Bobby Fish: If You’re Not Going To Train In MMA, Don’t Throw Leg Kicks

Bobby Fish talks about the use of MMA style in pro wrestling and why it should be left to the professionals like him.

AEW star Bobby Fish was recently a guest on the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling podcast with John Poz. During their conversation, the Undisputed Elite member took time to talk about what he thinks hurts the business when it comes to different styles in wrestling.

“I put a lot of pride into the technical part of it. And I think for me, it comes from training in martial arts. I was always such a stickler for technique and learning how to do it right. I think Kyle shares the same sort of enthusiasm. There’s where I do get a little miffed at times with pro wrestling. We control so many variables, so you can literally go out there and do whatever you want. But I feel like this is not MMA. So in MMA, you’ve gotta cover all the bases, check all the boxes. Because if not, you’re going to get exposed. If you’re good at jiu jitsu and good at striking, but your wrestling isn’t there, you’re never going to get anyone to floor, or you can’t dictate where the fight’s going to stay. This is pro wrestling, it’s not that.

“So you don’t to cover all the bases or check all the boxes. There’s too many people that—because they come from the world of MMA, for example, then they’ll feel like, ‘well maybe I should do everything.’ And it’s like, ‘no, that’s where it gets boring.’ Because let’s say you got ten guys, and all ten of them are capable of doing everything, well there’s a portion of what you’re capable of doing that you can only really pull off because it’s pro wrestling. If it were competitive, some of that would probably—that you don’t do quite as well—you wouldn’t be doing. But yet because it’s pro wrestling, we can get away with it. Just because you can get away with it, doesn’t mean you should get away with it. And I think that’s kind of where pro wrestling has gotten off track in that, you know, styles—the clash of styles or they way that styles mesh together are what make it interesting. And I think we’ve lost a little bit of that.

“I think what makes a match with Bam Bam Bigelow and Ricochet interesting would be the fact that they’re so different. But just because Bam Bam can do a moonsault in a match with Ricochet, he probably should do it because his isn’t going to look the way Ricochet’s does. So I think in that regard, everybody in pro wrestling could use a little, ‘stay in your lane, asshole.’ That’s what makes it interesting.”

Fish added, “If you’re going to do the MMA thing, train it at least. If that’s not what you do, and you’re not willing to put that time in to go train muay thai, don’t throw leg kicks. If you’re not willing to put the time in to train jiu jitsu, don’t do heel hooks. Don’t fake the funk just because you can fake the funk. I think it hurts the sport.”

Fish recorded his comments prior to Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite, but it would appear that he takes his beliefs seriously. Fish posted the following remarks after the CM Punk versus Jon Moxley match that aired on this week’s show:

Leave the head kicks to the professionals. It’s better for all of us.

Love,
The Professor
(The most educated feet in professional wrestling)

— Bobby Fish (@theBobbyFish) August 25, 2022