How to Bet on WWE Wrestling Events: Expert Tips and Advice
If you've clicked on the headline and are reading this line, you may as well stay and read the rest of the article. I am completely aware of how crazy betting on World Wrestling Entertainment sounds, but you have to hear me out. I am positive I can change your mind on the topic.
For starters, yes, the WWE is scripted. The winners and losers of every match on the card is predetermined well in advance of the referee administering the three count, 10-count, or DQ. To keep the entertainment value up, the matches themselves are not structured in any way shape or form. That would be boring, and it would limit the wrestler's creativity level in the ring and lead to poor chemistry. Remember this is a "show" - both wrestlers have to really sell the idea of being punched or clotheslined or body slammed to the mat.
So, why would betting on the WWE be a money-making proposition? Well, let's look at it from a business perspective first. The WWE is among the most popular weekly episode-based shows of all time, stemming from its early days as the WWF. It puts on more than 500 events per year and reaches around 36 million viewers in more than 150 countries. Simply put, there is nothing of its kind in the market today.
The "show" centers around the cast or "roster" of each two main shows -- one dedicated to Monday Night Raw and one dedicated to Smackdown. However, the big-name superstars like John Cena and Roman Reigns are free to roam between the two brands, thus drawing a higher viewership rating. As we see these wrestlers on a consistent basis, we can begin to predict patterns or trends that emerge when the writing team is trying to put a wrestler over or turn them against the crowd. Every single action a wrestler does is almost in director correlation with where the writing team wants to have them in a month's time.
Now that we have a bit of background information as to why WWE could be intriguing to bet on as a sport, we will look at what wagering options are available to bettors.
WWE Wagering Options
Because the WWE is a show, there will always be a winner and a loser of a match, regardless of how the outcome comes to be. Fans will never leave the arena not knowing who won or the telecast won't end without declaring a winner. Now, as I mentioned before, the matches are scripted. However, the amount of people that actually know the results can be counted on one hand, so the information we seek as bettors are guarded with lives and is simply impossible to figure out.
The most basic betting option on a WWE match is "who will win the match?" This means that they must be declared the winner at the conclusion of the match and have their hands raised by the ref.
Example: "Who Will Win the Match - John Cena -180 or Roman Reigns +125
Depending on who you bet on, that wrestler must have their hand raised by the ref in order to be declared a winner and cash your ticket. Some sportsbooks have certain stipulations regarding how an outcome is determined, so make sure to check with your sportsbook before placing a wager.
On some occasions, the WWE will feature a triple-threat match, or a fatal four-way match that features three or four wrestlers. You can still pick the winner of the match, but sportsbooks will also offer up odds that look like this:
John Cena to win triple threat match +140
Field: -225
Roman Reigns to win triple threat match +160
Field -250
Brock Lesnar to win triple threat match +200
Field -400
In terms of prop bet opportunities for the WWE, some sportsbooks will offer up prop bets that include "Will _____ make an appearance?", or "Will there be outside interference?" or "Will ______ cash in their money in the bank briefcase?" However, much like any other sport, prop bets are typically for suckers and are a quick way to lose money.
WWW Betting Strategy
Considering the fact that the WWE is scripted, there are still strategies you can put in place when wagering on professional wrestling. In order to become a great handicapper in any sport, you must have an amazing ability to analyze situations and think two steps ahead of the normal bettor. For example, if you bet on the MLB you would analyze past games and pitcher stats and batter slumps and everything in between.
In the WWE, instead of focusing your attention on the wrestlers themselves, you must analyze the tendencies of the writers behind the scenes who pull the strings. There are a few basic questions you can ask yourself in order to get into the writer's mindset; what have the they done in the past, how do they treat certain wrestlers, and what kind of surprises have they used already.
If you pay close enough attention to those three questions, you may be on the right track in terms of turning a profit betting on the WWE. It's important to remember that the writers are human, and all humans have tendencies and patterns that we unknowingly do.
WWE Lingo
If you're going to be wagering on the WWE, it's vital that you understand the lingo. Here is a list of the most commonly-used terms or phrases among announcers and fans.
Babyface: This is the good guy. He or she will be a fan favorite and will likely always follow the rules and act with integrity.
Heel: This is the bad guy. This wrestler is among the most hated people in the arena and will always get booed.
Clean Finish : This phrase is used to describe a match that ends without any sort of cheating or outside interference. In order to win a "clean finish" match a wrestler will either pin or submit his opponent.
Dirty Finish: This is the opposite of clean finish. A dirty finish is a match that ends via cheating, outside interference, DQ, or all of that. This type of finish always adds intrigue to the storyline and is commonly used.
Jobber: This is a wrestler that is almost guaranteed to lose in order to build his opponent's resume. The quicker you identify these wrestlers, the more money you will save by not betting on them.
Push: This is the opposite of a jobber. A wrestler who is getting a "push" will begin winning all his matches in order to appeal to the crowd and progress in the storyline the writers have in mind. Identifying which wrestlers are receiving a push from the writers is tricky, but once you believe to have figured it out, you could make some easy money.
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