FLAIR!!!
Kabuki Moment by WarnerShane November 5, 2026
