William Regal has issued a sharp, industry-wide critique regarding how professional wrestling is performed. He focused specifically on a foundational element that modern performers have allowed to slip.
A Global Industry Critique
Taking to social media, the veteran wrestling mind addressed performers across all promotions. He clarified that his observations stem from watching the industry globally rather than targeting any single locker room. With over four decades in the business, Regal zeroed in on how wrestlers execute pins and kickouts. He argued that performers fail to protect the illusion of a competitive fight, noting, “I work for WWE but watch a lot of wrestling worldwide. This goes for all wrestlers in all companies. I have worked in Wrestling for 42 years. An observation.”
The Mechanics of Pins and Survival
Regal emphasized that professional wrestling portrays trained athletes competing for a livelihood. Therefore, every physical interaction must reflect high stakes. A cover should look like a genuine attempt to secure victory, while a kickout must convey an urgent struggle for survival.
Regal explained this dynamic by writing, “We are portraying trained pro fighters with instincts (even comedy bouts). If you don’t win you would make less money in the story we’re telling. Every TV bout, if there’s a pin, the cameras focus in. Please pin and kick out like your life and career depend on it. In story, it does.”
To illustrate his point, Regal pointed to classic footage from the early 2000s. He urged modern wrestlers to study matches between AJ Styles and Amazing Red. He noted that those foundational bouts maintained a level of physical urgency that has since faded:
- “I recently watch AJ Styles v Amazing Red from the early 2000’s. I see how many people copied them. What I saw was every pin was aggressively applied and shoulders covered and stacked. Every kick out they kicked out like their life depended on it.”
Protecting the Audience’s Investment
Comparing professional wrestling to cinematic fight scenes, Regal stressed that audiences require performers to maintain realism to stay emotionally invested.
He stated, “Something has been lost in the last 20 + years. Let’s not insult the intelligence of our audience who are giving us their precious time. In a fight scene in a movie (which is what wrestling is) we know the punches don’t really hit but if we saw that we would eventually stop watching it. Your audience and fans deserve better.”
Regal concluded his message with a blunt ultimatum for performers who cut corners on the smaller details of a match, writing, “If you can’t be uncomfortable for a few seconds being stacked up in a pin, maybe this isn’t for you.”
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