GetDotted Domains

Viewing Thread:
"English Oral GCSE"

The "Freeola Customer Forum" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.

Sat 08/03/03 at 16:06
Regular
Posts: 787
For my English Oral GCSE on friday, we're in groups of five. Our group speech is on euthanasia, our pairs speech (or in our case, a group of two and a group of three) on a poem from this Anthology book we're given, and then we have to do individual presentations.

Four people in my group are talking about work experience.

I'm talking about wrestling.

And here's the early version of my speech, I need to know whether you think it's long enough, we need to talk for 5 minutes. {:)

Pro wrestling is something of an untouched subject. You either love it, hate it, or don’t have a clue what it’s all about. If you’re a fan like myself then you try not to mention it for fear of ridicule…after all, isn’t it just a bunch of big sweaty men touching each-other up? I mean, they’re not really fighting, so what’s the point of watching it?

Well, to understand pro wrestling, you need to know what it is first. My talk is based on the global organisation World Wrestling Entertainent, which has a massive fanbase all over the world. They produce two main TV shows each week – Raw and Smackdown, and once every month they hold a Pay-Per-View event. They have destroyed all opposition, and are now the only global wrestling federation in the world. Your average WWE wrestling match consists of two men fighting in what is basically a large boxing ring, and the wrestlers will make their way to the ring with the accompaniment of their own entrance music and video. Once the bell has rung the match will begin, but, the winner of the match has already been determined because yes, wrestling is fake.

Match results are pre-determined – we don’t know who’s going to win, but the wrestlers do. They will probably have a very basic match plan, but for much of the bout they will improvise. After all, some matches can last up to an hour, so it would be impossible to plan every move in every match. The wrestlers will appear to fight, but obviously, they’re not really trying to hurt each other…because if they were, matches wouldn’t last longer than two minutes. In a real fight a few hard punches are usually enough to knock anyone out, but in the WWE punches are surprisingly weak. Their only purpose is to wear out the opponent, and that doesn’t usually work either. Anyway, back to the match I was describing, from now on we’ll call the wrestlers Slaughterhouse and Dynamite. Picture Slaughterhouse as a large man of around 270lbs, whom is extremely strong and powerful but not very quick on his feet. Dynamite however weighs around 215lbs, a lightweight whose main attacks are speed and aerial moves. This is where wrestling differs from most other sports like boxing, heavyweights are allowed to fight lightweights.

The match will begin and in true wrestling fashion they will lock up, just like in amateur wrestling in the Olympics, and try to push each-other around for a bit. Obviously Slaughterhouse will come out on top, and will probably throw a few punches. In sports like boxing the ring doesn’t have much purpose at all, but in wrestling it plays a massive part. It’s quite likely that Slaughterhouse will push Dynamite into one set of ropes, and then throw him across to the other. Dynamite will then bounce off the opposite ropes, and Slaughterhouse will use Dynamite’s momentum to throw him high over his back, causing Dynamite to crash painfully into the ring canvas. However, in some cases, Dynamite will use his speed and manoeuvrability to slide between the legs of Slaughterhouse and then begin an attack of his own, possibly a dropkick to try and take the big man down.

The match will continue like this for a few minutes, each wrestler having their fair share of offence. Slaughterhouse will probably deliver moves like the Powerbomb or the Body Press Slam, where he will lift Dynamite above his head and then slam him back down. Dynamite will try to use his speed to escape these moves, and the actual ring will be very important to Dynamite. A lot of the smaller, more athletic wrestlers like to head to one corner of the ring, and climb the three turnbuckles that hold the ropes that surround the ring together. The top turnbuckle is quite a few feet up, allowing these wrestlers to jump and gain some extra force on their moves. These wrestlers are usually the most entertaining, especially when manoeuvres like the Moonsault are implemented – this is where they will climb to the top so that their back is facing the ring, and then flip in midair to land perfectly on the opponent’s unprotected stomach. Ground based moves like Dropkicks can also be improved, as with the aptly named Flying Dropkick.

We are now nearing the end of the match, because both Slaughterhouse and Dynamite are struggling thanks to the moves they have been subject to throughout bout…this means they are more vulnerable to special moves. Almost all wrestlers have their very own special move - a manoeuvre that is so powerful and so amazing that it finishes off their opponents completely, allowing them to hook the leg of the opponent and let the referee count to three to end the match. Let’s say that Dynamite is going to win the match, and that his special move is called the Explosion, possibly his own version of the Moonsault. Slaughterhouse will make a mistake, and Dynamite will take him down with another Dropkick. Dynamite sees his chance and scampers to the top turnbuckle, signals to the fans, and then leaps, nailing the Explosion. He will hook Slaughterhouse’s leg, and the referee will count 1…2…3. The bell will ring and the match is over, Dynamite has won.

