How choreographed/scripted is wrestling?
Let me start by saying that I know nothing about the big wresting leagues I see on American TV, I've seen them on a couple of times. A couple of things strike me:
- Some of the "moves" they do are potentially very dangerous, this implies that the wrestlers have at least some understanding of the moves which are coming and how they can avoid becoming seriously injured.
- There is certainly amateur wrestling around which is a serious competitive sport therefore there must be some improvisation/competition.
When we watch a big wrestling match on the television with the top wrestlers how choreographed is the fight (for safety and entertainment reasons) and how much is genuine competition (like boxing)?
Best Answer
There is a really good documentary on it called Beyond The Mat (1999) which I highly recommend you watch. Not just to learn what happens 'beyond the mat' but because it is just a great documentary.
Everything is scripted, or there is a general outline of what will happen and a winner is agreed before the match begins. Sometimes something can go wrong during the match, like someone takes a particularly nasty fall and can't continue so things may need to switch up. It's live after all, anything can happen.
Now, during the match, there are a few things that happen:
- Firstly, the wrestlers will whisper to eachother during grapples what they plan on doing. It's quick and code like... e.g. "off rope, counter, off rope, ddt"
- The Referee, depending on how the crowd 'feels' will decide to extend the match, or wrap it up. If he feels like the crowd is losing interest, he will whisper, tap or something to let the performers know - time to wrap it.
The moves are choreographed to a certain degree, but just like tight rope walking, balancing, trampolining... a fall will hurt and things go wrong.
Wrestlers take a beating and it's unfair to pass off what they do as all being staged... because wrestlers have died in that ring in the past, things go wrong.
Will update with more sources eventually.
Pictures about "How choreographed/scripted is wrestling?"
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