Charisma and masked wrestlers

[a0161613]

I got this idea from the below comment as part of a post in a thread about Christopher Daniels.

Mysterio has charisma? He's got a freaking mask on.

I saw this quite asinine comment and it bugged me a little for its short sightedness.

Now talking about masked wrestlers in general, I think this is extremely wrong. I think Rey is very charismatic. The mask is part of his magnetism and appeal. He wouldn't be one of the most popular guys in wrestling if he wasn't charismatic.

I think masked guys have to show charisma to be successful. Otherwise wouldn't they be small vanilla guys doing flippies?

So:
Can masked guys get over without being charismatic?
Is a mask restrictive to showing charisma?
Does being masked means a wrestler is more or less charismatic by default.

 

[Mitch Henessey]

Wearing a mask can add some mystique to a wrestler's character, but having talent is necessary if a masked wrestler wants to succeed, and booking can always be crucial when it comes to success.

Mankind was this creepy and disturbed person, and Foley could really deliver on the mic. Kane was a menacing and evil giant, and he did have this intimidating presence. Kane was a monster who would destroy anything in his path. Rey Mysterio is the little underdog who everyone wants to root for, and he is an amazing wrestler who's matches can always be fun to watch. There was also a time when Abyss was a viscous wrecking machine. Abyss' intensity was off the charts, he was a solid talker, and he could move pretty fast for a big man.

Wearing a mask shouldn't hurt a wrestler's success. Being booked the right way can help a lot, but if masked guys have the talent, charisma, and in-ring skills, then getting over shouldn't be a problem for them.

 

[Hulk Hogan's Brother]

I think that masked characters have a different type of charisma than normal wrestlers and that is something that most internet fans fail to understand. It is no surprise that most masked wrestlers have connected well with the crowd. The last time I checked, charisma was all about conncting with the crowds wasn't it? If that can be achieved without speaking a word or being a good looker then that is fine. Good looks and mic skills are what internet fans generally think of when charisma is mentioned but it is something that stretches far beyond that.

In the case of masked, I think that the main source of their charisma is their mystique. When a guy walks out in a mask you are bound to question yourself as to why he is wearing a mask. The answer to that needs to be compelling too. In Mysterio's case it's a time honored tradition, in Kane's a way to hide the scars he obtained in his childhood. The mask tells a story of it's own and is an important part of wrestling.

 

[Wade's Public Transit Bomb]

So:
Can masked guys get over without being charismatic?

No. No one can get over without charisma. Just look at the Suicide character. When Kaz was it, who gave a fuck? When Daniels was it, at least people took notice.

Is a mask restrictive to showing charisma?

Charisma is something you either have or you don't. People are either naturally drawn to whatever you do or they aren't. I really think it helps. Like Mitch said, it adds a element of mystery to the character. Also, if the guy looks ridiclious without it or can't change their facial expressions to save their lives, a mask does wonders.

WCW tried let Rey Mysterio be a maskless Mysterio. I don't think I will ever forget that look Kevin Nash had on his face and him shouting "PUT IT BACK ON!" after Rey took his mask off.

Does being masked means a wrestler is more or less charismatic by default.

Again, depends. Kaz is as charismatic as a tree stump that has been rooted for 500 years. On the other hand, Delirious is one of the more interesting indy guys, imo.

 

[NSL]

Can masked guys get over without being charismatic?

No. If you're wearing a mask, there's an automatic assumption, that you're doing it to hide your lack of charisma. Rey is the example given, so I'll start with him.

Early in his career, he was what so many affectionately refer to as a "spot monkey". He never did interviews, he never got a main event push, and he often opened shows. Now, in WWE, he does fairly decent interviews (remember, his market is young kids), and he is involved in legitimate feuds. Take the mask off, and he's the same guy.

Basically, his charisma wasn't noticed until much later, when he finally received main event pushes, or "got over".

Is a mask restrictive to showing charisma?

A little bit. Part of what makes the characters today work so well, is their facial expressions during a match. Randy Orton and Edge are the two best examples, but there's also guys like Undertaker. They thrive, and exude charisma, and it all comes without even saying a word.

Kane seriously lacked this. He needed Paul Bearer in his masked days, or he'd have never made a dent in the wrestling world. (Yes, it helped that Undertaker carried him).

When you're wearing a mask, this is obviously restricted. So, you need the mic skills, you need the repertoire, and you need to keep it top notch every night.

