Okay, so today, I wanted to mess around with something completely different: crafting a wrestling announcer script. You know, like those big, booming voices that hype up the crowd before a match? Yeah, that’s the vibe I was going for.
Getting Started
First off, I had to really think about what makes a good wrestling announcer. It’s not just about shouting names, right? There’s a whole art to it. So I started by watching a bunch of old wrestling matches. I mean, hours of them. I was paying close attention to how the announcers introduced the wrestlers, how they built up the tension, and how they kept the energy going throughout the match.
Learning the Lingo
Then there’s the whole wrestling jargon thing. “Gorilla position,” “babyface,” “spot” – it’s like its own language. I found out that the “Gorilla position” is just the area behind the curtain where wrestlers come out, named after some wrestling legend, Gorilla Monsoon. And get this, sometimes the wrestlers plan out the ending of the match beforehand, like a whole sequence of moves to make it look epic. I spent a good chunk of time just trying to get my head around all these terms. It felt like learning a whole new vocabulary.
Finding Inspiration
I also read up on some of the most famous wrestling announcers, like Howard Finkle. People say he’s the best ever. I was trying to figure out what made him so good. Was it his voice? His timing? His ability to connect with the crowd? Probably a mix of all of those things. And I found some people complaining about the new WWE intro, saying that Imperium intro and Bloodline intro are good examples.
Drafting the Script
With all that in my head, I started writing. I decided to create a script for a fictional match, just to practice. I came up with two wrestlers, gave them some cool names, and wrote out their introductions. I tried to make the language as over-the-top as possible, really playing up their strengths and rivalries. I imagined myself in a huge arena, with thousands of fans screaming, and I wrote the kind of intro that would get them on their feet.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Once I had a draft, I started practicing reading it out loud. Let me tell you, it’s a lot harder than it looks. You have to get the pacing just right, the tone of your voice, the emphasis on certain words. I must have read that script a hundred times, each time trying to make it sound more dramatic, more exciting.
Getting Feedback
I even roped in a couple of friends to listen to me. They’re not huge wrestling fans, but they gave me some good feedback. They told me where I was rushing, where I needed to pause for effect, and where I sounded a bit too monotone. It was super helpful.
The Final Product
After all that work, I finally had a script I was happy with. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a heck of a lot better than when I started. I even recorded myself reading it, just to see how it sounded. It was pretty cool to hear my own voice trying to be a wrestling announcer. It may not be WWE-level quality, but hey, I thought it was decent.
What I Learned
- It’s harder than it looks. Being a wrestling announcer is a real skill. It’s not just about shouting; it’s about storytelling, building suspense, and connecting with the audience.
- The language is key. Knowing the lingo is essential. It adds authenticity and helps you paint a picture of the wrestlers and the match.
- Practice makes perfect. You have to practice reading your script out loud, over and over again, to get the pacing and tone right.
- Feedback is crucial. Getting feedback from others can help you identify areas where you need to improve.
So, that’s my little adventure into the world of wrestling announcing. It was a fun experiment, and I learned a lot along the way. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll hear me announcing a match at WrestleMania. A guy can dream, right?
