The 5 Elements of Wrestling

 

We're still celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop and with that, I started thinking about the five elements of Hip Hop (MCing, DJing, Breakdancing, Graffiti, and knowledge). In turn that led me down the rabbit hole of what are the five elements of pro wrestling. I had to think hard about it, and consult social media (talkinsuplexes on instagram). 

There were suggestions offered that could make for good arguments like catchphrases, finishing moves, and surprisingly entrances. After thinking and consulting below are the five elements of pro wrestling in my opinion that best define the genre. Enjoy!

5. Gimmicks.

Gimmicks are very important to wrestling, but also could be debated that it's not that important. While fans love the over the top, larger Than life characters. There are several wrestlers who were very successful and never had a gimmick.

In any case gimmicks are a huge contribution to the entertainment aspect of professional wrestling. From outlandish comic book gimmicks like an Undertaker, Goldust, Danhausen to the more subtle gimmicks like a Razor Ramon or Orange Cassidy. Gimmicks contribute to the wrestling world's globe spinning.

4. Championships

Every sport has a prize that competitors fight for, that feeling of accomplishment to say that "I Did It" and I am the champion. Pro wrestling has the championships all of different divisions, cruiserweight, women's, tag teams, and of course world championships. They are the reasons for feuds to start, or the reason feuds get more intense. 

They also provide fans and wrestlers an additional opportunity to connect as fans can rejoice when a wrestler they've watched journey completes. 

They also give fans a reason to walk around with replica championships and proclaim ourselves the champion.

3. Promo's

Promo's sell matches and promo's sell feuds. If there isn't some trash talking behind matches then what is the point in getting invested? Promo's also are the genesis of catchphrases that end up plastered on merchandise we as wrestling fans, so proudly wear.

My dad told me back during Ric Flair's heyday in the 80's, even time the NWA was coming to Baltimore if he was unsure about going. All it took was one Ric Flair promo full of trash talking and that sold him to get a ticket. That is the power of promo's especially when there is a microphone wizard cutting one.

2. Storyline 

Promo's may sell the matches, promo's, and T-shirt's, but it is Storyline's that sell ticket's. Without storyline's to draw people in, there is no point in getting invested at all. The biggest storyline's always leave fan's on edge clamoring for more or wondering what will happen next. The Sting/nWo saga, Austin vs. Mr. McMahon, Raven vs. Tommy Dreamer, The Four Horsemen vs. Dusty Rhodes and The Road Warriors.

All them were suspenseful and essentially soap opera's in the confines of the ring. Promotions are made and some have been broken on the strength of storyline's. That's why it is such an important element of pro wrestling. 

1. The audience

As we learned during the pandemic the fans are thee most important piece to pro wrestling. During the pandemic era with no fans in attendance, there was something clearly missing before promotions figured out how to get fans involved, and things slowly but safely opened back up.

Fans make big time events feel even more important. Think of WrestleMania, WrestleKingdom, All In, or the very first episode of AEW Dynamite without fans in attendance. The atmosphere, anticipation, and overall presentation just would not be the same. 

Fans are definitely the "sixth man" and backbone of wrestling products. To me wrestling fans keep the wheel turning, and can make or break wrestlers and storylines. That's why we as fans are the single most important component of the wrestling culture.