Now, all these moves look real. It looks like they’re hitting them (well, most of the time) and the ring floor certainly looks quite hard to land on…and it is. Just because Slaughterhouse and Dynamite aren’t really trying to hurt each-other, doesn’t mean that they’re completely free of pain throughout…no, it’s the exact opposite. They obviously learn how to fall, a good technique is to lift their head just before they hit the canvas (the ring floor) so that their back and neck takes the brunt of the fall. Obviously this can lead to long-term injuries, and this is true in the cases of WWE superstars like Edge and Chris Benoit who have been out injured over a year thanks to back and neck injuries. However, this is the price wrestlers have to pay if they want to be in the WWE.

So what makes all this so appealing to the WWE fans? Pro wrestling is much more than just wrestling matches…to be successful, you need to be a good actor too. A prime part of the WWE’s success is the storylines that exist, and the backstage segments that happen between matches…wrestlers have feuds over titles, so we will often see backstage interviews and even backstage brawls. To make these rivalries more believable the acting has to be good, as well as the wrestling skill. Feuds will usually culminate with a big match at a PPV, with the main event usually being for the World Championship.

I think what makes wrestling special, is that it’s different. Why do I prefer it to boxing, when boxing is real? A boxing card will consist of seven or eight one-on-one, normal matches. In wrestling you can have tag team matches, 3-way matches, 6-way matches, ladder matches, table matches, cage matches and even the infamous Hell In A Cell match, where legend Mick Foley once fell fifteen feet from the top of the cell and through the announcer’s table. Wrestling may be fake, but it’s different, and something new and exciting is always happening, which is what keeps fans like myself watching.
_____________________________

Thanks for reading, Ant.
Sat 15/03/03 at 16:46
Regular
"One More Chance"
Posts: 6,887
So it wasn't a rumour and you actually got an A*?

Nice.
Sat 15/03/03 at 15:38
Regular
"I like cheese"
Posts: 16,918
A* for Ant. :D
Tue 11/03/03 at 20:47
Regular
"Far Beyond Metal"
Posts: 5,748
Well done. Sounds like it went well. Hope you get an A. :)
Tue 11/03/03 at 16:30
Regular
Posts: 11,597
Well done Anteh. I'm sure you rocked in there.

Hope you get the A you were after!
Tue 11/03/03 at 16:28
Regular
"I like cheese"
Posts: 16,918
I nailed it :D

I read out the newer one, and rumour has it I got an A of some sort for that bit...hopefully. {:)

Cheers for advice guys, big up da WWE Forum and Beards!
Sun 09/03/03 at 21:07
Regular
"Far Beyond Metal"
Posts: 5,748
Maybe Hogan and the Undertaker as well. Many people will have heard of them.
Sun 09/03/03 at 18:54
Regular
"sdomehtongng"
Posts: 23,695
Starlight wrote:
> You should mention The Rock simply because most people know who he is
> and can relate blah blah blah.

---

I agree with this. Mention some names that people are likely to mnow about.

Mainly The Rock, yes, because he's done other stuff as well as wrestling, and if you haven't heard of him, then you can't have heard of much really. :-D
Sun 09/03/03 at 18:50
Regular
Posts: 9,494
You'll be booed out of the class, you gimp :-D
Sun 09/03/03 at 18:25
Regular
"I like cheese"
Posts: 16,918
Updated, hopefully it's improved {:)

Pro wrestling is something of an untouched subject. You either love it, hate it, or don’t have a clue what it’s all about. If you’re a fan like myself then you try not to mention it for fear of ridicule…after all, isn’t it just a bunch of big sweaty men touching each-other up? I mean, they’re not really fighting, so what’s the point of watching it?

Well, to understand pro wrestling, you need to know what it is first. My talk is based on the global organisation World Wrestling Entertainent, which has a massive fanbase all over the world. They produce two main TV shows each week – Raw and Smackdown, and once every month they hold a Pay-Per-View event. They have destroyed all opposition, and are now the only global wrestling federation in the world. Your average WWE wrestling match consists of two men fighting in what is basically a large boxing ring, and the wrestlers will make their way to the ring with the accompaniment of their own entrance music and video. Once the bell has rung the match will begin, but, the winner of the match has already been determined because yes, wrestling is fake.

Match results are pre-determined – we don’t know who’s going to win, but the wrestlers do. They will probably have a very basic match plan, but for much of the bout they will improvise. After all, some matches can last up to an hour, so it would be impossible to plan every move in every match. The wrestlers will appear to fight, but obviously, they’re not really trying to hurt each other…because if they were, matches wouldn’t last longer than two minutes. Back to the match I was describing, from now on we’ll call the wrestlers Slaughterhouse and Dynamite. Picture Slaughterhouse as a large man of around 270lbs, whom is extremely strong and powerful but not very quick on his feet. Dynamite however weighs around 215lbs, a lightweight whose main attacks are speed and aerial moves.

The match will begin and in true wrestling fashion they will lock up. It’s quite likely that Slaughterhouse will push Dynamite into one set of ropes, and then throw him across to the other. Dynamite will then bounce off the opposite ropes, and Slaughterhouse will use Dynamite’s momentum to throw him high over his back, causing Dynamite to crash painfully into the ring canvas. However, in some cases, Dynamite will use his speed and manoeuvrability to slide between the legs of Slaughterhouse and then begin an attack of his own, possibly a dropkick to try and take the big man down.

