It’s professional wrestling terminology - back when the art form actively concealed the fact that it was fixed, they developed a bunch of subcultural slang to discuss it, including work/shoot and a bunch of other terms like ‘kayfabe’ - the word for the practice of maintaining the illusion that pro wrestling was real.
a work is a fake fight presented as real, a shoot is a real fight that was supposed to be fake
wtf are you and old timey boxing coach? Are you saying this to Rocky before he goes back in the ring?
It’s professional wrestling terminology - back when the art form actively concealed the fact that it was fixed, they developed a bunch of subcultural slang to discuss it, including work/shoot and a bunch of other terms like ‘kayfabe’ - the word for the practice of maintaining the illusion that pro wrestling was real.