Role Play Help Super thread.

[Jon Tees]

I received many request to repost this info. Info that was posted on the boards we moved to temporarily and am going to grant the request. However to save space. I am going to place everything into this one thread. As a reference. All will be posted below and labled.


Table of contents.

Role Players guide.

Heel for dumb Asses

Faces for dumb Asses.

Create a wrestler.

Common Moves.

E-Wrestling Slump?

[Jon Tees]

The RoughKut Official EW Role-Play Guide v. 2.2002


Role-Play -- In short to play the role of a professional wrestler. Not to be confused with "RPG".


Role-play: The historic and traditional method of developing your eWrestling character by use of descriptive words, trash talk, or scenery in the form of a story or promo.


The main objective of role-playing for an eFed is to develop your "persona" or to match wits with your opponents. Role-playing is judged by such a large plethora of criteria that there is no single way to be successful. However, the following guidelines should aide anyone in developing their Role-playing skills.


~Types of Role-playing~

1.In-Ring (Promo): This is by far the most popular way to deliver a role-play. Quite simply, you place your eWrestler inside a wrestling ring during a house event or show and basically "trash talk" your opponent. This can easily be compared to the 20-minute segments on WWE RAW or Smackdown. Stone Cold, HHH, Vince McMahon all use this as a means to "psyche" out their opponent. It's a great way to use ring psychology in "REAL LIFE" however, in eWrestling it's quite different. In Ring role-plays can be very boring for a veteran eWrestler. Most eFed Presidents that are experienced do not enjoy them.

2.Interview: Simply, this is where you have your eWrestler act out a pre-match interview and you'll use an "official" federation interviewer to ask your eWrestler questions about the match at hand. Not much more simple than that. Most rookies use these all the time, however most experienced eWrestler only use these for event segments. In other words, they send them in to the prez to use on the event results.

3.Character Development: Seasoned Veterans live by this method. It can open your creativity to an addictive level. You can do anything, go anywhere and have your eWrestler in any situation that tells the story of what your character is all about. The strange but beautiful thing about these is they usually have nothing to do with the match. They only serve to develop the wrestler as a realistic being. There may be some mention of the match, however not much.


RULES OF THE GAME:


1. SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION.
Make sure you spell all of the words you use right. Go back and double check if needed, but just try to catch the spelling errors and typos as you write. Make sure you leave spaces between words, so DON'T write like these examples...
Bad Examples.
"youre dead!ill bete you in the ring!big dammy!"

"Your dead, I'll beat you in the ring on monday"

In The first example, the main problem was someone who is obviously illiterate wrote it. No capital letters, no spaces, it was pathetic. That person would NEVER win a match, unless they were against someone that died and was unable to roleplay. In the second, it was good except for two things. They spelled "Your" wrong, it should've been "You're" in that use of it. And at the end, there was no period. It's still possible to win like that... But you better have some good stuff in there if you spell your words wrong frequently.


2. DON'T MAKE YOUR WRESTLER SOUND LIKE A CHILD:
If your wrestler sounds like a 13 year old, he'll have as much of a chance of winning as a 13 year old. Watch the WWF or WCW sometime, the wrestlers don't swear and if they do, it's edited out. Also, how many 25 year old wrestlers say "girl thingy" or "thingy?" Not too many. Bad Examples. "Hey shitface girl thingy breath!" That just sounded stupid. It, quite frankly, sucked. Grown ups don't talk like that, so your wrestlers shouldn't either. If it was up to me, I'd probably kick someone like that out of the fed for being a moron.


3. DON'T TALK LIKE A SMART ASS:
. If you watch the WWF or WCW, have you EVER heard them say "jobber" or "JTTS?" or even "push" In all my years, I have never heard that come from a wrestler, announcer, or commentators mouth.
Bad Examples:
"I'm going to kick your ass, you jobber!"


He insulted someone by calling him or her a "jobber," a word that wrestlers shouldn't know and have no business saying. I don't do that, some others do, but I wouldn't recommend it. It's not as important as that spelling thing or sounding like a kid thing, but it could make your roleplays sound better.


4. WRITE IN PARAGRAPHS.
Don't jumble everything together in one big 5K paragraph. It's a little bit harder to read and doesn't look very good. Write in multiple paragraphs, it will definitely help you out.
Bad Examples:
Bad Roleplayer Man: Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Everything was jumbled together and it was all crammed. It's easier to read if you write in paragraphs and it looks much better.


5. DON'T PUSH THE LENGTH OF THE ROLE PLAY:
Don't feel like you need to write an 11K roleplay every time. It will get boring for you and the reader and it will be obvious that you were just trying to get it to be really long. Just make your roleplays interesting and make sure they have quality, that's more important. But don't write 1K flashes either, because those are about 3 sentences and you can't get anything good done in three sentences. The average flash is about 3-5K with good quality. Don't make 11K or 1K flashes that are boring or pointless, it's just a waste of time. If you write the flash and it ends up to be 11K in the end, then it's okay because you weren't just trying to make it really long.


6. BE DESCRIPTIVE:
Describe what your wrestler is wearing, how he is acting, what he is doing. Be very descriptive so the reader can picture it in their head.
Good Examples:
["Idolizer" Trace Michaels sits back on a black chair, reclining. He's wearing all green and red today. Some of the clothes he's featuring are a green t-shirt that says "Moo Krew" on it, green sweat pants with a red bandanna tied loosely around the left knee, and a red bandanna on his head, covering his long blonde hair. He looks towards the camera, stares at it for a second, then begins speaking.]
I told what he was wearing, where he was, and what he was looking at. So the reader knows that he's sitting in a chair and can picture it in their head. You don't have to be THAT descriptive, but at least give the reader an idea of what's going on.


7. DON'T BEG TO WIN:
This has nothing to do with role-playing, but... Don't e-mail the President of the fed begging to win a match because it would really help you out and you need a win. It just gets the President mad at they will, most likely, job you in that match just because you asked to win. Instead of spending your time begging, write a good role-play, you'll be more likely to win that way.
Bad Examples:
"Please let me win, it could really help my wrestler out and give him the push I need."
That's just obvious that your begging and it means the same as "Please let me win! I don't want to lose!" It's just pointless and will get you absolutely nowhere.



8.DON'T USE ENDLESS PAUSING:

Don't use a ton of ..........ing just to make your RP longer.
Bad Examples:
I......................am................. ..........coming............................. .................for......................... you.
Five words that took up two lines and looked really stupid. I always use 3 periods when indicating a pause. That's how Hollywood script writers do it...and so do I.

[Jon Tees]

Heel for dumb asses:


So you want to be a heel?

Everybody needs a hero to save them at one time or another. Bette Midler asks melodically "Did you ever know that you're my hero?" Do you know what my answer is, Bette? Bite me! Go make more "B" movies and entertain the f*gs, oh great queen of the homos! You are the poor man's, Barbra Streisand!

That, my lucky douche bags, is your first tip on being an effective heel. The following column was written by a RoughKut.com visitor. It is a very in-depth look into the heel "persona". It will show the Greenest of the Greenhorns step by step how to develop his character and it's a great read for even the most seasoned veterans. ~Kut


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Being a “heel”by Dustin

The term “heel” is used by wrestling insiders to define “bad guy”.

Being a heel in wrestling is something that is a fine art and must be performed correctly to get the proper reaction from the fans in attendance. Some think it’s easy, others disagree. However you want to think about it, you have to work at being bad in order to be perceived as “not good”.

The Decision to Go Bad

There comes a point in everyone’s wrestling career when they are either asked to or choose to be a heel. This decision comes from many reasons but the most important one should be to better develop your chosen character.

Anyone can come up with a couple of insults. School bullies can demean someone’s character. Internet wimps who think they’re cooler than you can rip off someone else’s material. Can you overcome their low efforts to be something worse?

As with any decision in your life (or your character’s life), there needs to be a reason for being bad. No one is just bad because they want to have something to do. Even mass murderers have reasons for their killing sprees and burglars have reasons for committing their crimes. Only the truly insane have no good reason for anything and that is a character type that has been done.

Be original. Don’t try to play insane. No one I know, save one man, has ever been able to effectively pull it off.

Perhaps your best friend passed you up by going into singles competition just when you thought you had a great shot at the tag team titles. Maybe a certain someone keeps nailing you in the ring (inadvertent or not) and you’re getting fed up with it. How about an angst towards management for constantly looking past your talents to newbies and guys who can’t pull their weight in a match.

Maybe you just want to show the world that you are one bad ass dude. (I do not recommend this approach as there are FAR too many people out there using this idea and even adopting it for real life. It’s almost sad, really.)

Whatever your reason for going bad, make sure it is a good one. Make sure there is also an “out” in case you want to turn back to the good, too. Having no way out can diminish your efforts if you ever switch sides because it wouldn’t have involved a transition. People (wrestling fans) don’t like abrupt, unexplained changes.

The Ways of the Past/Ways of the Present

In the past, it was simple enough to garner heat by simply attacking the fans. Not physically, but rather, with words. Insulting the local sports teams (the New York Yankees can’t play fair, so they want to BUY the World Series), attacking the regional stereotype (how many Virginians here tonight are related?), or simply picking out a popular local hero or two (Derrick Jeter couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn with an elephant).

These techniques are still used today, but are often coupled with some other deeper techniques for a more modern approach.

Some intricate ways of being a heel without saying a word. For example, grabbing the leg of your target while he is involved in another match, costing him the win. How about cold-thingying him with a steel chair in the back while he’s preparing to go out for his match? Maybe you simply grab his valet and drag her away from ringside, especially if she’s well-liked.

Using combinations of these are great ways to get the crowd to give you heat. While heroes need to be faced with overwhelming opposition, you need to be part of that opposition in order to succeed as a heel.

Bret Hart was a great heel in the past by using his heritage (being Canadian) against the American audiences. While the Canadian-American angst angle has been beat to death, perhaps using some more recent angst (American-French is a good one) might be a better path.

Tools that one needs to be a heel are basic:

You MUST be of quick wit (On the internet, this isn’t AS vital, but it helps DRASTICALLY).

You MUST be willing to put over your “target” face (if the fans think that you are beaten and you come back for more, or against a new “target” face, then they’ll continue to hate you due to annoyance).

You should be willing to cheat (Very few heels win cleanly and there are reasons for that. Being hated comes easier when you are willing to take the low road to get wins).

Those three things can basically make or break a heel. Now, you may be wondering why someone should be willing to put over their opponent. Heels without faces are useless. Faces are hard to build and they need help. If you aren’t willing to help, you’re just a thingy, not a heel. As much as you think it isn’t, wrestling is a team effort.

Types of Federations and Being a Heel There

There are basically two types of e-Feds: angle and roleplay. In the angle based feds, it is up to the handlers to come up with the way things turn out, how the match will go and how things will basically turn out in their overall angle. Roleplay based feds use forums or email to take submissions of “interviews” in order to be judged for determining the winner and loser of a match.

We’ll start with the angle fed, as it is the closest thing to being actual wrestling.

In an angle federation, you have the opportunity to work side-by-side with your “face” in order to see that everyone’s goals are met in the angle. Establishing WHY you two are fighting is imperative. Perhaps the face wronged you. Perhaps he simply took your place in an important match. Maybe you don’t like him because of an ethnic or racial reason. That is for the both of you to decide.

The angle should swing mainly towards good points for the heel. Some would argue that this is the wrong way to go, but think about it. If the two wrestlers meet for 5 matches and the heel only loses the last one, who comes out better? The heel. He will have successfully (as long as cheating and antagonizing the crowd is involved) gathered a decent amount of heat, while still putting over the face in the end. The face benefits from “overcoming adversity”, but the heel gets a record of 4-1.

Matches shouldn’t be one-sided. That just bores people. The face should end up losing by seconds, inches or by being overwhelmed by sheer numbers of opponents. People want to cheer for a hero. The easiest way to get them to cheer is to be as anti-hero as you can be.

We cheer for Harry Potter, not because he’s a great wizard, but because we want to see him get one over on his relatives and those trying to hold him down. He’s a hero. Villains, in this case, are anyone opposed to Harry achieving his goals. For those not familiar with the series, its basically anyone who isn’t a friend.

Moving on to the roleplaying type.

Roleplaying federations are not as easy to be a heel in as they are in angle federations. To gain the same sort of heat in a roleplaying scenario, you have to HEAVILY hit the verbal skills to insult, antagonize and manipulate the feelings of others. If you aren’t naturally good at this, it can be HARD.

Interrupting matches is the only other way to really put across your intentions. If you’re a heel and you interrupt someone’s match, you anger those involved and get a bit of heat.

There isn’t much else to work with here, but that may be a bit one-sided since I am not a big fan of the roleplaying style of eFedding. Those without top notch skills are often left by the wayside struggling to get some recognition amongst 15 year olds with nothing to do but write during the day.

