Reading Wrestling

Welcome back to Reading Wrestling, your encyclopedia on the art of pro wrestling. Today’s entry takes us to the pinnacle of the roster, the championship. The premise of wrestling as a competitive sport means that there must be an ultimate goal, a way to consummate the struggle for domination. But, unlike traditional competitions, wrestling champions are intentionally developed, curated, and finally presented as the face of the company. That doesn’t make the process any less competitive. Wrestlers must build an image that is believable as a champion, refining and manicuring a persona the fans can either get behind or resist. Today on Reading Wrestling we’ll talk about what it means to be the champ, how the archetype of the champion has changed over time, and some key moments in the struggle to be the star of the show. 

Your friendly cadre of wrestle-talkers discusses what it means to be made the champ first. Noell concludes that it means that the champ is the "boss at the end of each video game level." Chris wants a champion that seems physically imposing and formidable, like Bobby Lashley. Noell disagrees and wants a champion that you can love to hate, like Kenny Omega. Dave takes a longer, historical view of the topic, taking us to how the figure of the champion changes over time, from Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund to the present. He argues that in any time, the champ is the primary driver of the narrative and storyline. Chris agrees and suggests, though, that you have to "convince the audience that this person deserves to be champ," that there is a sense of "perceived fairness" or abject unfairness.

We take a look at some analytics, too, and compare how long various champions held their titles over time. Dave discusses the difference between transitional champions and longer-standing champs. He talks Sammartino, Billy Graham, the Iron Sheik, and others. He concludes that heels generally hold the title for less time than baby faces. 

Check out this fun discuss on the title holders of pro wrestling. 

Happy Halloween, Reading Wrestling fans! We thought it would be fun to do a seasonally appropriate episode, so today your favorite wrestling readers will be discussing instances of the supernatural and occult in professional wrestling. 

Amid the motley and colorful cast of characters in the show, a relatively small number, at least in the U.S., transcend the professional athlete archetype and invoke the supernatural and occult. Characters like the Undertaker, hailing from Death Valley and explicitly called “the dead man,” are altogether different than their, at-most, eccentric mortal counterparts. These figures form the bridge between wrestling’s premise as a sport and its aspirations to being its own Marvel Universe of superheroes and villains. Whether it’s Kane conjuring hellfire with the movement of his arms or Abaddon (named for a demon or dark angel of destruction) crawling to the ring as if she were straight out of the movie The Ring, these figures are used sparingly and with great aesthetic effect.

We start off talking about why there is such a limited amount of wrestlers with supernatural gimmicks, at least in the American tradition. In the course of the conversation, we discuss the Undertaker, Kris Statlander, and others. 

We move on to discussing shades of the occult, pondering whether there is a liminal space between mortal and supernatural characters. Dave brings us to characters like Kevin Sullivan and to the Dungeon of Doom. Chris takes us to a favorite of his, "The Most Illegal Move in Wrestling," featuring the dance hypnosis of the Osirian Portal. Noell brings us to the Wyatt Family's gothic-occult aesthetic, which ends up leading in to the Fiend. 

In the course of our historical sweep on the topic, we discuss Jake The Snake's cerebral occult, Andre the Giant, Big Van Vader, and The Great Kabuki. 

Then, for the first time, we imagine a fantasy booking situation where we have the opportunity to book the main event at Halloween Havoc. Noell takes great liberties here by booking an entire battle royale! Dave goes to the Yeti vs...the Shark? Not the Dungeon of Doom again... 

We end with the question of some characters who were intended to be supernaturally awe-inspiring yet ended up being more bizarre than anything else. Noell discussed The Boogeyman. Dave takes us to the Zodiac...of the Dungeon of Doom! Chris wraps up the question with a precis on Kevin Nash as Oz.

Put on your costume, pop in your earbuds, and take a stroll through the graveyard with us, as we discuss it all, from frights to flops. 

Welcome back to Reading Wrestling, your encyclopedia on the art of pro wrestling. Today’s entry is on one of the narrative linchpins of wrestling, the promo. Somewhere between a Shakespearean soliloquy where a character exposes their inner thoughts and a homily of public address lies this very particular monologue.

As always, we start out with a definition, trying to agree on what a promo is and does. Noell talks about the role of the promo in getting the crowd hyped, providing for interactivity, and moving storylines along, which Dave connects with taglines and merchandising. Chris takes us back to a very early promo, Macho Man's 1982 "staring into a candle" piece, as a kind of soliloquy that exposes the psychological state of the character for the audience.

We go on to the question of iconic promos. Dave takes us to Ric Flair's "holding these gators down" promo, which has become a sports meme in the promo's afterlife. Noell takes us to CM Punk's legendary promos. Chris goes to Dusty Rhodes' "Hard Times" promo, which resonates to this current day.

