As WWE’s Vice President of Global Talent Development, William Regal is consistently assessing talents’ in-ring performances, and in turn, providing them with ways they can improve. Occasionally, Regal takes his guidance to a public forum as well.
Such was the case this weekend as the 42-year industry veteran offered valuable advice about match pin attempts and kick-outs.
“We are portraying trained pro fighters with instincts (even comedy bouts),” he wrote on X. “If you don’t win you would make less money in the story we’re telling. Every TV bout, if there’s a pin, the cameras focus in. Please pin and kick out like your life and career depend on it. In story, it does.”
As an example of the kick-outs and pins he’s looking for, Regal referenced a match between in-ring legends AJ Styles and Amazing Red from the early 2000s, in which both competitors aggressively applied every pin, with their opponent’s shoulders both covered and stacked. Regal noted that every subsequent kickout was equally as forceful, almost as if “their life depended on it.” 20 years later, he believes that art has since been lost.
“Let’s not insult the intelligence of our audience who are giving us their precious time,” Regal continued. “In a fight scene in a movie (which is what wrestling is) we know the punches don’t really hit but if we saw that we would eventually stop watching it. Your audience and fans deserve better. If you can’t be uncomfortable for a few seconds being stacked up in a pin, maybe this isn’t for you.”
I work for WWE but watch a lot of wrestling worldwide. This goes for all wrestlers in all companies. I have worked in Wrestling for 42 years. An observation. We are portraying trained pro fighters with instincts ( even comedy bouts). If you don’t win you would make less money in…
— William Regal (@RealKingRegal) October 16, 2026
Regal himself spent multiple decades competing in the ring, with his official retirement match pitting him against Claudio Castagnoli (formerly WWE’s Cesaro) in 2013. The former WWE Intercontinental Champion has remained involved in the business in a non-wrestling capacity since then.
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