[ANSWERED] How Scripted Is Wrestling?

[Shaibani]

Just a question that crossed my mind, how scripted is wrestling? Is it so scripted that every move in a match is planned and practiced? Or do they just let them go out do whatever they want and when the ref tells them to wrap it up, they end it? I watch this thing on Youtube called "Pro Wrestling Exposed" (all 5 parts) and it didn't really explain that part, so I watched it again to make sure. Does anyone know the answer to this question? Thanks!

Confused? Good
-Shaibani

[BoogerRedsGirl]

In my honest opinion, I believe that the wrestlers' moves are scripted for the most part. If you look closely (and quickly), you will notice some of the wrestlers--particularly the veterans--often whispering to each other, presumably to remind the other of which moves they must execute next. However, in some instances, things do not go according to plan, in which case, the wrestlers must improvise. An excellent example of this transpired at the conclusion of the WWF Championship match at In Your House: Revenge of The 'Taker whereby Paul Bearer was supposed to be (inadvertently) burned by Mankind. However, for whatever reason, the material failed to light; as a consequence of this, The Undertaker had to improvise by burning Bearer himself.

Booger Red's Girl (aka BRG)

[Dan]

I have to disagree slightly with BRG. It depends on the situation and the wrestlers. Important spots in a match are usually scripted, but generally the wrestlers will call the majority of the match as they go along. That's why you see them speaking to each other in the matches sometimes - they're discussing what they're going to do next, they're not recalling what was on a script as far as I know.

[Michael]

The time is planned/scripted. The certain big moves and spots are scripted in the match. The reason the wrestlers whisper to each other during a match is to "call" their spots. When they go for a move and let their opponent know, for no injury to come up. So yeah, that's basically it. The referees always wear the thing in the ear, to communicate with backstage workers to see how the match is going, to see when a big spot is coming up to allow the superstars know and how much more time is left in the match. That's all I know. It may not be true, but who knows. But for the most part, I think that's it basically.

[Shaibani]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-A5MBKWDB4 (Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH6BPyFu4k0 (Part 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Peqm02YjmiM (Part 3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk5A21oGcD4 (Part 4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtk3xfIyIhw (Part 5)

That should solve that little argument that just happened! Anyway, I watched it again and Dan was right, they make it up as they go, to a certain point.

I have to disagree slightly with BRG. It depends on the situation and the wrestlers. Important spots in a match are usually scripted, but generally the wrestlers will call the majority of the match as they go along. That's why you see them speaking to each other in the matches sometimes - they're discussing what they're going to do next, they're not recalling what was on a script as far as I know.

I guess we can call this Solved

Confused? Good
-Shaibani

[chocolate.tombstone]

Believe it or not, the announcers depict when to end the match. It's something like they lift their pen up when the match needs to be rapped up in five minutes and lift their finger up for ten. I dunno if that's correct, but they give the ref signals as to when to end the match and then the ref tells the wrestlers... so it is very scripted in my opinion.

[3XtremeTaker]

Believe it or not, the announcers depict when to end the match. It's something like they lift their pen up when the match needs to be rapped up in five minutes and lift their finger up for ten. I dunno if that's correct, but they give the ref signals as to when to end the match and then the ref tells the wrestlers... so it is very scripted in my opinion.

That is NOT true in the SLIGHTEST! Whoever told you that/wherever you read that is probably pretending to know more than they actually do.

The referees will tell the superstars when to wrap it up, and i'm SURE you've seen that they have an earpiece. Someone sits in the "gorilla position", a seat just behind the curtain, usually Vince, and he tells the referees when the time allotted for the match is running out. The referee will then tell the superstars to "go home", or wrap up their match.

The announcers know NOTHING. JR and Cole weren't even aware that they were being drafted to SmackDown and RAW respectively, as an example.

As far as the actual matches go, wrestlers used to improvise their moves in the ring, with one or two "spots" and in a big match, a "high spot", which are a series of moves that are planned to go one after the other. A finish is also decided before the match so the wrestlers have somewhere to work towards. More recently, the wrestlers work out the match almost move by move with agents in the back - just a sign of changing times in the business.

It's obvious that the stories they are telling are scripted, and while moves are planned occasionally (more often now than not), they are still incredibly dangerous and can go horribly wrong. Case in point - Lesnar at WrestleMania XIX did a shooting star press and could not get full rotation, thus crashed to the mat headfirst - concussion and severe neck injury - wasn't REALLY the same again.

and THAT is why it's incredibly insulting to wrestlers to hear people that aren't fans of wrestling describe what they do as "fake".

[Shaibani]

Wow, thanks for the explanation! But I guess we can call this MORE THAN SOLVED!