Noell's History Corner takes us some of the earliest promos and swerves to boxing to talk about Muhammad Ali's bombastic brags. She connects a dimension of Ali's showmanship to  Gorgeous George and a chance meeting between the two.

We close with the question of bizarre promos. Noell takes us to the famous Macho Man "Cream of the Crop" promo. Dave discusses the baffling WWF incarnation of Dusty Rhodes as exemplified by his Butcher Shop Promo. Chris enlists Dave's help in attempting to solve the notorious Steiner Math Equilibrium.

Today on Reading Wrestling we’ll grapple with these plays within a play. Stick around, you won’t want to miss this, and make sure that you tune in next week and all subsequent weeks for even bigger surprise happenings!

Welcome back to Reading Wrestling, your encyclopedia on the art of pro wrestling. Today’s entry is a complicated topic related to identity. And identity theft is not a joke, listener. Much like actors play disparate and dissimilar roles, a wrestler’s character or gimmick can change. Today, on Reading Wrestling, we’ll talk about the many faces of a single performer.

We start off talking about abrupt changes of character, the first time we saw a wrestler we knew adopt an altogether different gimmick. These character changes have a degree of amnesia, in that the performer does not acknowledge that they were once someone else.  Dave talks about the history of Scott Hall's character changes from Starship Coyote through the Diamond Stud, Razor Ramon, and finally his use of his real name. Noell talks about the evolution of Jonathan Huber from Luke Harper to Brodie Lee.  Chris raises the many faces of Fred Ottman, particularly his character change from gregariousTugboat to the pernicious Typhoon. This takes us down a rabbit hole discussing John Tenta, from Earthquake to...Golga?..and the Shark.

We move on to talking about types of character changes, including changes of character (in the sense of changing outlooks and values). Noell takes us to Miss Elizabeth (a favorite of hers) and her change from a kind of demure power in the WWF to her heel manager persona in WCW. Chris takes us to the evolution from Surfer Sting to Crow Sting. Dave tells us about the history of Barry Windham. We talk about how, as the world and dominant aesthetics changed, characters were forced to update their gimmicks accordingly.

Some wrestlers have had more character changes than others. We go around and talk about wrestlers we associate with extensive character changes. Dave gives us an extensive sketch of the career of Ed Leslie, best known for his time as Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake.  Noell brings us to Bray Wyatt's "characters within a character." Chris raises the classic example of Mick Foley's many faces, including Dude Love, Mankind, Cactus Jack, and finally the character Mick Foley, who is distinct from the man Mick Foley.

To clearly summarize, we try to clear up the question of how that guy used to be this guy but he's no longer that guy and is instead this guy. We hope you enjoy the episode, and if you don't, we can change. We can play new characters next week. You'll like those better, we promise!

The wrestling readers are back for the 10th episode of the show--you can now pick your top 10 favorite episodes! We welcome back friend of the show Tom for a lively discussion on the topic of cage matches. 

 Of all of the numerous types of match formats, perhaps the most iconic is the cage match. A towering structure, with or without a top, the cage promises to allow a bitter feud to culminate in an uninterruptible settlement. The cage can fence a trepidatious competitor in or it can fence out interference from managers, stablemates, and other interested parties.

This episode opens with a Noell's History Corner segment to set the frame. Noell takes us back to the very first cage match, which took place in Caruthersville, Missouri on January 9, 1936. From there, she leads us through the evolution of the cage's construction, from bricolage through elaborate assemblage.  

We start off discussing a key distinction: is the cage intended to fence the wrestlers in or fence interference out? 

We go on to discuss flavors of cage matches from War Games through Hell in a Cell, and we dedicate a good bit of the episode to narrating our favorite cage matches. Dave takes us to Kerry von Erich vs. Ric Flair with Michael "PS" Hayes as the ref. Tom is interested in the 1997 Bad Blood PPV match between the Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, which includes the famous introduction of Kane ("that's gotta be Kane!"). Noell's contemporary take on the question brings us to the Lucha Brothers taking on the Young Bucks in September's AEW All Out show. Chris concludes the question with a sojourn into the truly bizarre, WCW's Chamber of Horrors match from Halloween Havoc 1991. 

Cages have made for some of the most memorable moments in wrestling, including the unintended awe of Mick Foley’s storied Hell in a Cell match and the birth of the ultra high-flier in Jimmy Snuka’s daring cage dives. In many matches, to escape the cage is to outdo one’s opponent. Wrestling is filled with images of daring climbs to the top of the cage and thwarted attempts to just walk out the door. We’ll aim to do the same today, as we try to do this topic justice and escape while you’re still wanting more. 

Your lovable group of misfit wrestling readers is back again, this time to talk about one of the most beloved and reviled figures in professional wrestling--managers.

