What are the little things that a wrestler does or says that really appeal to you? Things that may be small, fun or serious, but it makes the character, match, feud, angle or such, so much better?

 

A few to start;

Rick Martel wearing the badge Ýes, I am a model' always made me smile.

 

Iron Shieks pointed boots.

 

Sgt Slaughters bump over the turnbuckles to crack his head open on the top of the ringpost.

 

Bret Hart hitting the turnbuckles chest first off an Irish whip reversal.

 

When Flair would walk to the ring, and whether the champ or not, would fan his arms out so his robe can be seen in all it's glory. Then, he would slowly do a 360 to show every fan in the arena, that he was every bit The Man.

 

When Stan Lane would introduce Jim Cornette as Your friend and mine, the man who stone Ivana from Donald, Mrrrrr Jiiiim Corrrrnette.

 

Gavin Loudspeakers hair in Chikara.

 

When The Addiction insist on being announced as the World Tag Team Champions of the World in ROH.

"Ladies & Gentleman, the man who taught Pee Wee Herman everything he knows, Jim Cornette!"

Goldberg's shadow boxing during his entrance. It made him seem so ready to fight and fit the "no nonsense" aspect of his squashes.

 

Dean Malenko loosening up his arms and staying limber, and then especially when Chris Jericho would mock it during their feud.

 

Sabu taping up whatever injury he may receive and throwing himself at his opponent(s) no matter the cost. It's seen by many as a detriment, but I love it for how insane and animalistic it makes him feel.

Kawada's stretching exhibition during his entrance was one of those things that made him seem like a legit bad ass. He was limbering up to deliver a world class ass kicking.

 

The way sleazy heel Eddy Guerrero sauntered to the ring in WCW. He looked like the dude who hung out in front of a liquor store just waiting for a teenager to ask him to buy them beer. Except, instead of buying them beer, he stole their money, bought himself some Thunderbird, and dared them to do something about it. He was a guy who you wanted to punch in the face, but you didn't, because you were pretty sure he could beat your ass.

 

The way Steve Austin stared his opponent down while walking from corner to corner to do his double fist raise.

If I was to watch one wrestler for these sorts of small things it would be Jumbo Tsuruta, especially late 80's early 90's Jumbo is just a wet dream of small details, great facial expressions, knowing how to time his trademark taunts etc. His sense of timing and reading his audience is just something else.

 

When Rick Rude would do his hip swivel taunt but then sell how much it hurt his back because of some move he'd already taken. Pretty good chance it got me to smirk.

 

Terry Funk flailing his arms is usually a sign something good is going on.

If I was to watch one wrestler for these sorts of small things it would be Jumbo Tsuruta, especially late 80's early 90's Jumbo is just a wet dream of small details, great facial expressions, knowing how to time his trademark taunts etc. His sense of timing and reading his audience is just something else.

 

When Rick Rude would do his hip swivel taunt but then sell how much it hurt his back because of some move he'd already taken. Pretty good chance it got me to smirk.

 

Terry Funk flailing his arms is usually a sign something good is going on.

Jumbo did ALL of the little things. I was watching a match where he held onto the ropes to avoid a Misawa dropkick, and he sold the "Oh shit, that almost got me," moment better than anyone I've ever seen. I always like Misawa's dropkick, but that moment made it seem like a big, knockout strike. The split second reaction to avoiding that kick made a huge difference in what I felt about a move I've seen 100 times before. That is kind of the difference between good wrestlers and great wrestlers, they are always trying to put their opponent over.

In the early Horsemen days, how each of them inspired a different emotion in Schiavone and Crockett: Tully got disgust, Arn and Ole got something more like bullied respect, and Flair got "always a pleasure" honor and even admiration. Flair's defense of poor David and temporary face turn against Nikita was a lot of fun.

Kawada's stretching exhibition during his entrance was one of those things that made him seem like a legit bad ass. He was limbering up to deliver a world class ass kicking.

 

The way sleazy heel Eddy Guerrero sauntered to the ring in WCW. He looked like the dude who hung out in front of a liquor store just waiting for a teenager to ask him to buy them beer. Except, instead of buying them beer, he stole their money, bought himself some Thunderbird, and dared them to do something about it. He was a guy who you wanted to punch in the face, but you didn't, because you were pretty sure he could beat your ass.

 

The way Steve Austin stared his opponent down while walking from corner to corner to do his double fist raise.

