WRESTLING NEWS
The Secret Signals In Wrestling Explained
By DAVID BIXENSPAN
Popularized in WWE, the “dreaded X” involves a referee crossing their arms above their head to make an “X,” signifying a legitimate injury. When discussing the “X” on his podcast, former WWE producer Arn Anderson explained that it signifies an immediate need for a doctor that called for the match to come to a halt.
The Dreaded X
After a wrestler takes a bump, the referee will often grab their hand to make sure they squeeze it, which tells the referee they haven’t sustained a severe injury and are good to continue. The wrestler giving the move often does this to make sure that the wrestler taking the move is okay, as well.
Hand Squeeze
When Randy Orton does his signature power slam, he sometimes claps his hands before attempting the move. He does this to let the opponent know that he’s about to hit the power slam, and if he doesn’t, his opponent will stop short, causing Orton to crash and burn.
Randy Orton’s Clap
Similar to Randy Orton’s power slam, Jake “The Snake” Robert’s signature DDT had a signal of its own. When Jake was performing the move, he would clap his opponent’s back to let them know he was about to hit it, and if he didn’t, it was countered.
Slapping The Back
At 2006's WrestleMania 22, Shawn Michaels jumped off a ladder with an elbow drop, putting Vince McMahon through a table. Usually, wrestlers are able to tense up before taking a blow, but since McMahon couldn’t see as his head was in a trash can, a referee had to squeeze his leg to let him know that Michaels was about to hit the move.
Leg Squeeze