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Promo styles of less familiar wrestlers

Glum76Posted on 12/07/05 at 04:07:33

Though I tend to half-ass things a lot when I book cards in TNM, when I get into a circuit, I like to be pretty detailed.   Such attention to detail requires me to do quite a bit of research when I use wrestlers that I don't know much about (i.e. searching for a detailed description of their finisher if the "similar to" is "block", verifying move lists, looking for pictures and recent show reports for little character tidbits, etc).

One thing that has me stuck, though, is figuring out what a given wrestler's promo (interview) style is.  If I've seen them cut a promo or multiple promos, it's obviously very easy, but if I haven't, I end up completely misusing the character when I use the Interview Integrator.  

Right now, I'm really into a circuit and I'm kind of stuck because I need Samoa Joe to speak at length for an important angle, and I have never seen Samoa Joe cut a promo.  (I don't have any ROH tapes, and I've never seen him speak on TNA television).   I have an idea of what he needs to say, but I have no idea how the Samoa Joe character would say it.    

I realize this is a stretch, but can anyone give me any kind of advice on how to write a realistic Samoa Joe promo?  Does he use any catchphrases?   Is he always serious, or does he talk trash?  Does he use humor at all?  What one thing could I put in a Samoa Joe interview (ala Ric Flair's Whooos and catchphrases or a John Cena rap) that would capture the essence of his promo style?

Here's what I'd imagine Joe would do during an interview:  put over his passion for the busness;  put over his experience in Japan;  talk about pride and honor;  talk about choking out his opponent.  

Am I close?   Christ, does he even speak in ROH?  Help, please.
91Posted on 12/07/05 at 04:28:31

He does speak, though I don't know what his promos are like - I'm sure someone else will answer that question for you (I don't think he's humour based though, but I couldn't say for certain).

That said, don't be too afraid of straying away from the norm when writing out wrestlers interviews - most are going to have a little bit of your own style anyway even if you don't realise it. Everyones circuit I've ever read, including my own, will often use similar terms or mannerisms or characteristics on several wrestlers even though it's not the case in real life.

If you want to be dead on realistic and find out, someone is bound to answer the questions for you, but like I said, don't be afraid of putting your own spin on things and developing his real on-screen character into something that fits in with what your circuit is like.

Mind you, if you're putting in this much effort, I'm willing to bet it'd be a good read when it's done, so stick up some cards on the boards here as well, we could use a few new circuits.
Glum76Posted on 12/07/05 at 04:41:10

91 - Agreed on all points.   I do have a noticeable style that seems to creep into promos I write for all of the wrestlers in my circuit, and I enjoy taking characters into different, unexpected directions to shape them into what (or who) I want them to be.

I think stuff I've seen in your circuit, particularly the "Haiku-reading" Jeff Hardy stuff, demonstrates the primary appeal of booking a TNM circuit or running your own wrestling universe.   It's an opportunity to use your imagination and be creative, and for a lot of people, that includes giving pushes and mic time and character development to wrestlers who don't often get it.

Still, in the case of Samoa Joe (who I'm a mark for based upon only three TNA matches), I'd rather this promo emulate reality because it's the first time he's picking up a microphone in my circuit.   I almost feel as though if you nail a wrestler's persona in your circuit in the beginning, then taking them in a new unexpected direction later on is almost more fulfilling.

So basically, with Samoa Joe, it's a case of where I want to nail it once because he's the top guy right now and I'm a mark for him and I want to have a starting point for whatever weird makeover I have in store for him down the road.  
91Posted on 12/07/05 at 04:59:53

Makes total sense - sort of a "I've ended up giving him a new character, but I can picture him doing it because I used the real him as a blueprint".
Snabbit888Posted on 12/07/05 at 05:27:27

Yeah.  In most cases when you try to just slap a silly gimmick on a wrestler to start, it won't work.  Because for most silliness, there's at least a reason as to why they became so silly.
Rick GarrardPosted on 12/07/05 at 05:59:39

unless said silliness is Da Boogey Man!
rey619Posted on 12/07/05 at 08:41:39

I have seen a few of Joe's promos in RoH (but the absent Critic of the Dawn has probably seen more.. speaking of which.. where is he??)

Joe's promos aren't very enthusiastic, and he speaks in a low, calmed voice. It almost resemble a shoot promo. I haven't seen much passion in his promos, which is probably why he doesn't do a lot of them, even in RoH.

Joe speaks with action, not words!  ;D
UnrightPosted on 12/07/05 at 11:21:48

On 12/07/05 at 08:41:39, rey619 wrote:Joe speaks with action, not words!  ;D
There ya go. That could be Joe's catchphrase right there.

Although I doubt he'd be a third person speaker.
Captain TagonPosted on 12/08/05 at 01:42:27

Joe's promos are very understated and very quiet. It's almost like he knows he's better than everyone else and doesn't have to prove it.

He does tend to slip humour into things, but it's a very dry humour. Just little subtle things that makes him smile and makes the five people in the audience that get it laugh.

And he does, in RoH at least, have a catch phrase:

"Samoa Joe is pro-wrestling"
Glum76Posted on 12/08/05 at 02:59:32

I think Captain and Rey have pointed me in the right direction, and I think I have enough to go on to write the promo so I can finally sim this big card I've been planning.  

Thanks for your input, guys.

91Posted on 12/08/05 at 03:41:12

Stick it on the boards when you're done, won't you.
YunPosted on 12/09/05 at 04:57:43

One trademark of Joe's ROH promos that the previous posters left out: he gets right up in the camera so that his face takes up the entire screen.
Captain TagonPosted on 12/09/05 at 05:31:16

On 12/09/05 at 04:57:43, Yun wrote:One trademark of Joe's ROH promos that the previous posters left out: he gets right up in the camera so that his face takes up the entire screen.
I didn't realize that was a Joe thing, I just thought it was an RoH thing. I think every RoH promo I've ever seen has someone doing that.