Yes you read that right. On first glance, the only thing that poker and sports entertainment wrestling have in common are that they both involve tables, although it would be a pretty awkward situation if a poker ended up being powerbombed through green baize. By looking a bit deeper however, there are some elements that link the ‘sports’.
Both poker and wrestling are highly competitive. Yes, the results in wrestling may be decided before the match, but it doesn’t stop the best wrestlers working hard to ensure they are in with a chance of title wins and exposure.
Wrestling treads a fine line between sport and soap opera. Wrestlers are undoubtedly highly trained athletes who work very hard to get to the top, with anyone able to become a superstar. Even if you aren’t a six foot tall monster with muscles growing on your eyelids, you can still please crowds (just look at Hornswoggle).
Many wrestling storylines focus on a ‘face’ (a popular character) or a ‘heel’ (a bad guy / girl) who is often portrayed as the underdog going on to win a title belt or beat a stronger opponent, or in Daniel Bryant’s case, cheating to ensure wins week in week out. This also happens all the time in poker (Hopefully minus the cheating), with players who have no right to be playing so well managing to go further in tournaments or knocking out higher seeded opponents. Poker really can be mastered by anyone and like wrestling, all the action isn’t just dominated by a select handful of world class competitors.
Wrestling is also all about the characters. The best wrestlers will have a gimmick, something that makes them memorable whilst keeping their image fresh. The Undertaker, for example, looks just like an undertaker, with long black robes, hat and a terrifying stare. The Rock had some signature moves and was a motormouth on the mic. Guess what – poker has the same big personalities that keep gameplay entertaining and their opponents guessing.
Whether it’s Mike ‘The Mouth’ Matusow trash talking other players at the table and losing his mind when a hand doesn’t go his way, or Mr ego himself Phil Hellmuth, whose self-confidence is second to none, there are plenty of big personalities that use their persona and mind games to get the edge over their opponents. One wrestler who certainly gets inside his opponents head is Randy Orton, with his leering, snarling and death stares reminiscent of Phil Hellmuth on the end of a big loss of chips.
It also seems that many wrestling fans also enjoy poker. The suspense, competitivness (even though some of it is manufactured) and drama keep viewers coming back for more, with different outcomes possible each week. The formats of both sports keep them easy to follow even if you aren’t a regular viewer and the clean nature of both sports means even youngsters can get involved with the fun.
So next time you play poker online at 888 Poker or you’re down at the casino with friends, why not try and channel your favourite wrestler to try and get an edge over your opponents? Either that, or invest in a Kane mask to ensure the perfect poker face.
