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00:00:01
Mic Drop
11 Plays1 month ago
Join the Queens this week as we dive into the art of a promo.
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Transcript
Introduction and Host Banter
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome to Queens Ring Podcast, where we celebrate the past, the present, and the future of professional wrestling. We're your hosts, Charity and Carrie, your go-to duo for life in the squared circle.
00:00:11
Speaker
And on today's episode, we're diving into the art of the perfect promo. Period. We love a good promo. We love a good promo. Anyways, what's your guys' favorite Dutch Bros trip?
00:00:23
Speaker
We're a Dutch Bros fan, okay? And, you know, we we are okay with Trying a new drink. So comment or let us know your favorite Dutch Bros. drink. My favorite Dutch Bros. drink is the birthday cake hot chocolate.
00:00:41
Speaker
I have not had that. love it. I used to get it all the time. Like specifically on my birthday. But I'll drink it with it. That's a good one.
00:00:53
Speaker
I like the what's the the new one with the like cereal on it. However, if you don't drink the it quick enough, then all the cereal gets soggy. And you like soggy cereal.
00:01:08
Speaker
I like that um i say that. I like that one. but there I can't remember the one that I typically get. My friend put me on it, but that one is bomb. But then I had a strawberry. What was it? Strawberry Rochata?
00:01:22
Speaker
That one was good, too. Do I want a strawberry Rochata? Do they still have it? I don't know. I'm sure they have the ingredients. Whip it up
00:01:33
Speaker
up. Can we say you better whip that thing up? Limited or not, y'all got the ingredients. Why was that our intro?
Natalia's Book Announcement
00:01:45
Speaker
Switching over, it was just announced by the queen herself, the mama of wrestling, Natalia, that she will be putting out a book.
00:01:59
Speaker
Natty, tell us the tea. Please. I expect it to be really good. Yeah, you know she has the stories and the tea like she's She's training up and comer. She's like seeing all this stuff. like What's the tea, girl?
00:02:16
Speaker
Andrew grew grew up around it. So, mean, even though you wasn't like wrestling in there, I mean, you got the T. You're backstage coaching. Yeah.
00:02:26
Speaker
You're in the locker rooms. You got the T, so let's clock it and let us know.
00:02:34
Speaker
Let us know. I think it'll be really good. And you know what we gonna do? or We gonna get it. As expected.
Crafting the Perfect Wrestling Promo
00:02:41
Speaker
as expected In this week's episode, we're breaking down the art of a promo.
00:02:46
Speaker
From iconic mic drops to unforgettable call-outs and everything in between. You never know what is going to happen when a wrestler grabs the mic. So join us where charisma meets creativity and magic happens with words.
00:03:01
Speaker
Whether you're a lifelong fan or a newcomer to the world of wrestling, we're giving you the inside scoop on what goes into creating a promo that leaves an impact. So get comfortable and let's get ready to talk about all things mic drop.
00:03:16
Speaker
So
00:03:19
Speaker
what is promo? What is in a promo? What are the key elements and what makes it good? So a vital part of professional wrestling, a promo is a segment where a wrestler or several wrestlers speak directly to the audience or another wrestler to typically advance the storyline or create hype.
00:03:40
Speaker
Some may even call the promo the heart and soul of the squared circle. A good promo connects with the audience in either a good or a bad way. It makes them feel something, provoking excitement and real emotions, be it getting the crowd worked up or getting them on your side.
00:03:57
Speaker
a good promo commands attention. It's authentic, passionate, and feels raw. There has to be confidence in delivering a promo because if you do not believe what you're speaking, why should I? Period.
00:04:09
Speaker
Period. The credibility of your words, your pace, tone, and body language should paint a picture and feed a crowd. So, with that being said, what's the importance of a good promo?
00:04:23
Speaker
A good promo can elevate a wrestler's career. It allows a wrestler to establish a personality, motivations, and rivalries, creating that emotional investment from fans.
00:04:36
Speaker
It helps to set the tone for a match, making the stakes feel higher, and the conflict more personal. Charisma, authenticity, and the ability to engage the crowd can turn a solid performer into a true star, giving them the platform to become more than just a wrestler, but a memorable character in the world of professional wrestling.
