How do Pro Wrestlers choreograph a match?

Pete Whitehorn
1 min readNov 5, 2023

--

Professional wrestling is a complex blend of choreography, improvisation, and physical prowess. The process of choreographing matches varies depending on the event and the wrestlers involved.

For larger events, matches are typically choreographed before taping. Both parties sit down and loosely go over the moves and pacing for the match. This is not to say that every single move is planned out; rather, key points and sequences are agreed upon, and the rest of the match is filled in with a mix of standard moves and improvisation.

Sometimes, wrestlers don’t plan with each other at all before televised matches. Instead, they rely on their training and experience to respond to their opponent’s moves in real-time. This requires a deep understanding of the psychology of a match, which is learned by wrestlers over time.

The choreography in professional wrestling is a mix of complex sequences and improvisation, with wrestlers feeding off each other and the crowd’s reactions. In some cases, a match might turn into a “shoot”, where the wrestlers get angry and actually fight each other instead of using choreographed moves.

While it’s true that professional wrestling is choreographed, calling it “fake” is a misnomer. The physical feats performed by wrestlers are very real, and the risks involved are significant. The outcomes are predetermined and the moves are executed in a way to minimize injury, but the athleticism and skill involved are undeniably genuine.

--

--