I hadn't thought of Eddy Guerrero looking like a dude who hung out in front of a liqour store, but the description of his character at that time fits very well.

 

A few more;

 

When Hogan tagged with various guys and he took on little parts of their character. Two I can remember straight away are doing The Bird with Koko when they they against Kamala and Honky, and dancing the Juke with JYD,

 

One of the great joys of wrestling for me is Rick Martel as a babyface getting a hot tag. The vaulting into the ring, the clapping of the hands, the bouncing on the spot.

 

The outrageous costumes Jesse would wear, as opposed to the straight man suits of Gorilla or Vince.

 

Bobby Fish's evil looking mustache.

 

Nikita Koloff speaking English with a Russian accent and a growl in his voice. I believed he was actually Russian at the time.

 

Just having Dennis Condrey with the nickname of "Loverboy"was enough to get a smirk out of me.

In the early Horsemen days, how each of them inspired a different emotion in Schiavone and Crockett: Tully got disgust, Arn and Ole got something more like bullied respect, and Flair got "always a pleasure" honor and even admiration. Flair's defense of poor David and temporary face turn against Nikita was a lot of fun.

 

That is very well put. Flair ran David down at times but then felt even he had to something when Nikita took Davids head off with the Russian Sickle.

Sid fist bumping fans

Taz wiping his feet before entering the ring always seemed like a great touch to me.

Adding to Sid, his expressions when chewing gum and blowing bubbles. And how he'd yell at people as he walked down the ramp, rambling a lot of shit talk.

When Fujiwara is caught in a hold and he looks like he's going for a rope break, then rethinks it and counters.

 

Anytime wrestlers use their hands to block strikes, or even better, use boxing head movements/footwork.

 

Dundee working over Lawler's blindside in the '85 LLT match.

We Are The Quebecers Jacques And Pierre And I Am Johnny

 

Diana Hart Smith always looking befuddled

Taz wiping his feet before entering the ring always seemed like a great touch to me.

 

I was going to say the same thing, but for Regal. It showed a touch of class as he'd wipe his feet before entering HIS ring, always thought that suited his character well.

 

On the subject of Regal:

- his little wave he did to the audience when he was the Goodwill Ambassador slayed me

- the way he grinds his forearm into his opponents face on a pinfall

- they way he'll throw himself whole-heartedly into an embarrassing comedy skit he's given, be in dressing as Burchill's busty wench, doing full Goldust mannerisms during a "switching roles" stip match or throwing some Morecambe & Wise moves into an enforced dance routine

 

I also thought Perfect's gum swipe (which he always hit) showed off the cocky, assured side of the character perfectly. I also loved a gif I once saw on DVDVR, where Perfect threw his towel casually over his shoulder, behind Heenan who stuck a hand out backwards to catch it. Pure class.

The Mounties entrance music. Any entrance music that the wrestler sings comically for that matter.

 

Any time they show a wrestler in the back before the entrance of a big match. Goldberg's entrance was so great, because all of his matches started with the, "This is a huge deal," backstage segment.

Dundee working over Lawler's blindside in the '85 LLT match.

 

I can't possibly agree more! I absolutely loved how that match was worked. Possibly some of the smartest "simple" work I've ever seen. The follow-up LLT has a great Lawler comeback, but this match was better IMO.

D'Lo Brown's head waggle. Even better was that he got billed from places like Helsinki whenever he was the European champion.

 

Mr. Bob Backlund using words incorrectly.

 

Chris Jericho wearing "1,004" on the bank of his trunks, and the fake Malenko wearing "1."

 

Bobby Heenan laughing at Doink's pranks and calling him a master illusionist whenever multiple Doinks would show up.

 

Kevin Nash always stepping over the top rope, even when he was pretending to be Sting.

When John Cena talks to the camera as if he is addressing all the fans sitting at home during his entrance. Really helps accentuate the part of his gimmick of being the people's champion regardless if you like him or not.

Tommy Dreamer celebrating in the crowd whenever he had a big victory really hit it home that he was killing himself for them.

 

Roddy Piper's wild, desperate punches. And how he'd pepper a few in followed by the wind up and an eye poke.

The momentum AJ Styles gives to his springboard forearm.

 

Christopher Daniels being The General currently in ROH.

 

When Christian was tagging up with Jericho, and Jericho would call him C-Man

 

When Tony Schiavone would interview Flair or Cornette, and he was smirking, trying to stop himself from smiling at the bizarre heel logic he was hearing.