The Big Problem

The biggest problem I’ve encountered in all my years of eFedding are the constant need of heels to take on the top guys right away. If you attempt this type of maneuver, you can throw out the idea of winning 4/5ths of the matches.

Heels, just like anything else, are built on familiarity. Faces take years to create properly. Heels are the same way. While we may hate Johnny No-Name as soon as he enters the WWE, we are certainly not impressed when he tries to take on the reigning WWE Champion in his first few matches. Do we hate him? No, we just think he’s stupid.

Effective heels will start at the bottom. Work with someone nearly as new as yourself and then you have a springboard for bigger and better things. Some wrestlers in the past didn’t have to go through the normal process of building up or waiting (Bill Goldberg and Brock Lesnar, for instance), but you shouldn’t think of yourself as special.

Starting out with a couple of smaller names and getting them over should be first on your list. Establishing your techniques and ideas will allow you to move up to midcard for a while here and there to get more heat. Established faces will always help get heat, but as long as you are relatively new, try not to forget the newbies. They are your bread and butter.

After establishing a long string of heated rivalries (nine or ten, I’d guess), then its time to start pestering the main event crew. To be in the main event, the fans have to know who you are and that is why you will want to build up the base for your future endeavors. Without nine or ten rivalries behind you, your heel vs. the Champion isn’t going to get the Champion over and get you very much heat.

Research is the Key

Researching your next event location for stereotypes, sports teams and local heroes is essential. While I have described ways to work with others to get yourself some heat, it is still important not to forget the basics.

Remember the insult portion of this column? Well, if not, go back and read it again. It is necessary, unless your character doesn’t do that. Most cases, though, it is a nice way to get “cheap heat” for your match and, more importantly, a way to get the crowd to root for the face even more.

Dustin

[Jon Tees]

Babyface for Dumbasses by Mitchell Jones (owner of WZWA) 5/2004
I apologise in advance if I lose everyone at any stage of this write-up. It's harder than people think to conceivably tell people not only what a face is but how to be a good one, especially in today's wonderful world of wrestling where everything has changed since the good old days. But alas, I will give this my best show.

What is a babyface?

A babyface is the insider term for a good guy, the one who is cheered and loved by all the fans. In days of old, the standard babyface (or "face" for short) was the typical nice guy. He wouldn't cheat, swear, or argue. He would always play fair, shake hands after a match, and be the kind of guy that your Grandmother would love to take home with her and your Mother would love your little sister (or yourself, if any females are reading this) to date. Of course, times have changed thanks to ECW, WWF Attitude and the New World Order in WCW. Guys like The Sandman and Stone Cold Steve Austin would drink and swear obsessively in the ring, but were beloved by all. The NWO and DX would by nature be degenerates, but were lvoed because they were "cool". The Rock was an arrogant athlete who felt he was bigger than everyone around him, but his thingyy demeanour, good looks, electrifying moves, and ability to cut amazing promos has made him THE most electryfying man in Sports Entertainment today. But either way, the babyface role remains the same - to be the guy that the fans love.

How easy is it?

An old school face in an old school environment is relatively easy to pull off. Just as a heel gains cheap heat through dissing the local football team or various members of the audience, the face adheres himself to them. A good example right now would be John Cena, wearing the shirt of the local football team (I presume Basketball, but forgive me as I'm not American so my sports team knowledge of the States is not the best). Fans tend to pop when they can relate to what they see. A face also takes the time to acknowledge the fans, slapping their hands and maybe giving his sunglasses to a young fan at ringside (ala Bret Hart). It's very simple to do. However, this isn't always a guarentee for success, as The Rock will tell you. For this reason, being a face isn't as easy as people think, especially in this day and age. For those who never got to see WWF in 1996, I'll set the scene. The Rock was known as Rocky Maivia, the young kid with a bright future who was always smiling and happy to be wrestling. He showed a lot of promise and was therefore pushed, pulling off an Intercontinental title reign. However, the fans didn't appreciate the WWF pushing this typical face kid down their throats, and he started being booed out of the building, to the point of receiving chants of "Die, Rocky, Die". That's how bad the backlash was. It wasn't until he turned heel and became The Rock that his real personality (turned up about 6 notches) started to come out, and people started noticing how good this guy really was. Two years later, he's one of the biggest stars in the industry, and a top babyface (as turned by the fans). Getting the right face balance is hard, because although in an e-fed you can simply write as though the fans automatically love you, I always tend to treat an e-fed like a real fed, and will never discount how fans may possibly treat you. Being a typical good guy can only get you so far. You have to have the right character that people can get into for you to be treated like a superstar. Otherwise, you may be turned heel by the fans, and that's not something that helps your confidence in any way.

Ways to be a good face outside the ring

As with any character, most of his or her development comes from outside of the ring, whether in promos, interviews or segments. Here are some tips of how to get the fans in your corner.

- Fan Interaction: Simple, really. Get the crowd into your work. Even Stone Cold Steve Austin, the most cold-hearted son of a bitch in the WWF would get the crowd involved in his interviews ("If you want Stone Cold to ______, them gimme a hell yeah" to which the fans would scream "HELL YEAH"). The same goes for DX ("Suck It"), the New Age Outlaws (damn, I'm not typing all of that out, lol), and The Rock (a few too many, don't you think). Even Flair's oh-so-simple "Whoo" is echoes through arenas nationwide by the crowds. Tt works. The fans love to join in with cool catchphrases. It makes them feel like they are part of something special, and as long as it is a cool catchphrase (for a not-so-good one, look at Booker T's attempt in WCW - "Don't hate the player, hate the game").

- Interesting Character: The Undertaker started out as a heel. I can see why, if you look at it realistically. A dark, gloomy character who likes burying people. Not really hard to figure, really. Yet about two year later, he was heavily cheered, and in about 5 years time, he was the biggest start (thereabouts) in the company. 14 years on, his gimmick is still over. Why? Because it's a cool and unique gimmick, not to mention he is believeable as a big guy. Fans will get behind a guy who is believeable. Look at Brock Lesnar, Kane, and Goldberg. Sting is another dark and gloomy character, but he was major over, not just because of his name, but because he was enigmatic and people could never predict his next move (although it did help that he was the franchise of WCW, no offense Shane Douglas). Fans will also get behind convincing comedy gimmicks. Everyone berated Rico for being in the "gay" gimmick, but he has pulled it off fantastically. Everyone knocked Eugene Dinsmore, but now he's one of the most over gimmicks on RAW. As long as it's played out well, people will enjoy it.

- Be Yourself +10: This is optional, and goes past what was said in the previous point, but this is another solid way of getting to the top. Jim Cornette said not lnog ago that the most successful gimmicks are those of people being themselves, with the volume turned right up. Stone Cold, The Rock, Triple H, Mick Foley, The Sandman, Raven, Goldberg, Hulk Hogan, the list goes on and on. These guys are all practically playing larger than life versions of themselves. So for a character you can use, maybe you should look at yourself. No one knows you like you do. Just turn the volume up about ten notches, and run with it. Whether you are an arrogant asshole or a porn star in the waiting, fans will get behind you and eventually embrace you. of course, this also works as a heel as well, but in terms of face characters, chances are you will be successful, because people love larger than life characters.

Ways to be a good face inside the ring

Just as effective in making your character work is what he does inside the ring. The psychology of a match can make or break your character's position in the eyes of the fans. Here are some tips you may want to take note of.

- Play the Underdog: Proven fact in wrestling - fans love underdogs. Why? Because they have reason to get behind them, especially if there is a conceivable chance that they might be able to pull off the win. This is how Shawn Michaels pulled off most of his career. Being in a company where big men roamed, Michaels put his body on the line every single night against any big man thrown his way, and knocked them all down. Fans got behind him because what he lacked in size, he made up for in heart, determination and ability, and the announcers made sure that you knew it, which made it even more effective. The same can be said for Chris Benoit around about now on RAW. The challenge of Kane, Triple H and Shawn Michaels in daunting, but he is pulling it off despite his size because his heart, drive, and technical ability is out of this world. Of course, guys like Spike Dudley won't get anywhere because although he is an underdog, he is basically jobber fodder right now. Now if he was used like he was in ECW when he beat every single giant there, people would love this guy. But as it is, the fact remains - the underdog role works.

- Play fair: As a heel, your objective is to win by any means necessary. With babyfaces, it doesn't work this way. Babyfaces are sportsmen. They play by the rules, and amaze people with their moveset, rather than their ability to pull tights or grab the ropes for leverage. Even in times of desperation, the faces stay on the good side of the referee, and can be used to get them over if they manage to overcome all of the cheating from the heel to win (ie. being the underdog - see what I mean?). It also builds sympathy if they lose too. So either way works. only under extreme circumstances should the face be allowed to snap, like Eddie Guerrero did at Judgement Day 2004 against John Bradshaw Leyfield. By this time, the fans will know that the face has to do something, and will be happy that he has finally taken matters into his own hands and won't stand for anything more. It raises the emotional bar and everyone is happy.

- That one move: What do The Rock, Rikishi, Goldberg, John Cena, and Scotty 2 Hotty have in common? That one move that people love to see. In each respective case, we have The People's Elbow, The Stink Face, The Spear, The Five Knuckle Shuffle, and The Worm. The fans love these moves because even though only one of them is actually anything special in terms of effect on opponent (the Spear), they all get the crowd riled up and behind it. It's a great way for face heat, and sometimes it can even turn heel wrestlers face (like it pretty much did for Rhyno with the Gore, and the Dudleys with the 3D and the table spots). That one signiature move doesn't have to be your finisher, but simple a move that riles the people up, and draws them in. Tease it, have it reversed, do whatever with it. But when it's hit, make sure it means something.

Impressive moveset: The one thing that turned Brock Lesnar face wasn't Paul Heyman. It wasn't his charisma (or lack thereof). It wasn't even his build. It was his strength. It was the fact that he was able to pick up 500lbs giants and F5 them with almost sheer ease. His power moves suited his body and his character, and people loved it. Chris Benoit is small, and a technical wiz, so obviously he's not going to be as powerful. But his wide array of suplexes are impressive, and his ability to turn almost any move into his signiture Crippler Crossface makes it a cool move because it's unpredictable, but almost always effective. Make your moveset fit your character, with one or two moves that catch peoples eyes as moves that are gonna impress people. Such moves include the Stone Cold Stunner, the Rock Bottom, and for sheer impact, the Jackhammer. People pop for moves as much as the wrestlers themselves, but they have to be the right mix to work.

How to convey your babyface character into roleplays

For the most part, both of the previous sections will help those in an "Angle" e-fed. But I'm going to guess that most of the readers of this will be in "Roleplay" e-feds, which are considerably harder (and since I've only been in this sort of e-fed for the past 2 and a half years, I know how difficult it can be) to do the above. However, at the same time, it's also a better way to develop your character away from the shows, which helps in the long run.

Most people tend to use roleplays for Interviews. No problem. It's simple and effective for devloping your face persona. Describe the clothes you are wearing. Being a hardcore brawler and wearing a suit isn't going to work. Being a face, wear a slightly tattered local football jersey, for the cheap pop. Dress cool. Make people want to be just like you, no matter the clothing. Describe your attitude to the interviewer. In some cases, you'll just be a straight guy, the type who says "May the best man win". In others, you'll be the joke-cracking funny guy who teases the interviewer or does impressions to make himself look cool and puts over the fact that he is going to win. Others use witty catchphrases for people to chant along with. Either way, make sure you get people's attention, and stick to your character. Nothing is worse than confusing the reader.

Another necessity is putting over your heel opponent. This is crucial. No one will get behind someone when it's going to be a squash. If he has attacked you, sell the injury. Sell how much pain he put you through. Make your opponent look strong. Just put over how much of a challenge he is. Just things like "Tonight is going to be my toughest challenge yet. This guy is one hell of a talent and looking past him would probably be my downfall. I'm just going to give it my best shot and give 110% as I always do" are good enough. It makes your win mean so much more (presuming you do win) if he looks like he is going to kick the crap out of you. Again, I can't emphasise the underdog role enough. And not only that, but making your opponent look like even more of a good heel makes people want to love you just to hate him. It works on all levels.

And speaking of your opponent, bounce off of him. Use ideas to bounce off each other and build up a repetoire together. If he starts talking about something, bounce back with a comeback. If he for instance, disses the local sports team for doing poorly, come up with some good things they've done and put down his local sports team to get him back. The little things like that make people care about feuds.

But not everyone does interviews. Some might go for workouts at the gym. Cool, use it. Show just how much your wrestler wants to win the match. Watch how he pushes himself to breaking point, to the point that people actually feel just how badly you need to win this match.

