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?
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