Want To Create A Wrestling Program? Here’s What You’ll Need

As a kid, I loved watching wrestling. Twice a week I’d stay up late to catch the action of WWE Raw and Smackdown and the fantastical stories they had to offer.

Eventually, just like every other kid in my position, I was met with that big revelation: Wrestling was fake. Personally, I wasn’t very hung up about the fact that these people weren’t actually going out of their way to injure one another.

The thing that really got me was how many of those guys who were saying horrible things to each other in front of millions of people on a weekly basis were actually friends in real life. In fact, the most bitter enemies on-screen were often the best of friends behind the scenes.

As I grew older, I began to learn about the work it took to produce a serviceable wrestling show and I was amazed. The amount of preparation and creativity needed made me realize that wrestling was less of a phoney sport and more of an elaborate production.

It was like a movie-set except the cast and crew had to be at work and on the move twice a week, every week and with no breaks in between. This is not counting the non-televised shows and monthly specials. This re-lit my love for wrestling which I continue to watch from a different perspective.

I’d love to take this time to share with you some of the things and people you would need to produce a passable wrestling show. In many ways, it’s quite similar to producing a TV series or Movie.

The Performers

This goes without saying. The same way a movie needs actors, a wrestling show will need wrestlers. Unlike most stars, the wrestlers generally take on the role of both the actors and stunt-men. Thus, they would be required to be both capable in the ring and on the microphone as well.

Wrestling characters or Gimmicks as they are also known, often fall into one of two categories. The first are larger than life characters of almost super-heroic proportions. The second are characters who are basically extensions of the person portraying them. These characters are also sorted into the heroes or the Babyfaces, and the villains or Heels as they are also called.

It is important to identify where the performers’ strengths lie and be able to play to these qualities. This is usually done by gauging the audience’s reaction. The good thing about wrestling is that a performer’s character can always be changed to suit the preferences of the crowd.

A performer’s weaknesses must also be guarded. For example if he has a good look but lacks charisma or may suffer from a language barrier, a non-wrestler can be brought in to speak on his behalf as a manager. If done right, even a performer’s weaknesses can be played to their advantage.

In terms of their work in the ring, safety is the number one priority. Wrestling in many ways is like a dance and the two on-screen enemies are actually responsible for keeping each other safe. It is not easy to protect one another while pretending to injure each other at the same time. Thus, any wrestler we see today is considered a seasoned master of their craft.

Trust between the performers is also very important. This is why good friends often make better enemies on-screen. When that level of trust is there, the performers are more willing to do more elaborate and at-times riskier stunts with full assurance that their partner has their back.

Just like how the best actors contribute to the success of a movie or TV show, the best wrestlers help their programs as well. However, they are only one aspect of this elaborate process.

The Booker

The booker or the promoter is essentially the person who runs the show. Like a film producer, they are in charge of hiring and paying the wrestlers, crew and everyone else involved with the show.

The booker also handles the business and logistical side of the production. It is their job to promote the shows, the wrestlers and secure the venue among other responsibilities. Any disputes between the wrestlers and the crew are often brought directly to the booker.

The booker plays an active role in the production of a wrestling show and like a film producer, is usually the number one person in the pecking order. The booker has the final say in things such as a wrestler’s character, how long a match should last and who wins or loses a match. In many ways, the success of a wrestler depends on how they are perceived by the booker.

The Writers

Unlike actual combat sports like boxing and MMA, most wrestling matches are often driven by some kind of story. It is the job of the writers to create a compelling reason for wrestlers to fight one another in the first place.

As most wrestling companies often have many performers on their pay-roll, a team of writers is usually required to manage each wrestler’s role in the larger story. The writers must take into consideration the wrestler’s characters, abilities and the reaction of the audience into their creative process.

While some wrestlers already have their own gimmicks developed, a writer may be tasked to refine these traits to fit the circumstances or even create a completely new gimmick for a performer when necessary.

Unlike TV and movies however, the writers are not expected to heavily script the dialogue. Wrestlers are often expected to improvise on the fly and thus, no actual dialogue writers exist in wrestling. All a writer needs to do is give an outline of the outcome they want and a list of points to stress upon and words not to say.

The writers must also work well with one another in order to transition each performer from one storyline to the next. At times, they will also work under the instruction of the booker in order to craft stories that build towards a particular conclusion.

Just like in movies or TV when an actor dies or can no longer perform, a wrestling writer must be able to improvise a contingency story in the event of any unforeseen incidents.

The Producers

Despite their name, wrestling producers are more reminiscent of actual film directors. Their job is to translate the stories that have been told and put them into the actual wrestling matches. A producer’s role is to map out how a match should go by taking into consideration the story, the audience and the desired winner of each match.

The producers will usually come up with a layout of the match that will be presented to the wrestlers. A producer has some input in the length of the match and can also decide what “spots” or stunts ought to be used in order to draw a reaction from the crowd.

The same way a director likes to work with actors who have good chemistry with one another, a producer can influence a writer to create a story between wrestlers whom they know can work well together.

However, unlike many directors who spend their entire careers behind the camera. A wrestling producer is expected to have a firsthand understanding of the wrestling business, the crowd and it’s performers. Thus, producers are generally required to be former wrestlers themselves.

In many ways, a more appropriate comparison would be to a choreographer. Just like how a person who is in charge of choreographing a dance is expected to know how to dance themselves, a person producing a wrestling match ought to know how to wrestle as well.

The Agents

In some organizations, the producers will also assume the responsibilities of the agents. In fact, the two terms are often used interchangeably. Like the producer, an agent is a former wrestler who is in charge of choreographing the wrestling match.

However, an agent plays a more hands on role with this process. The agent must work closely with the wrestler in crafting their match and can take the wrestler’s input into account for the finished product. When wrestlers rehearse for the match or want to add or change certain aspects of it, the agent is usually sought out. During the actual match, the agent can communicate with the wrestlers through the referee and remind them of important moments or to change the entire match on the go if necessary.

Agents also serve as the bridge between the performers and the creative team. They often help pitch story ideas on behalf of the wrestlers and work alongside the performers to build upon whatever story or gimmick they have been given by the creative team.

Agents are usually very respected by both the performers and management. They serve as mentors and confidants to the performers whom they work closely with and their opinions are often sought out by the booker.

Agents can also function as talent scouts in order to procure new performers for the show. In many wrestling promotions, a booker’s decision to elevate a wrestler is often influenced by the opinion of the agents.

The Crew

Perhaps the biggest similarity between wrestling and film or TV, a competent crew is needed to ensure a good production value. As wrestling involves colorful characters and fantasy-level stories at times, there is a need for costume designers, hair and make-up, pyrotechnicians and special effects people as well.

On top of that, a competent crew is also needed to film both the action in and outside the ring. With the fast-paced and often improvised flow of the action, the camera crew must constantly be on their toes to capture everything while the people in the production trucks must be able to switch cameras at a moments notice in order to ensure a smooth view experience.

Perhaps most importantly, the ring crew is required. It is essential that the ring and other structures such as cages are safe and sturdy in order to prevent injury. The various weapons must also be checked and prepped to ensure that they do not cause any long term damage to the performers.

In many ways, the crew of a wrestling show are seen to work at a faster and more demanding pace than most TV or movie sets. The fact that they too work on the same schedule as everyone else is also equally admirable.

Well, that’s basically all you need to set up a wrestling show. As you can see it is certainly no easy feat and requires a conscious effort from many different parties. If you made it this far, I appreciate you taking the time to read this and I hope I have shed some light on what it takes to produce a wrestling show. Until we hear from each other again. Take care!