What does 'charisma' mean to you in wrestling?
 

I've seen discussions about 'charisma' going on in this forum for quite some time now, so I figured a thread would be warranted. What does charisma mean to you in the world of professional wrestling? Who are some people with good charisma? Who are some people with no charisma?

I'll leave this pretty open.

cha·ris·ma
kəˈrizmə/<input width="14" height="14" type="image" src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAA4AAAAOCAQAAAC1QeVaAAAAi0lEQVQokWNgQAYyQFzGsIJBnwED8DNcBpK+DM8Yf jMUokqxMRxg+A9m8TJsBLLSEFKMDCuBAv/hCncxfGWQhUn2gaVAktkMXkBSHmh0OwNU8D9csoHhO4MikN7BcAGb5H+GYiDdCTQYq2QubkkkY/E6CLtXdiJ7BTMQMnAHXxFm6IICvhwY8AYQLgCw2U9d90B8BAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg=="><audio src="https://ssl.gstatic.com/dictionary/static/sounds/oxford/charisma--_us_1.mp3" preload="auto" data-dobid="aud"></audio>
noun
noun: charisma; plural noun: charismata

1. 1.
   compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others.
   "she enchanted guests with her charisma"
   <table class="vk_tbl vk_gy"><tbody><tr><td class="lr_dct_nyms_ttl" style="padding-right: 3px;">synonyms:</td><td>charm, presence, personality, force of personality, strength of character; Moremagnetism, attractiveness, appeal, allure
   "he lacks the charisma we look for in our salespeople"
   
   
   
   </td></tr></tbody></table>
   
   
   
   
2. 2.
   a divinely conferred power or talent.
   
   
   
   

That second definition is iffy. Divinely conferred is a little preachy.

Can charisma be taught?

No, but showmanship can

Can showmanship be a suitable substitute for charisma in a pinch?

Substitute might be a stretch but maybe...serviceable?

Depends on what you want out him. Drawing 70k is unlilely. But a good act to have on the card.

When I think about showmanship, I think about a magician with a rehearsed performance, something he has practiced for years and knows works. It is not instinctive. It is working a crowd and getting reactions from doing something entertaining. It is literally putting on a show.

Charisma is more natural, instinctive. It's the ability to draw people in just by your presence, the way you carry yourself or influence the way people see you.

Ultimate Warrior, for example, was charismatic because of the energy he brought. It was electric when he came out because his energy was contageous. He commanded attention.

Jake Roberts was also charismatic, but in a completely different way. He was a charmer, good with words. He was cool and made people want to listen to him. He drew people.in to whispers.

I don't see the same level of charisma in today's stars, but that could be because I am not as impressionable as I was back then, because there are no larger then life characters anymore, or cause talents aren't allowed to be themselves to the degree where natural charisma can shine through.

It's a very interesting topic for debate though...

Whatever Roman Reigns lacks.

There's something about them that, when you look at them, it makes you want to look at them more.

Hogan is the very definition of charisma.

Dean Malenko is anti charisma

<blockquote class="embedly-card"><h4><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1zrf6_captain-charisma-vs-shelton-benjami_sport">Captain Charisma vs Shelton Benjamin</a></h4><p>This is Christian being forced to wear a "Captain Charisma" superhero suit to wrestle against Shelton Benjamin for the IC title.</p></blockquote> <script async src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/platform.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>

It's this almost intangible thing that draws people to you.

In wrestling people often mix up "charisma" with "good on the mic"; they're not mutually exclusive, but they're not the same thing.

People also confuse it with being "larger than life" and whilst it's fair to say that these types are the most obvious - you can't deny that Hogan, Rock, etc have charisma - they're not the only ones.

You can have a "quiet charisma", this is the magnetism that a guy like Daniel Bryan or Finn Balor have.

I feel like Reigns has a lot of charisma but it's locked behind a stiff, wooden character.

Fandango has a shit ton of charisma.

In-Ring charisma is when someone looks so comfortable wrestling that they make you forget it's fake. It's a big mix of confidence and competency.

Wrestlers who have had that:
RVD
Jericho
The Rock
Austin
Bret Hart
Rey Mysterios
Dolph Ziggler
Undertaker

Then there's just charisma as in someone's speaking ability. Normal definition applies.

Chris Benoit was a helluva showman.

I think Curtis Axel and Charlie Haas are examples of this. Not much charisma, but dressed up a bit can be entertaining. These acts tend to wear thin though fast.

Is charisma the same thing as the "it" factor?

Many wrestlers have charisma. Only your select main event/carry the company guys have the "IT" factor. Guys like Hogan, Rock, Austin, Slater, Flair, Savage

Rosey had the "SHIT" factor.

Yeah, "it factor" definitely is seperate from charisma.

Daniel Bryan might be ideal

The Rock is showy bombastic and over the top

Daniel Bryan is none of those things but people are drawn to him


Ive always thought of charisma being the ability to draw people to you even if you don't readily do or say thing that draw attention.

Ability to have somebody else care about you and your story/journey.

His anti-charisma works as charisma. People care because he is an anomaly.

No it doesn't. He's as bland as Destor's mother's cooking.


I went there.

Gotta agree with std on this. In a division full of high energy personalities, his business like approach made him stand out.

That said, it only worked in that particular circumstance. He was never going to go any further than he did.

Shes an awful cook, so fair play

He got one of the biggest pops of all time. OF ALL TIME!!! When he took off that luchador mask during his feud with Jericho. But that may have had something to do with how hot Jericho was at the time.

Related: Jericho was easily the first Internet darling to truly make it. That likely had more to do with the amount of work he put into his character (which is the most important part of wrestling) as opposed to just the in ring aspect (which, ironically, is the least important part.)

Usually saw it as the ability to grab the attention of a crowd at a moment's notice.

Probably would rank it as promo skills as #1, making a gimmick/character feel natural as #2, and in-ring skills as #3 in terms of importance. Majority of the all-time greats and legends excelled at the first two and a few were really great at all three areas.

Don't really need all three to be charismatic since someone like Enzo I'd argue is charismatic on the mic while lacking elsewhere. The Rock was great on the mic and as a character but average/poor in terms of in-ring skills. Daniel Bryan's in-ring skills played a big role in his charisma with crowds while Macho Man was great in all three areas.

Goldberg in his WCW run had no mic skills at all yet was over bc of his in ring charisma. Same with Brock today. Heyman has all the charisma. Brock is over bc of Heyman and 50 suplexes per match.

Pumped to see Lesnar take another medocre "main eventer" to suplex city.

Charisma works. It can be loud or quiet, but basically you get people into whatever it is you are doing. You can be loud and uncharismatic or, frankly, bad on the mic and get people to follow you to the end of the world.

Careful, dude. She might be plotting to poison you when you least expect it.

I almost got tickets to that. Shit...that was great. After Jericho left I was done with WCW except for Disco Inferno stuff.

Goddamn right he does.

They never even tried after he returned from his concussion. Tyler Breeze should move to the Cruiserweight Division and Fandango should move to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Division.