What'cha gonna do, brother? If you want to become a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar, you must possess a unique combination of athletic ability, charisma and acting prowess - the complete package. Learn to train your body and mind for a chance to compete in the world's premier wrestling federation.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Get in shape
Step 1. Play American football or join a wrestling team
Professional wrestlers come from a variety of backgrounds, but WWE talent scouts recruit new talent primarily from these three environments: independent wrestling federations, football teams, and collegiate wrestling teams.
- The Rock, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns all started on the football field and not the square.
- Other well-known stars, including Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, and Dolph Ziggler, began sporting careers as excellent wrestling athletes before signing their WWE contracts.
- Wrestlers like CM Punk, Chris Jericho, Seth Rollins, and the Hardy Boyz didn't start with a traditional sport. They received their training in private wrestling schools, then joined independent federations and earned a spot in WWE thanks to their exceptional skills in the ring.
Step 2. Train with weights
How did Ryback get so muscular? He started weight training at the age of 12. WWE wrestlers must be strong enough to lift a man over 100kg and smash him to the mat safely. Even if you want to become an athlete who specializes in acrobatic pole moves or ground submissions, you still need to be very strong. Focus on strengthening the muscles of the upper body, core and legs.
- While many wrestlers in the past looked like beer drinkers accustomed to hanging out in pubs, today almost all wrestlers have a bodybuilder physique. You must follow a strict diet and put a lot of effort into physical activity if you want to join WWE.
- Join a gym and consult a personal trainer so you can achieve WWE athlete fitness. Triple H has published a series of videos dedicated to weight lifting and cardiovascular training, which you can find on the market.
Step 3. Focus on high-intensity cardiovascular workouts.
Running around the ring from rope to rope, landing on your back and throwing your opponent is really exhausting. Wrestling will have you gasping for breath after a few minutes. Professionals must be in excellent cardiovascular condition, ready to face high intensity 10-20 minute matches.
- Try doing your favorite 5-10 weightlifting exercises in short timed sets to introduce a cardiovascular component to your strength training workouts. Complete as many reps as possible in 60 seconds without putting too much weight on, then give yourself 15 seconds of rest before moving on to the next exercise. Complete the set before taking a two-minute break, then repeat the circuit twice.
- Former professional wrestler "Diamond" Dallas Page has devised a wrestling-style yoga workout that can be found on the market; contains cardiovascular and low impact flexibility exercises. Many wrestlers integrate those activities into their training programs.
Step 4. Take dance or gymnastics classes
In professional wrestling you have to learn to move with another person to make the match more realistic. Backflips, ground dunks, and hurricanranas look more like dance moves than wrestling moves. You'll never see an amateur athlete jump off the stake or RKO, so gymnastics and dance are great ways to improve your coordination.
Learning to fall and take hits is part of training as a wrestler, but you will learn much faster if you already know how to do flips and land. These are great core workouts
Step 5. Learn to act
The Rock didn't become a movie star by accident. Wrestlers need to be great actors, in order to make the moves believable and tell a compelling story inside the ring. Nobody will pay the ticket to see you if you can't speak to the public when you have the microphone in your hand, even if you have a perfectly sculpted body and a spectacular resolutive move.
In the era of the immortal Hulk Hogan, wrestlers improvised their statements to the public. Today in WWE it is necessary to follow a script. If your dream is to appear on television, you need to learn to read your part and memorize the lines
Step 6. Follow a healthy diet.
A common joke about the life of pro fighters is that they eat nothing but grilled chicken breasts, steamed broccoli and brown rice. Even if you will be traveling 300 days a year, you will not be able to eat only burgers and fries. You will need to commit to a diet based on lean proteins, vegetables rich in vitamins and slow-digesting carbohydrates, so that your body is always working at peak efficiency.
Part 2 of 3: Learning the Art of Wrestling
Step 1. Take a class at a private wrestling school
To learn the moves made by the pros, you must first step into the ring and listen to the directions of an instructor. Wrestling schools are present in almost every country and many offer 6-week courses and other packages for aspiring athletes. In some cases, the best products from these schools receive job offers from local federations.
- Many of the most famous wrestling schools are run by former wrestlers. Shawn Michaels, Lance Storm, Devon and Bubba Ray Dudley, Harley Race and Killer Kowalski are just a few of the pros who are now training aspiring athletes in the United States. Many WWE superstars have come out of their academies.