Or maybe you're talking to friends or teammates. Or maybe you're out and about but can't get it all out of your head. Anything works. Seriously, there are many ways you can put yourself and your opponents over. Just make sure you don't do thigs like purposely injure people or beat up officials and cameramen or stuff like that. For one, it's overdone. Not to mention it's a very unface thing to do.

For the divas out there

Naturally, girls are going to have different characters out there, so for them it's going to be a little harder.

Now, it's a little easier in Angle e-feds to seperate heel women from face women. The typical babyface is attractive, a good worker, athletic, and enjoys being in the limelight. The typical heel is usually either a psycho, way too prima donna, or a slut, to put it bluntly. But as a roleplayer, it's slightly harder to portray it correctly. You have to make sure as an attractive female that you don't overstep your arrogance. You also can't get bitchy, otherwise things may swing in the wrong direction for you. being in every guys business won't help either.

The best ways to get over as a woman are to either play the typical strong-willed woman who is slightly tomboyish and wants to overcome the odds (UNDERDOG!!!!), or to always get one over on the guys. Do NOT play the sexism card unless you are in a dominantly female e-fed, because the majority of guys who read it will feel a state of masculine pride and may turn you heel (at least in my opinion, anyway).

Do some research

It was touched upon in the "Heels for dummies" column, but it's absolutely true. Research. Look at a number of WWE/F videos and notice how their biggest faces and heels get their heat. Pick up on at which moves the fans make noise, and conversely, get bored. Even though being yourself is good, adding a hint of one of your favorite workers is a great move too, because it's a proven commodity, and as they are in the professional business for real, their influence can help you tremendously.

Also take a look at stereotypes (as suggested also). I know people go on about how stereotypes need to die in wrestling, but they haven't, and won't, so embrace it. If your fed is holding a show in Chicago, have your character big up the Bulls. If your character is mexican, have your heel character take shots at him, and then bounce back with stuff directed at him (without insulting the audience at the same time).

And most of all...

Have a laugh doing it. If it isn't fun, it isn't worth doing, so have fun, and go mad with those creative juices. It'll be worth it at the end.

Thanks for reading,

Mitchell Jones

[Jon Tees]

Create a wrestler.



"Possibly" The most detailed "Create a Wrestler" tutorial on the Interweb! ~Someguy from some magazine

Table of Contents:

You the "handler"
Your Character
Your Gimmick
Your character's "heat draw"
Baby face
Heel
Tweener
Your character's physical description
Height/Weight/Size
Gear/clothing
Physical appearance
Your character's arsenal: Moves/holds


HANDLER

YOU are the handler, it is your job to manage and direct the career of your character. You must create, role-play and make the life of this wrestler interesting. It is a good idea to give your real name or your "net alias" instead of your E-fed wrestler's name or people will begin to refer to you as your wrestler. This has happened to me, as people call me "HK" which is short for HardKore. You should also give your permanent email address and Instant message names to your "prez" so he can contact you. The other fed members would probably like to know YOU and not your wrestler as well. The way you present your self and your character will decide how popular you become in your e-fed career. It's good to learn from other E-wrestling sites such as RoughKut.com and to learn from the experienced people in your fed. You'll never know all there is to know, so never go in any fed acting like an ass. And NEVER go in a fed thinking you can't be defeated. At the end of the day, it's someone's opinion that decided who will go home with the victory. It's all in fun, so keep it that way.


CHARACTER


This is where you will decide what wrestler you will use in the e-fed of your choice. I will only cover "original wrestlers" because I know nothing about real wrestler feds. Think of a name, make it jazzy or "cool" but make sure it's interesting and creative or you'll find yourself the butt of fed jokes. Don't dabble in "real" wrestler's monikers. Don't use "The Stunner" Steve Houston, that sounds like "Stone Cold" Steve Austin don't it son? You'd be whored in a serious e-fed using names like that. And it kind of shows how new you are to Ewrestling by using such a name. Let's come up with a name right now;

"The Thriller" Mark Davidson
Kyle Floyd
Kris Kancer
Jayce Russell
"The Jackhammer" Keith Hagen
These are just a few ideas for original names, there is always a chance that you'll come up with a name that someone is using already. Well, shit happens, unless you stole it purposely, you're fine. Let's go over a few names that I've seen used in e-feds throughout my career that I personally liked;


HardKore (This one is mine and since I first used it I've seen it used OVER AND OVER again!! It's so obvious when they capitalize the H and K.)
Ambush Bug (Cool gimmick)
TyranT (Cool name)
Komatose (Cool name)
"Too fine" Chris Divine
SyN (His catch phrase is: "Forgive me father, for I am SyN" THATS DAMN KOOL!!)
That's just a few examples of names you can create. BUT DON'T USE THEM!! Just be sure that the name is catchy or creative and it doesn't mimic a real wrestler. Also don't be a jackass, don't use Steve "The fuckin' mutha fucka" Jackson. Or don't use Jake "The shit" Russell, act a little mature even though maturity and Ewrestling is like an oxymoron. Instead use, Jake "The Shyt" Russell make it creative and don't act like a Internet bad-ass. There is ALWAYS someone better than you! One last tip: It's good to make a character that you know you'll stick to for the rest of your career. I used HardKore and retired with HardKore! It was great, but you might have just as much fun changing characters every so often.


GIMMICK
Now you have your character all mapped out in your head, eh? Guess what? You have to give him a gimmick! What's a gimmick you say? It's the entertaining trait of a character. It's like a character's act. It's like an angle but dedicated to a certain star. Let's take the Undertaker, he had one of the best gimmicks in pro-wrestling until he he gained 200 pounds, put on a head bandana and started riding a motorcycle. He was dead, his persona was evil, he could fly! He had supernatural powers, he could "walk the top rope" he could not be hurt! Now that is a gimmick and a kick ass gimmick ta boot!

If you choose not to use a particular gimmick your character will be boring, it's a given. Stone cold has a gimmick, The Rock has a gimmick. Austin's gimmick is a red-neck cursin' ragin' texan who doesn't take crap from anyone- including his boss. He doesn't trust "nobody" and drinks beer as a past-time. The Rock's gimmick is a thingyy flashy sort of hard-ass who won't admit his flaws and tries to prove he has none. His gimmick is: He's a true champion and everything a champion should be. The people's champ. Blah Blah Blah...

Let's go over a few more gimmicks so you can have an idea of what a gimmick is. There's the "Giant" gimmick, the "Dark" gimmick, the "thingyy" gimmick, the "smartass" gimmick, the "wacky" gimmick and the "funny" gimmick.

Mankind, is now a funny wacky gimmick- though he used to be dark.
Paul Wight is a giant gimmick- Cus he's f'n huge!
Jericho is a thingyy smartass.
Too cool is a wacky stereotypical gimmick
Chris Benoit is, eh what the fuck is he??
Blackman is a boring gimmick.
Shane McMahon is a slimy, yuppie gimmick
Vince Mcmahon is the "evil boss" gimmick, the politician, the "brain" of the outfit
HHH is the "game" he will prove that he is the best anyway he can
There are WAY many more gimmicks possible than the ones I just named, who said Ewrestling was easy? You gotta use that brain of yours!


HEAT DRAW or (alliance)
Simple, are you more of a "good guy" fan or "bad guy" fan? Or are you sorta neutral? Do you want to be a wrestler that gets lots of heated boos or do you want to be the hero with all the cheers? Positive Heat or Negative Heat? Boos or Pops people.. Let's see..


HHH is a HEEL sometimes a SUPER HEEL
The Rock is a SUPER babyface
Blackman is boring no heat (Neutral)
Boss man is a heel with no heat draw
Rikishi is a babyface
Kane is/was neutral
Now, heat draw simply means your wrestler is popular! Noone with good sense wants to be an unpopular wrestler. So you don't want to be Big Boss man or Blackman. Some people think that being a face is boring, they want to be bad and get tons of boos. Some people (newbies, lol) like to be the hero and save the day like Steve Austin or the Rock. Kane (before his "monster" crap) is a good example of an "over" neutral wrestler. He's not really a face or heel but the fans like him. Over simply means popular. How good you are or "role-play" will determine how over you get in Ewrestling. On a side note, I was the most over e-wrestler in Ewrestling history! Yup, HardKore lives on.. SHUT UP!


DESCRIPTION
Did you think it was over, you thought it would be a snap? Nope, takes time to form a wrestler that you will be happy with!
I will attempt to make a detailed chart so your wrestler can be realistic as possible. That for the love of (insert your god) is the point of this all, no?

Basics: Muscle weighs more than fat, the taller you are the more heavy you are. If you're short and skinny, you'll weigh very little. If you're huge like Paul Wight, he's not necessarily "fat" like people say but he's almost 500 pounds! He's also 7 foot 4 inches. I believe Steve Austin is 6'1" and like 243 pounds. A list of popular wrestlers will be below this so you can see how weight and height AND muscle effect each other. You're bound to know a few people off this list. Use this chart to decide what a short muscle bound man would weigh or an average height wrestler would weigh, etc.

Ahmed Johnson 6'2" 265 lbs
Akeem Unknown 457 lbs

Al Snow 5'11" 243 lbs
Animal (LOD) 6'1" 285 lbs

Andre The Giant 7'4" 520 lbs
Arn Anderson 6'0" 249 lbs

Bad News Brown Unknown 271 lbs
Bam Bam Bigelow 6'3" 368 lbs

Barry Horowitz 5'10" 227 lbs
Barry Windham 6'5" 273 lbs

Bart Gunn 6'5" 260 lbs
Bill Goldberg 6'4 290 lbs

Billy Gunn 6'5" 254 lbs
Bob Backlund 6'1" 234 lbs

Bob Holly 6'1" 231 lbs
Bradshaw 6'7" 280 lbs

Bret Hart 6'0" 234 lbs
Brian Adams 6'6" 318 lbs

Brian Christopher 5'10" 230 lbs
Brian Knobbs 6'1" 295 lbs

Brian Pillman 6'0" 226 lbs
British Bulldog 5'10" 253 lbs

Brooklyn:place> Brawler 6'0" 231 lbs
Brutus Beefcake 6'4" 271 lbs

Buff Bagwell 6'1" 240 lbs
Bushwacker Butch 6'0" 255 lbs

Bushwacker Luke 6'1" 244 lbs
Chris Benoit 5'10" 218 lbs

Chris Candido 5'8" 226 lbs
Curt Hennig 6'3" 257 lbs

Curtis Hughes 6'5" 308 lbs
Dean Malenko 5'9" 216 lbs

DDP 6'5" 260 lbs
Dennis Knight 6'7" 310 lbs

Disciple 6'4" 271 lbs
Disco Inferno 6'0" 238 lbs

Doug Furnas 5'11" 243 lbs
Duke Droese 6'5" 306 lbs

Dusty Rhodes:place> 6'3" 289 lbs
Earthquake 6'4" 462 lbs

Eddy Guerrero 5'8" 221 lbs
Executioner The 6'4" 289 lbs:p>

Faarooq 6'3" 272 lbs
Freddie Joe Floyd 6'1" 227 lbs

The Genius Unknown 252 lbs
Giant The 7'4" 516 lbs

Giant Gonzales 7'7" 435 lbs
Godfather 6'6" 340 lbs

Goldust 6'6" 260 lbs
Golga 6'4" 462 lbs

Greg "The Hammer" Valentine 6'0" 248 lbs
Hacksaw Jim Duggan 6'3" 280 lbs

Haku 6'0" 273 lbs
Headbanger Mosh 6'0" 243 lbs

Headbanger Thrasher 6'2" 242 lbs
Hercules Unknown 275 lbs

Hillbilly Jim 6'7" 286 lbs
Honky Tonk Man 6'1" 258 lbs

Hulk Hogan 6'8" 303 lbs
Hunter Hearst Helmsley 6'4" 246 lbs

Iron Shiek 6'0" 262 lbs
Irwin R. Scheister 6'3" 248 lbs

Jake "The Snake" Roberts 6'5" 253 lbs
Jeff Jarrett 5'10" 230 lbs

Jerry Saggs 6'3" 290 lbs
Jerry Lawler 6'0" 234 lbs

Jesse James "Road Dog" 6'4" 240 lbs
Jim Duggan 6'3" 280 lbs

Jimmy Hart 166 lbs. Unknown:p>
Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka 6'0" 250 lbs

