10 Legendary Promos All Wrestlers Must Study
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When many fledgling wrestlers look at the most important aspects of being a top star, verbal skills are often under-rated. Many focus on building the best body they can, and also getting the best outfit and gear they can find, creating the best look possible to draw eyes and grab attention.
Once that’s all sorted, there’s hopefully some sound fundamentals of how to piece together a match under all the pizzazz, and wrestlers can focus on what is undoubtedly the most important part, the in-ring action itself. There have been some examples of grapplers who aren’t the best when the bells rings, and often get by with a tremendous look or ability with the microphone, but by and large, being able to run the ropes, grab some holds and the knowledge of how to put even a basic bout together is essential if anybody has aspirations of someday earning a living from pro wrestling.
The art of the promo is sometimes overlooked, something looked upon as the last piece in the puzzle, which is certainly not how it should be viewed. Never under-estimate the importance of speaking in wrestling – talking is what sells matches, helps introduce new characters, advances feuds, and can be the difference between a memorable match and a truly timeless one which fans still talk about decades later.
So, if you’re looking to break into wrestling, and don’t find that mic skills are your strongpoint, which examples will help you out? Here are some of the best promos in wrestling history.
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10. Randy Savage – ‘Cream Of The Crop’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C4lK41SX-Q
Following Wrestlemania III, ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage was seriously hot as a character. His match with Ricky Steamboat at the Pontiac Silverdome in Spring, 1987 had been an instant classic, and still holds up today as one of the greatest Intercontinental Title matches of all time.
Not only was Savage an awesome in-ring performer, but he had a look which screamed ‘Superstar’, and the man delivered some of the most memorable promos of a generation. To stand out in the late-80’s WWF took some doing – company at the top of the cards included names such as Hulk Hogan, one of the most charismatic men around, but Savage made it look like he belonged there, which he did.
Delivering many of his promos in a rambling, ranting style, which capitalised on his overt macho nature, Savage was killer on the mic. Even when he didn’t have a lot to work with – the only major points to hit in this interview are that the man blames Jack Tunney for his defeat at the hands of Steamboat, and feels he is under-valued in the company, Savage was brilliant at captivating an audience.
9. The Rock Talks About Hell In A Cell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k_QYTaWe14
During the golden years of his run in the late-90’s and early 2000’s, The Rock was on fire, and could seemingly do no wrong in the eyes of the wrestling fan base. Even though he’s often passed over when people discuss in-ring skill sets, that’s probably because he was so exciting on the mic, and could enrapture an audience using nothing but words, a skill in itself.
Mixing juvenile humour with incredible magnetism and charisma, The Rock hit upon a successful formula with his promos. Catchphrases book-ended each one – who didn’t chant along, at least once, with his promo-ending, “If you smell what the Rock is cooking”?
This interview deals with an upcoming 6-man Hell In A Cell match at the Armageddon Pay-Per-View in 2000, and The Rock tears through his opponents, delivering impressions of each which have the capacity crowd on Raw eating out of the palm of his hand. Crowd interaction and natural charisma don’t come much better than this.
8. Steve Austin Shoots
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKRe9PAGfCw
Steve Austin, upon adapting the ‘Stone Cold’ persona in WWE, became one of the biggest names in the industry, and the character needs no introduction. Years prior, Austin had been a great member of the WCW mid-card scene, but it was clear the folks in charge didn’t see the guy as an having much upward mobility on the roster, and cut him loose in 1995.
Eric Bischoff was the one who released Austin from his WCW contract, and the whole thing didn’t sit well with the now-infamous wrestler. Spending a modest amount of time under the banner of ECW, before quickly moving on to Vince McMahon’s juggernaut, Austin credits the extreme owner, Paul Heyman, for pulling some of the best promos of his career out of him.
Heyman’s side of the story is that he simply gave Austin a mic, and let him get things off his chest. The end result was gold – Austin pulled no punches with some of the folks he’d come across in WCW, whom he felt had held him back from being a true superstar. This promo is a brilliant example of using reality to further develop a character, and create your own style.
