Talk 'Wrasslin' with Chakal

[bigbadcapitalist]

Originally Posted by chakal

I like what IcePossum13 was saying about movies because that's something I use a lot. Everytime I ear somebody says "Wrestling is stupid, it's fixed!" I always say: Do you know that Star Wars is scripted too, so it's stupid? Friends were scripted too, so it's stupid? Romeo and Juliette was scripted so, it's stupid too?

IMO, the problem with this analogy is that many people believe pro wrestling is a real sport, while no one believes Darth Vader was actually Luke's father. And for the record, I never said wrestling is 'stupid', I said it's not a sport - which you, Chakal, agreed with.

Personally, I can't get nearly as excited about a scripted wrestling match as a game of real, live, intense hockey or anyother sport. Just compare March Madness or NHL playoffs to a Pro Wrestling championship... wrestling just doesn't cut it for me.

And about Ice Possum's points - I wasn't trying to look down on wrestling fans, sorry if it seemed that way. And I doubt I would be interested in Wrestling w/ a Christian Message, but thanks anyway

[chakal]

I wasn't talking about your post specifically. If you say wrestling doesn't touch you, I'm fine with that.

Wrestling isn't a real sport, but it's 100% real entertainement. Like it or not, just like movies, music and what else. Nobody still beleive wrestling is real, I would like to see them if there's still some. Honestly, I've never met one except for mentally challenged people (not trying to be mean here), but those people also have problems knowing fiction from reality even on TV.

I admit that wrestling still pays from the numbers of years they "made believe" but now it's totally different.

[ryander]

can wrestlers be considered emo because they cut them self on purpose

But seriously, I didn't respect Wrestling until I read this thread. Im not sure why its just ive never noticed how much skill is needed.

Chakal, In wrestling is there ever a huge argument before hand about who is going to win the fight? and how do they choose who wins?

[DRE75HABS]

There is a "Booker" who runs the storylines. In large companies they have many people writing the stories. Depending on the "push" the wrestler is getting at the time, or what kind of storyline is being developed, the win can go to whoever to set up a better history or story, or to end one.

[purpleapples]

Originally Posted by wgeary

while no one believes Darth Vader was actually Luke's father.

WHAT???????????????

[Gasman]

Hi David! Great thread...an enjoyable read from someone on the inside of things!

How many times have you been injured?

Have you injured someone else?

What kind of condition is your body (joints/ligament/etc.) after 10 years of punishment?

Are there certain moves you absolutely won't do?

[goalieboy29]

That would be Yoda. Trust me, the dude's a freak...

[chakal]

Originally Posted by TB!

can wrestlers be considered emo because they cut them self on purpose

But seriously, I didn't respect Wrestling until I read this thread. Im not sure why its just ive never noticed how much skill is needed.

Chakal, In wrestling is there ever a huge argument before hand about who is going to win the fight? and how do they choose who wins?

Like DRe says. But there's always lobby and politics, and in WWE it's baaaaad!! You know, being a main-eventer pays more than being a curtain-jerker (first match) of mid-carder. So being what it is, if you can stay on top longer than anybody, you're making more money. So making a long and complicated story short, if you have good friends that can keep you on top, you're good. HHH is maried with Vince McMahon's daughter Stephanie and Stephanie is the in charge of the writing team... so... It gives a 11 times World Champion!!! That's pollitic at it's best.

There's no talent scouts in wrestling, the only way to get in is to be pushed by a friend who's already there. BUT!!! Nobody will push for someone better than him, you don't want to loose your spot you know. So self promotion is one of the most important thing to learn if you want to make it.

That's what I'm proud of, I've been champion in Canada, USA and did a PPV in Japan and I NEVER asked for booking, Never asked for a push (series of wins and emphasis on your caracter to elevate you on the card) or a belt. All I did was offered to me by promoters, that's probably why I'm still there after 10 years and have the respect from other workers and promoters.

To answear TB, I'm glad this thread may help some people to better understand wrestling. But, like in hockey, baseball, Hollywood, doctors, etc, there's also morons and dumb-a$$es but also great people. Some old wrestlers (especially 60's, 70's and 80's) have done stupid things like destroying hotel rooms and what else. This may have been caused by to much testosterone because of steroids, abuse of alcohol, drugs, but nothing worst than some rock and roll stars. Those guys had to live their caracters 24/7 since they had to make believe it was real. So when you were a badf guy, you had to be bad 24/7 or else you were loosing your job.

Ted DiBiase stayed 7 days on morphine at the Hospital working (the word we use not to use faking) a neck injury to enhance a scenario and his heroic comeback to get revenge on Terry Gordy in Memphis. The Memphis arena was packed like it never has been before. People were calling at the Hospital and were told DiBiase's neck injury was true, so they believed it and the hype of the rematch was 100x bigger. Now, we don't have to go through this. I personaly use a lot the fact that everybody knows it's fixed to make them mad even more at me. I use that A LOT and it works.

2 years ago, when I told the writing team that I wanted to become a bad guy, all 10 of them told me "Are you %?%& out of your mind?? Nobody will ever hate you". Well, I've been voted most hated pro-wrestler in Quebec for the 2 last years. Nothings works better than making them believe it's real and then... Boom!

What I like to do is to "fake" a real injury. Let's say my oponent is super popular and the match goes well and suddenly, my opponent make a bad fall in the ropes and hit his ribs. The ref pushes me away and call the security. The match is stopped for 1-2 minutes and the promoter comes to aid the injuried guy. The crowd is silent and applause politely when the guy starts to get up and then.. BANG! I kick him in the ribs while he has his back turned on me! I'm Hitler!! You see, using the fact that everybody knows it's fixed, knock people off their seats by faking reality in a scripted event.

Lance Storm (former WWE, WCW and ECW wrestler) once told me that even if I was facing Satan himself, the crowd would cheer for Satan hoping I get my ass kicked!

[rune34]

I've watched "real" UFC and "fake" WWE and I think that UFC is just brutal, I mean watching some guy smash his elbow into another guys face and seeing his face get messed up is nasty. While watching WWE is fun because no brutal damage is done. Just my .02

[makbeer]

This thread is great...thanks for all the insights Chakal (and others with some good points as well).

[chakal]

Originally Posted by Gasman

Hi David! Great thread...an enjoyable read from someone on the inside of things!

How many times have you been injured?

Have you injured someone else?

What kind of condition is your body (joints/ligament/etc.) after 10 years of punishment?

Are there certain moves you absolutely won't do?

I'm well physically, but that's because I've never took big moves and high impact hits without planning them 100%. I jumped from 15 foot high steel cage, been powerbombed from the top rope through 2 tables, I did ladder matches, 6 steel cage matches but the risk were all calculated. I also take good care of my body, eat well and train hard but also work on my flexibility, that saves injuries.

I've never inijuried anybody other than the usual things, bleeding nose, black eyes, bruise but that happens. I had a sprained ankle 2 years ago but I didn't missed any action. Since it's fixed, I was able to wrestle around that injury. I have a tore muscle in my lower back but it's healing while I still play hockey and wrestle. Other than that ankle injury, I had a broken heel, bruised tail bone, knee pains, broken foot (in Japan) but none of those injuries make me miss a show.

As for moves I don't take, it always depends on my opponent. Some guys are safe and some not. I would let some give me a top rope piledriver while I wouldn't take a simple body slam from some others.

[goalieboy29]

Hey Chak,

I love the concept of you faking reality wtihin a "fixed" event.

Probably has a similar effect on the audience as the "play wihin a play" technique Shakespeare used. Drove 'em nuts...

Your dramatic instincts are time honoured and right on!

[xethicx]

While I enjoy wrestling, really, does anyone else not see it as just a soap opera for men? I stopped watching regularly when I found myself having to watch every week to keep up with story lines. While the story line part of wrestling is fine and all I dont want to feel I have to watch it every week to know whats going on. Its become way too much like a soap opera.

[Beeker]

I have always been a fan of wrestling. This is a great thread!!!

Just out of curiosity. The big shows, WWE, WCW,TNA and such. These guys are being televised a few days a week. So you guys have to be filming a few days also?? So between travel, TV taping, apparences and what not. When do you guys get to work out the match, and how much of it is improvised? You guys don't wing the whole match do you?

[chakal]

Originally Posted by chakal

To answear another question, the match is entirely planned earlier during the day, but we all know it won't happen that way. Let me explain:

We plan the match entirely but we will modify the scenario during the match, LIVE, depending on crowd's reaction. Imagine, if we planned that I will beat the good guy for 5 minutes but the crowd chant his name after 2, we will have to come out with something for him to resurrect to please the fans and make them think they have an influence on what happens in the ring. Then, we have to find a way to come back to the original plans.

That is another thing in Pro wrestling, interacting with the crowd. Actors don't do that and athletes neither. We constantly listen to the crowd. Some don't and it gives boring matches.

Here it is