An introduction to gimmicks in professional wrestling.

gimmick

gimik

noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective, preposition, conjunction, and interjection

1. a word synonymous with professional wrestling.

You might be over in whatever indie you frequent, but that’s not a fair gauge of how marketable your gimmick and character is. Let’s go through the show-by-show transformation of a normal person into a larger-than-life character that should be happening for you at each event.

For modern televised professional wrestling products, your entrance is treated as the de facto most important element of your performance. This is because it is typically the first impression to the audience. Your theme music is one of the most important things you can choose, but it speaks to an even greater point: your gimmick. Your music defines who you are, it should set an immediate emotional communication to the audience of whether you are someone they like or dislike.

I cannot underline how important the first note or sound of your entrance is. It can be used to form a Pavlovian response with the fans. Think of the Undertaker’s gong, Stone Cold’s crash of breaking glass, The Rock’s, “If you smell!…” or the opening chords of Hogan’s eighties, patriotic fuckfest of pure Americana. When fans hear your music, it should create an emotional visual of what kind of gimmick to expect to walk out the curtain. Even if they have never seen you before. In the fan’s mind, each of the above songs are iconic sounds and completely fit the gimmick of the characters that were being played. Your music sets the tone for the rest of your actions, it introduces them to your character. It is as important as a good hook is to an article.

Let’s move to your gear. It should match your gimmick as much as your song does. Your song should also match your gear. Your body language should match your song, gear, and your gimmick. Your facial expressions should match perfectly with all of the above. Once you are entirely in-sync with your character and you 100% believe you are the gimmick you are trying to represent in the ring, you should literally be able to feel the difference in your work. Think of it almost like method acting. You will become more focused and confident in your impregnable character in the ring, it becomes your suit of armor that no one can penetrate. Even if you as a person are not the strongest, if you believe in your gimmick enough it won‘t be an issue. It is no longer you that is in the ring, it’s just this imaginary character that in reality only exists in your mind.

Think of dreaming. Most people don’t realize it but when you are in a dream you are, in all actuality, in full control. Most people let themselves be carried through their dream, like a movie and they are just passive observers. Until you master the art of lucid dreaming, which is the ability to control your dreams. Because it’s all in your mind. Gain that focus, find your character and become great. Once you can control yourself, you control your surroundings - the crowd. I promise you will know this is working, because you will begin to generate raw emotional feelings in the ring - which your gimmick is generating, not necessarily you. If you’re a heel you should genuinely feel a resentment of fans - think and feel like a heel. If you’re a face you need to be on the same team as the fans - they are you. They are your life force, use their energy in the ring as if it is your own. Plug into them, fight when they want you to. I promise when you get this… You will feel it. And the crowd will too.

Until next time,
-AWV