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Basically my mind set was as follows as I made my way to the ring. Our job out there was to get across whatever the story was that the Booker had laid out for us in the dressing room. In those days all we had was a finish and possibly a couple of high spots (many times nothing more then the finish as you were in a separate dressing room form your opponent and didn’t have a chance to talk with him until your match began) and everything else was spontaneous and put together as we built the match feeling our way and listening to the response of the fans and building on what those fans in that city that night might be reacting to. I don’t remember ever thinking that I had to do certain moves to get myself over, nor was there a pattern set up for my baby face comeback or comebacks. In other words we never had to get our s**t in as the expression goes today.
Bottom line was to get the match over, touch the fans emotions with what you did, and elicit the reactions and responses with an emotional roller coast ride from beginning to end. 99% of the time the emotions we were looking for were anger, sadness, excitement, sympathy, elation, happiness, frustration, and fulfillment. You may notice that humor isn’t listed. If that came it was not intentional, and yes it did on occasion. But always the main focus was to get your audience emotionally involved, and to what degree depended on where your match was placed in that evenings lineup as the heat was turned up as the card progressed and the lions share was left for the featured one or two matches at the top of the card.
Every night was a test of your creative in terms of shifting gears in ring, and finding that level where you could manipulate the fans emotions. I can’t begin to put into words the feeling of finding that “sweet spot” where every move, facial, and emotion you portrayed got a big response from the audience. It was as big an emotional ride for the performer as it was for those being entertained. It was always more then just a series of moves it was touching the soul of the majority of those in the building and taking them along with you.
My buddy Krissy Vaine has an interesting column on the “Diva Dirt” web site which is worth the read talking about what she went through to become the Diva that finally got the push up to the big dance. She explains what she did in terms of plastic surgery, Botox; etc to achieve cosmetically what was needed to reach that level and would be expected of her to stay there.
I have known Krissy from the time she could barely slap her cute rear end and watched her work hard to be come an accomplished pro wrestler. If in ring talent were the yardstick then Vaine would have never had to undergo the other things as she was a solid performer.
I admire her for walking away from her big push to preserve her family life and peace of mind, and I admire her for writing the column I speak of here.
While on the subject of admiration I was extremely happy and proud to hear last Friday that one of “My Kids” had been signed to a WWE contract. About ten phone messages and thirty e-mails awaited me when I arrived home.
Nigel McGuinness came to me over ten years ago fresh out of college with a huge passion for professional wrestling and a will second to none. Nigel could never get more then a six month visa to be here and so over a couple of years he was forced to cross back and forth over the Atlantic Ocean to complete his training and get his start in the grunt & groan trade.
I have been asked numerous times how he accomplished the level he has attended, and the answer was quite simple. He listened and did everything he was told, and worked his ass off!
It didn’t come easy for McGuinness but he has reached a heady level of achievement. From a 175 pound young English lad helping set up the ring and working the gimmick table to a proud 220 pound high level athlete who wore the ROH World Title with pride and dignity. My very accomplished young friend deserves everything this business has to offer. It’s as if my own child had made this rise to the top, and I am so very proud to say he started with me. My sincere hope is that WWE realizes what they have in Nigel and Bryan Danielson, and allows them to perform as the excellent athletes they are. I hope to see them matched up somewhere down the line.
My friend Chris Jericho asked a couple weeks back who would lead when his generation was finished. Chris, Nigel and Bryan are a start to answering your question; please give then the benefit of your veteran experience.
To finish it up this week, let’s give props where they are earned and last Friday night Rey Rey and John Morrison tore it up on Smackdown. No clowning, but two athletes wrestling for a title. I think I have to add John to that list above with Nigel and Bryan as his talent grows and matures.
Lord knows that last week's TNA Impact was their best offering wrestling wise in quite sometime. Styles/Sabin was entertaining with the well timed spots that made you go wow, and Styles/Williams was solid pro wrestling with holds, and not as obviously choreographed. Give both matches some more ring time, and the first would impress you with its tight acrobatics, but beg for little emotional involvement and the second would give you reason to believe they meant business, and over time draw you in emotionally. Both were well executed. Both can co-exist on the same card. The business just needs more of the second to offset too much all ready of the first.
Train hard and master your craft.
Till Next Time,
Les
Les and Harley Race form Elite Pro Wrestling Training along with the principles left by former staff members Ricky Steamboat and Dr. Tom Prichard. For details on the company go to www.epwt.com . To book an EPWT seminar, camp, or trainer contact Les at les@epwt.com .
Get your copy of “The Professional Wrestler’s Workout & Instructional Guide” by Harley, Ricky, Les, and Alex Marvez published by Sports Publishing LLC at your local bookstore, or the PW Insider Super Store.
The annual Harley Race/Pro Wrestling Noah training camp is the 28th of this month thru October 2nd with special guest Bret Hart, and a show 10/3 with Harley, Bret, Terry Funk, Ricky Steamboat, and Roger Kirby to name just a few. For all the details go to www.harleyrace.com .
Les returns to Philadelphia for Combat Zone Wrestling October 8th thru the 11th for a training camp and show. The complete schedule listed here ASAP.
Join Les and host Rich Tate every Wednesday night at 9: PM EST with their special guests on “Peach State Pandemonium” by clicking on www.georigawrestlinghistory.com