00:04:56
Speaker
So let's talk about some of the Queen's favorite promos. As I said, these are the Queen's favorite promos. Okay. So one of my favorite promos is Mark Henry's quote unquote retirement.
00:05:12
Speaker
Oh, tiny violin. So June
00:05:20
Speaker
Okay. So June 17th, 2013, or as I like to call it, salmon suit day.
Iconic Promo Moments
00:05:28
Speaker
Because Mark, what were you wearing? On this day, Mark Henry gave an emotional speech from the depths of his soul, leading fans and superstars to believe that he was retired.
00:05:39
Speaker
You know, after many years in the business, a little shock. On a random day, to come out and say you're retiring, Mark spoke about his family, his career, and all the sacrifices he had to make over the years in a tearful promo. They always do.
00:05:56
Speaker
Men. And... John Cena being the stand-up.
00:06:03
Speaker
And John Cena being the stand-up guy that he was. Emphasis on the was. And the current champion at the time. Raised Mark's hand in the air in one last showing of respect.
00:06:15
Speaker
However, Mark. The whole thing was a set-up. Mark Quavius. Oh. Mark Quavius. The whole thing was a set-up.
00:06:26
Speaker
Mark turned on Cena. Quavius. you know giving him the world's strongest slam and challenging him for the WWE title. So this promo worked because it was giving genuine emotion. It was vulnerable. It created an honest reaction from the crowd.
00:06:42
Speaker
And because of all those things, it's everlasting. People still, him in the suit is still going around online. um And you know the added twist of it being fake as hell that was just a bonus you know mark's performance was great he definitely had me fool he had me fool marquavious but yeah it was it was a good promo it was one to remember
00:07:10
Speaker
my first one is the usos and the new day rap battle with wale we had wale up in name so They had a memorable rap battle on September 2017. It was on the Smackdown Live episode.
00:07:29
Speaker
So the two teams exchanged, you know, playful but pointed bars. So the Usos bringing a more aggressive, street-inspired style, while the New Day being the New Day.
00:07:43
Speaker
counter with their trademark humor and theatrical flair. So the Usos mocked the New Day's goofy personas while the New Day cleverly like responded with like zingers that poked fun at the Usos' ooga-booga attitude.
00:08:01
Speaker
The segment became an instant classic, blended comedy, wit, and the ongoing rivalry between the teams. showcasing their unique personalities and chemistry in a lighthearted but heated exchange.
00:08:16
Speaker
Now, the one, like, out of that whole rap battle, the one part that got me is the Usos taking a shot at the New Day when they called out Xavier Woods and Paige. That Paige situation, I a-screened, okay?
00:08:35
Speaker
So the battle itself was just filled, like I said, with energy and laughter. They have great chemistry. And they both tag teams are definitely like entertaining.
00:08:48
Speaker
So the fans were entertaining the whole time. I loved it. It just kind of fits my personality. But... Yes, that's my first one.
00:09:00
Speaker
So let's talk about Stone Cold. Now, Stone Cold or... Mr. Cold, if I may, can sell you just about anything. His promos are raw, rebellious, and intense.
00:09:12
Speaker
One of his most popular promos happened in the aftermath of the King of the Ring tournament in 1996. after defeating so after defeating jake the Snake Roberts, in the finals, Austin was interviewed to talk about his win.
00:09:26
Speaker
During this interview, however, Austin cut a promo that is remembered to this day. He talked about Roberts' religious person and referenced his recent struggles with alcohol and faith.
00:09:38
Speaker
It took but a few sentences to create not only a memorable and legendary moment in wrestling history, but a catchphrase that has lasted throughout time. To paraphrase the iconic line,
00:09:50
Speaker
Talk about your John 316. Austin 316 said, I just whooped your ass. That line was edgy, controversial, and fit perfectly with the era.
00:10:02
Speaker
It was personal and latched onto the crowd as the reaction was immediate. The phrase Austin 316 became a cultural phenomenon, appearing on t-shirts and signs throughout arenas worldwide.