Jim Neidhart 6'1" 281 lbs
Justin Credible 6'0" 225 lbs

Kamala 6'7" 345 lbs
Ken Shamrock 6'0 235 lbs

Kevin Nash 6'11" 356 lbs
King Kong Bundy 6'4" 446 lbs

Koko B. Ware 5'9" 229 lbs
Konnan 5'10" 237 lbs

Lex Luger 6'5" 265 lbs
Mabel 6'10" 568 lbs

Mankind 6'3" 287 lbs
Marc Mero 6'1" 235 lbs

Mark Cannebury 6'7" 288 lbs
Marty Jannetty 5'11" 230 lbs

Meng 6'0" 273 lbs
Mo 6'1" 285 lbs

Mr. Fuji Unknown 249 lbs
Nailz 6'5" 271 lbs

Paul Roma 5'11" 235 lbs
Phil LaFon 5'11" 235 lbs

Randy Savage 6'2" 245 lbs
Raven 6'1" 235 lbs

Red Rooster Unknown 240 lbs
Rey Mysterio Jr 5'3" 140 lbs

Ric Flair 6'1" 243 lbs
Rick Martel 6'0" 234 lbs

Rick Steiner 5'11" 248 lbs
The Rock 6'5" 245 lbs

Ronnie Garvin Unknown 242 lbs
Salvatore Sincere 6'3" 250 lbs

Savio Vega 5'10" 256 lbs
Scorpio 5'11" 235 lbs

Scott Hall 6'8" 290 lbs
Scott Norton 6'3" 340 lbs

Scott Steiner 6'2" 285 lbs
Sgt. Slaughter 6'3" 310 lbs

Shane Douglas 6'0" 223 lbs
Shawn Michaels 6'2" 255 lbs

Stone Cold Steve Steve Austin 6'3" 256 lbs
The Sultan 6'2" 260 lbs

Sycho Sid 6'10" 313 lbs
Tatanka 6'1" 250 lbs

Terry Funk 6'1" 247 lbs
Tito Santana 6'1" 244 lbs

T.L. Hopper 6'1" 235 lbs
The Warrior 6'2" 275 lbs

The Undertaker 6'10" 328 lbs
Vader 6'6" 452 lbs

Vincent 6'2" 250 lbs
Wrath 6'6" 292 lbs

X-Pac 6'2" 212 lbs
Yokozuna 6'4" 621 lbs

Zip (Bodydonnas) 5'10" 220 lbs


Next part is the best part, to me atleast. the physical appearance, this is where your imagination can flourish! You can describe your wrestler's hair color, length, style and the skin color, face shape, etc. You can describe any distinct scars or tattoos ear piercings and everything! This is where you make your wrestler YOURS! You want to remember to keep this information handy so you wont look stupid describing a different person each time. You also want to describe wrestling gear, this is what makes a wrestler unique I guess. Being that all the wrestlers I know of always wear the same style of wrestling gear. Some fed-heads (prez/s) will ask for this information and some will expect it in your Role-plays (flashes). It's up to you how detailed you want your wrestler to be. This is a part that I always found fun about e-feds and I hope you do too! I hope this chart was useful for you. Have fun!


ARESENAL

It's a good idea to come up with a repetois of moves and holds your wrestler uses as his signature moveset.

You'll need to create a setup move and finisher as well.

WRESTLER SET UP MOVE (or Signature) FINISHER
Mick Foley Double Underhook DDT Mandible Claw
Triple H Knee lift / face buster Pedigree
The Rock Rock Bottom People's Elbow
Stone Cold Steve Austin abdomen Kick Stunner


Wrestler Signature Moves
The Rock Float over DDT, Samoan drop, Rock Bottom, back drop
Kane Chokeslam, Throat Chop (top rope), Tombstone piledriver
Chris Jericho Spring Board moonsault, Walls of Jericho, Missile Drop kick

There is a list of wrestling moves and also a list of moves with pictures on the RoughKut.com homepage. You should use moves that your wrestler's height weight and strength can handle. Xpac can't chokeslam people. Paul Wight can't moonsault off the top rope. I'd like to see yokozuna try and put someone in a figure four. It would be funny to see The undertaker do a hurricanrana on someone. So make sure your moves match your wrestler's size!

roughkut.com/moves.html

Also: Naming your finisher should make sense. it's tradition! The Rock has his Rock Bottom, The Undertaker has his Tombstone Piledriver. Stone Cold has his Stunner. If your name is Rick "the killer" Rollad his move could be : "187"
Try to stay away from graphic names like that though. Let's say your wrestler's name is HardKore, lol. His finisher is the "HardKnock" a floating impact DDT. Use your brain and have fun with it!

[Jon Tees]

Common Moves/Holds

1/4 Nelson

3/4 Nelson

450 splash

Abdominal Stretch

Ace Crusher (Stone Cold Stunner, Diamond Cutter, etc...)

Achilles Tendon Hold

Airplane Spin

Airplane Spin Toss

Amahistral Cradle

Amittyville Horror

Ankle Lock

Arm Bar

Arm Breaker

Arm Drag

Arm Lock

Arm Scissors

Arm Stretch

Arm Wringer

Asai Moonsault

Asian Spike

Atomic Drop

Avalanche

Back Body Drop

Backbreaker

Back Fist

Back Rake

Back Roll

BackRoll Press

Backslide

Back Suplex

Backward Victory Roll(Up)

Baseball Slide

Bear Hug

Bell Clap

Belly-To-Back Suplex

Belly-To-Belly Suplex

Big Boot

Big Splash

Bionic Elbow

Biting

Blizzard Suplex

Block

Body Scissors

Bodyslam

Boot Scrape

(Boston) Crab

Bow & Arrow

Brain Buster

Bridge

Bronco Buster

Bulldog (Headlock)

Camel Clutch

Cannonball

Catapult

Chair Shot

Charging Headbutt

Chicken Wing

Chinlock

Choke

Chokeslam

Chop

Chop Block

Claw Hold

Cobra Clutch

Corksrcew Elbow

Corkscrew Leg Drop

Corkscrew Moonsault

Corkscrew Plancha

Cradle

Cradle Piledriver

Cross Body Block

Crossface

Cross-Face Chicken Wing

Crucifix

DDT

Death Valley Driver

Doomsday Device

Double Arm Lock

Double-Arm /Front DDT

Double Axhandle (Smash)

Double Backbreaker

Double Belly-To-Back Suplex

Double Choke

Double Clothesline

Double Drop Kick

Double Elow Drop

Double Grape Vine

Double Gutwrench

Double Snap Suplex

Double Stomp

Double Underhook Powerbomb

Double Underhook Suplex

Double Vertical Suplex

Dragon Screw Leg Whip

Dragon Sleeper

Dragon Suplex

Dropkick

Drop Toe Hold

Elbow

European Uppercut

Eye Gouge

Facebuster

Falcon Arrow (Michinoku Driver)

Fallaway Slam

Figure Four Leg Lock

Firebird Splash

Fireman's Carry (Slam)

Fisherman Buster

Fisherman Suplex

Fist Drop

Flap Jack

Flatliner

Flying Clothesline

Flying Corkscrew Clothesline

Flying Cross Body-Block

Flying DDT

Flying Elbow (Smash)

Flying Headbutt

Flying Headscissors

Flying Lariat

Flying Leap

Flying Leg Drop

Flying Mare

Flying Plancha

Flying Shoulder Block

Flying Splash

Frankensteiner

Frog Splash

Front Chanercy

Front Face Lock

Front Piledriver

Front Slam

Front Suplex

Full Nelson

Full Nelson Suplex

Gator Buster

German Suplex

Giant Swing

Gibson Leg Lock

Gorilla Press (Slam)

Gori Special

Gourd Buster

Grapewine

Greco-Roman Arm Lock

Gutwrench

Gutwrench Powerbomb

Gutwrench Superplex

Gutwrench Suplex

Hair Pull(ing)

Half Crab

Half Nelson

Hammerbomb

Hammerlock

Hangman's Neck Breaker

Headbutt

Headlock

Headscissors

Head-To-Turnbuckle

Head Vise

Heart Attack

Heart Punch

High Knee

Hip Roll

Hip Toss

Human Torture Rack

Hurracanrana

Indian Death Lock

Insiguri Kick

Inverted Atomic Drop

Inverted DDT

Irish Whip

Jackhammer

Japenese Arm Drag

Jawbreaker

La Magistral Cradle

Lateral Press

Leg Sweep

Leg Drop

Leg Lock

Leg Split

Leg Whip

Liger Bomb

Liontamer

(Lou) Thesz Press

Katahajimi

Kick

Kitao Driver

Knee

Knee Drop

Knife-Edge Chop

Mandible Claw

Mexican Arm Drag

Military Slam

Million Dollar Dream

Missle Dropkick

Monkey Flip

Moonsault

Mosh Pit

Neck Breaker

Neck Drop Clothesline

Neck Twist

Nerve Hold

Nodowa Bomb

Northern Lights Powerbomb

Northern Lights Suplex

Octopus On Your Back

Oklahoma Roll

Oklahome Slam

Oklahome Stampede

Orange Bomb

Orihara Moonsault

Outsider's Edge

Overhead Toss

Pancake

Pedigree

Pilebriver

Plancha

Pole Ram

Polish Hammer

Powerbomb

Powerslam

Pump Handle Slam

Punch (fist)

Quackensmash

Rana

Release German Suplex

Reversal

Reverse Chinlock

Reverse Grapevine

Reverse Neck Breaker

Rings of Saturn

Rocker Dropper

Rocket Launcher

Roll-Up

Rope Burn

Running Clothesline

Running Elbow

Running Lariat

Running Powerslam

Running Senton (Back Splash)

Russian Leg Sweep

Russian Sikle

Samoan Drop

Savat Kick

Schoolboy {pinning combination}

Scissor Kick

Scoop Slam

Scorpion Death Lock [Sharpshooter]

Senton (Back Splash)

Shooting Star Press

Short Arm Scissors

Shoulder Block

Shoulder Breaker

Showboat

Side Headlock

Side Kick

Side Russian Leg Sweep

Side Salto

Side Slam

Sidewalk Slam

Sit-Down Powerbomb

Sitting Drop Kick

Skytwister Press

Slap

Sleeper Hold

Sleeperwalker Superplex

Sleepwalker Suplex

Slingshot

Slingshot Moonsault

Slingshot Powerbomb

Slingshot Suplex

Small Package

Snap DDT

Snapmare

Snap Suplex

Snow Plow

Somersault Plancha / Tope Con Helo

Somersault Senton (Back Splash)

Spear

Spine Buster (Slam)

Spinning Cobra Clutch

Spinning Toe Hold

Spin Wheel Kick

Splash Mountain

Split-Legged Moonsault

Springboard Dropkick

Springboard Hur®acanrana

Springboard Moonsault

Springboard Plancha

Springboard Spin(ning) Kick

Springboard Splash

Square Driver

Standing Double Grape Vine

Standing Drop Kick

Star

Stardust Press (Corkscrew 450 Splash)

Stomp

Step-Over Toe Hold

STF

Stump Puller

Suicide Dive

Suicide-Plex

Sunset Flip

Super Belly-To-Back Suplex

Super Belly-To-Belly Suplex

Super Chokeslam

Super Fisherman Buster

Super Front Slam

Superkick

Superplex

Suplex

Surfboard

Surfboard Chinlock

Swan Dive

Swinging Neck Breaker

(Football) Tackle

Tapia

Tazmission Taz-Plex

Taz-Plex

Texas Cloverleaf

Thrust Kick

Tiger Bomb

Tiger Driver

Tiger Driver '91

Tiger Suplex

(Tight) Rope Walk

Tilt-A-Whirl Backbreaker

Toe Hold

Tombstone Piledriver

Tope

Tope-Rope Cannonball

Top-Rope Clothesline

Top-Rope Corkscrew Plancha

Top-Rope Frankensteiner

Top-Rope Piledriver

Top-Rope Plancha

Top-Rope Powerbomb

Top-Rope Rana

Top-Rope Rocker Dropper

Top-Rope Superplex

Tornado DDT

Tornado Punch

Torso Flip

Torturer Crab

Tree Of Woe

Tumbleweed Leg Drop

Turantula

Triple-Jump Moonsault

Turnbuckle Bomb

Turnbuckle Smash

Uppercut

Vaderbomb

Vertical Suplex

Victory Roll

Walking Crab

Whiplash

Whipper Snapper

Wrist Lock

I updated this list using various wrestling sites, mostly lordsofpain.net.

[Jon Tees]

This is a list of match types seen in professional wrestling. I am posting these due to the fact that at some point in your role playing career, you will be booked in one or more of these match types, and will need to know what they are.


Variations of singles matches

One Fall
The standard wrestling match. All normal rules apply, Person can win via pinfall, submission, disqualification, or count out.


Arm Wrestling Match
A basic arm wrestling contest. Often held between Divas, though on occasion it has been used to show off the strengh of male competitors.


