7 Best Promos In Wrestling Today

The promotional interview, or promo for short, is the cornerstone of any and all angles produced for professional wrestling. It’s the character work and stories wrestlers can present in a promo that can so often set it apart from other entertainment mediums out there.

There are countless greats who’ve made a fortune thanks to their knack for cutting high quality promos. In The Rock’s case, he went on to become a Hollywood megastar using his Dwayne Johnson alias. It was his mastery of talking, his comedic timing, his intensity on the microphone, that first caught the eyes and ears of Hollywood.

In this age of topsy turvy ratings and the overuse of the term 'workrate', the ability to work a microphone is more important than ever. Too often now do promotions rely on overly dangerous flips and slips to sell themselves to audiences. While such a style can be entertaining, it is also dangerous and unhealthy for the wrestlers involved, leading to shortened careers and reduced exposure. Furthermore, de-emphasising the more theatrical side of wrestling cuts away the dramatic impact of the matches. In recent years, competitive athletes such as Conor McGregor (whose schtick on the mic is awfully similar to an '80s Ric Flair) and Tyson Fury have shown how lucrative effective promo cutting can be.

Wrestling did it first and it’s high time the industry as a whole reminded everyone of that.

The Miz and Mrs star’s grown on audiences a great deal in the years since his legendary meltdown on Talking Smack in 2016. Often thought of as a career heel, Miz’s passion for his craft and rage at his perceived lack of appreciation struck a chord with viewers everywhere. Since then, he has maintained this level of aggression on the microphone, often sprinkling just enough reality into his words to blur the lines between kayfabe and the truth.

The more serious edge to his style proved to be a credibility booster, maturing a character previously known most for his often juvenile humour. Widely regarded as the best WWE Intercontinental champion since Chris Jericho, Miz was given a second go at playing face this year with surprising results. Audiences were ready to support him, especially in his crusade against newly evil tag partner Shane McMahon. His promos were that of a hard working, sympathetic figure working towards redemption for past sins with the support of his family keeping him strong.

It was all going so well until the bell rang. Miz lost not once, but twice (!) to the Best in the World and cooled off considerably. Noticeably lower on the card now, Miz is still dynamite on the mic and maintains a strong connection with audiences. The man deserves better.