00:10:12
Speaker
This promo wasn't scripted. It was authentic and perfectly timed, which is why it remains one of the most influential promos in wrestling history. We love Mr. Cole. We sure do.
00:10:24
Speaker
Love Mr. Cole. So my second promo. The Kurt Angle You Suck promo. That is actually really one of my favorites. I would say before I get into the history of the promo.
00:10:40
Speaker
I have hella nieces nephews. Five nieces and nephews. So I watched wrestling with them. And we were watching Kurt Angle. And they literally just like, and they're young, young at this point. And they just tagged on to the You Suck.
00:10:55
Speaker
So like they just started yelling You Suck with the crowd, not knowing anything while I was watching Wrestle With Them. So that's also why it's one of my favorites. It's just, yeah. In 2000, Kurt Angle's You Suck promo became a defining moment in his WWE career.
00:11:13
Speaker
When he first debuted Angle was portrayed as a proud All-American Olympic gold medalist babyface, which fans initially meant to respect him for his athletic achievements.
00:11:26
Speaker
So Edge being grimy like he is instigated telling the fans to chant, you suck, you suck, instead of Angle. So the crowd quickly, a little too quick, began to chant, you suck.
00:11:41
Speaker
Every time his entrance music hit, um turning that respect he demanded into an ironic assault. Rather than shying away from that chant, Angle actually leaned into it.
00:11:55
Speaker
So he turned it into a key part of his character. His comedic timing and ability to embrace the ridicule made him one of the most entertaining figures in WWE at the time.
00:12:07
Speaker
The use of chant evolved from a mockery into a crowd favorite. with fans chanting along with his entrance music in every show. Angle's ability to make this moment work for him showcased his versatility, turning what could have been setback into one of the most beloved aspects of his career.
00:12:27
Speaker
Indeed. So another one of my favorite promos is would be lynch and the man so in 2018 becky lynch received a major character transformation after years of portraying the underdog she turned heel at summer slam by attacking charlotte flair good for her this resulted in becky cutting a promo on friday night smackdown that shifted her into the man persona she declared that she had been overlooked
00:12:59
Speaker
and disrespected for too long. She wasn't going to wait anymore. She was taking what was rightfully hers. Her line, I'm the man now, was not just about being on top of the Divas division women's division.
00:13:11
Speaker
It was about being the top star in WWE period. This promo tapped into Becky's real-life frustrations with how she was being booked. That passion was key to why the promo worked.
00:13:22
Speaker
It resonated with fans who felt she deserved better and empowered women to take the spotlight unapologetically.
00:13:37
Speaker
And this is wreck of the dick. Wait.
00:13:46
Speaker
The two's. please i the two
00:13:56
Speaker
and empowered women to take the spotlight unapologetically. In the end, Becky became one of the hottest acts, headlining WrestleMania 35, becoming Becky Two Belts, and her persona of the band turned her into a pop culture icon and one of WWE's top merch sellers.
00:14:14
Speaker
I love ah love that. That's one of my favorites, too.
Memorable Promos Recalled
00:14:17
Speaker
I love Becky. So, my last one is Daniel Bryan's Yes Movement. Yes. This movement symbolized the power of the fans and their ability to shape the company's narrative.
00:14:30
Speaker
So in 2014, after months of being denied the spotlight, despite his in-ring prowess, Bryan delivered a passionate promo on SmackDown, declaring that he was fighting for the w WWE Universe.
00:14:44
Speaker
He spoke about how the fans have been the driving force behind his journey, ah and how their chants of yes had become a voice of resistance against WWE's corporate-driven decisions.
00:14:56
Speaker
Bryan's heartfelt words resonated deeply with the audience, who felt they had been part of his struggle to overcome the odds. The promo was an emotional declaration. of defiance against the WWE's traditional larger-than-life superstars and it cemented his role as the ultimate underdog. His connection with the fans was undeniable and this promo helped propel the Yes Movement to a fever pitch eventually leading to his triumphant victory at WrestleMania 30 while Bryan's Yes chants echoed throughout the stadium as he claimed the WWE w World Heavyweight Championship.
