How to Call a Match & Call Spots In Pro Wrestling?

Before we get into how to call a pro wrestling match in the ring, let’s start by answering basic questions that every beginner asks:

What does “calling a match” mean in professional wrestling?

Calling a match means simply telling your opponent the next move you are going to execute in a pro wrestling match.

What does “calling spots” mean in professional wrestling?

Calling spots can be used as a synonym to “calling matches” in pro wrestling. A spot is a move. Calling a spot means telling your opponent which move you are going to do next.

Many wrestlers use both expressions intechangeably.

Is it best to call matches in the ring or plan everyting out?

When you get into the ring with someone who is spot-oriented (someone who likes to plan everything in advance) things might get too mechanical because there is a lot to remember.

A pro wrestling match usually lasts at least 10 minutes, imagine how many moves you have to remember in a 25-minute match?

When you are worried in a match about “what’s the next move” and ” how many kicks should I throw, is it two or three”, etc. you put yourself at great risk of becoming robotic.

What I like to do as an indy pro wrestler is to get in the ring and flow with the energy of the crowd and call spots on the fly.

So to answer the question for a beginner pro wrestler, calling matches in the ring is the best thing to do.

Listen to this great advice about calling matches on the fly

You won’t get the same reaction from all crowds

You won’t get the same reaction to a move from all the crowds. What might impress the crowds of the west coast could be different from what might impress the crowds of the midwest.

With my wrestling partners, we had planned matches wherein one town they go great, but when we try to replicate them in other towns they don’t get the same reaction.

So with time and experience, we learned that calling matches in the ring was the best thing we could do especially in front of small crowds.

So I prefer to keep an eye on the public and plan the match accordingly.

Obviously, you will need a “good hand” aka a skillful opponent to make a good performance.

Planning everything out is more common in big promotions like WWE, but even the best wrestlers might find it difficult to remember all the spots of a match, here is a video showing the secret communication between WWE stars in the ring

Learn like a comedian

Do you know what comedians go through during the beginning few years of their career?

They go to every Improv club to perform and improvise.

As a green horn (a term used to describe beginners in professional wrestling) you are performing in indy shows in front of 40 people, why would you plan everything out and deprive yourself of the learning experience of intercating with the crowd?

This will boost your confidence and will take your game to the next level.

How to call spots in the ring as a beginner pro wrestler?

Calling spots in the ring requires communication with your opponent.

Here are a few techniques on how to communicate in the ring:

  1. Long hair

Many professional wrestlers love to grow long hair, it helps them amplify the impact of the received punches, it also helps create chaos when it is wet and especially when it is mixed with some drops of blood.

But above all, long hair helps to hide the face when you communicate with your opponent, all you have to do is to lean down with your head and voilà! call your next spot easily!

How to communicate in the ring in professional wrestling

2. Use your opponent to hide your face

Example 1: a rear naked choke

Hide your mouth behind your opponent’s neck, your mouth has to be close to their ear so they can hear you well in a crowded event.

How to communicate in the ring in professional wrestling

Example 2: Defending the rear naked choke

how to communicate in the ring in pro wrestling
As you can see in the picture, the mouth is fully hidden

3. Don’t talk when you are far away from your opponent

This is a big no-no!

Just like when you are watching a movie and a boom mic dips into the frame, it ruins your cinematic experience. In professional wrestling, the audience pays for a certain experience, you don’t want to ruin their experience by letting them see you pass a note to your opponent.

4. Use the referee

Don’t forget that the referee is there to help you, this is part of their job.

So if you want to pass a note to your opponent from a distance, use the referee.

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