Ban three (relatively) trivial things in wrestling

[RedTwoster]

What three relatively trivial things would you permanently ban from wrestling, if you had the power to do so?

Here are mine…

1. Fan signs - I’ve never been to a wrestling event, so I’ve never had my view blocked by an over-eager fan constantly waving their sign. However, this has happened to me at a Scotland football game, when some prick kept waving an enormous flag, blocking my view. My friend actually asked him politely if he could lower it a bit as she couldn’t see either and he refused. After the game he confronted us both to say we’d ruined the game for him. So yeah, in conclusion, ban fan signs at wrestling matches. 

2. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen _____ manhandled in this way before’ - Michael Cole loves using this one, and even Bryan Danielson said something like this at All Out last weekend. This is the thing announcers say that annoys me the most, and it would be the first thing on my McMahon-esque list of banned terms for them to say. Every time they say it, it annoys me to the point I say ‘fuck off’ out loud. And I don’t want to tell Bryan Danielson to fuck off, so let’s ditch that phrase right away. 

3. The War Games match (or any variation of it) - ‘relatively trivial’ is probably doing some heavy lifting here given that they’re usually big pay-off matches, but I can’t in good conscience not include this. I hate the period of time in which wrestlers cant lose, it’s so boring. You’re just watching people beat the shit out of one another, knowing it can result in nothing. Plus, factoring in Blood and Guts and War Games means both AEW and WWE have to book in a way that makes the match feel inconsequential and predictable. We know it’s going to happen, so this thing I already find dull becomes even less interesting.

Honorable mention: wrestlers whose entire gimmick consists of shouting other people’s names (mentioning no one in particular)

[SuperBacon]

Seth Rollins, Seth Rollins laugh, Seth Rollins suits.

[Dr. Alan Grant]

1. Regular fans. Particularly Green shirt guy and Brock Lesnar guy. I’m tired of seeing them on every show wearing the same clothes. By all means, buy a ticket. But not opposite the hard cam. And change your goddamn shirts. 

2. Say goodbye to Adam Pearce breaking up backstage brawls. It’s every single show. He’s like a substitute teacher that nobody respects. The man has no authority. At least Nick Aldis looks like he could mess you up if you pissed him off. 

3. I’m cheating a little, but I’m including two for the price of one. Contract signings and in-ring talk show segments. Why doesn’t every match have a contract signing? Why just certain ones? A contract signing has never been as interesting as just having a one on one promo with the parties involved. And there’s also never been a good talk show in wrestling. Miz TV, KO Show, Highlight Reel, whatever all the others have been called. Just an excuse to whip out their shitty props. Miz TV is the absolute worst, for one highly trivial reason. He comes out and does his little spiel, “welcome to the most must see talk show in WWE, welcome to…”. Then he pauses for the crowd to shout “Miz TV!” And then Miz will say “Miz TV.” What are you doing? You don’t need to say it again. The crowd did it for you. That’s why you paused, you goon. Screw it, just ban The Miz. 

[mim731]

1. Wrestlers singing along to their music on the way to the ring. It's cringe as fuck. 

2. Screwdrivers/anything that's a stabbing implement. It's too much.

3. Wrestlers wearing their gear when they're not booked. I don't know why but it makes it feel very contrived when they have an impromptu match. 

[Supremo]

Chants to Boney M’s, “Daddy Cool.” Roman, Roman Reiiiigns. Cody, Cody Rhooooodes. Like everything in pro-wrestling, it was good until the fans spammed it to death. Get rid.

Worked shoots. If anything on your television show requires insider knowledge or an Observer subscription you’re doing pro-wrestling wrong. You aren’t clever. You’re lazy and shit. Almost without exception, the best stuff in pro-wrestling in 2025 are the purely fictionalised  characters and realities.

”You Deserve It!” chants. Fuck off.

[SwayWays]

1. Wrestlers who should wear wrist tape, not wearing wrist tape. Some would absolutely benefit, and don't wear it. 

 

2. Michael Cole saying " x is having his way with y" on the last who he said it 3 times within ten minutes, in the same match. Just a weird phasing the way he uses it. 

3. Wrestlers playing wrestler in promos, the ones who can't cut an authentic promo really should be taught how to. For every Zach Ryder, theres a Drew Mcintyre. 

 

Although as above, I'd also veto my choices for Seth Rollins if it had more chance of working... Although he's one of the worst for number 3. Sounds as intimidating as a kittens fart. 

[AshC]

Wrestlers arriving at the show.

The idea of having wrestlers filmed arriving.

Memories of wrestlers arriving.

 

[air_raid]

1. Champions losing non-title matches.

2. World Champions in tag matches on PLE.

3. Major, feud-ending gimmick matches dictated by the calendar rather than the story.

[HarmonicGenerator]

1. Audiences doing the “whoa oh oh oh” along to Seth Rollins. Don’t encourage him!

2. Blatant lying around waiting for your next bit in matches, particularly things like Casino Gauntlets and Royal Rumbles. Do something!

3. Whoever’s doing the whitening on Roman Reigns’ teeth. You’ve gone too far, it’s like that episode of Friends with Ross’ teeth and it genuinely makes Roman’s matches unwatchable for me.

[DavidB6937]

1. Michael Cole being surprised at Pat turning up.

2. Michael Cole yeeting.

3. Wade Barrett saying "Bouncy Bouncy!" during Stephanie's Devils Kiss which somehow annoys me more than Booker's "ah! ah!" which shouldn't be possible.

Only three was difficult, especially when I didn't even get past the commentary.

[Mr.Showtime]

I'll pick 3 AEW-related things, since WWE can get in the bin.

1. No more references to the current moment that is going on being a great moment. "What a moment this is!" Schiavone continuously hammers home to us, even if it's not. I love you, Tony, but I'll decide if it's a moment, thank you very much! 

2. No more references to killing your rival. This has ramped up soooo much in AEW recently. On one show about a month ago, there were four promos in which someone threatened to kill their opponent in one way or another. Like the stabbing implements mentioned above, it's too much for me and takes me out of things.

3. Kyle Fletcher v Hangman was great, but I always moan about too many people in AEW getting title shots when they already have a title. No more challenging for gold unless you've held your current championship for a year and want to move up. Title v title should be a big deal.

[gmoney]

1. You punch/chop me, I'll punch/chop you spots. So fucking shite, and always exposes how bad punches and forearms are in modern wrestling.

2. Kicking out of a big move or finisher at a one count and powering up. This is good if you see it once a year, unfortunately you see it about twice a show.

3. Repurposing old WCW and ECW event names. It was shite when they made Starrcade a glorified house show, and there is universal agreement that Wrestlepalooza is a dreadful name. Come up with your own shit. 

[Chili]

Talk show segments should always have their own little set and not in the ring, the old Piper's Pit or the Brother Love set-up. Not even on the top of the ramp. Or have it where they do those panel discussions. Don't care if all the fans can't see it, they're on their phones anyway. 

[LaGoosh]

1. Pointing at event signs.

2. Canadian destroyers.

3. That weird fade transition between segments.

[FLips]

1. Singing wrestlers entrance music. Edge, Jericho and Randy Orton are the three biggest offenders. Shite, and it’s just the crowd getting themselves over. 

2. Putting a catchphrase before your entrance music because it’s so bad nobody would know who you were otherwise. If you’re going to have a crap theme then commit to it fully or change it to a good one.

3. Excalibur’s mask. It looks dumb, you’re a commentator you can take it off now.