00:15:30
Speaker
I can't even lie because I sure was a fan of the Yes Movement. hit the left I'll be over there. Both fingers and all. Yes. Okay.
00:15:45
Speaker
Fix your face. I didn't say anything. You didn't have to say it. Both fingers and all.
00:15:54
Speaker
You know, the thing about twin cousins is one's doing both fingers and all and the other one's sitting in here silently.
00:16:05
Speaker
And just looking. a Of course, we have to give some honorable mentions. One of those top promos comes from Miss Brandi Rhodes.
00:16:21
Speaker
And you know what she had to say? Talk to me. She said, who told you it was open mic night, bitch? that really...
00:16:35
Speaker
But yes, that is a good one. next year Funny as hell. And then to have Cody say it SmackDown, also funny as hell. And then Triple H's I Am The Game, declaring himself the top guy marking the beginning of his rise to the main event scene.
00:16:55
Speaker
And of course, Punk, your arms are too short to box with God. I am. and A verbal assault on the rock right before the Royal Rumble. Booker T. Hogan, we coming for you.
00:17:10
Speaker
The slit-up hurt around the world. Cackling. ain't even gonna say it. It's even funnier. It's even funnier now that we know all these things about Hogan. Now it's even funnier that it's even funnier.
00:17:24
Speaker
Cackling. Cackling, cackling. Yeah. Cackling. That's all I can do. um And Randy Orton, Eddie's in hell. Carving Ray Mysterio after the death of his friend Eddie Guerrero.
00:17:36
Speaker
Randall. We know Randy is a heel. That man gives zero ifs. Some of the people that we think are the best at giving a promo. You know, these are just people who grab a mic and we automatically are listening.
00:17:52
Speaker
You know, they have our attention automatically. Duh, Paul Heyman. yeah he is he's the promo master like he literally cut a promo during his uh induction into the hall of fame so what did you expect nonetheless john cena for me i mean that's the most seth rollins is a good one for sure the usos when they were of course whenever they were one like i said I love the Usos and they never fail to entertain. They got the mics. They come out there. I'm listening. like you said, chat.
00:18:31
Speaker
CM Punk. I mean, obviously. Yeah. Obviously. The New Day. Becky Lynn. Obviously. Stone Cold Steve Austin. Randy. Keith Horton.
Promo Skills: The Best and the Rest
00:18:47
Speaker
Wait, who? Oh, Randy. Oh, Heath Orton. Love that guy. So good. I care.
00:19:00
Speaker
oh So, going into who needs work. Yeah, you know, this doesn't mean we' not haters. no we're just Not every everyone is good on mic.
00:19:12
Speaker
Mm-hmm. And that doesn't mean you can't grow and become good on the mic because people have, know, like The Miz, Roman Reigns. mind your business when we tell you these things. Mind to be naive. So my first one is Zoe Stark.
00:19:25
Speaker
i She just don't do it for me. like I don't even recall her even speaking. she spoke She spoke. There was a video and it was bad.
00:19:37
Speaker
was like, I'm like, yeah, no. can Go back to the not speaking. hello and just doing your doing whatever you do at this point uh Gunther yeah he's our champion he's a good wrestler but he just doesn't have the energy the charisma the when he's talking I don't care yeah my notes said I'd rather listen to farts but I just don't there's nothing that he says that I don't know he's just not good I'm sorry uh ricochet and well yeah
00:20:17
Speaker
But like, i mean, we did say that not everybody is good on the mic, but you've been in here for so long. You're also very talented and have like a good amount of spotlight and whatnot. I feel like the mic skill should at least be higher than what it is or better than what it is, but it's just not.
00:20:38
Speaker
Well, awkward. Braun Breaker, another one of our champions. Yeah, he's big and fast now. can wrestle but and like he cuts promos but don't know he's saying don't know i don't know what he's saying um oh y'all finna give me some stuff okay solo like i get solo is like solo is in this big role i feel like yeah he has that he's supposed to be like oh quiet tribal chief when roman is really our tribal chief but roman's still got a mic and like we'll say something time to time yo like sir
00:21:16
Speaker
And you should be the one cutting all these promos that make us, like, be infatuated. But sorry, Jacob's the one who's doing that. Yeah. Jacob is the one who's cutting that promo. I'm not, yeah, I mean. Hey, Jacob, relax.
