How does wrestling work?

[steve115657]

So I've been a mostly life long wrestling fan and frequent these boards but one thing I've never understood is how do the actual matches work. I know the ending is scripted, but how many of the spots? How many of the moves? Is there any room for ad-libbing? If there is how do the performers know when to end a match? Can they go longer if the crowd is hot or cut it off if the crowd is dead? I thought I heard before that the ref told them when to end it but I rarely see him communicate. Always wondered this and would love to hear from you more experienced wrestling fans have to say on the subject!

 

[TheICChampion]

Pretty much everything you see in a match has been agreed on by the participants beforehand. Sure, maybe there is some improv, but everything from how long the match goes to what moves each superstar uses is all planned out in advance. The only exceptions are if someone gets injured. Then they'll likely either end the match before they're supposed to or improvise in order to prevent further harm. As far as not seeing the ref communicate with them, well, that's the point. It's not supposed to look like it was planned out. They're not supposed to be seen talking to each other.

 

[steve115657]

Thanks! Any idea how long it takes them to choreograph a match? Like for example Hart vs Michaels iron man match. That's 40 minutes or so of action (eliminating rest time) they put all that together? From irish whips to sleeper holds and the order in which it all happens? Just seems like an incredible amount to remember.

I always thought I'd be more impressed if there was improv but tbh if they are memorizing and executing such in depth "scripts" for lack of a better term that's very impressive

 

[teampunk]

some superstars work the matches out before. others call it on the fly. macho man liked to practice his matches with whoever he was working with, while ric flair called it on the fly. stone cold called 80 percent of his matches in the ring. cm punk called his matches in the ring.

 

[Kidpolean]

Depends on who you wrestle. Most of the matches I've been in have just been a planned finish, a planned comeback, and a planned beginning with the rest being called in the ring. I have only ever been in one match that was completely called in the ring and it was very scary to do. WWE is different because they wrestle the same match multiple times a week and travel together which gives them more time to plan. However, Ive never seen anyone choreograph a match. When I say planned spots, I just mean discussed in the back prior to the match. Usually, especially in the indies, there is no way you would have enough time to go over an entire match in the ring before the start of the show. There are also spots that are based on the timing of the match which would than have to be discussed with the ref as well. Generally the ref knows the finish as well so that they don't accidentally do a three count. Battle Royals suck, they are complete chaos with tons of planned spots that everyone has to remember while also trying to call moves in the ring. In the indies, you don't really talk to the ref that much, I think that's more of a wwe thing honestly. They give you a time check and tell you when to end it but that's pretty much it.

 

[BestWrestlingOpinions]

From what I understand, and without me being 100% correct, there is the finish which is pre-determined. Then, there are some moves that are banned and I think they are always told to use their 5 moves of doom in every match. Most of the match is talked backstage, especially in big matches, what spots to perform, what sequences etc, to make the match look good. Sometimes, in weekly matches, they just plan things on the spot, because those matches seem so easy to do. Typical rest holds, face gets up, 5 moves of doom, win.

In PPV matches, they need to work backstage more, but the main consesus is they mainly plan and go over their spots during the match. There are some things called on the spot too that haven't been pre-planned. Remember the piledriver from Punk to Cena on Raw. Sometimes, the more wrestling-gifted guys will pull a new move, when it comes to a big match, which comes on the spot.

 

[Kuchar1992]

I wonder how planning a match with Khali would work

 

[Messiah]

The finish is always planned beforehand, as well as a few spots during the match.. Most of the match is planned while it's happening. The talents will talk to each other during the matches telling each other what to do. The ref's also communicate with the talent telling them to wrap up the match if the audience is getting bored, or getting low on time ect, the ref's are taking orders through the ear piece they're wearing.

 

[Woodstuff]

I wonder how planning a match with Khali would work

I doubt it mattered, because Khali always completely forgot the plan on his way to the ring.

