10 Secret Signals Used In WWE Matches (& What They Mean)

MsMojo

Ever wondered what wrestlers are really saying when they tap their head or hold up a finger? These aren't just random gestures! Join us as we decode the covert cues and hidden signals WWE Superstars use to communicate with their opponents, managers, and referees, all without giving away their game plan to the audience. Get ready to learn the secret language of the squared circle!

Transcript

00:00Welcome to Miz Mojo and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 secret signs

00:10used by WWE wrestlers during matches.

00:15For this list we'll be counting down the industry signals and slang utilized by WWE

00:28wrestlers during a professional wrestling match.

00:31We'll be taking into account the participation of ring officials and staff as well.

00:35We realize that pro wrestlers are all trained differently and not all of these signs may

00:40apply to all performers.

00:42However, all of these possess a history of use by at least a large subset of pro wrestlers

00:47within WWE.

00:5010.

00:51Dictating the match Every WWE matchup is different, with a particular

00:55ebb and flow.

00:57However, the traditional pro wrestling contest can often be defined by early offense from

01:02the babyface, i.e. the good guy.

01:08As a result, it can often come down to the heel, or bad guy, to dictate the match from

01:13that point forward.

01:15This can be in the form of rest holds, low-impact maneuvers such as a sit-down head or chin lock,

01:21where both wrestlers can take a breather.

01:29Furthermore, it comes to the heels who indicate, either verbally or with a physical cue, that

01:34it's time for the face to make their triumphant comeback.

01:38In other words, the performance of a wrestling superhero is often only as good as their

01:43villainous rogues gallery.

01:489.

01:49Receipts Have you ever been watching a WWE match and thought to yourself, damn, that looked

01:55like it hurts.

01:56That could be because it potentially did.

02:05The wrestling business often uses the term potato to define a real, unworked strike or

02:10punch.

02:11These potatoes could occur for a number of reasons, including by accident, but other times

02:17they're what the industry calls, receipts.

02:20This is when one wrestler might mess up a move on their opponent, to the point where

02:24that opponent becomes angry.

02:37Said receipt is doled out as if to say, hey, watch it, or take it down a notch.

02:43Even a cursory glance back at wrestling history will likely turn up enough potatoes to grow

02:47a testosterone-fueled vegetable garden.

02:528.

02:56The Importance of Announcers The referees are a well-documented source

03:01of safety and knowledge to all performers within the WWE ring.

03:05However, those striped officials aren't the only line of communication between the squared

03:10circle and producers behind the curtain.

03:16Ring announcers, commentators, or even timekeepers have been known to communicate to referees from

03:22outside the ring.

03:32It is true that all refs often wear earpieces for communication, but this isn't always the

03:37case.

03:38As a result, the tip of a cap, or a gesture with a pen or pencil, can subtly communicate

03:43to a referee that a match is going long, a commercial break is about to end, or just

03:49about anything else.

03:527.

03:57Hooking the Leg This pro wrestling secret is admittedly from

04:02a bygone era, and not one that's in practice anymore.

04:06This is due in part to just how fast-paced and technical the industry has become over

04:10the years.

04:15However, WWE matches during the 1980s occasionally utilized a maneuver that many modern wrestling

04:26fans take for granted.

04:28Hooking the Leg Do you remember when WAF commentator Gorilla

04:32Monsoon would continually admonish wrestlers for not doing this during a match?

04:36Well, there was actually a method to their madness.

04:48This is because the hooking of the leg was often a sign that the match was over.

04:53We see it all the time today, but at one point, it would sometimes serve as the go-home move

04:59for the victor.

05:046.

05:07Spot Calling This is another pro wrestling tactic that's

05:10not largely employed anymore, with one glaring exception.

05:14Yeah, WWE fans are likely quite familiar with John Cena's penchant for audibly calling out

05:20spots or moves during a match.

05:23WWE matches are predetermined, with some wrestlers going so far as to meticulously plan out their

05:29ring roadmap for the night.

05:40WWE members may communicate quietly, during a rest hold or while in the corner turnbuckle.

05:54Not big match John, however.

05:56The face that runs the place can often be heard shouting out for clotheslines or what have you,

06:02essentially improvising on the fly with his opponents.

06:17The Hot Tag Have you ever wondered how a tag team match

06:20can conjure up that moment of excitement when both wrestlers tag in their respective partners

06:26at the exact same time?

06:27Well, there's a method to that magic, although it sometimes differs depending on the wrestler.

06:33Historically, however, tag team wrestlers will often extend their arm palm down if they're

06:48not expecting the tag.

06:50Then, when it's time to switch, they will turn their palms up.

06:54This doesn't happen all the time, of course, but it works very well as a means to communicate

06:59such a time-sensitive spot as the Double Hot Tag.

07:05Specifically, it allows the wrestlers in the ring, who do not have eyes on the back of their

07:19heads, confident enough to make that leap into their corner.

07:264 Eye Contact An average wrestling match might contain a dozen or more near falls.

07:39Have you ever paid attention to the eyes of the wrestler being pinned, however?

07:43Sometimes they're looking directly at the referee.

07:53This is not accidental.

07:55Communication occurs here, and it's a clear sign that this pin attempt is not going to

07:59be successful.

08:07Now watch your average match conclusion.

08:09You'll notice that oftentimes, the losing wrestler is no longer gazing at the ref.

08:15Instead, their eyes are usually closed, glazed over, or staring at the lights on the ceiling.

08:21This means that it's time to go home, and the match is over.

08:303 Sweezing The Ref We've mentioned referees a lot during this video,

08:36and that's definitely by design.

08:38They're a hugely important aspect of any wrestling match, WWE or otherwise.

08:43One way in which they keep things organized can be seen after a particularly high-impact or

08:49dangerous-looking sequence.

08:51Refs will often run towards a downed wrestler and grab their hands, searching for a squeeze.

08:57If that wrestler squeezes back, then they're okay, and the match can continue.

09:02Refs also occasionally squeeze the wrestler as a warning, such as when to expect a hit from

09:08behind or to brace for impact.

09:122 Hand Slaps Slapping is a big part of professional

09:25wrestling.

09:26Wrestlers slap each other, and even slap themselves, in order to create an auditory illusion of

09:32impact during a move like a superkick.

09:35Often times, however, the act of the slap serves as a communication.

09:43Randy Orton, for example, claps his hands together as a signal that he's about to hit his patented

09:49power slam.

09:54When he doesn't clap his hands, that's a signal for his opponent to either counter or avoid

10:02the move.

10:03Elsewhere, the infamous DDT is often predicted by a slap on the back.

10:08Some wrestlers omit the slap for the same reason.

10:11The DDT is intended to be blocked or otherwise nullified.

10:38There can be a whole lot of confusion surrounding our number one secret sign.

10:44It's something no one ever wants to see, when the referee crosses their arms over their

10:49head in the form of an X.

10:53This is supposed to be the sign that a real injury has occurred, and the match might be

10:58shortened or even entirely cooled off.

11:10Yet, there have also been moments when the WWE have used audience knowledge of this X in

11:16storyline terms.

11:17This blurs the line even more between fiction and reality, but there's no denying the Big

11:22X's historical reputation as a bad sign.

11:24Do you agree with our picks?

11:34Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell

11:39bell to be notified about our latest videos.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended