10 Secrets To A Guaranteed POP In Wrestling

1. Performing A Rare Inter-Gender Spot

The Undertaker Shawn Michaels
WWE

This isn't a defence nor criticism of inter-gender wrestling.

It is pointless entering into that debate. It would be preferable to discuss Dax Harwood, William Regal, the ethics of art and Chelsea Green, what Disco Inferno has to say, or whether or not Top Dolla or the Young Bucks wear cooler sneakers. It's impossible to talk about the form without somebody booting off.

It's all risky. Simulated man-on-woman violence is something sponsors will not tolerate, and when the roles are reversed, the conversation takes a phenomenally bleak turn by those who could do with developing meaningful relationships to grasp a better understanding of how the world actually, sadly works.

All that stated, it is a guaranteed pop.

Rhea Ripley is more over than most WWE acts outside of the top stars, and she frequently takes out men. On the November 28, 2022 Raw, Mia Yim executed a body slam on Finn Bálor to an ultra-rare eruption of a Monday night pop. For whatever reason, done sparingly, an inter-gender spot wakes up the dead.

Perhaps that's the point, and something the business can take on as a lesson, even if it isn't applied literally; wrestling is so excessive, in every area between gimmicks, returns, and back and forth high-end action, that something the audience hasn't been exhausted by elicits something loud from them.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!