Regal tweets advice on the psychology of pinning/kicking out

[HMARK Center]

I find pins and kickouts to be one of the most interesting but often underserved aspects of wrestling psychology. I spent my childhood hearing Gorilla Monsoon always saying "he shoulda hooked the leg!", but wasn't always sure what that really meant. I think simple lateral presses are more effective than they're given credit for. I think there's too many times these days when someone eats a big move and manages a big kickout, when it might get the move over better to instead put a foot/hand on the ropes or do a weak kickout ala what Jay White does deep in matches against NJPW's biggest stars. For that matter, when a match isn't at that point, there should be more wrestlers making a show of trying to fight out of a pin attempt, rather than just lying there and kicking out at two because "kick out at two is just how it's done".

But I also think we need to take into account a wrestler's character (e.g. cocky heels like '98 Jericho doing lazy pins), what point of the match we're at (e.g. a tired Shawn Michaels collapsing onto his opponent after a superkick), how easy it is to transition into a strong pin out of a certain move (e.g. a wrestler having to choose between a strong pin or a sloppy-but-quick one after a signature spot), etc.

I guess I just want to see wrestlers working the art of the pin a little bit more than we usually see; some announcers do a good job of covering for a poor pin by working it into their commentary for a match, but it'd be fun to see more wrestlers being proactive about how they'll integrate those moments into the stories of their matches. And ultimately, I think Regal's got a strong point: the pins where someone can't hook the leg, where someone can barely kick out at 2.9, etc., work much better if you spend the rest of the match doing strong executed pins or emphatic kickouts, since the more dramatic moments become the exception instead of the rule.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

I think not pinning properly is useful psychology for some products that have a lot of kickouts. Just make sure the winning cover is usually tight except in a squash.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

It's a small aspect that a lot of wrestlers get wrong today

Yes, you have your use of psychology in how you pin in some matches and even the characters have a way of doing things but for the most part you see way too many lazy pins in a way that can take you out of a match. Sure you have your audio cues like announcers saying omg he's not going to kick out and he does but even when watching without audio you can tell where they are in a match based upon how they pin

Easiest solution would be to not go for as many pins in a match often especially off simple moves but it is a little trick of the trade that can be polished and if Regal is speaking, I would listen on the matter

[4real]

I’m fine with lazy pins as long as the person doing it is an arrogant heel or something. Or too exhausted to make a better cover.

Hooking the wrong leg near the ropes should be outlawed though hate that shit.

[Alice Syndrome]

one of my favourite little psychology bits is absolutely folding someone in half because you're desperate to get the pin.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Regal's right. If it's supposed to look like you're trying to win a match, then you need to look like you're trying to win.

[1 Free Moon-Down with Burger]

I thought the right move was to make an over dramatic face and look into the camera after a kickout.

["Sweet & Sour" ImSoFudginGreat]

I’m on a TJPW kick at the moment, but I like how some of the wrestlers (Moka Miyamoto comes to mind) pin both arms to the sides and puts her whole body on the shoulders/upper chest area. Looks like she’s putting everything she has into keeping the shoulders down.

[GuyOfOwnage]

Oct 9, 2021 14:59:58 GMT -5 Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) said:

It's a small aspect that a lot of wrestlers get wrong today

Yes, you have your use of psychology in how you pin in some matches and even the characters have a way of doing things but for the most part you see way too many lazy pins in a way that can take you out of a match. Sure you have your audio cues like announcers saying omg he's not going to kick out and he does but even when watching without audio you can tell where they are in a match based upon how they pin

Easiest solution would be to not go for as many pins in a match often especially off simple moves but it is a little trick of the trade that can be polished and if Regal is speaking, I would listen on the matter

The kickout cues from commentary have driven me nuts for years. Look, I know the wrestler is probably going to kick out at this point in the match, but that doesn't mean they have to telegraph it so blatantly. If this trope went away tomorrow and never came back, I don't think I'd shed a tear.

[Bo Rida]

Regal tweets? I'm so disappointed.
Feel a bit better they seem to be mostly related to Blackpool.

[Mozenrath]

Oct 9, 2021 17:45:39 GMT -5 El Pollo Guerrera said:

Regal's right. If it's supposed to look like you're trying to win a match, then you need to look like you're trying to win.

Generally, though I also think it is fine if some pins are a little sloppier in the middle or early stages of the match when the one pinning doesn't think it's going to get the win off of a vertical suplex or something, he's just wasting his opponent's energy by making them have to kick out, etc.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Oct 10, 2021 3:16:25 GMT -5 Bo Rida said:

Regal tweets? I'm so disappointed.
Feel a bit better they seem to be mostly related to Blackpool.

His Twitter is interesting and wholesome. I recommend