Existing somewhere in the hinterlands between a sports agent, a boxing trainer, and a hip-hop hypeman, the manager is an extension of a wrestler’s character. The manager eloquently speaks for his or her client, instigates feuds, illegally intervenes when the ref is not looking, and generally serves as a catalyst for chaos. 

We kick it off by trying to define the somewhat nebulous role of the manager. "What would you say...you do here?" Dave talks about the manager as an extension of a wrestler's character, and Chris suggests that being a manager is an act of care--speaking on the mic to help develop a character and make it work. Noell sees the role as one of crowd interaction, getting the viewers hyped up about the narrative happenings.

As part of this question, we talk about a range of managers, including "Classy" Freddie Blassie, "Captain" Lou Albano, Don Callis, Gary Hart, Jimmy Hart, Woman (Nancy Benoit), and Reginald (the Sommelier). On Jimmy Hart, Chris notes how you always believed he was working for his client--to the point where he would be wearing a blazer with his client's face airbrushed on the back!--and strove to be "punchable" as would Noell put it. We also talk about how Nancy Benoit is believed to be the first female manager (versus other roles like a valet or handler).

Noell's History Corner takes us back once again to the beginning, to the period at the infancy of modern wrestling known as The Pioneer Era (c. 1898-1942). We discuss Billy Sandow (the namesake of the former Damien Sandow) and his role as an early manager, doing  real-world work like making sure his clients, including Ed "The Strangler" Lewis, got paid. In the 1930s, Frank Smith, who managed Jim Browning, was also a writer for The Chicago Tribune. 

We close up the show with our favorite moments that were built around a manager's performance. Dave takes us back to Bob Backlund and the baggage created when his manager threw in the towel on him. Noell brings us to a favorite moment, when the star-bedecked Miss Elizabeth runs into the ring to save the Macho Man from Sensational Sherri's ire and reignite their romance. And Chris brings us to the second greatest betrayal of all time, which involved the Undertaker and Paul Bearer. 

We hope we managed to pull off a good episode for you, and we would love to hear from you on Twitter or via email with your picks for best manager! 

 

We've been looking forward to this topic, and it's finally here. Our wrestle-talkers take on the topic of heels in pro wrestling. AND we brought friends! We have our first ever guest, Tom, who, as those of you who follow the podcast know, is responsible for Noell's wrestling birthday on July 5, 2019. 

You can’t have wrestling without a good heel. Heels are the original internet trolls, dating back decades before there even was an internet. They are the blueprint for knowingly saying and doing precisely that which they know you will hate. This careful knowledge of their audiences’ sense of justice and values can teach us a lot about the time periods when they performed.

We kick off with the question of what makes a good heel. While it's usually said that a good heel makes the babyface (the good guy), Tom inverts this and suggests that a likable face allows a heel to generate even more heat. Noell likens a particularly "punchable" heel to inconsiderate people in everyday life, the person who cuts in front of you in line, etc., prompting us to muse about what a wrestling character who just does annoying things in everyday life might look like. Chris connects the role of the heel to the figure of the troll.

We move on to talking about quintessential heels, including Ravishing Rick Rude, the Macho Man, Superstar Billy Graham, and the Million Dollar Man. 

Noell's History Corner takes us on a deep dive into the history of heels, and she focuses on the development of Gorgeous George's character in the 1940s and '50s.

Of course, wrestling characters are more complex than 100% good or 100% evil. In the modern era, the figure of the anti-hero prevails. We talk about someone like Stone Cold Steve Austin whose transgressions are precisely the reason he is beloved, and Britt Baker, where we conclude "heels can be more popular than faces."

We close it up with a discussion of the best heels to ever generate heat. Dave takes us to the Honkey Tonk Man, Noell brings us back to MJF, and Tom reminds us of how talented Stephanie McMahon was at getting a rise from the crowd. Chris reaches deep into the archive for his example.  

All in all, you won’t find a more important role in professional wrestling. And you can count on us teaching you jerks a thing or two about heels, on this episode on Reading Wrestling.

Your friendly group of wrestle-talkers is back for episode lucky-number 7. There’s nothing like tag team wrestling. In many ways, it’s the most iconic of formats, even more so than singles wrestling. In no other arena will you see two partners, dressed in similar clothes, complementary in temperament and demeanor, just as likely to aid the other as to unexpectedly turn on him. At its best, tag team wrestling is greater than the sum of its parts. It hits more than twice as hard as singles wrestling and contains more complexity. We’ll talk about it all today here on Reading Wrestling, from moments of team triumph, through two egos’ inability to coexist, through the depths of deceit...

We start off tarrying with the question of what makes tag-team wrestling so great. Dave talks about it as a format where mid-card performers can shine and advance, and he also notes his affinity for the tag rope. Chris discusses the 'hot tag' as a narrative device that always gets the crowd hyped. 

