10 Things In Wrestling That Can’t Be Taught

9. Selling

Big Cass
WWE Network

We can’t really gauge his selling ability because Cass is barely in a position to sell. Either a hot tag cameo or a patrolling, ponderous big man in singles, it’s up to Cass to sell the occasion, not the moves. We know with some certainty that he can’t be taught that.

Using his Backlash match with Daniel Bryan - and really, there can be no truer measure of whether he has the stuff than that - Cass failed to convey, to sell, any sense of danger. This was borderline inexcusable, given the size discrepancy and Bryan’s inherent sympathy. All the guy did - and this is no exaggeration - was play to the crowd by constantly raising his first to the air in a D-level display of Heat 101. The arrogance was unjustified, which should have guaranteed heat - if there was anything more to the act than the most basic display of body language imaginable. Body language ordinarily follows a babyface flourish or heel sh*thousery. It is or should be dusted off only when the crowd is receptive to it, as a means of raising the volume to fever pitch.

In the case of Cass, it followed an absolutely rubbish spinebuster hardly worth the boast (pictured).

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Contributor
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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!