WWE’s switch to high-definition television nearly two decades ago didn’t just make the product look better—it also changed the way wrestlers perform. According to Cody Rhodes, the move to HD forced WWE Superstars to become much more subtle in the way they tell stories inside the ring.
WWE officially transitioned to high-definition broadcasting in January 2008, debuting in HD on Raw before rolling it out across ECW and Friday Night SmackDown. Speaking with Andrew Schulz and David Dastmalchian on What Do You Wanna Talk About?, Rhodes explained that the change in television presentation had a major impact on how wrestlers approach their performances.
Rhodes said that before HD television, wrestlers had to perform for the fans sitting in the cheapest seats of the arena. He pointed to Hulk Hogan as the perfect example, explaining that Hogan’s larger-than-life gestures were designed so everyone in the building could understand the story being told.
“It’s funny, as wrestling’s changed over the years, it used to be about the cheapest seat. Hulk Hogan’s a great example, would do these massive… And what’s happened with HD television, with the nuance of how we shoot, oh, you can be smaller. You can bring it in.”
He recalled one specific example of Hogan using exaggerated hand motions to explain that an opponent hadn’t been eliminated because they never went over the top rope. While that style worked perfectly at the time, Rhodes said today’s television production allows wrestlers to rely on much smaller expressions and movements without losing the audience, while still remembering the fans watching live from the upper deck.
“I remember, this is a great example of him explaining the guy didn’t go over the top rope, that he didn’t go over, so he wasn’t eliminated. And he’s doing his hand, then he’s holding the bottom rope, and he’s doing all this bigness. And what’s happened with HD television, with the nuance of how we shoot, oh, you can be smaller. You can bring it in. And it’s difficult because you can see an old, kind of an old hat. You do it, though. You do it. Joe does it. What you guys do, you know where those cameras are, and I love that about the way you perform, but you’re still, when it’s live, you still know you want that person that could only afford the cheapest tickets in the house to get as much out of the experience as the person that’s getting to be ringside.”
Rhodes also singled out one current WWE star who he believes has mastered performing for modern television. In his opinion, Roman Reigns is the best in the business at using the camera to enhance his performances.
“I think he probably is credited, and he should be. No one is better at working the individual cameras with his face than Roman Reigns.”
While fans often focus on moves and match quality, Rhodes believes WWE’s move to HD quietly changed one of the most important parts of wrestling. Instead of relying on oversized reactions that had to reach the back row, today’s performers can tell stories through subtle expressions, knowing the cameras will capture every detail.
What do you think has been the biggest change in WWE’s presentation over the years? Let us know in the comments below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