- Many independent federations such as Ring of Honor and Ohio Valley Wrestling also offer training programs.
- You should never try the moves you see on television at home. If done incorrectly, they can be lethal.
Step 2. Learn to take hits
Have you ever wondered what is the secret that makes the devastating moves you see on television so realistic? Athletes get really hurt. Professionals learn to fall correctly, in order to control the outcome of the moves and protect the head and neck from serious injuries. While falling on your back is never good, with training you will learn how to do it safely. Here are some of the skills you will learn in wrestling schools:
- Taken
- Direct hits
- Running between the ropes
- Chain the moves
- Collect moves
- Communicate inside the ring
- Make your opponent's moves look realistic
Step 3. Learn to make your encounters dramatic
Like a good movie, a great wrestling match isn't all about shooting and love scenes, although those are the best parts. The meetings must have the right rhythm, alternating high and low intensity phases, in order to create suspense for the viewer. This aspect of wrestling is one of the hardest to learn.
- Contrary to popular belief, most wrestling matches are not choreographed move by move. Usually, many of the most important parts and the conclusion of the match are planned, but the path from start to finish is decided within the ring.
- Talk to older and more experienced wrestlers. Take advantage of all the opportunities at your disposal to work with them personally if you want to learn how to give the right rhythm to your matches. Most beginners are in too much of a hurry, moving from one move to another with excessive speed. Slowing down is a skill that you will gain with time and experience.
Step 4. Create a unique character
The protagonists of professional wrestling are usually eccentric, over the top and very showy. Normal guys named Terry and James became Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior when they set foot in the ring. Connect with the audience by developing a character they can relate to if you are a babyface (a "good"), or that they can hate if you are a heel (a "bad").
- The best characters are usually amplified versions of a wrestler's real personality. John Cena was really capable of freestyle rap before he became the Doctor of Thuganomics and Chris Jericho, the Ayatollah of Rock 'n Rolla, is really the lead singer of a band.
- In some cases, the characteristics of professional wrestling characters are called "gimmicks". Even if you decide to fight with your real name, you still need some element that makes you unique. Think Bret Hart's leather jacket and pink sunglasses and Shawn Michaels sequined cowboy pants.
Step 5. Learn to speak with the microphone in your hand
Remember: wins and losses don't matter. Wrestlers don't just get famous for their skills within the square. Some of them are so charismatic that audiences believe in their character. Study the work of some of the best acting professionals, such as Ric Flair, The Rock, Chris Jericho, Paul Heyman and Randy Savage, so you can learn from the best.
- Practice speaking in front of the mirror, perfecting your gestures and the character's movements. Become another person and learn to communicate as many emotions as possible.
- Catch phrases are important to wrestlers, but effective speeches are even more important in preparation for their next fights. You can practice speaking to the public at any time. Choose a wrestler you hate and train in front of the mirror. Tell everyone how you will knock him out next Sunday. Try to be intense and fun.
Step 6. Learn to do your job
Being a good professional doesn't mean winning more matches or becoming the strongest person in the world. Your job is to get the audience excited about your matches and make them want you to win or lose. It is a performance and in some cases the end of the story does not foresee your victory.
- Professional wrestlers usually work as a "heel" or "babyface". If you are a heel, a "villain", your goal is to make the audience hate you so much that they pay the ticket to see you lose. If you are a babyface, a "good", your job is to attract the sympathy of the spectators, so that they cheer you on when you win. Not everyone is able to fill the role of babyface.
- Some wrestlers do nothing but lose. When starting out, you will probably be forced to act as a sparring partner for the more experienced wrestlers. This is an excellent opportunity to learn all the secrets of the trade. Try to leave your ego aside.
Step 7. Study the history of wrestling
WWE wrestlers must be fans of the product they offer. The WWE network offers a huge archive of original content available for a small fee, including all pay-per-view events ever broadcast. Also search for classic match videos on YouTube or other on-demand services and try to stay up to date on the status of the independent federations active at the moment.
- Watch WCW's biggest lightweight matches with Sting and Vader, plus classic fights from Dean Malenko, Eddy Guerrero, and Rey Mysterio Jr.