Barbed Wire Match

A Barbed Wire matchThis match has the ropes replaced with barbed wire. Almost inevitably someone gets thrown against it. In the United States, this match was mainly seen in Extreme Championship Wrestling, but it is also popular in some Japanese promotions. A few famous barbed wire matches have been Cactus Jack vs The Sandman, Raven vs The Sandman & Terry Funk vs Sabu.


Battle of Respect
This match has no winners. Two wrestlers wrestle each other for a fixed amount of time without pinfalls or submissions.


Best Two (out) of Three falls
See: [[2 out of 3 falls match]]


Blindfold Match
Sometimes one, usually both competitors wear blindfolds and wrestle. Otherwise normal rules apply.

Blood Bath Match
Dump a bowl of red liquid over the opponent to win.


Boot Camp Match
Another name for a standard No Disqualification match, this type of match is most commonly associated with Sgt. Slaughter.


Boxing Match
Sometimes in professional wrestling, a feud will be settled with a boxing match. Standard boxing rules apply, although nearly every one of these matches ends with somebody breaking the rules and wrestling or fighting in a manner outside of boxing (and typically getting away with it). Perhaps the most famous example of a boxing match held on a wrestling card would be Mr. T defeating "Rowdy" Roddy Piper by disqualification in the fourth round at WrestleMania 2.



Bra and Panties Match
The Bra and Panties Match is a match where wrestlers are forced to strip their opponent down to their underwear - the prevalent use by divas in this match gives it the name. The clothing involved may vary, and the match may take the name of such clothing - for example, the Evening Gown Match will have wrestlers trying to remove the opponent's evening gown, while a Tuxedo Match is similar, but involving tuxedos.

In extreme promotions, a variation known as the Buck Naked Match exists where the objective is to remove all the clothing from an opponent, leaving the opponent nude (although nudity is assumed to be appropriately covered somehow).

Historically, these types of matches were contested between managers or valets, due to their supposed lack of wrestling ability. However, in recent years these matches are only contested by divas, to attract the typically male wrestling audience. Because of this, and the fact that few divas are trained in wrestling, however, many refer to this type match derogatively as a "diva match", because little actual wrestling is involved.

A Bra and Panties Match (or its variations) may also refer to a match where wrestlers are required to strip their underwear before the match, with everything afterwards proceeding normally.

Bunkhouse Brawl
Wrestlers may bring any item and wear any attire they wish (in the past, this has even included full suits of armor). There are no disqualifications and no count outs.


Canadian Rules Match
A match in which a wrestler must pin his opponent for a 5 count. After the 5 count, the pinned wrestler then has 10 seconds to respond to the bell before he is beaten. A Canadian Rules match for a championship can not end by submission, only pin fall. If both wrestlers are simultaneously knocked down, the first man to his feet by the count of 10 is then declared the winner. This match was orignally created by Lance Storm for his defence of the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship. The special Canadian enforcer for this match was Jacques Rougeau.


Catch-as-Catch-Can Match
Typically seen in the early 1900's, catch-as-catch-can matches allowed any hold given that hold is not intended to inflict injury. These matches thus typically contain mostly submission or amateur-style wrestling. Sometimes, this match is altered to stipulate that a wrestler may lose by going to or being forced to the arena floor, like in a battle royal.


Catfight
A match between two women, where the object is to throw one's opponent over the top rope to the floor.

[Jon Tees]

Country Whippin Match
A match where the use of leather straps to attack each other with is allowed.


Cry Baby Match
The loser of the match must wear a diaper.


Death Match
See Hardcore Match.


Double Jeopardy Match
This is two different matches taking place in the same ring at the same time.


Double Tables Match
This match has a cage where there is a table hooked to each side of the cage. The only way to win is put your opponent through two tables.


Duchess of Queensberry Rules Match
A singles match divided into two time based rounds where there are no submissions allowed and no disqualifications. This match was created as part of the feud between William Regal and Chris Jericho, with Regal making up the rules as the match went along in order to screw Jericho out of the victory (a classic tactic to gain heel heat).


Elimination Match
A match that usually involves 6 to 8 wrestlers. Wrestlers are eliminated by pinfall, submission, countout or disqualification, and the winner is the last man in the ring.


Empty Arena Match
A match that consist of 2 wrestlers fighting in an empty arena with no fans.


Falls Count Anywhere Match
This match has pinfalls anywhere in the arena. Otherwise, normal rules apply. An independent federation in Quebec once held a "Falls Count Anywhere In Joliette, Quebec Match", where the entire town the match was held in was "in play".

Another variation of the rules state that once a pinfall takes, the pinned wrestler must return to the ring within 60 seconds else they lose. If the pinned wrestler makes it to the ring in this time, the match continues. Under these rules, all pinfalls must take place outside the ring. See Crush vs Randy Savage at WrestleMania X. In the now-defunct Tri-State Wrestling Association, a wrestler won a Falls Count Anywhere match by pinning his opponent against an arena wall.


Fatal Four Way Match
Identical to a Triple Threat Match, but with four wrestlers in the ring at the same time instead of three. On occasion, this may be booked as an "elimination match" similar to a Three Way Dance.


Finisher Match
The first wrestler to perform his finishing maneuver wins.


Gorilla/Body Slam Match
A wrestler must body slam his opponent to win. Pinfalls and submissions don't count in this match. The most famous match of this type was at Wrestlemania when André the Giant defeated Big John Studd for a $15,000 prize.


Splash Match
A variation of the Finisher Match or Body Slam Match in which the only way to win is to successfully score some type of splash on your opponent.


Chokeslam Challenge
A version of the Finisher Match where the only way to win is for someone to perform a chokeslam on his/her opponent. One of the only times this match took place in WWE was on an episode of SmackDown! in a match between Triple H and the Big Show.


First Blood Match
This match has no disqualifications. The first person to make their opponent visibly bleed wins the match.


Flag Match
Each wrestler has a flag that they must retrieve and one that they must defend. They must get their flag from the opponents' corner before the opponents can get their flag. There is also a tag-team variation of this match.


Four Corners Match
In this match two wrestlers positioned as in a tag team match and two wrestlers wrestling in the ring. The two wrestlers in the ring can tag any of the two standing on the apron. It is an advantage to be in the ring as you cannot win on the apron. There is only one winner


Gauntlet Match
This match pits one initial wrestler against another in a normal rules contest. If said wrestler wins, another opponent takes his place until all set opponents are defeated or the initial wrestler loses. Sometimes this match can be in a series (one different opponent per day until all are defeated). This is called Running the Gauntlet or Slobber Knocker, and was popular in WCW in the early 1990s.


Good Housekeeping Match
A singles match in which household appliances and kitchenware can legally be used as weapons. Was first used at WWF No Mercy 1999 when Chyna defeated Jeff Jarrett for her first Intercontinental title.


Handcuff match
Handcuff opponent to win.


Handicap Match
A match in which one wrestler or one team of wrestlers faces another team of wrestlers with numerical superiority. For example, two wrestlers against one.

Generally used as a squash match pitting a large wrestler (Vader, Yokozuna, The Giant, King Kong Bundy) against a team of preliminary wrestlers who obviously lose, but rare handicap matches have used superstars on both sides (example: Vader vs. Ric Flair & Arn Anderson)


Hangman's Horror Match
In this match, on every rope there is a dog collar and your goal is to hang your opponent until he cant go on. This match was created by Raven to end his feud with Vampiro.


Hardcore Rules Match
This match has no disqualifications, no count-outs and no holds barred. Pinfalls count anywhere. There was also a championship belt denoting the most hardcore person in the WWF/E.

Raven called this match type a "Raven's Rules" match (Which he used a lot in WCW). In WWE, this is sometimes called an "ECW Rules Match", a reference to Extreme Championship Wrestling, where all matches were fought under hardcore rules, but in an ECW Rules Match weapons are littered in the ring. WWE also tends to call these "street fights".

See also: Hardcore wrestling


Hardcore Rules Match (WCW)
After WCW established their version of the Hardcore title, they altered the rules of the hardcore match to stipulate that the bout would begin in the backstage area and end in the ring.


Iron Man Match
See: Iron Man match

"I Quit" Match
See: "I Quit" match
[edit]
Inferno Match
The ring is surrounded by fire and the only way to win the match is by setting your opponent on fire. The match is said to be originated by Paul Bearer to end the Kane and Undertaker fued.


Luchas de Apuestas
Any match where both wrestlers have put something on the line such as a title or mask. They are more popular in Mexico but they do happen from time to time in Japan and the United States. Some variations follow. In any case of a draw, both wrestlers lose what they put up.


Hair v. Mask Match
A wrestler with hair, usually long hair, wrestles a masked wrestler. The loser is either unmasked or his head is shaved. This usually takes place in Mexico, where it is called Máscara contra Cabellera.

See: WCW SuperBrawl IX - The Outsiders vs. Konnan & Rey Mysterio


Hair v. Hair Match
The loser of the match gets his head shaved. In Mexico, this is called Cabellera contra Cabellera.

See: WrestleMania III - "Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs. Adrian Adonis, WWE Judgment Day 2002 - Kurt Angle vs. Edge, TNA iMPACT - Raven vs. Shane Douglas


Mask v. Mask Match
The loser of the match is unmasked. In Mexico, this is called Mascara contra Mascara. In Mexico it is the most important match in a wrestler's career, since almost every wrestler begins their career masked. Only a few of the greatest wrestlers will keep their mask their whole career, such as Mil Mascaras and El Hijo del Santo. In Mexico, once you are unmasked, you may never wear a mask as that character again. The Box y Lucha commisions fine heavily for infractions and have supsended licenses. However, there are occasional gimmick shows where wrestlers are allowed to wear their masks if they had lost them. (Rey Mysterio is allowed to wear his mask when wrestling outside of Mexico; however, he does not wear it when in Mexico.)


Last Man Standing Match
A no disqualification, no count-out match with no pinfalls. Whenever a wrestler is knocked down, they must regain their feet within a ten count or they will lose the match.


Lumberjack Match
A match where the ring is surrounded by a group of "lumberjacks", normally fellow wrestlers. When one participant in the match leaves the ring for any reason, the lumberjacks are supposed to return him to the ring as soon as possible. The lumberjacks are generally a combination of faces and heels, who sometimes fight among themselves outside the ring. Sometimes, as part of a storyline, a face will wrestle a heel with a group of lumberjacks consisting entirely of heels.

A variation of this match is called a Canadian Lumberjack Match, in which the lumberjacks are equipped with leather straps. When the lumberjacks are all female, the match is known as a Lumberjill Match (a reference to Jack and Jill).


Monster's Ball Match
A 3-way hardcore match held after the wrestlers are (supposedly) locked in darkened rooms for 24 hours without food or water. Debuted at the TNA Victory Road PPV.


Mud Match
A female wrestling match that takes place in a mud pool.


No Disqualification Match
Normal rules apply, except that there are no disqualifications. This can also be called a No Holds Barred Match which was more popularized by Mr.McMahon.


"Over the Top, Off with the Top" Match
A singles match between two wrestlers, where, for every time one wrestler is thrown over the top rope to the floor, the female accompanying that wrestler must remove an item of clothing. Also known as a Holiday Topless Top-Rope Match.


Pillow Fight
A match between two women in which pillows and a bed are placed in the ring. The pillows may be used as weapons, and standard wrestling rules apply, although this kind of match ordinarily features little to no wrestling.

Lingerie Pillow Fight
A variation on the pillow fight wherein the participants wear lingerie (this is actually more common than the non-lingerie form).


Pin Only
A match in which only pinfalls count as a win. There are no submissions or count-outs, and there may or may not be disqualifications. Also known as a Final Curtain match.


San Francisco 49er Match
Four boxes are placed in the four corners of the ring, one with the championship belt and the other three with weapons. You must find box with the belt to win the match and the championship. To date, this match is only known to have happened in a major wrestling federation once, when (Booker T defeating Jeff Jarrett to become the new WCW Champion on October 2, 2000).



Scaffold Match
This match takes place on a scaffold above the ring. The two ways to win the match are to push the opponent off of the scaffold so that he/she hits the mat or to grab the flag from the opponent's home base of the scaffold and return it to one's own home base. Some variations include putting weapons or objects into the ring for when the opponent lands, for example card tables.

Another variation, called a Scaffold Cage Match, is when the wrestlers beat each other until one is knocked off of the scaffold and into the ring. The ring is surrounded by a high steel cage and the only way to win is by pinfall.


Serengeti Survival Match
A match in which there are no disqualifications, and the competitors can win by pinfall, submission or by slamming their opponent onto thumbtacks. Invented and named by Monty Brown.


Short Leash Match
This match has two wrestlers tied together with a short leash (making the opponents one foot away from each other) and the only way to win is by either submission or knock-out. Another variation is called a Chain Match, a submissions-only match with no disqualifications.