 

[rmp0012002]

Today's wrestling ala WWE is very scripted from beginning to end as it leans heavily to the entertainment side more like a soap opera and everything in the show is strictly timed. House shows you'll see a little more leeway but not like the old days.
In the old days it was pretty much," do what you want during the match but this is the way it ends". The older generation knew how to alter a match depending on the crowd and would call it in the ring. You deviate from the script today and you're gonna hear about it. Austin called most of his matches because he had bad hearing but Flair was one of the best at calling it in the ring as he knew how to get the other guy over but learned from the older guys. Loved Savage but they said he was really neurotic about going over the match before hand so everything went perfect.
Before cable and the Internet guys were always changing up house show matches, belts changed hands every night but not really since it didn't happen on tv.
Wrestlers today just aren't taught how to pick up on the crowd during the match but they are also tied to a strict script and that doesn't help.

 

[d_henderson1810]

some superstars work the matches out before. others call it on the fly. macho man liked to practice his matches with whoever he was working with, while ric flair called it on the fly. stone cold called 80 percent of his matches in the ring. cm punk called his matches in the ring.

Heard an interesting story if true.

It was from the guy who played George "The Animal" Steele. He said that the Steamboat-Savage WM3 match was practiced again and again, since both Steamboat and Savage liked to lay out and practice their matches.

Steele said that one Saturday, they were practicing the match for 7 hours. Steele said that he was bored, because he was waiting around for hours, for his part where he steals the ring bell and then gets kicked by Savage. He complained that this happened, because both men, particularly Steamboat, were perfectionists and wanted to make sure they had the previous sequence down pat before moving onto the next one, and it ended up with Steamboat and Savage being engaged in practicing, Elizabeth being there to morally support her real-life husband Savage, and Steele standing around with nothing to do for hours on end, and he couldn't even go home, since he might be needed for his part in the match.

 

[L@RISANO]

I've heard stories about Taker wanting to practice with his opponent for the Streak match before. Might explain why they were so good in the latter years of the streak.

 

[Bockwinkel's Class]

Today's wrestling ala WWE is very scripted from beginning to end as it leans heavily to the entertainment side more like a soap opera and everything in the show is strictly timed. House shows you'll see a little more leeway but not like the old days.
In the old days it was pretty much," do what you want during the match but this is the way it ends". The older generation knew how to alter a match depending on the crowd and would call it in the ring. You deviate from the script today and you're gonna hear about it. Austin called most of his matches because he had bad hearing but Flair was one of the best at calling it in the ring as he knew how to get the other guy over but learned from the older guys. Loved Savage but they said he was really neurotic about going over the match before hand so everything went perfect.
Before cable and the Internet guys were always changing up house show matches, belts changed hands every night but not really since it didn't happen on tv.
Wrestlers today just aren't taught how to pick up on the crowd during the match but they are also tied to a strict script and that doesn't help.

Mostly correct, except that the real title changes didn't happen on TV. Those happened at the big arena shows. The TV shows back then were little more than infomercials loaded with squash matches to get people to buy tickets to the house and arena shows. TV was just a tease in the territory days: The live shows were the big deal. Completely opposite of today.

 

[Mustang Sally]

It was from the guy who played George "The Animal" Steele. He said that the Steamboat-Savage WM3 match was practiced again and again, since both Steamboat and Savage liked to lay out and practice their matches.

Savage was supposed to have been notorious for this, and while it doesn't alter his status as one of my all-time favorites, I'll admit it made me think a bit less of him.

I like matches in which it's plain the guys are working rather than trying to memorize a series of dance steps. It makes the product look more realistic ....and the fact that botches sometimes occur can make us appreciate how hard it is to do what these people do.

Still, it's hard to fathom that an entire 15-minute match can be choreographed down to the last exchange of moves. Could two guys (or gals) in heat of battle really be subject to the wrath of Vince McMahon if they miss a single step in a contest that features a few hundred?

Interestingly, I would think that if there are matches that call for 100% memorization, they would occur in main event level contests; I'd bet the midcard and jobber matches are often "work" affairs in which the participants can sooner improvise....with only key spots and the ended scripted.

I mean, let 'em work, Vince. They know how....and the match will probably look more natural and free-flowing if they do.

 

[Kidpolean]

Savage was supposed to have been notorious for this, and while it doesn't alter his status as one of my all-time favorites, I'll admit it made me think a bit less of him.

