If you think that professional wrestling is just a show where the participants know in advance who will win, you are only half right. Yes, the outcome of matches is scripted, but the physical preparation of wrestlers is a whole other level. These guys are not just actors in the ring, but real athletes who train as fighters, acrobats and actors all in one. Let’s understand what is behind the preparation of those who every night go into the ring and practice complex techniques in front of an audience of thousands.

Physical Preparation

The first thing future wrestlers learn is to stay in shape. Most of them come into the industry already having a sports background: wrestling, gymnastics, powerlifting, martial arts. This is not surprising, because the load in wrestling is enormous. Every throw is a blow against a hard ring, which, although it looks elastic, is actually wooden boards covered with a thin layer of mats.

The workouts include weightlifting, explosive strength, cardio exercises, and of course stretching. The weight of the machines the wrestlers work with is impressive: deadlifts, barbell squats, bench presses – all of which help withstand the strain of the performances. But muscle alone is not enough, because in the ring you need to move quickly and technically. That’s why an important part of training is functional training – exercises aimed at coordination, balance and mobility.

Knowing How to Fall

The second important part of training is practicing how to fall. If a wrestler does not know how to group and fall correctly, his career will be short and painful. Coaches teach beginners to cushion the blows, distributing the force over the body, and to do it as naturally as possible. This is why wrestlers, even after the hardest throws, get up and continue the fight. 

Of course, not always without consequences, but it is still better than getting a serious injury after the first fall.

In wrestling academies, beginners spend months practicing the simplest techniques—somersaults falls on the back and bounces off the ropes. Only after that are they allowed to move on to more complex elements like jumps, painful holds, and acrobatic tricks.

Theater Skills

Wrestling is as much about emotion as it is about physics. The audience must believe in what is happening and feel every attack and every pain. Therefore, wrestlers are taught to work with the audience, to build their “gimmick”—an image that will be remembered by the audience—and to keep the tension in the match.

Improvisation plays a huge role. Despite the script, wrestlers constantly communicate in the ring, using hidden commands and movements to adjust the course of the match depending on the audience’s reaction. If the audience gets bored, they have to improvise on the fly, adding more drama, show, and spectacular moments.