00:21:31
Speaker
But, yeah. Oh, I mean, you can hate me all you want, but Salo needs to work on that. Especially all the spotlight. He's good at it. Yeah. You know what? You know who else needs to work on that? Carmelo Hayes.
00:21:44
Speaker
Sorry, dog. I mean, it's not bad. yeah it just needs to be sharpened up. I think we all we all remember the promo that he cut.
00:21:55
Speaker
Yeah. And I'm an NXT watcher. And like even NXT, he would cut promos, but yeah it it just wasn't there.
00:22:07
Speaker
But I feel like he could be really, really good if he does work on it. Because he definitely has a talent. He has, like, the personality. but like, give us the mic skills.
00:22:18
Speaker
You complete. My next one. Oh, y'all about to hate me.
00:22:25
Speaker
Tiffy. I, again. know what realized? We have a lot of champions on this list. And that's bad. But I don't know. Like, maybe it's just because I can't say her voice. Yeah.
00:22:39
Speaker
But no, I would say even in NXT as well, like I said, with Carmelo, I watch NXT, so seeing her in NXT, she has the talent, had has the personality or whatever, to other people, she's not one of my favorites, but her mind skills could be up. I don't feel anything whenever she talks, or like I cannot pay attention whenever she's trying to cut a promo. And like we mentioned earlier, the fans gotta be engage which other fans probably are because those are that's like her favorites but yeah another person Raquel please give this girl a personality ah some emotional depth some something give her something please she can wrestle she's big girl yeah like give her something and stop pairing her with people let her be herself literally
00:23:36
Speaker
I think if she, I think it's because she just keeps on getting bounced around with other people. Maybe that's also not helping. Helping, yeah, to build her into ah bigger character than what she is.
00:23:50
Speaker
My last one is Vera Valkyria. Who is also a champion. Who is also a champion. And I, well, respectfully, I didn't even want her to be the champion. I wanted Dakota Kai to be the champion.
00:24:01
Speaker
Yeah. um that most definitely because like even dakota kai could actually cut some promos pretty good whenever she is on the mic but and i do notice these champions recently came from nxt but like nxt is or was supposed to be like the developmental where you're supposed to build that before you get to the main but she's a good wrestler as well yeah but i always forget that raw has a mid-card title i don't i never forget smackdown does because chelsea elevate elevates that yeah she's elevated that in if lira could get out there like she is like what uh defending her title from time to time
00:24:47
Speaker
But, like, get out there like Chelsea is doing. Like you said, build it up. Yeah, i mean, she's defending it, but it's just, like, quick little matches. Exactly. Like, Chelsea's literally, she's the president now. like but she's got a She's got a secret artist.
00:25:01
Speaker
but She's trying to recruit Drew McIntyre into that. And she's, like, she's having, like, these hardcore matches. Like, I don't know. But there you have it.
00:25:14
Speaker
The art of a promo. From the best of them, the superstars who own them, and those who could use some help. A promo can truly make or break a star. Make sure you tell us some your favorite promos.
00:25:27
Speaker
And I think that is going to conclude this week's episode.
00:25:34
Speaker
Make sure you join us next week as we discuss mainstream wrestlers who have never held a world title.
Episode Conclusion and Social Media Engagement
00:25:41
Speaker
that should have true charity where can the people find you you can find me on instagram and tiktok at living lavish with lonnie and you guys can find me at carrie vicious on instagram and tiktok thank you for stepping into the ring with us this week And hanging with your girls. Make sure to like and subscribe for more exciting episodes every Wednesday.
00:26:04
Speaker
And head on over to our Instagram. Emphasis on the Instagram. And TikTok, Queens Ring Podcast. We love to interact with the wrestling community, so do not be shy.
00:26:16
Speaker
Don't be shy. Until then, keep your crowns high and your shoulders off the mat.