Post by TIA Promotions on May 27, 2022 8:06:16 GMT -5
*This article was adapted from an article found here: www.forbes.com/sites/brianmazique/2017/04/22/the-definition-of-a-5-tool-professional-wrestler/?sh=1f2f8abb7263
BUILDING THE 5-TOOL PRO-WRESTLER
You've all heard of a 5-tool baseball player. It's a player who can hit for power, average, excel in the field with their glove and arm strength as well as wreak havoc on the basepaths with their speed.
These kinds of performers are few and far between on the diamond, but in the world of professional wrestling (and efedding), where success and greatness are achieved through qualities in a wider variety of categories, the pool of 5-tool performers is more plentiful.
So what is a 5-tool wrestler?
A Look
You'll notice, I didn't say "the look." That's the cool thing about professional wrestling. There's no one look that automatically equates to legitimacy. It's all in the way the performer makes their appearance work for them, and obviously in this case, how fed choose to utilize the talent.
You can look any way you want, just sell it.
If you are lacking a look. Try getting hooked up with a stylist or graphic artist. Work on an avatar, banner, poser model, new picbase, or other graphic design.
In-Ring Ability
Every wrestler doesn't have to be a high flyer or even a mat-wrestling genius to be good in the ring. The questions are: Does he or she execute offensive moves cleanly? Do they bump? Do they have a believable way to beat big and small opponents? Do they have a move set that flows together nicely? Do they have a set-up move for their finisher? Do they have a finisher than can be used on any opponent? Do they have a super-finisher for when desperation sets in?
Lastly, do they have the physical ability to do the moves they are trained to perform? However, booking a match for a performer should be easy for the match writers and should be believable for the readers.
If you are lacking in-ring ability, consider joining an efed gym. There are many.
Presence
This is easily the most intangible of the five tools, but it's a very real quality. When a wrestler walks the ramp, holds the mic before speaking or between sentences, do they exude whatever persona they're charged to portray?
For some, just their massive size or unique look is enough to evoke an appropriately positive or negative emotion from fans. For others, reputation, pedigree, or championship status are enough.
Presence is one of those things that you know it when you see it.
If you are lacking presence, consider working on your twitter/efedder game and consider a run-in segment or consider a special appearance at another fed.
Mic Skills
This is the most obvious tool of an e-fed wrestler. You've got to be able to cut an effective and entertaining promo. If a wrestler can't do this, they don't possess the ability to push a feud to the next level. Thus they lack the ability to make fans care about them – in hate or love.
All promos don't have to be as edgy, or as funny. It helps massively if they are relevant to the current match, but the only real requirement for delivering a solid promo is to be engaging with the audience.
If you are lacking in Mic Skills, read more RP’s. Look at what the champions are writing. Get inspiration from the writers you enjoy the most. And consider running an alt character who is the complete opposite of your main character. Experimenting on a throw-away account may open up some new skills without risking the reputation of your main character.
Versatility
Ever seen a great heel turn? It’s perhaps the best showcase of versatility in professional wrestling. Changing from babyface to heel and vice versa is something that many have done, but few do it seamlessly.
Having range is invaluable to a promotion. It makes booking matches easier. A versatile wrestler can sell any match, any feud, and is more likely to get main events and championship matches than a wrestler who works inside a box. It’s important to find you niche in wrestling, but also be willing to think outside the box for the sake of entertainment. The list of wrestlers who can pull it off is a short one.
If you are lacking versatility, try running an alt character. Try roleplaying in other games like D&D, MMO’s, Board Gaming, or Podcasting. Staying active on your fed’s discord is another great way to keep your finger on the pulse of the company, learning what the current trends are, what the current events are, and revealing where there may be an opportunity for you to fill in a need for the company.
BUILDING THE 5-TOOL PRO-WRESTLER
You've all heard of a 5-tool baseball player. It's a player who can hit for power, average, excel in the field with their glove and arm strength as well as wreak havoc on the basepaths with their speed.
These kinds of performers are few and far between on the diamond, but in the world of professional wrestling (and efedding), where success and greatness are achieved through qualities in a wider variety of categories, the pool of 5-tool performers is more plentiful.
So what is a 5-tool wrestler?
A Look
You'll notice, I didn't say "the look." That's the cool thing about professional wrestling. There's no one look that automatically equates to legitimacy. It's all in the way the performer makes their appearance work for them, and obviously in this case, how fed choose to utilize the talent.
You can look any way you want, just sell it.
If you are lacking a look. Try getting hooked up with a stylist or graphic artist. Work on an avatar, banner, poser model, new picbase, or other graphic design.
In-Ring Ability
Every wrestler doesn't have to be a high flyer or even a mat-wrestling genius to be good in the ring. The questions are: Does he or she execute offensive moves cleanly? Do they bump? Do they have a believable way to beat big and small opponents? Do they have a move set that flows together nicely? Do they have a set-up move for their finisher? Do they have a finisher than can be used on any opponent? Do they have a super-finisher for when desperation sets in?
Lastly, do they have the physical ability to do the moves they are trained to perform? However, booking a match for a performer should be easy for the match writers and should be believable for the readers.
If you are lacking in-ring ability, consider joining an efed gym. There are many.
Presence
This is easily the most intangible of the five tools, but it's a very real quality. When a wrestler walks the ramp, holds the mic before speaking or between sentences, do they exude whatever persona they're charged to portray?
For some, just their massive size or unique look is enough to evoke an appropriately positive or negative emotion from fans. For others, reputation, pedigree, or championship status are enough.
Presence is one of those things that you know it when you see it.
If you are lacking presence, consider working on your twitter/efedder game and consider a run-in segment or consider a special appearance at another fed.
Mic Skills
This is the most obvious tool of an e-fed wrestler. You've got to be able to cut an effective and entertaining promo. If a wrestler can't do this, they don't possess the ability to push a feud to the next level. Thus they lack the ability to make fans care about them – in hate or love.
All promos don't have to be as edgy, or as funny. It helps massively if they are relevant to the current match, but the only real requirement for delivering a solid promo is to be engaging with the audience.
If you are lacking in Mic Skills, read more RP’s. Look at what the champions are writing. Get inspiration from the writers you enjoy the most. And consider running an alt character who is the complete opposite of your main character. Experimenting on a throw-away account may open up some new skills without risking the reputation of your main character.
Versatility
Ever seen a great heel turn? It’s perhaps the best showcase of versatility in professional wrestling. Changing from babyface to heel and vice versa is something that many have done, but few do it seamlessly.
Having range is invaluable to a promotion. It makes booking matches easier. A versatile wrestler can sell any match, any feud, and is more likely to get main events and championship matches than a wrestler who works inside a box. It’s important to find you niche in wrestling, but also be willing to think outside the box for the sake of entertainment. The list of wrestlers who can pull it off is a short one.
If you are lacking versatility, try running an alt character. Try roleplaying in other games like D&D, MMO’s, Board Gaming, or Podcasting. Staying active on your fed’s discord is another great way to keep your finger on the pulse of the company, learning what the current trends are, what the current events are, and revealing where there may be an opportunity for you to fill in a need for the company.