[Ideas] Summer Slam Tournament of Champions Planning Thread

Amateur Wrestling 

Everyone knows that professional wrestling is not real, but most of the maneuvers they use are based on real ones used in amateur wrestling. You can think of amateur wrestling as “real wrestling,” where the wrestler relies more on strategy and submission holds as opposed to throwing punches or kicks. In the world of professional wrestling, people who wrestle with the amateur wrestling style like to bring their opponent to the mat and bend their limbs at awkward angles until they quit. They also use a lot of fancy suplexes to bring their opponent to the ground. Popular examples of this style are Kurt Angle and Chad Gable who both are olympic gold medalists in wrestling.

Strong Style 

Japanese wrestling is heavily inspired by martial arts, and those who rely on real punches and kicks while in the ring are known as masters of “Strong Style.” Incorporating elements of kung-fu, karate, and jiu-jitsu into their matches, a user of strong style prefers to keep their opponent at a distance so that they can use their long legs and arms to strike them from afar. Users of strong style may incorporate submission holds, but they are more likely to finish a match with a kick to the head over anything else. Strong style also frequently involves tests of toughness where two wrestler hit each other in the face as hard as they can until one gives up. Strong style is not for the faint of heart. Popular examples of this style are Katsuyori Shibata and Shinsuke Nakamura.

British Technical 

When two British wrestlers fight, their match feels like a work-of-art. No wrestlers in the world are as technically sound as those who originate in England. They prefer to rely on their arms, using swift “bare-knuckle brawling” punches and quick submission holds that are as simple as bending your wrist the wrong way. British wrestlers rarely incorporate their legs and typically prefer to finish matches on their feet. British wrestlers also tend to have a sense of class, emphasizing great mustaches and honor in order to have a gentleman’s duel. Typically, if you ever hear of a wrestling move with a European sounding name, it can be incorporated in British technical wrestling. Popular examples include William Regal and Jack Gallagher.

Lucha Libre 

Whereas American wrestlers take their opponents to the mat, luchadores took to the skies. Lucha Libre emphasizes two things: speed and aerial maneuvers. Masters of lucha libre would much rather take their fight to the air than bother staying on the mat. They are also unbelievably quick, hitting fast and cartwheeling out of the way before they can be harmed. SInce most (but not all) luchadores are smaller than their opponents, this hit-and-run style is often a matter of necessity as the last thing a luchadore wants is to be caught by their opponent. Luchadores typically wear masks which are badges of honor for them. Removing a luchadore’s mask is the ultimate sign of disrespect. Popular examples include Rey Mysterio and Pentagon Jr.

Hardcore 

One style of wrestling that is distinctly American is the hardcore style. You know what always makes wrestling more interesting? Hitting people with a chair or throwing them through a table. If you are the kind of wrestler who would like to beat an opponent with whatever crap they can find underneath the ring, then this is the style for you. Hardcore wrestling is not limited, however, to street fights and extreme rules matches where foreign objects are allowed as great hardcore wrestlers are adept at using whatever they can get their hands on inside the ring. Be it steel chairs, the barricades surrounding the ring, or the apron itself, everything is fair game. Hardcore wrestling is often high-risk high reward because, as devastating as their moves can be, they can cost them the match should they miss. It should also be noted that hardcore wrestlers can take a beating and keep on fighting, and are often not in as good shape physically as those who use other styles. Popular examples include Mick Foley and Rob Van Dam.

Mixed Martial Arts 

A more modern trend in professional wrestling today is the utilization of moves and styles from mixed martial arts. MMA fighters can be considered good all-rounders who like to use submissions, strikes, and power in equal combination. In particular, their strikes rely on their elbows and knees compared to other wrestlers. Unlike the other styles, however, MMA fighters in WWE prefer to use the ground and pound style. Once they are able to drop their opponent to the mat and start landing punches, the match is bound to come to an end very soon. If there is any weakness to the MMA style it is that the rules inside an octagon such as on UFC are not the same as in a pro wrestling ring. The average MMA fighter has no idea how to use a steel chair, leap off the ropes, or take advantage of the rules. MMA fighters just want to brawl. Popular examples include Ken Shamrock and Brock Lesnar who were successful in both UFC and WWE.

Monster 

Sometimes, the bigger guy just wins. Historically, wrestling has become known as the land of the giants as often the biggest stars are also the biggest men in the ring. Monsters have inhuman levels of strength and endurance, being able to take a lot of punishment until they can finally get their hands on their opponent. Once they grab hold of their prey, the match is typically about to come to an end. Monsters generally stand much taller than their opponents, often around 7 feet tall, and regard most men as little more than insects to be crushed beneath their feet. Monsters typically use intimidation to ensure that their opponent’s legs are shaking before they even reach the ring, and many of them have gimmicks that incorporate the supernatural to add to their mystique. Popular examples of monsters include Big Show and Kane.

Brawler 

Many of the most popular wrestlers of all time are Brawlers who rely on their brute strength to overwhelm their opponents. Before becoming wrestlers, many brawlers were bodybuilders whose impressive physiques allow them to lift men twice their size. Most brawlers are not great technical wrestlers: they rarely use submissions or aerial maneuvers. Instead, Brawlers rely on power moves to repeatedly lift their opponents high into the air, or running into their opponent’s shoulder-first in order to overwhelm them. Typically, brawlers are fan favorites who get the crowd behind them by looking like a superhero. With the crowd behind them, they are able to feed off their energy in order to become nearly invincible. Wrestlers who spend more time building muscle than honing technique fall into this category. Popular examples include the Ultimate Warrior and John Cena.

Dirty 

It’s all about winning. Even wrestlers who can win fairly sometimes cheat to win to ensure that they keep their spot a the top. Whether it’s poking your opponents in the eye, hitting them in the unmentionables while the referee’s back is turned, or tossing a weapon into the opponent’s hand to make it look like they broke the rules, the dirty wrestlers believe that rules are meant to be broken. Remarkably, even though most dirty wrestlers are bad guys, many have gone on to become fan favorites because their antics help to keep things interesting. Dirty wrestler tend to rely on their intelligence to win matches, preferring to outsmart their opponents rather than rely on brute force or technique. If you’re a thinking man who is willing to do whatever it takes to win, then the dirty style is for you. Popular examples include Ric Flair and Brian Kendrick.