Why Wrestlers Should Never Ask for Bookings With This Kind of Attitude

 

(And Why Reputation Matters More Than Ever)**

Professional wrestling is built on relationships, respect, and reputation. The people who succeed long-term are not just the most talented—they’re the most professional. The ones who know how to talk to promoters. The ones who understand how the business works today, not how it worked 20 years ago.

Unfortunately, more and more wrestlers are shooting themselves in the foot before they ever step through the curtain—simply because of their attitude when asking for bookings.

Recently, I came across a wrestler whose “booking announcement” is a textbook example of how not to get booked. It wasn’t a pitch… it was a tirade. A full manifesto declaring that the entire wrestling industry, every modern promoter, and every young wrestler were beneath him.

Here is what he posted publicly:

“Accepting select bookings through 2026. I'm not here to be used and abused. If any respectful promoter who is not a complete scum bag, has money, knows how to book, knows how to push, knows how to pay and has a good reputation wants to do business with a multi-talented trained professional with 25 years of experience… hit me up.

But I'm not cheap. I'm not a mark. I don't love this shit. I'm just good at drawing money for promoters who actually know what they're doing.

I've been in movies, TV shows, wrestling shows, documentaries, podcasts, albums, music videos, commercials, theatre, hip hop shows, magazines, video games, trading cards… I'm not some jabroni begging for work.

I don’t give a shit anymore whether I get booked or not. The business is in the shitter. Nobody wants to pay. Guys and girls don’t even know how to work.

I've been in the business for 25 years, worked for old school promoters who kept their word. Nowadays promoters book yardtards working for exposure, rely solely on social media, refuse to put in the legwork, and then have the balls to downplay my value.”

This wasn’t confidence.
It wasn’t assertiveness.
It wasn’t even tough-guy swagger.

It was bitterness, entitlement, and ego wrapped in a booking inquiry.

And it perfectly demonstrates the first key lesson:

1. Promoters Don’t Book Attitude — They Book Professionalism

A promoter’s first question is never:
“How many countries have you wrestled in?”

It’s always:
“Can I trust this person?”

When your opening conversation consists of:

• calling promoters “scum bags”

• saying you don’t care about bookings

• bragging excessively

• insulting the younger generation

• trashing the modern business

• making it sound like promoters should be grateful to even message you

…you’re not presenting yourself as a professional.

You’re presenting yourself as a headache waiting to happen.

Wrestling is too competitive to waste time on someone who reveals their ego before they reveal their work ethic.

And that brings us to the second incident, which proves the point even more clearly.

2. A Second Example: A Wrestler Who Didn’t Understand How Reputation Works

Last night, another wrestler posted that he was looking for bookings.
Perfectly normal—promoters love seeing talent hungry for opportunities.

But he was publicly attaching himself to Firestorm Pro Wrestling, a fictional name we’ll use here to avoid calling out the real company.

“Firestorm” is known in this region for:

• canceling shows without warning

• leaving sponsors hanging

• leaving talent unpaid or unnotified

• completely inconsistent management

• burning bridges faster than they can build them

The situation there became so bad that a large portion of their locker room left and formed a completely new promotion just to escape the chaos.

Fair or not, the reputation of that promotion rubs off on anyone associated with it.

That’s not gossip—it’s how this business works.

I know promoters who will not book talent that works (or has worked) for Firestorm. Period.

One promoter said it perfectly when a legendary name contacted him looking for dates:

“I love the guy, but he has that Firestorm stink all over him.”

Meaning: the promoter didn’t want their brand, their event, or their locker room associated with anyone connected to that company.

This is how serious reputation is in wrestling.

So I reached out to this wrestler privately and politely explained:

• Why some promoters here avoid Firestorm talent

• Why he might be unintentionally hurting his chances

• That I was offering friendly advice, not criticism

His response?

Copied exactly:

“Ok..

1. I did not list Firestorm on my list of shows

2. I worked Ricky Morton was not going to pass that up

3. Whatever heat someone has with a promotion has nothing to do with my bookings”

It was defensive.
Sarcastic.
Dismissive.
Completely lacking self-awareness.

And here’s the kicker:
I actually had him penciled in for a future event.

Keyword: had.

Once that attitude showed up, that spot went to someone else.

Not because he worked a show for Firestorm.
But because of how he responded when a promoter tried to help him.

And that brings us to the heart of the matter.

3. If You Can’t Handle Simple Advice, You’re Not Ready for Bigger Opportunities

Promoters pay attention to how a wrestler communicates before they ever step into a ring.

Because if a wrestler:

• cannot accept basic advice

• gets defensive immediately

• answers politely delivered guidance with attitude

• talks like the world owes them something

• responds with ego instead of gratitude

…how will they handle:

• a finish change?

• a booking they don’t like?

• being asked to put someone over?

• being told their match is cut for time?

• being asked to work a different role?

• conflict in the locker room?

Wrestling is unpredictable.
The people who thrive are mentally flexible and emotionally mature.

If you get offended by a promoter trying to help you…
you won’t last long with a promoter handling real decisions.

4. Your Name Is Your Currency — Protect It

Everything a wrestler does affects their bookability:

• Where you work

• Who you associate with

• How you speak

• How you message promoters

• How you respond to feedback

• How you treat people online

• How you portray yourself

• And yes, how you ask for bookings

Every social media post is a billboard.
Every message is a handshake.
Every attitude is a spotlight that reveals your true value.

The first wrestler revealed bitterness.
The second revealed defensiveness.

Neither revealed professionalism.

And professionalism is what promoters pay for.

5. If You Want More Bookings, Make Yourself Easy to Book

The wrestlers who get consistent opportunities:

• show humility

• show gratitude

• listen more than they argue

• build bridges instead of burning them

• protect their reputation

• avoid shady promotions

• speak respectfully

• stay positive

• stay coachable

• present themselves as assets

• respond professionally

• stay drama-free

The wrestlers who don’t get booked are the ones who:

• complain

• rant online

• brag excessively

• attack other talent

• argue with promoters

• defend bad decisions

• align with bad companies

• blame the business

• lash out at advice

• show ego instead of discipline

Wrestling is simple:
Promoters book people who make their lives easier, not harder.

Final Word: Attitude Books Matches, Ego Loses Them

Two different wrestlers.
Two different situations.
Same core problem:
an attitude that kills opportunity.

It doesn’t matter how talented you are if no one wants to deal with you.

It doesn’t matter how experienced you are if your communication drives people away.

And it doesn’t matter who you’ve worked, where you’ve worked, or how many years you’ve been around—

If your attitude shows that you’ll be a problem, promoters won’t pay you to become their problem.

They’ll quietly move on.

And book the wrestler who acts like a professional.