40 Across

NYT Daily • August 9, 2025

Something to climb in a WWE match

Answer:

ROPE

Hint:

["Think of the flexible boundary that wrestlers often use to bounce off or balance on."]

Explanation:

In WWE matches, wrestlers often climb the ropes surrounding the ring to perform high-flying moves or gain an advantage. The clue hints at this action, with "something to climb" directly pointing to the "rope" as the answer. It’s a straightforward reference to the physical structure of a wrestling ring, where ropes are a key feature. No wordplay is involved—just a clear connection to the sport’s setup.