Resources

Wrestling Moves: (For help with writing a Pay Per View or Special Occasion Match)

Double-team wrestling moves.
http://www.stormpages.com/wwa/doubles.txt
Wrestling moves.
http://www.stormpages.com/wwa/moves.txt
Wrestling holds (submission).
http://www.stormpages.com/wwa/holds.txt
Wrestling pinning moves (suplexes).
http://www.stormpages.com/wwa/pins.txt
Wrestling terms (glossary).
http://www.stormpages.com/wwa/terms.txt

Match Writing Guide


STEP 1: OFFICIAL INTRODUCTIONS

[DIAMOND LOU]: Ladies and gentlemen... the following contest is scheduled for one fall with a ten-minute time limit. In this corner... weighing in at 389 pounds... hailing from parts unknown... he is THE MASKED HEEL!

[DIAMOND LOU]: And his opponent... weighing in at 225 pounds... fighting out of Honolulu, Hawaii... he is O'SEAN PACIFIC!

  • Always be sure to include type of match (Singles; Tag Team; Street Fight; Title; Non-Title).
  • Time limit usually varies down the card (Opening Matches: 10 minutes; Mid-Card Matches: 15 minutes; Upper-Card Matches: 20 minutes; Main Events: 20-60, or No Time Limit).
  • Always include the participants weight, hometown, and extra emphasis on the name.

STEP 2: ESTABLISH FAN REACTION

[DIAMOND LOU]: Ladies and gentlemen... the following contest is scheduled for one fall with a ten-minute time limit. In this corner... weighing in at 389 pounds... hailing from parts unknown... he is THE MASKED HEEL!

[The fans boo and throw garbage at Heel.]

[DIAMOND LOU]: And his opponent... weighing in at 225 pounds... fighting out of Honolulu, Hawaii... he is O'SEAN PACIFIC!

[The crowd erupts with a chorus of cheers for Pacific.]

  • This will help establish who is liked or disliked by the fans, as well as establish how "over" they are in their given capacity. Sometimes a wrestler may receive the following reaction:

[DIAMOND LOU]: And his opponent... accompanied to ringside by Holly Peaks... weighing in at 441 pounds... fighting out of Big Sky, Montana... he is 'LUMBER' JACK EMERSON!

[Only a few of the fans give Emerson a mixed reaction. However, there a few catcalls and whistles for Peaks.]

  • This means the fans are unsure about whether or not to cheer Emerson, and that he is not really over in any capacity. However, many of the fans find his female valet attractive. In the first two examples, Heel and Pacific are very over.


STEP 3: ESTABLISH ANNOUNCING POSITIONS

[PAGE]: This match should be a barn-burner! There's a lot of animosity between these two individuals! This has been one of the greatest feuds of all time, and it all comes down to this one match!

[DIAMOND LOU]: Ladies and gentlemen... the following contest is scheduled for one fall with a ten-minute time limit. In this corner... weighing in at 389 pounds... hailing from parts unknown... he is THE MASKED HEEL!

[The fans boo and throw garbage at Heel.]

[PAGE]: The fans really don't like the Masked Heel! They want to see that mask come off tonight!

[MCCOY]: The fans don't know talent when they see it. Heel's a veteran... he's gonna break this chump in half.

[DIAMOND LOU]: And his opponent... weighing in at 225 pounds... fighting out of Honolulu, Hawaii... he is O'SEAN PACIFIC!

[The crowd erupts with a chorus of cheers for Pacific.]

[PAGE]: LISTEN TO THIS OVATION! NO ONE EXCITES A CROWD LIKE O'SEAN PACIFIC!

[MCCOY]: Pacific is a chump. And an illiterate chump. He can't read the writing on the wall that says Heel is about to end his career.

  • "Two Times" Eddie Page is the play-by-play/lead announcer. His job is to put everything and everyone over. He "sells" everything (Fan Reaction; Wrestler Appearance; etc.) He also has a tendency to say everything twice when he gets riled up.
  • Rusell McCoy is the color commentator. Personality-wise, McCoy tends to lean toward the heels. McCoy has never stepped in the ring as a wrestler but has been around the wrestling business for a long time. He is arrogant and cocky. He often provides funny one-liners and jokes, particularly directed at the faces. Another common trait of McCoy's is the following:

[DIAMOND LOU]: And his opponent... accompanied to ringside by Holly Peaks... weighing in at 441 pounds... fighting out of Big Sky, Montana... he is 'LUMBER' JACK EMERSON!

[Only a few of the fans give Emerson a mixed reaction. However, there a few catcalls and whistles for Peaks.]

[PAGE]: Emerson, a newcomer here, looks to be in great shape!

[MCCOY]: Emerson? Look at Holly. I'd like to climb those peaks. Even if they are made of the best silicon money can buy.

  • McCoy is also lewd and obnoxious. He's quick to throw in the first lewd comment that comes to mind regarding an attractive woman.


STEP 4: THE ACTION


[As Diamond Lou exits the ring, referee Barry Alexander calls for the bell.]

[DING! DING! DING!]

[Heel and Pacific circle each other in the ring before locking up in the center of the ring.]

[Heel pushes Pacific back into a corner against the turnbuckles. Johns begins his count for a clean break.]

1... 2... 3... 4...

[Instead of a clean break, Heel strikes Pacific in the head with his head. The referee warns Heel as Pacific slumps to the canvas holding his head.]

[Before Pacific can get back to his feet, Heel has shoved his way past the referee and kicks Pacific in the mid-section. The fans are booing Heel out of the building.]

  • This will provide the reader with an adequate description of what is going on. Keep this simple and direct. There is no need to add any clever phrasing or description to this part. The idea is to describe the moves so the reader can visualize them.

STEP 4: CALLING THE ACTION

[As Chucky Booms exits the ring, referee Daniel Johns calls for the bell.]

[DING! DING! DING!]

[PAGE]: There's the bell... and this one is under way!

[Heel and Pacific circle each other in the ring before locking up in the center of the ring.]

[PAGE]: Collar and elbow tie up!

[Heel pushes Pacific back into a corner against the turnbuckles. Johns begins his count for a clean break.]

[PAGE]: Heel using his superior size and strength!

1... 2... 3... 4...

[Instead of a clean break, Heel strikes Pacific in the head with his head. The referee warns Heel as Pacific slumps to the canvas holding his head.]

[PAGE]: BIG TIME HEADBUTT BY THE HEEL! It's been rumored that his mask is loaded!

[MCCOY]: Pacific can't take too many shots to the head... he's already an idiot.

[Before Pacific can get back to his feet, Heel has shoved his way past the referee and kicks Pacific in the mid-section. The fans are booing Heel out of the building.]

[PAGE]: HEEL STOMPING AWAY ON PACIFIC!

[MCCOY]: I heard Pacific fried his brain staring at the sun... can't be too smart to do that in the first place.

  • Leave all the clever commentary up to Page and McCoy. And don't forget about continued crowd reaction, as well as the actions and reactions of any outside participants (managers; valets; pets; teddy bears; etc.).
  • Page is an all-around expert and knows the scientific name for every move. He knows all the wrestlers' backgrounds and histories. His job is to put over the severity of each move and help the match tell its story.
  • McCoy will continue to bash the face at every chance, and put over the heel. McCoy isn't above lying to take a cheap shot at the face or excuse them of cheating to win >>>>>>>As a team, Page vast knowledge often sets up his catchphrase "It's my job to know!" and McCoy's arrogance will lead him to say that "I'm the best announcer in the business":

[PAGE]: O'Sean Pacific was born on a banana boat off the coast of the island of Bombagios during one of the worst monsoons of that year!

[PAGE]: How do you know that?

[PAGE]: It's my job to know!

  • When the action gets really wild and out of control, Page is also known to repeat himself :

[PAGE]: MY GOD!! SPEAR!! SPEAR!!

  • A continued example of action might include the following:

[PAGE]: Folks, we're seven minutes into one of the bloodiest battles I have ever seen! Pacific has come back from that early beating, and losing a lot of blood, to have Heel reeling against the ropes.

[Pacific slaps Heel across the chest. The fans are giving Pacific a standing ovation.]

[PAGE]: ANOTHER OPEN HAND CHOP!

[Pacific slaps Heel across the chest again. The fans are blowing the roof off of the Jack Lynch Theater.]

[PAGE]: THOSE OPEN HAND CHOPS ARE TURNING HEEL'S CHEST INTO HAMBURGER!

[MCCOY]: Don't let that moron here you say that Page or Pacific will go get himself some hamburger helper to finish off that match.

[Pacific slaps Heel across the chest again. Pacific gives the fans his "Million Dollar Smile." The fans are coming unhinged.]

[PAGE]: THERE'S THE MILLION DOLLAR SMILE! THE SIGNAL THAT HE'S GOING FOR THAT TILT-A-WHIRL PILEDRIVER HE CALLS THE WIPEOUT!

[MCCOY]: NOOOOO! [Pacific lifts Heel up and quickly spins him around. Pacific stops when Heel is upside down, and Pacific has his arms wrapped around Heel's body so they are belly to belly. Pacific sits down, dropping Heel on his head. The crowd explodes.]

[PAGE]: WIPEOUT!! WIPEOUT!! PACIFIC JUST DROVE HEEL'S HEAD THROUGH THE MAT WITH THAT PILEDRIVER!!

[Pacific rolls over on top of Heel for the cover as Johns drops down for the three count, the fans counting along with each drop of his hand.]

1...

ONE!!

2...

"TWO!!"

3...

"THREE!!!"

[PAGE]: THREE!!!

[DING! DING! DING!]

[MCCOY]: Damn cheater.

[PAGE]: O'SEAN PACIFIC HAS DONE IT! HE'S DEFEATED THE MASKED HEEL!

[DIAMOND LOU]: Your winner... O'SEAN PACIFIC!!!


IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • Always sell. If someone has figure four locked on them for a minute, he should be limping for the remainder of the match. If someone gets zapped with a taser, he should convulse uncontrollably. If someone gets chopped across the chest, he should cringe in pain.

  • Depending on how the match is booked, near-falls and false finishes are a must. Unless the match is a squash, there should be some kickouts and/or escapes or breaks of submission holds. This adds drama and compelling story-telling to the match.

  • Transition is a must. If The Masked Heel powerbombs O'Sean Pacific, O'Sean Pacific should not come right back with a clothesline. Pacific should be selling the powerbomb. Some good transition here would be for Heel to either go for the pin or stomp Pacific.

  • Keep in mind what you are working with. If Lumber Jack Emerson is 441 pounds, unfortunately, the 225-pound O'Sean Pacific will not be able to hit that tilt-a-whirl piledriver to beat him. Pacific won't be press slamming Emerson either. So be realistic.

  • Be creative. Depending on the strats and how the match is booked, you should take a look at everything and try to visualize a creative way to weave all the spots and the finish together in a manner that tells a great in-ring (parking lot; cage; bar room; etc.) story.