Ever wonder how wrestlers throw fireballs?
Or how they hit each other with chairs without getting hurt? I have, too.
After some searching, I finally found the answers to these age-old
questions.
1. How do wrestlers throw fireballs?
A: A substance called nirocellulose is formed into a blazing paper known
as flash paper. It burns extremely quickly. When lit up (usually by a
lighter concealed by the referee until the right moment), it produces a
dramatic flash for a few seconds. The wrestler throws the fireball after
lighting it, and if timed right, will seemingly explode in the other
wrestler's face. There is very little damage to the other wrestler, and no
one has actually been burned from the trick.
2. How do wrestlers color their tongues?
A: Food coloring, suckers, candy, Kool Aid...
3. How do wrestlers blow mist?
A: Although this is common in Japan, few wrestlers in North America
perform it. However, those who do blow mist in the U.S. are usually
associated with it (for instance, what stands out most in your mind about
the old WWE wrestler in the mid-90's, Quang?). The "evil green
mist" is performed when wrestlers mix water with food coloring. They
then put the mixture in a small baggie or ballon, and have the referee
conceal it in his pocket until the planned time. Sometimes, though, the
wrestler will already have it in his mouth, but that's usually just during
a short match. Of course, there is a choking hazard here, so it would be
wise not to try this one at home.
4. How do wrestlers hit each other with chairs without getting hurt?
A: All of the fold-up chairs the wrestlers use are designed to take most
of the impact of a blow and ost of the time, wrestlers don't hit their
opponents very hard, which reduces the risk of injury. Be warned: Regular
kitchen chairs won't take most of the impact (as if you didn't aready
know) and will end up actually injuring your opponent.
5: How do wrestlers bleed?
A: Despite what you might have heard, 95% percent of the time, a wrestler
bleeds by "blading" himself, and not by using a blood capsule.
Here's how it works: A wreslter rolls out of the ring and hides himself
from the view of the audience. He then pulls out a small blade (usually
concealed in a taped-up wrist or finger) and quickly cuts his forehead.
Cutting anywhere else is very dangerous and is rarely ever attempted.
However, cutting the forehead is somewhat dangerous, because you can hit a
major artery if you cut too deep. New Jack learned this the hard way. The
thirst for blood has let up lately, because of the fear of AIDS.
6. What is a wrestling ring made of and roughly how big is it? -A
wrestling ring is usually either 18' X 18' or 20' X 20'. Some of the
smaller feds have rings as small as 12' X 12'. The smaller venues need
smaller rings. The 18X18 or 20X20 is the standard. I believe ECW uses
18X18 and WWE uses 20X20. I am not sure about WCW, but I may have read
somewhere that is was 18X18. The ring usually consists of a thin covering,
usually canvas or nylon, a thin foam padding, usually around and inch and
a layer of plywood. The bracing is either made of steel or wood and there
is a spring, similar to a coil spring on a car, that gives the ring the
spring in the mat to pull off dropkicks and moves like that. Also there is
often a microphone under the ring to catch the noise of the blows to ring.
7. What are the ring ropes really made of, and why do they look
different in the different feds? -Most ring ropes are either
plastic-covered steel cables or plastic-covered actual ropes. WWE uses
rope, while WCW, ECW and Japanese feds uses steel. In Europe, some feds
actually use bare steel cables. Mick Foley was wrestling Vader in Germany
and he did a simple head tie up in the ropes and ended up severing his
ear, thus ending up with the sporty, earless look he has now.
8. What is the deal with the "creative control" we are always
hearing about? -Creative control is a section in a wrestler's contract
that lets him or her have a final say in all storylines and or titles and
match finishes that have a say in his/her career. This is why you see many
wrestlers rarely lose, even though their work-rate has been failed
significantly or they are visibly injured. Originally, this was a favor to
an older and respected wrestler, but this has been abused of late for
wrestlers who are beyond their prime and refuse to believe that they are
not the star they were in the mid '80's.
9. I want to be a wrestler, what do I do? -First off, it is best to
have an athletic background. This will make it much easier for you. Second
off, have a plan to do something in case the wrestling thing doesn't work
and have something you can do when you get out of wrestling. Only a small
percentage of trained wrestlers actually make it and remember most
wrestlers are done by the time they hit 40. You still have a lot of time
left in your life once you finish wrestling. Next is to find a school that
is reliable, successful and nearby. Many wrestlers have been successful by
moving to suit a wrestling school, it is advisable to stay close to home.
Plus you can always mooch a meal off of the parental units when you're
near home... Once you have found a good school, work hard, keep your mouth
shut and obey the rules of the trainers. And get used to it, you will be
following rules for a long time. Remember, most wrestlers who maintain a
good physique have to follow a strict diet and maintain a stringent work
out schedule. Something else to remember, work hard. Almost always, hard
work will be rewarded. Check out the wrestling
schools page as well to find a school near you.
10. Why is Mick Foley not working in the ring anymore? -Mick has
had many severe concussions in the past few years and has been suffering
the typical signs of post-concussion syndrome. It was best for Mick and
his family, for him to leave the ring and follow a career that was less
harmful to his health. Mick has taken over the role as commissioner and is
surely helping out backstage when he can. Mick has hinted that he may
return to the ring, but for all intents and purposes, the match at
Wrestlemania was his last.
11. So really, were Nash and Goldberg shooting back then? -A
"shoot" is something that is unscripted in wrestling and for all
intents and purposes, real. Nash and Goldberg were saying things that were
probably true and from the heart, but they were certainly prompted by
Russo and WCW behind the scenes people and they were both encouraged to
speak their mind. Indirectly, there were subtle things that especially
Nash said that have been dissected at the other sites that showed Nash has
thoughts about his future, the WCW and the current state of wrestling.
Goldberg's speech was heavily edited, so perhaps much of his stuff went
too far. Our old friend Matt "Mountaineer" Marcus told me one
time, if it is on TV, it is a work, and I tend to agree. About 95-99% of
the time, if it is on TV, it is a work.
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