I like matches in which it's plain the guys are working rather than trying to memorize a series of dance steps. It makes the product look more realistic ....and the fact that botches sometimes occur can make us appreciate how hard it is to do what these people do.

Still, it's hard to fathom that an entire 15-minute match can be choreographed down to the last exchange of moves. Could two guys (or gals) in heat of battle really be subject to the wrath of Vince McMahon if they miss a single step in a contest that features a few hundred?

Interestingly, I would think that if there are matches that call for 100% memorization, they would occur in main event level contests; I'd bet the midcard and jobber matches are often "work" affairs in which the participants can sooner improvise....with only key spots and the ended scripted.

I mean, let 'em work, Vince. They know how....and the match will probably look more natural and free-flowing if they do.

Vince has nothing to do with whether or not a match is practiced beforehand. The wrestlers determine everything except for the finish and if there is some type of storyline injury/interference. If Vince controlled matches than every one would be the same and he would determine a wrestlers in ring ability. I'm not sure but I would assume that lots of wrestlers practice spots in the ring for wrestlemania. I've seen an interview as well where Jeff Hardy mentions how they pretty much did the TLC 2 match twice.

 

[mkw1962]

It is pretty Awesome these guys and divas are truly athletes. I know some of Wrestling is fake but how they make it look so real is awesome. I have only heard that the finish is already set and the wrestlers and ref are communicating throughout the match. I love wrestling and have been watching for many years, I don't know how long but will say I started watching back in the Dick the Bruiser and Crusher days. WWE is the best when I watch or have watched other promotions you can sometimes catch a sloppy match.

 

[rmp0012002]

Mostly correct, except that the real title changes didn't happen on TV. Those happened at the big arena shows. The TV shows back then were little more than infomercials loaded with squash matches to get people to buy tickets to the house and arena shows. TV was just a tease in the territory days: The live shows were the big deal. Completely opposite of today.

True, I should has posted the way you did. A WWE house show today has no resemblance to the ones I went to in the early 80's. I still prefer the old days when wrestling was less glitter and polish.

 

[Bockwinkel's Class]

True, I should has posted the way you did. A WWE house show today has no resemblance to the ones I went to in the early 80's. I still prefer the old days when wrestling was less glitter and polish.

You and me both. I'd rather watch a hundred of Vince Sr's cards headlined by Backlund than one of Junior's cartoon cards headlined by Hogan. Or Cena.

 

[rmp0012002]

I've taken a liking to ROH. I thought Bob Orton's superplex was a game changer back in the day but then you go to a ladders match with The Hardys vs Edge and Christian was a whole new level and now something like the stuff the Hardys vs The Briscos or Vs the Young Bucks and they take it to another level of violence but the moves are so technical. Early TNA had some crazy matches too. I like shows where they sell wrestling not entertainment.

 

[Bockwinkel's Class]

I've taken a liking to ROH. I thought Bob Orton's superplex was a game changer back in the day but then you go to a ladders match with The Hardys vs Edge and Christian was a whole new level and now something like the stuff the Hardys vs The Briscos or Vs the Young Bucks and they take it to another level of violence but the moves are so technical. Early TNA had some crazy matches too. I like shows where they sell wrestling not entertainment.

I watch ROH now but I have a hard time warming up to it: The matches are spot-fests and I've never really liked high-spot wrestling were there's no real storytelling or ring psychology going on. They do a better job of selling now than they once did from what I've been told but from what I've seen it still isn't that great.

 

[rmp0012002]

I watch ROH now but I have a hard time warming up to it: The matches are spot-fests and I've never really liked high-spot wrestling were there's no real storytelling or ring psychology going on. They do a better job of selling now than they once did from what I've been told but from what I've seen it still isn't that great.

It can be a spot fest at times but they seem to move the pace along so it doesn't look too bad. If it can't be done to look like the move came out of nowhere then it's a turn off. It becomes comedy and I hate that. I've heard they are kind of in a lull, I dont know if that's talent or booking. For ROH I seem to enjoy the tag matches and it amazes me how they remember the techniques on all these dangerous moves. Now too much in NJPW comes across as extremely choreographed to me as do the luchadors as too much is going on too fast.