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7. Dusty Rhodes On Hard Times
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9py4aMK3aIU
“There were two bad people, one was John Wayne and he’s dead. The other is standing right here”. What a line to slip into a promo, the impact of it is incredible. Dusty Rhodes portrayal of the every-man resonated with the wrestling audience – the people could relate with Rhodes, and accepted him as someone they could live vicariously through, but one who also had enough fragility to make him a real person.
Later, Vince McMahon would make the ‘American Dream’ gimmick a parody of itself, but during his time battling Ric Flair for the NWA Heavyweight Title, Dusty was on fire, and one of the most-loved characters in all of the wrestling profession. This promo deals with the “hard times” Rhodes experienced whilst out-injured, crippled at the hands of the arrogant, privileged Flair.
Unable to pay his bills and thus feed his family, Rhodes gives several notable examples of other people in the same situation, only endearing himself to the fans in the process. Closing out with a promise to gain revenge on Flair is simple but effective, by the end of this interview, folks really wanted to see Dusty Rhodes tear Ric Flair to pieces.
6. Eddie Guerrero Blames Rey Mysterio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aGdIlxGa30
Best remembered as a smiling, passionate babyface who managed to reach the big time and live out his dream, Eddie Guerrero is an often-missed performer amongst fans today. It’s been said that they don’t make them like they used to, and Guerrero is a picture-perfect example of that.
As flexible as they come, Eddie excelled whether he was playing the fan favourite or the despised villain. His feud with Rey Mysterio in 2005 did eventually take a turn for the bizarre, especially when custody of Mysterio’s son, Domenic, was put on the line in a Ladder Match, but there were some great moments during the rivalry.
One of them is this in-ring promo from Guerrero, who – just like any truly great heel – justifies his nefarious actions by saying both Rey and the WWE fans were jealous of him, so he had to teach them a lesson. Showing fire and ego in equal measures, Guerrero is believable in the role, and his ? expressions are brilliant here.
5. Hulk Hogan – “You Can Call This The New World Order Of Wrestling, Brother!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E2ZM_oJkE4
When Hulk Hogan turned his back on the red and yellow, the millions of fans who had adored him for years, and even the legions of kids who looked up to him, it made for one of the most unforgettable moments in wrestling history. The moment wouldn’t have been quite as magical, however, had Hogan not delivered one hell of a promo to explain why he dropped a leg on Randy Savage and teamed up with the invading duo of Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.
Following his turn from babyface to heel at WCW’s Bash At The Beach 1996 event, Hogan was accosted by ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund, who couldn’t believe what he had seen. Far from answering Okerlund, Hogan instead opened his speech with a brilliant piece of verbiage, stating that all the paper cups and rubbish people had thrown into the ring in protest represented the fans.
Immediately, he was heckled out of the building, but Hogan wasn’t going anywhere, he had more on his mind. More trash rained down on the trio of wrestlers in the ring, who must have been aware they were part of history. If you’re going to turn your back on the fans after years of sticking up for them, this is how you do it. The original nWo was a brilliant idea, and had the perfect leader in Hulk Hogan, someone fans would never have expected. -
4. Ric Flair’s Golden Spoon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oRWMgLHgJY
Many have tried, but few can match the promos Ric Flair was wheeling out routinely during his heyday. Whether heel or babyface, the self-styled ‘Nature Boy’ knew exactly how to get people listening. Unstoppably brilliant when given the platform to talk, Flair proved each time why he was the biggest star in the territory.
This infamous example comes from 1987, and what makes it so effective is the little elements of truth slipped in. Ric Flair’s promos were so good because he really believed in what he was saying, and that comes across to the fans – it’s mighty difficult to not pay attention when somebody is speaking with such conviction.
Somehow, even though he’s rubbing it in people’s faces that he has tremendous wealth, Flair comes across as passionate and almost likeable, again because his words carry amazing confidence. Just try and watch this one without getting goosebumps.
3. Raven Gets Emotional
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACf9KcAbRDg
What a contrast between the character Scott Levy played in the then-WWF of 1993, and what he would go on to achieve, character-wise, in Extreme Championship Wrestling. Johnny Polo was colourful, outrageous and more than a little cheesy, whilst Raven was dark, stoic and reflective.
