10 Wrestling Secrets Hiding In Plain Sight

6. The Leg Slap

Not The Back
WWE.com

Sound is essential to the presentation of pro wrestling's cavernous arena.

It's not often you see a pool cue wrapped around some poor tw*t's back, and that's because the thin surface area doesn't produce an audible thwack designed to pop the fans in the cheap seats. The wide surface area of a steel chair, connecting so resoundingly with the wide surface area of the upper back, creates an aural thud that itself generates a wincing din.

The microphones hidden beneath the ring accentuate the bumps, but since you can't mic up somebody's face, the practitioners of the Superkick slap their thigh to simulate full-force impact, which you all know by now. But you didn't for years, because Shawn Michaels was such a godd*mn artist. His expert technique, combined with the rousing foot-stomp telegraph, drew attention away from his sleightful hand.

Whether through carelessness, or the warts-and-all confines of the intimate independent venue, or the fact that there can only be one Shawn Michaels sorry Triple H, the gig is up: this secret has been revealed to an extent that it is presented now as damning evidence of modern wrestling's inability to project itself with credibility.

So many modern acts strive to present themselves as strikers, but treat the craft with all the grace of Ade Akinbiyi.

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!