On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln needed only 272 words. 204 of those words were short one syllable words. The Gettysburg Address is inarguably one of the most famous and enduring speeches of all time. It stands as a testament of not only the power of the American spirit, but the power of brevity and concision. 

In the world of professional wrestling, where the roar of the crowd and the match up of larger than life athletes reverberate through arenas, the promo stands as a cornerstone of storytelling. Some of my personal favorite moments in wrestling history are interview segments. Are they more important than the in ring work, though? Modern day WWE and its Universe clearly believe the matches are secondary at best. 

Kate from Fightful posted that a 2 hour episode of Smackdown had 28 minutes and 2 seconds of wrestling and that isn’t what she is looking for in a professional wrestling show. This kicked off 153 replies, 136 quotes, and god knows how many screenshots posted. A majority of what I could see were WWE fans having a very negative response to what in my eyes is a fairly innocuous tweet. 

Dusty Rhodes’ “Hard Times” interview remains a masterclass in the art of the short promo. In a mere three and a half minutes, Dusty paints a vivid picture of the struggles faced by the working class, struggles he understands unlike the dastardly Ric Flair, captivating audiences with his impassioned delivery and poignant words. On top of all this, it does the job of all wrestling promos, it makes you want to watch a match. Dusty keeps your attention and makes you want to see him become the World Champion and he doesn’t need 40 minutes to do it. The episode of Mid Atlantic television where the Hard Times promo originally aired has as much wrestling as the aforementioned episode of Smackdown and it was half the length. 

272 Words

I’m ironically more than 272 words into this complaint on modern wrestling. Shakespeare once wrote, “brevity is the soul of wit,” and nowhere is this adage more relevant than in the realm of professional wrestling. Look at Stone Cold Steve Austin’s legendary promo at the conclusion of the 1996 King of the Ring event. Following his victory over Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Austin delivered a succinct yet impactful message that would forever alter the course of wrestling history: “Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass.” In just a few words, Austin established himself as a rebellious anti-hero and birthed a catchphrase that would become synonymous with his persona. People still wear Austin 3:16 shirts to this day. I don’t think we will be seeing a “Diarrea Dwayne” shirt anytime soon. 

Contrast these memorable moments with the interminable promos delivered during Triple H’s reign of terror as Raw World Champion in 2003. The entire fanbase as far as I could see was united in distaste of the weekly 20 minute HHH show opening promos. Smackdown the very show that started this controversy was beloved at the time for its lack of lengthy promos. They often meandered and overstayed their welcome, diluting the impact of whatever his message was and never led to anybody being more interested in a wrestling match which again should be the goal.

We weren’t always here as fans. Or at least the love of video packages, entrances, and promos over actual matches was in a deeper darker corner of the internet than I traveled. Now it’s out in the open. Half of my Twitter timeline is WWE fans and unemployed wrestlers mocking any actual wrestling and praising the “story telling” of WWE. 

272 Words

272 words is all one of the greatest men in history needed to express themselves to the world. That’s right, CM Punk’s famous “Become a monster to fight the monsters of the world,” segment was just 272 words. In less than 2 minutes Punk was able to accomplish multiple goals. It paid off a multi-show gag of Colt Cabana cutting him off before he could cut a promo. It let the fans understand the genesis of his straight edge persona and in kind his issues with Raven. CM Punk became more human during the segment. It also did its job. It made you want to see him wrestle Raven. Not only that but it pushed the catchphrase “THIS IS STRAIGHT EDGE!” All in a short concise promo at the end of a dvd.

One of the most compelling and easiest arguments in favor of shorter promos is their ability to leave more time for the main attraction: the wrestling itself. In a wrestling show, the in-ring action should rightfully take precedence as the primary method of storytelling. By keeping promos concise, wrestling promotions can allocate more time to showcase the athleticism, drama, and intensity of the matches, thereby keeping audiences engaged and invested in the product of wrestling. 

Moreover, shorter promos adhere to the fundamental principle of “showing not telling” in storytelling. While promos certainly have their place in advancing storylines and developing characters, nothing compares to the visceral impact of witnessing those narratives unfold through the physicality of the wrestlers in the ring. Actions speak louder than words, and the most compelling stories are often those told through hard-hitting matches and electrifying performances. We’re supposed to be wrestling fans.

If we’ve become post-wrestling wrestling fans, what is the point of any of this? The Rock has ruined films and other’s careers with his acting and he theoretically is the best of the bunch as far as actors in the WWE. If the storytelling is completely verbal and the wrestling is secondary or isn’t important at all, why would you ever turn on Smackdown. We are inundated with choices as far as scripted dramas. There’s more access to them than ever before. Listening to Roman Reigns give a 10 plus minute soliloquy when Oppenheimer is on the same streaming app as half this shit is insane. 

Wrestling promos should serve as a catalyst for elevating the in-ring action, allowing wrestlers to convey their messages concisely and efficiently while leaving ample time for what truly matters: the wrestling. As Abraham Lincoln and CM Punk demonstrated with the Gettysburg Address and WrestleRave promo, respectively,—two world-altering speeches delivered in just 272 words—sometimes, brevity truly is the soul of wit… he says after writing 800 more words than President Lincoln.