Noell's History Corner takes us back to the genesis of tag-team wrestling in 1901 before discussing the Dusek Brothers, who held the first NWA tag championship in 1949. 

We go around and name our quintessential tag teams, the teams who, for each of us individually, stand as iconic of the format. Dave drives us down Bad Street USA with his pick of the Fabulous Freebirds, Noell takes us to the Young Bucks, and Chris talks about a lineage that passed from the Rock 'n' Roll Express through the Rockers and Hardy Boys. 

We close up the episode with our votes for favorite tag-team moment in wrestling. Dave helps us to relive the Paul Orndorff-Hulk Hogan feud, Noell talks about the blow-up between Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page, and Chris takes us to the explosion of the Mega-Powers, Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage. 

Thanks for tagging us in for another episode. We did our best to run amok with the hot tag. Email us or tweet at us to let us know your favorite tag teams!

Our group of wrestlin' readin' yahoos are back again, continuing to create your encyclopedia on the art of professional wrestling. Today's entry is at the core of wrestling: foreign objects. There is perhaps no object more evocative of professional wrestling than the ubiquitous and humble folding chair, which evolved into the most common prop in the show. 

And beyond the chair there is an infinite list of objects that found their ways into the ring, legally or illegally, to be weaponized. There’s the now-commonplace, like tables and ladders, but also guitars, snakes, trashcans, forks, thumbtacks, kendo sticks, and even green mist and the good ol’ salt to the eyes trick. We’ll talk about the spectacular, the scurrilous, and the just plain bizarre on today’s episode until it’s time to...stick a fork in it. 

We start off talking about our favorite foreign objects. Chris discusses the harrowing use of the fork by Abdullah, and Dave introduces us to a range of less-common foreign objects, including fire, ether, and objects that are part of a wrestler's costume. Noell takes us to the terrifying, to the sadistic, to...legos? 

Noell's History Corner walks us through the long history of illegal objects, from Wild Bull Curry in the 1930s to the present. Dave tells us about the evolution from wooden chairs to metal chairs. Chris asks about how foreign objects moved from being something serendipitously and immediately accessible in the midst of a brawl to being designed into matches.

We talk about how ECW ushered in an era of varied and theretofore uncommon foreign objects, including cheese graters and rolling pins. Dave notes, "You wonder if Mick Foley would have had the same career if it weren't for ECW." Noell tells us about light tubes in GCW and their real-world dangers. 

A core segment of the show is on the famous green or poison mist. Chris discusses the symbolism of poison in literary history, and Dave takes us through the history of the mist in pro wrestling.  Noell notes that, in contrast to the clanging chair shot, green mist is 
a very quiet foreign object" that gets a loud reaction nonetheless. 

We close the show with a discussion of our favorite weird foreign objects, including...checks notes..piranhas, bicycles, and avant-garde mannequin heads. 

You won't want to miss this brawl down memory lane! Keep your eyes and ears open, folks, because we will try to hit you with something unexpected throughout this episode. 

The wrestling readers are back again, here on episode 5, discussing a favorite topic for wrestling fans: finishing moves. Much like every comic book character or superhero comes equipped with her or his special power, so too does every wrestler have a finishing move. Meant as a punctuation to the long sentence of a match, the finisher is intended to be climactic, the essence of a wrestler’s persona distilled into a single act of aggression. 

Finishers can be brute power moves, they can be lithe acts of agility, or even carnival-esque contortions. On this episode of Reading Wrestling, we’ll discuss the stunning, the cutting, the confusing, and everything in between in the vast arsenal of finishers. 

We open with the question of our favorite finishing moves of all time. Noell take us to the Undertaker's "Tombstone" and discuss how it fits into the overall character. And Dave reminds us of the move's roots in Don Muraco's "Hawaiian Hammer." This takes Noell down the history rabbit hole of the DDT, dating it to well before Jake "The Snake" Roberts made it famous. We discuss  the naming of wrestling moves and how that naming converts shared wrestling culture into claimed, copyrighted, and fixed intellectual property.

We move from there to a discussion of submission moves as a category of finishers, and Chris takes us back to the carnival, catch-as-catch-can roots of the practice.  We even discuss tag-team finishers, including the Road Warriors' Doomsday Device finisher, the Dudley's 3D, the Young Bucks' Superkick Party. 

Of course, the supremely climactic finishers of yesteryear lose their luster over time as they become more familiar. We talk about moves that were once considered devastating but have since been relegated to the ranks of stock moves or altogether forgotten. The conversation moves to the topic of banned or discontinued moves, eschewed for the legitimate physical damage the moves did to the performers. 

The conversation (d)evolves into talking about the...*checks notes*...Armpit Claw? Anyway...

You won't want to miss this lights-out episode. We'll take you on a crawl through it all, from the Worm through the Cobra!