Is it important for a wrestler to improvise based on heckles

[ratetankmark]

For example, with Taker when a fan shouted 'You Suck' and Taker fired back with 'Your Momma Sucks' and all the responses to the What chants like 'Say What if you sleep with your sister'.

I know it isn't an essential skill but when wrestlers respond to a few heckles it just seems pretty cool.

[Deleted]

Not exactly important, but if you're good at it, you'll get that much more heat. Ric Flair would do pretty well with his infamous "Shut up, fat boy. I'll take your girl and make a woman out of her."

A lot of heels usually go on the offensive when doing promos, they dish it out. Then when fans heckle, it usually just rolls off their backs. I'm sure they've heard it all.

[agent817]

I still laugh about "I hate you, Batista!" and Batista yelling "I hate you, too!"

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

"I'M FROM WINNIPEG, YOU IDIOT!"

Great response. Most guys these days seem content (or are taught) to ignore the heckling.

[Deleted]

Yes, on Monday for example Triple H killed the "what" chants that started during the ascention very quickly by simply changing the rhythm of his promo.


It's such an easy chant to stop yet alot of the newer talent who are reading from a script don't know how to do it.

[Loser]

[austinariesfan88]

I think its cool when a wrestler responds to the heckling, shows they can be creative.

[jimmyjames]

It helps because it gives the promo a feel of authenticity and not just something so scripted that might as well be read off a teleprompter in the ring. Plus, I think it gets the audience more into the rpomo and the event. A good example of course is Cenas promo swerve on the last Raw, which not only saved that segment, but might have helped the fans enthusiasm for tonight's match.

[Bo Rida]

Yep especially for new wrestlers, it helps to legitimise them by winning the respect of an audience.

There's been a few instances in WWE over the past year or two where you can tell relatively new performers have been ordered to stick to the script no matter what, it would have been hugely beneficial to them if they incorporated the loud chants into their promos and you got the impression they wanted to but they just carried on regardless (Maddox and AJ being two of the more notable examples).

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

I don't think every individual heckler warrants a response, and in fact too much of that would encourage more of their types in hopes they get acknowledged.

But as far as the crowds as a whole, wrestling is all about feeding from and interacting with the audience. Since WWE segments are scripted word for word, most talents either don't know how to change up their act if what they aren't doing isn't working, or are afraid of possible consequences of doing so. That's why Sheamus will come out as the New World Champion portraying a conquering hero while the crowd boos veraciously and chants for Daniel Bryan and he just rambles on like there's nothing wrong with that.

[Deleted]

It's just an intangible, like botch recovery improvization.

It's not necessary to be successful, but it shines when you see it.

[Deleted]

CROWD:YOU SUCK D**K YOU SUCK D**K Kurt Angle:YOUR MOTHER TAUGHT ME HOW!

[agent817]

Dec 15, 2013 9:16:56 GMT -5 @andreeethemidget said:

CROWD:YOU SUCK D**K YOU SUCK D**K Kurt Angle:YOUR MOTHER TAUGHT ME HOW!

I had forgotten about that.

[SOR]

If it's witty it's good. If guys struggle without a script they bes tjust let it roll off their backs.