Today's common wrestling fan is much different than the fans were, maybe 20 years ago. Back in the earlier years in wrestling, there wasn't much need for good acting skills. There were no live, televised events, nor was there very much effort going into the storylines. That's not necessarily a knock on the legends of the past. It's simply a testament of how much things have changed and how much theatrics comes into play with today's product.
Wrestlers at one point in time were just that...wrestlers. They made their entrance, they locked up with their opponent and when the dust settled, we had a winner. That was it and that's all fans expected.
Little did they know back then, but wrestling would evolve into a full-blown production. Now there's lights, pyro, drama, swerves, turmoil and chaos. Professional wrestling is much more than what goes on inside the squared circle. It's a complete story of good versus evil. There's villains and heroes, betrayal and conflict, highs and lows and twists and turns. Professional wrestling is an art form, requiring more than brute force and chiseled physiques.
Today we will take a look at five acting techniques that any wrestler or anyone considering becoming a wrestler should study.
METHOD ACTING
Method acting is when a person develops an understanding and an emotional connection with their character, as well as their storyline. This is a technique used in wrestling everyday.
Having a good understanding of this technique can help the wrestler get more in tune with their angle, as well as their gimmick or persona. They can also use this technique to help when trying to sell a story.
The way they do so, is by taking a mental visit back to a situation in their own life, which relates to their storyline, or their respective character. Once they do this, they'll then be able to draw the necessary emotions from their real life situation and apply it to the angle they're trying to sell in the ring.
A good example of someone currently using method acting is Stephanie McMahon. With her renewed rivalry with her brother, Shane McMahon, she can use a situation from her past and insert that particular emotion into their current storyline in order to make it more believable.
IMPROVISATION
The ability to improv is absolutely critical to the success of any professional wrestler in this day and age. When you're in the middle of a ring, with tens of thousands watching you in person, as well as millions via television, there is no room for error.
When something goes wrong, maybe your counterpart forgets a line, or botches a segment or something to that effect, the other individual needs to be able to improve and essentially, salvage the situation entirely.
Being able to improv also comes into play during an interview, promo etc. One person who is always great with improvisation is Paul Heyman.
SLAPSTICK COMEDY
Slapstick comedy is when someone is able to use their surroundings, or some sort of physical action to get a comedic angle over with the fans. For instance, one of the classic forms of slapstick, is the old pie in the face prank, or when a clown uses a fake flower to squirt water in someone's face.
One of the more recent wrestlers who used the slapstick technique was Santino Marella. Santino, while wasn't taken very serious most of the time, was a hilarious performer and would use something like the cobra sock he pulled from his tights. In fact, the cobra was just normally his finisher. While comedic bits are used sparingly in wrestling, they're certainly a part of today's era and need to ensure handled flawlessly.
MEMORIZATION
When you're standing in front of a camera, or a live audience, all wrestlers at one point in time or another, will have to rely heavily on their memory. Memorization skills are one of the most important keys to a wrestler’s success. There are no cheat sheets and you can't stand in front of a high-definition camera with your lines written on the back of your hand.
Not only does a wrestler need to be able to remember lines for a promo, but they also need to be able to remember vital portions of their current storyline, in order to make sure the angle progression remains on track.
REALISM/NATURALISTIC DRAMA
Lastly, the wrestler needs to be able to successfully cause the fan to question their own sanity at times. What I mean by that, is the wrestler should be able to convince the fan at times, that what they are watching, could indeed be reality.
One of the current wrestlers who has excelled with this is Bray Wyatt. There have been times when he's delivering a promo, that I honestly believe he is in fact this cult leader type of person, who lives in the swamps of rural Louisiana, when in reality, he is a normal, down to earth family man, with a wife and two daughters, living in a subdivision on the Gulf Coast side of central Florida.
When you're able to sell a storyline to the point where fans believe that what you're selling, could in fact be reality, then you have mastered the realism technique.
