I think the art of communication is important in the creation of a well-rounded wrestler.
Very clear and audible verbal communication in the noisy environment that is a wrestling arena is important to me because most of my hearing is now on strike. A wrestler should speak clearly if he wants to be heard by me because some PA systems are more muddled than others, and if a wrestler speaks hesitantly, or in low tones, I cannot hear what he is saying.
Non-verbal communications is twice as important to me and other fans as well. Body language is an art form. A wrestler can tell me he is a heel without uttering a word, simply by wearing a scowl on his face. He reaches out to fans on the walk around, then haughtily pulls away. His attitude when the ref pats him down is one of "don't touch me." His disdain for his opponent is more obvious when he reaches out to shake hands in a sportsman-like manner, then slaps the guy's face derisively.
A skilled heel does NOT need to call me names (unless he is talking especially to me, in which case, I am part of the show). If he argues with the old lady in the first row, she invariably wins. I have seen some funny put downs from fans toward heel wrestlers and I have seen some great silent tantrums. Stuff like this makes great wrestling greater.
Easily one of the best non-verbal heels I have ever seen wrestle in our area is Wade Garrett, also known as the Wiggins (Mississippi) Axe Murderer. He OOZES badness. His body language shouts volumes. once, in Semmes Alabama, working for the AWF, Garrett found himself outside the ring in a life or death struggle against The Nightmare, Ted Allen. They were wrestling inches from my table, and I was a little concerned, but not worried. Professionals don't crash into my table, only amateurs do.
Anyhow, in the frenzy of combat, Garrett grabbed an object off the table and began to pummel the everlovin' crap out of The Nightmare, succeeding in inflicting more than 10 blows to the cranium. Then, having finished doing that, he tossed the object back to me, signaling that it was no longer useful.
Now that object had no affect on The Nightmare at all and no wonder, it was a styrofoam mannequin head, the kind that one displays masks on for resale. One of Garret's legion of fans was on the floor behind the battle, following the action. She saw the toss-back and rushed up to the table to waving a $10 bill and screaming above the crowd noise, "Is this enough, is this enough?"
I held up 10 fingers, smiled, nodded and displayed a thumbs up, that she could take the heard, which was a duplicate of the one Al Snow used to carry around for a while and she put the ten spot on the table and rushed away.
Meanwhile, Garrett and Allen were going at it hammer and anvil, like two vikings competing for Brun' Hilda as this excited fan got around in front of them. She got Garrett's attention by waving the styrofoam head in front of him, made eye contact just long enough to mouth the word "autograph" and held up a sharpie.
Wade Garrett, the toughest guy on the Gulf coast, according to a recent poll at that time, delivered a terrific blow to The Nightmare's forehead, bounced him off the stage at the back of the Community Center, kicked him amid ship for good measure, took two steps toward that lady, grabbed the sharpie, signed the head, returned the sharpie, then turned to face a rising opponent just in time to receive a head shot that turned the tide of battle against him until they returned to the ring where he prevailed.
At no moment did either wrestler utter a single word. We, the crowd thought they were going to massacre each other.
That's pretty "old school," I always thought, and I have been a Garrett fan for years.
Other examples of non-verbal heels on the Gulf Coast, whom I enjoy watching:
Pat Patara, of AWF (Mobile) Rikki Rocket, (Winner of this year's Gulf Coast Reunion Horizon Award), comic genius Marcel Pringle, and giving him his due, Percy Pringle as well as DJ Pringle who is King of Tantrums around here, or at least tied with NHW's Chris Tighe.
Non-verbal experts in suspending disbelief :
Dan Delicious and Evil Dan Delicious (man, you believe he is a serial killer when he heels), Bobby Doll, (whose tantrums are legendary). Kory Jackson (who could convince Mother Theresa to join in a "shooter" chant). Shooter Mike Jacobs (who just looks like he SHOULD be beating someone up), Veteran of Japanese Wrestling, "Who Am I" Chris Cody, who looks lost but then twists somebody inside out, and Chief Ironclaw, who always looks like he is in charge.
Referees Archie, Murry and Froggie, all say volumes without speaking.
The art of non-verbal communication should be taught along with basic ring psychology with every wrestler's training.
Although cutting promos is given a higher priority, unfortunately that too is an art being lost to poorly learned skills.
