Wrestling Gear

Wrestling gear is an often overlooked part of professional wrestling. Before we get too deep into things, let’s set some ground rules. Unless it is directly linked to the visual description of your gimmick, jeans, sweats, and all other normal human being clothing is a no-no. If you look just like the people sitting in the crowd, what makes you special? If you are just one of them, why would they pay to see you? If you have a gimmick shirt you are trying to sell to the crowd, wear it to the ring, then take it the fuck off. If you don't have a good enough body under that shirt to wrestle shirtless, then really, what the fuck are you doing? I thought you wanted to be a pro wrestler? Are you just playing on the indies for fun? If so, please stop and cosplay at a comic con instead. You're killing my business.

Your gear should be an extension of you. Again, this digs into finding or creating an identity. Most people who are following this are novice to the wrestling business, or otherwise not widely known. That means whatever new town you walk into, chances are the people at the show have no idea who you are or what your gimmick is. They don't know if you are a heel or a face. All of this needs to be explained to them the second you walk out the curtain.

Color use. If you're a heel, use a color pattern that defines a heel. If you are a face, use what colors you picture on a hero. Color is important. There is, believe it or not, a psychology to color.

Type of gear. I am always torn on the style of gear to put someone in, there is no overall general answer for that. The better the body you have, the less clothes you should wear. Whether you like it or not, you're a sex symbol. Guys, think about it, do you really care what the divas are wearing? Or do you just want to see less of it? If you're that guy with a good body and good looks, flaunt it. If you the opposite, cover it up.

Which leads to an important point, most indie guys don't have perfect bodies. If you are one of those naturally bigger (out of shape) guys, wear a singlet, at least that helps you look like you belong in a pro wrestling ring. Or even better, get yourself into passable big man shape. There are some guys who are just never going to tone up, they will always have that lineman football player build. Samoans, for example. It’s not their fault, it’s largely genetic. To paraphrase Jules from Pulp Fiction, "I wouldn't go as far to call the brother fat... he's Samoan." But think back to the Wild Samoans or the Headshrinkers. While they may not have had the body of an Adonis, they were always still very large men who you knew had a lot of muscle under that outer layer of Samoan. The Samoans also lived their gimmicks so well that they were able to overcome their initial appearance. I'm sure when you were a kid watching either of these teams, you weren't thinking, “I’d take a poke at these guys and see what happens.” No, their presence in the ring and their own belief in who they were sucked you into their world. A world where it was viable that they could go toe to toe with the Road Warriors, or any other tag team of the day. And more so their presence (not their gear) made it believable that they could win the match.

Boots. You cheap, cheap bastards, have some respect for my ring! There was a time when if you didn't have wrestling boots on you wouldn't be allowed in the ring. Just cough up the $200 or so for boots and make it happen. Most of you guys have already pissed away upwards of $2,000-$5,000 on “training.” Cough up the couple hundred or so bucks on making yourself look like a professional. Currently, it is acceptable to wear amateur wrestling shoes and kick pads to the ring. To me this screams indieriffic. Unless you're a high flyer and this gives you the flexibility to move around the ring better, I am anti-amateur wrestling shoes. Trust me, when you put down the cash for your first set of boots and you wear them for the first time, you will feel what I'm saying about looking professional. It’s like putting on a suit: it gives you confidence.

Pads. I don’t know how or why you kids wrestle without knee pads, but stop that. Be nice to your knees. You will miss them when they are gone. I know I do. My back, too. Cover up your pads with slips that can go over knee pads. Again, this customizes your gear. You are a product in the ring, you are trying to market yourself. Take every opportunity you can to do just that. Advertise who you are. That few inches of plain black cloth is a perfect place to fit something character-oriented in.

This would be a good time to point out that even bland characters are still characters. “No gimmick needed” is in itself a gimmick (rest easy, Chris Candido). Stone Cold in plain black trunks fit his gimmick. Would a guy named Stone Cold come out in some slick, flashy, Ric Flair-looking outfit? Hell no. It fit who he was. Just as your gear should represent who you are. Your gear should be an extension of you. You cannot be defined by your gear or your mask. Your choice in gear should be very specific and should not be based alone on what looks “cool.” Mankind’s outfit wasn't “cool,” but it defined him. Undertaker’s first gear resembled a bad Halloween outfit found at Party City, but it was perfect for him. It was black and grey, reeked of death, and put an immediate emotional image of who that person was based solely on his ring entrance. Take notice, stand out from the crowd.

Until next time,
AWV