It was the backstory which really made Raven, it was uncomfortable for fans to think about someone coming from such a privileged home, yet turning out the way he had. Rejecting an upbringing he described as “soul-less”, Raven was instead a born leader, one who could give direction to the directionless.
It was all very dramatic, but made for some ultra-compelling promo material. One of the best-remembered feuds in ECW history was between Raven and The Sandman, one which eventually involved the former shacking up with The Sandman’s wife and young son, converting them into his followers.
Check out this promo, which shows some great acting ability from Levy. It’s a classic example of how to get a point across whilst hardly raising your voice. Speaking of which…
2. Jake Roberts – “I’m Gonna’ Make You Beg, DiBiase”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEI81DATt5A
Jake “The Snake” Roberts was the master of psychology, or so say such reputable sources as Scott Hall, Diamond Dallas Page and Bobby Heenan, who once remarked that Roberts truly got how to piece together a wrestling promo. In an era where guys like Hogan, Savage and The Ultimate Warrior were shouting their heads off, Jake went in an altogether different direction.
Soft-spoken yet menacing would just about sum up the promo style of Roberts, who was incredibly well-spoken also, and knew how to weave words intricately in order to first command, then hold attention. Just before his Wrestlemania VI match for the Million Dollar Championship opposite the “Million Dollar Man” himself, Ted DiBiase, Roberts delivered one of the best interview segments of all time.
Never once losing his cool or shouting, The Snakeman nails it here, telling DiBiase that he’s going to turn the tables on him for all the bad things he’s done to people, and how he’s treated folks over the years. Ominous and foreboding, there are few better promos than this. WWE today could do with someone who has this kind of tone, delivery and ability. -
1. Ric Flair – ‘With A Tear In My Eye’
Everything about this promo is perfect, from the performance of Ric Flair himself, to the fact Jack Tunney is standing with the Heavyweight Title belt. From Gene Okerlund’s delivery, to the way Bobby Heenan and Mr. Perfect conduct themselves in the background, almost acting as cheerleaders for the new champion.
Ric Flair winning the then-WWF Title after being victorious in the 1992 Royal Rumble is timeless, and his post-match promo will live forever as an example of how to put yourself over, and how to put importance on the title you’ve just won. When Flair uttered those infamous words, “With a tear in my eye, this is the greatest moment of my life”, time almost stood still, and people must have realised back in ’92 that they were witnessing history unfold.
Fledging wrestlers should study every promo on this list, but if only one is perused, make it this one – Ric Flair is perfect in victory here, coming away with statements which enhance every aspect of himself, the other characters he’s involved with, the company, and the promotion’s main title. Perfection, no pun intended.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oESVMyJ20Ik -
I knew that cream of the crop was up there and i knew jake had one but couldnt guess which one
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This was dope
And ? what any wrestling geek sez the rock was the greatest on the mic (ll) -
Too bad they couldn't mention this due to copyright
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFoC3TR5rzI
Otherwise this would be number 1 -
Dope Thread
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The only one I disagree with is The Rock.
You have to understand, this was the first, and to date only, 6 man Armageddon hell in a cell match. Now a HIAC match period is no laughing matter but Rock is doing stand up comedy and shtick doesn't sell the event or the match itself. -
Ric ethered poor Buddy Landel lol
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they put the wrong description with the Ric Flair video
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x18saw9_1992-royal-rumble-ric-flair-victory-speech_sport -
Stone cold ecw were the best promos ive ever seen
Ric flairs were the funniest -
Brian Pillman
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? Foley also
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How dare you exclude Steiner's math promo
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dalyricalbandit wrote: »
Legit the most memorable RAW moment ever. I remember seeing that ? as it happened on TV. My eyes got big as quarters, I've never felt like that since then. It was TOO trill for words. -
dalyricalbandit wrote: »
Legit the most memorable RAW moment ever. I remember seeing that ? as it happened on TV. My eyes got big as quarters, I've never felt like that since then. It was TOO trill for words.
They tried duplicating it 12 years later with HHH vs Orton. -
Pillman wife was fine af
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Ambrose has abit of Pillman
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