Six Man Mayhem
A match with six competitors, two start off in the ring while the other four are on the apron. Like a scramble match tags do not have to be made and a competitor can enter the ring when another has left. Several of these matches have been held in Ring of Honor.


Six Pack Challenge
A match pitting six singles competitors against one another, with the first pinfall or submission winning the match.


Special Referee
Also known as Special Guest Referee is any match in which the usual referee is replaced with a "guest" filling in as the official. Celebrities, managers and other wrestlers can "guest" as the special referee. In some cases, a special referee is put into a match which is already a different match type or stipulation (for example: Hell in a Cell with a Special Referee). Often the special referee will often be biased towards or against one of the competitors or will be assigned as the Special Referee to ensure the match is called down the line.


Special Outside Referee
Also known as Special Enforcer or Special Guest Enforcer is same as the Special Referee but the guest referee stays on the outside enforcing what the normal referee doesn't see. These guests are sometimes known as "enforcers", the most famous of which was Mike Tyson.


Stinkface Match
The winner is the first wrestler to perform a Stinkface. All other usual rules apply.


Street Fight
This match cannot end in a disqualification. Otherwise, all of the normal rules apply. A variation of this match is called a Southside Scuffle in which two wrestlers fight in a back alley with either sides blocked off by other wrestlers. Another variation of this match is called a Harbor Brawl in which the wrestlers battle near or on a dock. The first wrestler to either win by knockout or throw their opponent in the water is declared the winner.

Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling in Japan billed its 6-man tag team title as the "World Street-Fight 6-Man Tag Team Title".


Submission Match
The first man to make his opponent submit wins. Often used in Japan under the name (Japanese) UWF Rules. The Japanese UWF and its derived shoot-style promotions only allowed submissions or knockouts to end matches (including tag team matches), so it was an exclusive feature of such promotions.


Ultimate Submission Match
This match is a variation of an Iron Man Match. The variation is that the wrestler with the most submissions at the end of the match is the winner.


Sumo Match
The ropes are removed from the ring and standard sumo wrestling rules apply: the first to step outside of the ring or to touch the mat with any part of their body but the soles of the feet is the loser. As would be expected, these matches are much shorter than standard professional wrestling bouts. One example is The Big Show versus Sumo Grand Champion Akebono at WWE WrestleMania 21. Another, less popular Sumo match held in the WWF was Yokozuna against John Tenta.


Texas Death Match
Cross between a Last Man Standing match and a Hardcore Match. When an opponent is pinned he is administered a ten count. If they are able to answer the count, the match continues.


Three Strikes, You're Out!
The idea for this match is to get three victories in a specific order; pinfall, submission and knock out. First wrestler to get all those done, wins. Often combined with Street Fight rules.


Three Way Dance
Identical to a Triple Threat Match, but with the loser of a fall being eliminated from the competition. The last wrestler remaining is victorious. This match was a specialty of Extreme Championship Wrestling. There is also another variation called a Four Way Dance or Collision Course Royal Rumble in which the match starts out as a typical Battle Royal or Royal Rumble but when there are four wrestlers remaining, a referee gets into the ring and the match turns into a Fatal Four Way Elimination Match.


Triangle Match
A three-way, one-fall tag match wherein one of the competitors must remain outside the ring to await a tag from one of the other combatants before replacing him in the ring. Being tagged out is a serious disadvantage as one cannot win from this position.


Triple Threat Match
See also: Three Way Dance This is a one fall match where three wrestlers fight instead of two. The winner of this match is the first wrestler to get a pin fall or submission. There is usually no disqualfication or count-out. If a championship is on the line, the champion does not have to be pinned or submit for the title to change hands. (The rationale for this match is that in Triple Threats, as opposed to Three Way Dances, wrestlers cannot gang up on each other and each wrestler has an incentive to break up pinfall or submission attempts made by other wrestlers.)


Ultimate X Match
See: Ultimate X match

Stipulation-based Variations
As professional wrestling seeks to also tell a story, many matches are made mainly for the purposes of advancing the plot (although storylines are not necessarily advanced through matches alone - run-ins and backstage promos are also used). This typically involves the loser of a match of some form being penalized for losing. The most common types of such matches are:


Jailhouse Match
The loser of the match is jailed for a night in the local prison. All other usual rules apply.


Kiss My Foot Match
A match in which the loser must kiss the foot of his opponent. Example: Bret Hart vs. Jerry Lawler at King of the Ring 1995.


Loser Leaves Town Match
The loser of the match must leave the town the match was held in and not return. This was often held in regional promotions when a wrestler was leaving the company to explain their disappearance.

A modification of this match is preparing to be held on WWE RAW called the Loser Leaves RAW match. It will be fought between Edge and Matt Hardy on October 3, 2005. The loser will be forced to leave the RAW brand, though this does not mean they will be fired by the company; the loser might simply move to SmackDown!


Retirement Match
Although a retirement match is often held for a wrestler retiring from professional wrestling to honor the wrestler, in storylines a retirement match denotes a match where the loser is forced into retirement. The loser often does not retire for real - it often gives them time to fulfill other (personal) obligations, and may return at a later date, possibly with another gimmick.

Related in concept is the Pink Slip Match or a You're Fired Match, where the loser is fired. Much like the retirement match, the wrestler is rarely fired for real, and may return at a later date, possibly with another gimmick. An Object on a Pole Match with such a stipulation is known as a Pink Slip on a Pole Match.


Locale-based Variations
Some matches may take place outside of a traditional ring (or other enclosure), and in a different setting. These matches are often hardcore in nature. There is no standard nomenclature for these such matches, although Street Fights in these settings are known as "brawls" rather than "matches" for emphasis.


Bar Room Brawl
This match is held in a bar, with the last wrestler capable of drinking the winner. Wrestlers can be eliminated by being knocked out or by drinking themselves unconcious. There are no disqualifications.

A Bar Room Brawl has held at WWE Vengeance in July 2003.


Boiler Room Brawl
Main article: Boiler Room Brawl
The winner is the first man to escape the boiler room. Any weapons found in the room can be used. During Tank Abbott's stint in World Championship Wrestling, this match was known as "The Block".


Junkyard Invitational
This match takes place in a junkyard. First wrestler to escape the junkyard wins the match.


King of the Road Match
A match in which the wrestlers battle on the back of a moving vehicle. This type of match was used only once in WCW, between Dustin Rhodes and Barry Darsow as the "Blacktop Bully." In that particular match, the pair fought on a flatbed trailer being towed behind a semi-truck.


Parking Lot Brawl
This match is a regular match with the exceptions of no disqualification and it takes place in a parking lot.


Total Conquest Match
This match has two wrestlers fighting throughout a house until a pinfall is made.


Container-based Variations
Some matches have a large container, such as a dumpster, stationed in or near the ring, and the object of the match is to trap opposing wrestlers in them. Many of these matches take the name of the container, such as the Casket Match and Ambulance Match. A similar type of match aims to restrain opposing wrestlers somehow, and the match often takes the name of the restraining device - for example, the Stretcher Match or the Handcuff Match.

These matches are often fought using hardcore rules, or at the very least rules that allow wrestlers to do more without being disqualified. In team matches, a team typically loses when all of its members are individually eliminated.


Ambulance Match
A no-disqualification match, in which there are no pinfalls or submissions: instead, the object is to injure one's opponent to the point that they must be taken away in an ambulance to sent the loser to the nearest hospital. A heavily hyped ambulance match was held at the 2003 Survivor Series, between Shane McMahon and Kane .


Buried Alive Match

Buried Alive matchThe object of this match is to bury the other wrestler alive in a makeshift grave inside the arena. No other rules apply. In this match type, the wrestler who is buried alive always survives in the storyline. Another variation of this match is a Concrete Crypt Match which had the Undertaker's manager, Paul Bearer buried in concrete.


Casket Match
The winner of this match is the first wrestler to put his/her opponent into a closed casket. This match has been a trademark of the WWE wrestler The Undertaker. A number of variants exist, where the object is to place the other wrestler in other closed containers. The Casket is often placed on the ringside, but the other variants might have the container on top of the ramp. The casket may be replaced by other containers, such as a dumpster (in which case the match becomes a Dumpster Match), an ambulance (Ambulance Match), or a hearse (known as a Last Ride Match introduced at No Mercy 2004). See Also: Casket Match.


Hog Pen Match
A match where the loser is the first wrestler to be thrown into a pig pen.

Last Ride Match
Related to the ambulance match, but unlike the ambulance match, a hearse is used instead. The opponent who gets beaten up so severely that there is nothing left for him or her to do, and gets thrown into the back of hearse that will be driven to the funeral home loses the match. As a result, it is also called a Hearse Match. This match is essentially a version of the Ambulance Match.


Straitjacket Match
The first wrestler to successfully put his or her opponent into a straitjacket is the winner. Generally, there are no disqualifications and no countouts.


Stretcher Match
Stretcher Match is an ambiguous term that can be used to described two different matches: in the container-based variation, one must restrain your opponent by strapping them on a stretcher (and then possibly pushing the restrained opponent onto an ambulance) to win. In the weapon-based variation, the stretcher is simply treated as a legal foreign object, and normal rules apply.


Weapon-based Variations
As the use of foreign objects is typically illegal in standard rules, matches have been specifically made so as to allow for certain objects, perhaps under certain conditions. The nature of the weapons that are made allowed also allow for different rules to be implemented.

When a match involves a certain weapon being made legal, the name of the match will take the name of the weapon: for example, a Chairs Match will have chairs allowed as a legal weapon, while a Singapore Cane Match will allow for the use of Singapore canes. Typically, all other standard rules (pinfall, submission, etc.) apply.

[Jon Tees]

The following is a list of weapon-based matches where additional rules supplant or replace the standard rules.


Ladder Match
A match between two or more wrestlers where the winner is the one who climbs the ladder and grabs a reward (usually a championship belt). In ECW, a ladder match was done with nothing hanging above the ring and it ended in pinfall. This is how Mikey Whipwreck defeated The Sandman to win the ECW World Heavyweight title.


Stairway to Hell Match
A match with barbed wire hanging above the ring; whoever reaches it first (using a ladder) can use it as a weapon. The winner can defeat their opponent by pinfall or submission. This type of match was common in ECW.

See also: ECW Matter of Respect 1998 - The Sandman + Tommy Dreamer + Spike Dudley vs. The Dudley Boyz, ECW Guilty as Charged 1999 - Justin Credible vs. Tommy Dreamer


Object on a Pole Match
In an Object on a Pole Match, a foreign object is placed from a pole extending from one of the ring turnbuckles. There are two main rulesets used with this setup: if the object involved is a championship title (or something related therein, such as a number one contendership), then the winner is the wrestler who first retrieves the object. This is similar to a ladder match, but with the objective being placed in a different part of the ring.

The second ruleset is typically used if a weapon is placed from the pole - in this case, the wrestler who retrieves the object may use the weapon as a legal foreign object. In team matches, this privilege is typically extended to the other members of the team. Any opposing wrestlers using the weapon is disqualified. It is also to be noted that the weapon privilege extends only to that weapon - if another weapon of the same kind is used, then the user, whether having weapon privileges or not, is disqualified.

In some promotions multiple poles and multiple objects may be used, so that each side may have weapon privileges.

The name of this match often takes the name of the item that is placed from the pole - for example, a title shot decided in this manner would be known as a Contract on a Pole Match, while a set of brass knuckles atop the pole would be known as a Brass Knuckles on a Pole match.

The pole itself may be replaced by anything similar that puts the object above a turnbuckle: an example of this was on August 13, 2000, in the WCW New Blood pay-per-view. There, in a match between Buff Bagwell and Chris Kanyon, the pole was replaced by a forklift, and the object held therein was Judy Bagwell, the mother of Buff Bagwell. Thus, the match became known as the Judy Bagwell on a Forklift Match.


Silver Dollar Match
In this match, rolls of silver dollars are considered legal weapons, and are used as fist loads. Closed fists are also legal. The wrestlers attack each other with punches until one can not answer the ten count.


Tables Match
In a Tables Match, the object is to put opposing wrestlers through tables - that is, manipulate them in such a way that the table is broken in half when they are thrown against it. Tag-team tables matches, especially elimination tag-team tables matches, have varied on whether one or both members must go through tables in order for a team to lose. It is common for tables matches to also include a "no disqualification" clause, which turns them into hardcore matches by nature (although this variation may also be alternately known as a Hardcore Tables Match).

A variation is the 'Flaming Tables Match, an Extreme Championship Wrestling specialty match where the tables are set on fire, and the only way to win is to put opponents through the lit tables.

Due to existing notions about violence against women, diva table matches are rare, and putting divas (or other females) through tables is often seen as a way of garnering heel heat.


Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match
See: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match

Taped Fist Match
A match in which both wrestlers wrap their fists in tape to enable them to punch harder and without hurting their hands.


Texas Bullrope Match
In a Texas Bullrope Match, two wrestlers are placed on opposite ends of a restraint - in this case, a rope. The restraint, and anything tied to it, can be used as a legal weapon. Because the restraint can be used as a way to choke the opposing wrestler, submissions are typically not permitted. A disqualification occurs if either wrestler frees themselves from the restraint before the match is won.

There are often two ways to win: pinfall is permitted, or alternately, the first to touch all the turnbuckles wins.

The restraint used in a Texas Bullrope Match is a rope that typically has a cowbell in the middle. If another restraint is used, the match typically takes the name of the restraint - for example, the use of a leather strap as a restraint will give rise to the Indian Strap Match. Other names include:

Dog Collar Match, where chains are used and are strapped to the necks of both wrestlers. Often the signature of wrestlers with canine-related gimmicks.
Russian Strap Match, for wrestlers that are chained but not to the necks
Strap Match, where ordinary belts are used


Enclosure-based Variations
Many matches take place in enclosures that are typically added onto the wrestling ring (although some types replace the ring altogether with a different enclosure. There, the walls of the enclosure can be legally used as a way to damage opposing wrestlers. In many cases an enclosure-based match will have other normal rules (such as pinfall or submission) apply, although many enclosure-based matches add rules based on the scenario in which a wrestler leaves the enclosure. Some matches may include escaping the enclosure as a winning condition, while others disqualify wrestlers who leave the enclosure.

Often in these types of matches, wrestlers may begin outside the enclosure, and continue inside, whence the match begins in earnest.


Elimination Chamber Match
see a response thread.



Hell in a Cell Match
See: Hell in a Cell


Lion's Den Match
A match that was used in the WWE between 1998/1999. The aim of the match was to knock out your opponent or to make him submit inside an octagonal cage. The rules are made to mimic mixed martial arts matches, and the octagonal cage is meant to mimic the cage used by the Ultimate Fighting Championship league.


Rage in a Cage
A match held in an oval-shaped cage. It is typically used as the arena for the "blowoff match" of a feud. It can be used for a tag team or singles match. In this match, wins are usually by pinfall.

Steel Cage Match
See: Steel Cage Match


Asylum Match
A chain link cage in the shape of a circle placed in the middle of the ring. Victory occurs only by submission.



Thunderdome
The match takes place in a ring surrounded by a 30 foot cage. The cage has no roof but curves inwards at the top to prevent escape, the area near the top of the cage is also electrified. The only way to win is when one competitor's "Terminator", usually a manager who stands outside of the ring, throws in the towel. The first one took place at WCW's Halloween Havoc 1989 between the team of Ric Flair and Sting, with their Terminator being Ole Anderson, and Terry Funk and The Great Muta, who's Terminator was Gary Hart.


Triple Cage Match
This match, which made its first appearance in the film Ready to Rumble, was a specialty of WCW involving three cages constructed on top of each other. The first cage contains the ring, while the second cage contains a range of weapons which can be used. The object is to climb up to the top of the third cage to grab an object, much like a ladder match. In the WCW, the object was the World Title belt. One example is Jeff Jarrett defeating "Diamond" Dallas Page and WCW World heavyweight champion David Arquette at WCW Slamboree 2000. The triple-cage was also used in a "War Games" match on the September 4, 2000, episode of WCW Monday Nitro.


Tag-team match variations
See tag team



Multi-Competitor Match Variations

Battle Royal
The winner of this match is the last person in the ring after all other wrestlers have been thrown over the top-rope. In some cases, wrestlers can also be pinned or KO'd. Usually happens with either ten, fifteen or twenty wrestlers and in some cases, the winner gets a chance to face a wrestler for a championship, or may even fill a vacant championship outright. See also Battle Royal.


3-Ring, 60-Man Battle Royal World War 3
Battle royal rules apply, except that a wrestler can be eliminated via pin, submission, or by exiting the ring onto the floor in any way (not just simply from over the top rope). But the big difference is that this match takes place with a total of sixty wrestlers in three different rings. All wrestlers begin the match at the same time (as opposed to entering at intervals). WCW held this match annually at their November "World War III" pay-per-view event from 1995 to 1998. Randy Savage won the first 3-ring, 60-man battle royal, and was thus awarded the vacant WCW World Heavyweight championship. In later years, the match would be used to determine the number one contender to the title.

Gauntlet Match (TNA)
TNA's version of a Gauntlet match is similar to a Royal Rumble match. Two wrestlers start in the ring and other wrestlers enter the ring at set intervals. Elimination occurs when a wrestler is thrown over the top rope and both feet hit the floor. The last two remaining wrestlers then fight in a single match (pinfall or submission only, all other rules apply) to determine a winner. When a championship is on the line, the match is known as a Gauntlet for the Gold Match.


Hardcore Battle Royal
A match with hardcore rules (no disqualifcation, no countouts) between several competitors. Unlike typical battle royals, entrants are not eliminated by touching the arena floor -- indeed, fighting may continue anywhere in the arena. The most famous example is the Hardcore Title Battle Royal from WWF WrestleMania 2000. The match lasted for 15 minutes and upon pinfall, a wrestler wasn't eliminated, but was allowed to continue. Pinning whomever was the current Hardcore champion would result in that person becoming the new champion. Whoever held the title at the end of the 15 minutes would be declared the winner of the match.



Royal Rumble Match
Same as a battle royal, except that it starts out with two men featuring a new opponent per timed interval (usually 90 seconds or 2 minutes). WWE annually runs a pay-per-view show which features a 30-man Royal Rumble Match as its main event named the Royal Rumble (a WWE trademark). The winner of the Royal Rumble is guaranteed a shot at the World title in the main event of WrestleMania. In 2004, this rule was extended to allow the winner to choose which belt they wanted to compete for: RAW's WWE Championship or SmackDown!'s World Heavyweight Championship.


Doomsday Cage Match
This match involves a three-story cage on top of a ring. A team of two wrestlers start from the top story and fight their way to the bottom against a team of eight wrestlers. Victory is attained by pinfall or submission in the ring. This was a creation from WCW.


Final Wars Brawl
This match has two wrestlers in a steel cage for thirty minutes with other wrestlers entering at a timed interval to help out one of the opponents.


Football Classic Match
Two cages are placed at ringside, inside each of which is locked a manager with a weapon. The key for each cage is fastened to a football. Two teams of wrestlers must try and gain possession of the football and take it over to their manager's cage, use the key to unlock the cage, then use the manager's weapon to attack the other team. To get the ball to the cage, the wrestlers must pass it between themeselves and attack any opposing wrestlers who have possession of the ball. Mick Foley describes the match as "A fun, fan-inclusive cross between keep away, monkey in the middle, and kill the guy with the ball."


King Of The Mountain Match
Five wrestlers compete in this match for a title belt. This basically is a Ladder Match in reverse with a twist. When one man is pinned or forced to submit, he is sent to a ringside penalty box for 2 minutes, while the wrestler who scored the fall must hang the belt on a hook above the ring. The others try to stop the wrestler from hanging the belt. The first wrestler to successfully hang the belt wins. This is a Total Nonstop Action Wrestling creation.



Relay Match
The match has two (could have more) teams of between 3 or 12 members to a team and before the match there will be a coin toss to see which team switches out first. Every 3 or 5 minutes the teams will switch.The first team to get a pinfall wins. Sometimes performed with hardcore rules.


War Games
Sometimes suffixed with the tagline "The Match Beyond". The War Games match featureds two rings surrounded by an enclosed steel cage with two teams (or sometimes three) facing one another. One man from each team starts out with another from either team at random entering the cage via a timed interval. The winning team must get a member of another team to submit after all members of each team are in the cage. This match was made famous by WCW's annual pay-per-view, Fall Brawl.


Extreme variations

10,000 thumbtacks death match
This match has 10,000 thumbtack placed in the ring. The wrestlers can use the thumbtacks as weapons. Victory by either pinfall, submission or knocking out the opponent. A variation of this match is a cross between a Ladder Match and 10,000 Thumbtacks Match called a Thumbtacks Ladder Match in which a ladder is placed in the ring with a reward at the top. Thumbtacks are also spread out across the ring.


200 light tubes death match
A match type first used in Combat Zone Wrestling at an event called "They Said it Couldn't be Done". The object of this match is to win by pinfall. The use of fluorescent light tubes—officially, two hundred are available for use—as weapons is allowed. [1]


Barbed wire bat 10,000 thumbtack match
A solid baseball bat with the end wrapped in barbed wire hangs off a pole in a corner of the ring as a box filled with 10,000 thumbtacks lays at ringside. The only way to win is to put your opponent in the box of 10,000 Thumbtacks and to make the pin. The bat is just to make the match a little more brutal than it already is.

Often used by Atsushi Onita and other talent from the Japanese FMW and W*ING promotions.


Barbed wire no ropes death match
The ring ropes are replaced with barbed wire. This was a very common match type in FMW.

Slight variations include:

Electric barbed-wire, a match where the barbed wire is supposedly electrified, causing the first person to hit the wires to be electrocuted. The effect is achieved with flashing lights.
Double hell barbed-wire, a match where two sides of the ring have no wires, and the ground beneath is filled with thumbtacks, spiked mats, etc.


Beds of (Objects) Death Match
A hardcore match that has beds of thumbtacks, nails, barbed wire, glass, and/or lightbulbs. Up to three of these can be involved in the match. These matches usually occur in Deathmatch Title matches or Deathmatches in general.



Brimstone Match
A match where the only way to win is to throw your oppenent in burning hot coals laid on the floor which forms a blistering perimeter that encircles the ring.


Clockwork Orange House of Fun Match
A singles match with many weapons suspended from steel chains around the ring, sometimes with sides of a steel cage attached to the ring. The use of weapons is legal, and the match ends in pinfall. Pinfalls count anywhere in the ringside area. This match was created by Raven in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, which later changed the match's name to Raven's House Of Fun. The Insane Clown Posse also uses this match in their JCW shows; their version is called the Dark Carnival match.


Chamber of Horrors
This match type was used once at WCW Halloween Havoc in 1991, with eight men inside a large Thunder Cage. The object is to put one's opponent inside a "chair of torture", which is in the center of the ring inside a smaller cage, and pull the lever.


Explosion Match
Usually accompanied with barbed wire ropes, a large barbed wire wrapped explosion board is placed in the ring laced with a small amount of C-4. The loser is the man that is blown up. In another variation, the match ends with a pin or submission and the explosives serve as weapons.


Inferno Match
The ring is surrounded by flames. The object of the match is to set your opponent on fire. The wrestler who is able to burn their opponent is declared the winner. The first Inferno Match in the then-WWF was Undertaker vs Kane at Unforgiven 1998


Last Blood Battle Royal
This was done in the now-defunct Tri-State Wrestling Association. All competitors start at the same time and wrestlers are eliminated when they start bleeding. The last to not bleed wins. This match was mentioned by Mick Foley in his book Have A Nice Day!.


Lucha en Jaula Electrificada
A variation of the cage match, in this contest the cage is electrified (explaining the name "fight in an electric cage") and the only way to win is by escape. The cage is turned off in certain intervals, allowing the participants a chance at escape. Used by the AAA promotion in Mexico.

[Jon Tees]

The Elimination Chamber is a match type in professional wrestling (seen in World Wrestling Entertainment), which is a variation of the steel cage and Hell in a Cell matches, in that the ring is surrounded by a steel structure of chain and girders, but is circular allowing for four inner chambers to be placed on the apron with platforms keeping the wrestlers from the floor. The metal is black and the chambers are made of 'bulletproof' glass. The match is contested by six wrestlers, two beginning the match and the other four in the glass chambers. After five minutes (in the match at Survivor Series 2002) or three minutes (in subsequent matches) a chamber opens at random and wrestler is added to the two already competing, and this continues until all men are released. Wrestlers are eliminated by pinfall or submission, often leading to some being eliminated before every wrestler is released into the match, and the winner is the final man left after all others have been eliminated.

RAW general manager Eric Bischoff was given on-screen credit for creating the match in the fall of 2002, stating it combines elements of the WWE's Royal Rumble, Survivor Series and WCW War Games matches, in that the countdown timer comes from the Rumble and War Games, the enclosed cage format from War Games, and the elimination process from the Rumble and Series.

To date only three Chamber matches have been held, the first two having moments where the 'bulletproof' Chamber glass was shattered during an attack, and the order of entry to the ring matches the 'random' release of the wrestlers into the match in those first two as well. Triple H entered the first two matches as reigning World Heavyweight Champion and was involved in the final pinfall of all three, losing the first and winning the second and third. All three so far have been held with that Championship on the line.