The match will continue like this for a few minutes. Slaughterhouse will probably deliver moves like the Powerbomb or the Body Press Slam, where he will lift Dynamite above his head and send him crashing back down to the ground. Dynamite will try to use his speed to escape these moves, and the actual ring will be very important to Dynamite. A lot of the smaller, more athletic wrestlers like to head to one corner of the ring, and climb the three turnbuckles that hold the ropes that surround the ring together. The top turnbuckle is quite a few feet up, allowing these wrestlers to jump and gain some extra force on their moves. These wrestlers are usually the most entertaining, especially when manoeuvres like the Moonsault are implemented – this is where they will climb to the top so that their back is facing the ring, and then flip in midair to land perfectly on the opponent’s unprotected midsection.

We are now nearing the end of the match, and both men are now more vulnerable to special moves. Almost all wrestlers have their very own special move - a manoeuvre that is so powerful and so amazing that it finishes off their opponents completely, allowing them to hook the leg of the opponent and let the referee count to three to end the match. Let’s say that Dynamite is going to win the match, and that his special move is called the Explosion, possibly his own version of the Moonsault. Slaughterhouse will make a mistake, and Dynamite will take him down with another Dropkick. Dynamite sees his chance and scampers to the top turnbuckle, signals to the fans, and then leaps, nailing the Explosion. He will hook Slaughterhouse’s leg, and the referee will count 1…2…3. The bell will ring and the match is over, Dynamite has won.

Now, all these moves look real. It looks like they’re hitting them (well, most of the time) and the ring canvas certainly looks quite hard to land on…and it is. Just because Slaughterhouse and Dynamite aren’t really trying to hurt each-other, doesn’t mean that they’re completely free of pain throughout…no, it’s the exact opposite. They obviously learn how to fall, a good technique is to lift their head just before they hit the canvas (the ring floor) so that their back and neck takes the brunt of the fall. Obviously this can lead to long-term injuries, and this is true in the cases of WWE superstars like Edge and Chris Benoit who have been out injured over a year thanks to back and neck injuries. However, this is the price wrestlers have to pay if they want to be in the WWE.

So what makes all this so appealing to the WWE fans? Pro wrestling is much more than just wrestling matches…to be successful, you need to be a good actor too. A prime part of the WWE’s success is the storylines that exist, and the backstage segments that happen between matches…wrestlers have feuds over titles, so we will often see backstage interviews and even backstage brawls. To make these rivalries more believable the acting has to be good, as well as the wrestling skill. Feuds will usually culminate with a big match at a PPV, with the main event usually being for the World Championship.

Yes, wrestling is fake, but in my opinion this is an advantage, because it allows for so much more versatility. A boxing card will consist of a number of one-on-one, normal matches, some being for titles. On your average WWE Pay Per View event card, there are a few singles matches that are almost always for titles, tag team matches (where 2 or 3 wrestlers team up against each-other), and the odd gimmick match. Gimmick matches are an imperative part of the WWE’s success, with inventions such as the submission match, table match, ladder match, cage match and even the infamous Hell In A Cell match, where legend Mick Foley once feel 15 foot from the top of the cell and through the Announcer’s Table.

Obviously, wrestling is not to everyone’s taste. However, I feel that there are a lot of ignorant people out there who openly insult wrestlers and the fans, without actually knowing what it’s all about. Fine, if you’ve watched it a few times and don’t like it then that’s your opinion, but at least find out how it all works first. Wrestlers are stereotyped as fat, greasy men who don’t have any physical talent whatsoever, but this is completely untrue. Yes, some wrestlers are fat, and some are greasy too, but in reality they are putting their bodies on the line each week for our own entertainment…and their high wage, of course.

Wrestling is special because it’s different. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and nor do we fans, but just like with films and stories, I often find myself immersed in one of the many storylines that thread the WWE’s shows together. It is extremely unlikely that I have turned you all into grappling fans here today, but hopefully you are now a little more informed on why big greasy men pretending to hit each-other for a few minutes is so appealing to people like myself.
Sun 09/03/03 at 18:13
Regular
"One More Chance"
Posts: 6,887
Whoops.

Well I did read it on Friday.

Freeola & GetDotted are rated 5 Stars

Check out some of our customer reviews below:

Excellent
Excellent communication, polite and courteous staff - I was dealt with professionally. 10/10
Everybody thinks I am an IT genius...
Nothing but admiration. I have been complimented on the church site that I manage through you and everybody thinks I am an IT genius. Your support is unquestionably outstanding.
Brian

View More Reviews

Need some help? Give us a call on 01376 55 60 60

Go to Support Centre

It appears you are using an old browser, as such, some parts of the Freeola and Getdotted site will not work as intended. Using the latest version of your browser, or another browser such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera will provide a better, safer browsing experience for you.