Does being masked means a wrestler is more or less charismatic by default.

No. But, as stated earlier, people will have that assumption. You need to work twice as hard to prove them wrong, or they'll carry on, thinking you're hiding behind the mask.

 

[TheKingHustla]

I thnk it depends on the character and the mask. You look at the different incarnations of kane. one had a mask where you couldnt see much but his story and his actions made him a monster that you could understand even without talking. The mask he wore when he wore the tank top looking outfit gave him more freedom to be emotional with his face because you could see more, but he became a joke because it changed what he was too much. Compare mysterio to sin cara. mysterio's mask allows you to see his eyes and see his mouth when he speaks so it gives you a feeling of you can see through his mask, but with sin on the other hand, you can't see anything so i think it would be harder for people to relate to him unless he becomes a monster character. His mask hides too much to make him as charismatic as he possibly could be with a more visible faced mask so you could see his expressions. Like when eddie died, you could see rey's facial expressions. When he's upset, when he's sad, when he's happy. that helps alot when he speaks. if you can't see those, it would be harder to relate because you dont know if he's smiling under it or crying or angry or whatever.

 

[a0161613]

I dont think charisma is limited to facial movements though. The point about Sin Cara is fair and not being able to speak may hinder him. But I also feel that (having watched both SD and Raw appearances) he has good timing with his gestures as they all got a reaction. You can relate just as easily to gestures than anything.

I guess Foley as Mankind was the most charismatic ever to wear a mask and his character was greatly benefitted because he was so capable on the mic. He was able to confer his emotions so clearly and it helped set up this mysterious character especially as we were used to seeing mysterious characters like him have managers and mouthpieces.

However I dont feel mic ability restricts a masked wrestler massively. It's more of a hindrance but if a masked guy cant get over then they need help in other ways. I guess it just depends on the talent beneath the mask. If it's Kaz then being masked helped him.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

Charisma is simply engagin the audience. A guy with a bland face can be less charismatic as a guy with a very expressive face just as a guy with a bland mask can be less charismatic.

however, if you've ever been to a live show, you know it's more about body language. We watch most of our wrestling on TV and see all the close ups, but what gets the crowd going is BODY LANGUAGE. Letting your long hair dangle in front of your face, then flipping it back and pumping your fist for your comeback, Randy Orton slithering and girrating around, Cena exploding with a flurry and flexing, a big man stalking over a little guy who's struggling to get to his feet. These are all elements that add up to charisma.

So in short, no, a mask has very little to do with it.

 

[blockanWo]

There was also a time when Abyss was a viscous wrecking machine. Abyss' intensity was off the charts, he was a solid talker, and he could move pretty fast for a big man.
.

I think Abyss was at his height when James Mitchell was his mouth piece. He was a wrecking ball, being wielded by the new church. It was great. He was a mute, yet had charisma, through his manager and through his body language, his music and entrance.

When people talk about Charisma, so many people get caught up in the mic work. Its about how they react to moves, their ring presence, their entrances, everything.

Masked wrestlers, I think are at a disadvantage right off the bat. Atleast as a face character. Face's draw on human emotion, when you cant identify with someone through a face it adds a barrier. A mask has to be unique and striking. Something fans can identify with.

 

[ERorMACro]

You can always tells the guys with talent and charisma like Rey Mysterio, Sin Cara, Kane and (when played by Daniels and to an extent) Suicide.

Where-as some guys are all about the mask...that's one of the reason guys like Psicosis and LA Park have never really worked in mainstream promotions.

The mask does have that attatchment in America of either being traditional for a Japanese or Mexican wrestler or being a sign of shame however Kane and Abyss were two American wrestlers whose masks added to their characters.

But to say someone isn't charismatic because they were a mask is just stupid.

 

[Dagger Dias]

Masked guys will struggle just as much as an unmasked wrestler to get over if they are not charismatic. The mask does not change anything. You need charisma in order to remain over for a long period of time. That's just how the business works. If a masked guy does not have any charisma then he better find another way to stand out such an impressive move that no one else does, or a unique mask that no one else uses. It's hard to stay unique, someone will inevitably make a similar mask or start using a similar move. Charisma takes one further up the card. The masks do not really restrict charisma at all. Look at Mysterio. He connects with the crowd fairly well, yet he wears a mask. The man still has enough charisma to remain over. Wearing a mask has nothing to do with making someone any more or any less charismatic because the mask is just part of that wrestler's outfit. Charisma comes from within.