November 2002 - Triple H vs Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho vs Rob Van Dam vs Booker T vs Kane for the World Heavyweight Championship at Survivor Series, Michaels last pinned Triple H to win the Championship. - Survivor Series 2002 - New York, NY
August 2003 - Triple H vs Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho vs Kevin Nash vs Randy Orton vs Goldberg for the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam, Triple H last pinned Goldberg to retain the Championship. - SummerSlam 2003 - Phoenix, AZ
January 9, 2005 - Triple H vs Orton vs Batista vs Jericho vs Chris Benoit vs Edge for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship at New Year's Revolution, Triple H last pinned Orton to regain the championship. Shawn Michaels was the Special Guest Referee. - New Year's Revolution 2005 - San Juan, PR
With this third match, Triple H and Jericho have both competed in all three Chamber matches, the record, followed by two matches each by Michaels (in the first two) and Orton (in the latter two). Though he was not competing, Michaels was still involved in the third Chamber match as a Special Guest Referee, technically making him participate in all three of the Elimination Chamber matches as well.

[Jon Tees]

In professional wrestling, a two out of three falls match, or a best of three falls match, is a series of matches (often between two wrestlers or two teams of wrestlers), in which wrestlers attempt to win the majority of matches. It is often the case that the three individual matches in a best-of-three match are done under different rules so as to maintain audience interest - the three different match types are often referred to as the Three Stages of Hell. The typical "three stages" configuration often begins with a standard one-fall match, followed by a match with a slower pace (eg. a submission match), and ending up with a fast-paced match (eg. a steel cage match). The three matches are often contested one after another, however it is also common for the matches to be played out over a series of wrestling shows, making the match more like a true best-of-three series.

Longer series matches (eg. best of five falls, best of seven falls) are also used, albeit rarely. Even more rare, however, is a series match involving three or more groups of wrestlers. Series matches are often booked to the final fall to hold the audience in suspense, unless they are squash matches, where a sweep is almost always the norm. This is also the predominant match-up in lucha libre (dos de tres caidas). Before the mid 1970s, the majority of title matches were 2 out of 3 falls.

[Jon Tees]

Ultimate X is a triple threat or four way match in which an X is formed above the ring with wires from metal poles outside the ring in each corner. Similar to the Ladder Match, a championship belt (the TNA X Division Championship) or some other reward is then placed in the center of the X. The winner is the first person to take possession of the object.

The first Ultimate X Match occured on the August 20, 2003, pay-per-view. Chris Sabin, then the X Division Champion, put the title on the line against Matt Bentley (then known as Michael Shane) and Frankie Kazarian. Shane ultimately won the match and became the new X Division Champion. In this first match, the X above the ring was formed by bare steel wires. In all future matches, standard ring rope material is used.

Matches are typically referred to by number (like "Ultimate X1" and "Ultimate X2").

When TNA made the transition to the six-sided ring in June 2004, the first Ultimate X held in the six-sided ring, Ultimate X4 on July 28, 2004, featured the X being formed from the turnbuckles along the audience seating. The turnbuckles that face the entrance are left without Ultimate X supports. This provides an X with narrower angles, making hanging from the ropes in the center easier.

[edit]
Rule Nuances
According to the rules, if two combatants are holding the object when it is detached, then the first to take sole possession of the object is the winner. If both combatants land on the mat holding the object, then they are declared co-winners. This has happened before when Michael Shane and Frankie Kazarian landed at the same time while both held the X Division title belt at Ultimate X4, and both were declared co-holders of the title. In addition, at Final Resolution's Ultimate X6 on January 16, 2005, Chris Sabin and Petey Williams detached the belt at the same time. A.J. Styles springboarded off the top rope to snatch the belt from their hands while they still hung from the ropes above, allowing him to take sole possession and win the title.

At Ultimate X8, the X was detached partially, but Chris Sabin and Matt Bentley fell, and the X dropped unheld to the ground. Referee Rudy Charles stopped anyone from taking it and had officials reattach it to the ropes. Afterward the same thing happened, only this time it fell into the waiting arms of Petey Williams. This turned out to be a technical error, and a rematch (Ultimate X9) was scheduled for the November 3, 2005, prime time special of TNA iMPACT! Petey Williams ended up winning that one as well.

The Ultimate X match was created for, and is a centerpiece of, the X Division of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. So far, the only items held from the ropes has been the X Division Championship and a big red X. Past winners (of the match, not necessary the belt) include: Chris Sabin (three times: X2, X3 and X5), Matt Bentley (twice: X1 and X4), Petey Williams (twice: X8 and X9), Frankie Kazarian (X4), "The Phenomenal" A.J. Styles (X6), "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels (X7).

[edit]
Ultimate X Challenge
Ultimate X7 used a variation on the rules called the Ultimate X Challenge. The match begins as a standard tag team match. Once a decision is scored, the wrestler who lost the decision is eliminated from the match; the remaining three competitors then wrestle under three-way dance rules. Once a wrestler is eliminated from the three-way dance, the remaining two competitors wrestle under Ultimate X rules. This match has only been held once, at Destination X.

In Ultimate X7, X Division Champ A.J. Styles teamed up with "Primetime" Elix Skipper while Christopher Daniels teamed up with Ron "The Truth" Killings. Daniels and Skipper were prevented from teaming up at the beginning because they were barred from doing so. Indeed, the Fallen Angel fully turned on Primetime during the three-way dance portion of the match. Daniels then won the belt by hitting the Angel's Wings on Styles, who had snatched the belt while the referee was unconscious, so he could have the belt when the referee came to.

[Jon Tees]

eWrestling Slump?Written by 'Barx' owner of 3W Wrestling. 5/2004

We all know what it’s like, because we’ve all been there at one stage or another.

Everything has its ups and downs, the seasons, the world financial markets, hell, life itself is a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows, and when you hit a low… it can be hard to get yourself out of it.

Yes, I mean the dreaded creative slump. The staring blankly at the white Microsoft Word document, the little cursor seemingly mocking you with every blink. The frustration as you get through 4 sentences, only to say “Bah!” and delete the lot and start again. Like an insurmountable challenge in front of you, it makes you sit, unproductively, and shake your head in frustration until you either shut down the computer in disgust or go and search the web for more leisurely pastimes.

The first thing I wanna say is that it’s nothing to be ashamed of. nuts, have a look at professional sportspeople. They get paid millions to go out and shoot hoops, run yards, toss pitches in front of millions of people every week. You, as an active efedder, have possibly 50 people who check your stuff out. And they don’t know your name or where you live, which is a bonus. If the sportspeople hit a rut, they have to deal with boos and “YOU SUCK”s and people spitting on them and the like. If you’re unlucky, at worst, you might have an angry fedhead emailing you, and the guy you were supposed to work the angle with giving you angry AIM conversations, so it could always be worse.

That being said, that can help you while you’re IN the slump, up to your elbows in quicksand with nowhere to go, and no saving in sight…

But what you really want to know is how to get OUT of it.

So here are a few tips, hints, ideas and suggestions that may stir you into thinking. After all, the creative wall is just that - a wall. There is always a way around it or over it, you just need to hear some different suggestions or to look at it differently.

1) Changing your character will probably not help.

Being a fedhead myself, I know how frustrating it can be when a handler doesn’t roleplay for a couple of weeks. They hit you up on AIM, and straight away you know what they’re going to say.

“Oh, Gee… I’m kind of stuck with Killer Kraig Henderson… Do you mind if I pull him out? I got a new character I’m working on, and he’d be great for” -

Blah Blah Blah. It kills storylines. It disrupts the whole fed, and, if they are a key player, it will bugger up other people’s workings as well.

No. The problem isn’t your character. He doesn’t exist. The problem is you and your lack of ideas. If that sounds harsh then I’m sorry, but I have survived 4 years in this game with two characters, and I only ever created the second because I didn’t want anyone in the fed I was going to, to know it was me (a practical joke on my friends that backfired, cos they found out eventually, and we all had a good laugh cos I’d tricked them for about 6 weeks. No it wasn’t because they threw me out because I was an not a very nice person and I tried to sneak back in where I wasn’t wanted, but, anyways, I digress.)

The point is, that I never had any problems with my character because characters continually evolve. They grow and change. They get deeper, more intense, more meaningful and more insightful. You cannot start a new character every 3 months and expect to become a great roleplayer, that’s like raising a kid to the age of puberty, then killing him and starting again with a baby. You have to allow your character to grow and mature, and the best way to do this is to work through the rough patches with them.

In short, don’t can your character just because you are having a blank spot.

2) Try to roleplay in a different style.

Are you a trash talker? Are your roleplays full of insults, bad humour and catchy metaphors? Or are you someone who sits, talking to the irrepressible “camera” which seems to be an integral part of so many roleplays? Are you a thinker? Are your roleplays deep and insightful, showing us how your character feels? Or are your roleplays more “action based” almost like a script, where your characters are in situation, performing actions, talking with one another and basically just living life?

Whatever your style is, I’ve seen hundreds. From sagas that carry over 3 months worth of roleplays, like a story, to roleplays that make no sense whatsoever, and in the end are found to be a drug trip, each roleplay is different. Being stuck in a rut means that maybe you’ve worn yourself into a groove using one style too much, too often.

If you trashtalk, why don’t you do some roleplays giving us more of an insight to your character? Diary entries? Silent thoughts? A drunken conversation with the bathroom mirror?

If you’re heavily insightful, why not try to use actions or situations in a roleplay? Thow something out completely different to your normal style. If you use a camera (for God knows what reason) then CAN IT. There is no magical wrestling channel on cable, that films 24/7 what you do, and what you say. This is not Big Brother. We, as wrestlers, are not reality TV stars. Lose the camera and you’ll be surprised how much freedom it gives you when you are not being “televised.”

Who knows, it might give your character a completely new twist, if you are able to roleplay about their private moments. At worst, give it a go for a week or two, and see how it feels. You may have a complete turnaround.

3) Roleplay through someone else’s eyes

Does your wrestler have a manager? A girlfriend? A bodyguard? A best friend? If you’re really stuck with your character, why not develop some of the others surrounding your wrestler? I’ve offered this to many people, and it has amazing results.

All too often the manager is a leggy blonde with big jugs and a great can. That’s about as far as the depth goes. Try a roleplay through her eyes, and you will be forced to think about her a bit more. Her past. Where she grew up. How she met the wrestler. What their relationship is like. Some private moments that none of the rest of the world knows about. You’ll be surprised just how much depth it will give to your character, seeing them from another person’s point of view.

It will open up a whole new chapter for you to explore, and should enable you to pull out of your slump.

4) Try a trilogy or a saga:

Try an ongoing storyline with your wrestler. As a fedhead, when stories are done well, I hang on with baited breath for the next installment, particularly if left hanging at the end of each part. This will add to your skills, and it should see you rise up the ranks.

It can be about whatever you like, your character’s past, future or present. A time in their life that was a major turning point for them. I know a lot of people nut out their character history without actually going through each stage, and seeing them properly. A roleplay series about these major events could shed new light on your character, and give you material to write about for weeks. Once you actually ‘Live” through them they become much clearer, and you can see how they impact your character and made them the way they are today.

However don’t make it too long or boring, because a storyline that goes around in circles and goes nowhere makes for a dead read, and I usually skim them before having them pinned on the results. I personally feel that a roleplay all about an old fed doesn’t hold a lot of interest for me, because it was with a fed that doesn’t matter, with wrestlers nobody knows, and a major event that happened there will probably not interest anyone unless they were there, and know what you were talking about.

However a major event in someone’s personal life could make for some great reading. It’s all about how you approach it.

5) Base your character on yourself.

I think it is a lot easier to roleplay because my character is based heavily on me. I can see things the way he’d see them, simply because HE is, on some level, ME. It becomes easier to see how your character will react to situations and events if they are like you, because well, you know what you’d do.

Much like when WWF turned to the Attitude era, it allowed the wrestlers to let more of their personalities shine through in their characters. It did wonders for the ratings, and lifted wrestling to a whole new level (Before it nosedived into the nuts.)

Try and bring a bit of yourself into your character. You’ll see the impact it will have.

6) If all else fails…

Then you may need to break rule 1, and bring someone else in.

I know it will suck, but it you have exhausted all options, and been down every road only to find a dead end, then maybe bringing a fresh face in is best. I do not recommend it, but it may be that you feel you have no option.

However if you do bring in a new character, try to feel them out as thoroughly as possible.

Because there’s nothing worse than someone who can’t sit still in a solid angle because they are “hitting the wall.”

These are just my thoughts, but I’m sure everyone has a remedy to break a roleplay drought. Talk with some people. See what they say. Above all else, I hope these tips give you the spark of imagination you need.

Happy roleplaying… now get back to work.

Barx