- Watch Sandman, Raven and Tommy Dreamer risk their own safety in the wild days of the ECW.
- Check out NWA classics in the 70s and 80s to see Harley Race, Tully Blanchard, Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair at their peak.
- Enjoy Verne Gagne, Mad Dog Vachon, Nick Bockwinkel and Larry Zbyszko face off in the AWA.
- Many past and present wrestlers post podcasts in which they talk about the ins and outs of the wrestling industry and tell their stories. This is a great way to learn the traits you need to make it through this world. Listen to broadcasts from Colt Cabana, Jim Ross, Steve Austin and you'll discover a unique perspective on the art of pro wrestling.
Part 3 of 3: Joining WWE
Step 1. Struggle for an independent federation for some time
Wrestlers wishing to audition with WWE must have at least three to five years of professional wrestling experience. The only wrestlers to immediately enter the world's top federation are recruited from collegiate wrestling programs or other athletic programs. Almost everyone else has started fighting in the smaller federations and made their way through the ranks. Here is a list of regional independent federations, some of which also have training schools:
- Ring of Honor
- Dragon Force
- Global Force Wrestling
- AAA
- AEW
- NWA
- Pro Wrestling Guerilla
- Combat Zone Wrestling
Step 2. Travel
Small federations often hire inexperienced wrestlers who have been well trained. Many wrestlers begin to pay their living by traveling between the federations of their region, participating in some shows and gradually developing working relationships within the industry. Try to take every opportunity to perform and don't be afraid to get involved.
The Northeast of the United States is a region where wrestling shows and independent federations are particularly popular. Try to become part of the circuit in your area
Step 3. Learn how to promote your brand
You need to figure out how to best sell your skills. Meet wrestlers and promoters, explaining to everyone that you are interested in entering the world of wrestling. Agree to appear in all kinds of shows and try to get as many chances as possible.
- Print and sell your merchandise items at events. This is an excellent way to make some extra cash, as well as learning about this side of the industry. Think about what kind of shirt your fans might buy. Wear it during meetings and sell it at the end of the show.
- Create footage of the highlights of your matches. Start promoting your skills in the ring by creating highlights of your matches. Upload videos to YouTube or create your own website.
Step 4. Go to an audition with WWE
On the company's website you will find the page dedicated to jobs, where open positions in the various departments are regularly published. Assignments include production, writing and athletes. In some cases, regional auditions are organized, where wrestlers can show off their skills in an attempt to attract the attention of recruiters. These events are posted on the WWE website and are held at the NXT facility in Orlando, Florida.
- According to some estimates, WWE receives around 2,000 nominations per week. You can submit the videos and your press review at World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Attention: Talent Relations, 1241 East Main Street, Stamford, CT 06902. Unfortunately it is very difficult to enter the world of wrestling in this way.
- Another way to get an audition with WWE is to try and get into their reality show, called Tough Enough. This TV show follows the life of a group of wrestlers competing for a contract with WWE. The Miz, Ryback and Big E participated in the program.
Step 5. Switch to NXT
Most of the new athletes are sent to NXT, WWE's New Talent Development League, located in Orlando, Florida, before joining the main federation roster. Here, you will take acting classes, learn the ins and outs of television production and using cameras, as well as have the chance to perfect your technique in the ring with some of the best fighters in the world.
At any given time, there are approximately 70 athletes under contract at NXT, 10-15 of whom compete on the WWE network's televised broadcasts. Among them, about 5 wrestlers a year are promoted to the main roster. NXT has produced talents such as Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Neville and Finn Bàlor
Step 6. Stand out from the crowd
To make it onto the WWE main roster, you need to be a real star. Every fighter must have the X factor, which cannot be taught. You need to have the charisma to get the public to look at you, buy your shirts, and follow your career. Find ways to stand out from the rest of your peers and earn a contract.
There is no right character for a wrestler, because your goal is to be unique. Daniel Bryan is a long way from the stereotype of a WWE wrestler, but he has become a very successful superstar thanks to his common man style. Find your way
Advice
- Make sure you get enough rest during your workouts.
- Create a website that promotes your brand. Who knows? You could break through.
- To train at home, get a mat and a mannequin.
- Always start with the basics in order to tire your opponent.
- Practice speaking in front of the audience so that you feel more comfortable in front of the cameras.
