10 Wrestling Rituals You Didn't Know About
Because nothing says 'good job' quite like a cigarette and bourbon.
In the world of sports, so often do people find themselves developing strange superstitions and rituals. Whether that's before competing, during competition, or as a way to wind down, so many athletes across so many sports have their own little quirks and ticks to help get them to where they need to be.
Spotlighting the pro wrestling industry, most wrestlers have the usual routine of making sure to stretch and warm up correctly before a match, maybe listen to some lively and heavy music to get some sort of rush, and then partaking in their regular stretch 'n' shower routine post-match. Then there are those other wrestlers who have a slightly more nuanced or unique way of getting themselves up or winding themselves down from a show.
From munching down boxes of Tic Tacs, to mixing meditation with Red Bull, to sticking wallets where wallets really don't belong, there are countless tales of wrestlers and their particular quirks.
With that in mind then, here are ten wrestlers who have some crazy, fun, or crazy fun superstitions and rituals that take place more often than not whenever they're in action.
10. John Cena Keeps It Minty Fresh
Hustle, loyalty, fresh breath.
That should be an alternative slogan for John Cena, for Big Match John's pre-match ritual is to chow down on a whole load of Tic Tacs. To be fair, given the horror stories of certain wrestlers and their hygiene over the decades, Cena making sure his breath wasn't honking during a match is an act of extreme courtesy and respect.
Comparing the ring to being his office, an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show saw the 16-time World Champion proclaim:
"My thing was always Tic Tacs. It’s a nervous superstition that I always have before we go on a broadcast. And I’ve had to ween myself off of them because I got up to three boxes a day. And that’s, like, right in the 20 minutes before broadcast. It’s pretty much 10,000 calories of straight sugar.”
Cena has also openly talked about his insistence on knocking on as much wood as possible before he makes his way to the ring, that he superstitiously talks to himself before a match, and another bizarre part of his pre-match behaviour is to make a point of drinking out of other people's water bottles.