View source for Berserk Button/Professional Wrestling

{{trope}}
When a nice, normal character suddenly goes into a rage, you've hit his [[Berserk Button]].

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* Typically, when fans jump the rail or even flinch in a threatening manner toward a wrestler, the wrestler's first act is to beat the holy hell out of the fan. Even [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzr6-Z1_wnw referees] are not to be messed with.
* Festus was a [[Gentle Giant]] until the bell rang, thus triggering his Berserk Button.
** And it worked in reverse, too; when the bell rang again, usually after a victory, Festus visibly reverted to his gentle self. [[Genre Savvy]] opponents took advantage by ringing the bell themselves, forcing his tag team partner Jesse to ring it ''again'' to re-trigger him.
* A sure way to bring out a certain wrestler to interrupt a promo is to say something that plays on his [[Catch Phrase]]. This contributor feels that the cleverest use of this was when [[Booker T]] said his own [[Catch Phrase]], "Don't hate the playah, hate the game" to [[Triple H|HHH]] who is also sometimes known as the Game.
* And speaking of HHH, should you [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBMt0N_kkpY bring harm] to [[Ric Flair]], he and [[Shawn Michaels]] will [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy_enZ6JgjE&feature=related not be happy campers]. Unless, [[Heel Face Revolving Door|of course,]] it's Triple H [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXoK6Ew2lkc bringing the harm].
* A documentary on pro wrestling showed a clip from an interview with Leon White (Big Van [[Vader]]). He was a nice guy, but that stopped when the interviewer [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkHwvid6WY8 asked him if wrestling was fake]. Leon slapped him in the head several times and said, "Does ''that'' feel fake to you?!"
** Another earlier incident had David Schultz [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrX9Ca7LSyQ being asked by John Stossel], who was doing an investigative report on pro wrestling. According to Schultz, [[Vince McMahon]] told him to beat up Stossel, threatening to fire Schultz if he didn't.
* [[Andre the Giant]], normally a [[Gentle Giant]], was taunted about his size by some mooks outside a bar in Europe; they then got into their car to drive away, but Andre ''grabbed the car and tipped it over,'' with all four of them inside it.
** Another time, in the waning years of his career (his gigantism had made even standing too long painful), Andre became so disgusted with The [[Ultimate Warrior]] constantly hitting him too hard with a sloppy clothesline night after night, he simply ''put up his fist'' and [[Crowning Moment of Funny|Warrior ran right into it, knocking himself out]]. The next night, Warrior was gentle as a lamb with Andre. Back in the locker room, [[Bobby Heenan]] said Andre told him "He'll learn." 
* Don't ever call Homicide your "nizzle" unless you're in the mood to drink Drano.
* Threatening Lacey with a railroad spike is a surefire way to have either Austin Aries or Jimmy Jacobs attempt to murder someone.
* Tipping or spilling the APA's beer is just asking for them to beat your ass.
* Do not, I repeat, do not, call, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCsfWJ5ogc0 Damien Demento], a jobber.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVa49EwJj0w PRINCESS PEACH IS A TRAMP!]
* [[Green Lantern Fan]] is one of the most reviled figures in wrestling, even moreso than [[Vince Russo]]. That said, if you want to infuriate a horde of smarks, bring his name up in conversation. Steve Corino absolutely hates the man, going as far as to insult his family at ROH's "Fight of the Century."
* Mocking [[Jim Ross]] will inevitably incur the wrath of EVERYONE. God help you if [[Jim Cornette]], [[Jerry Lawler]], or [[Steve Austin]] find out about it themselves.
** Matt Striker is slowly becoming this for Lawler, as well.
* Don't touch "Dashing" [[Cody Rhodes]]' face, unless you want to see him throw a huge tantrum and run towards the nearest mirror to check his reflection.
* Attacking [[Shawn Michaels|HBK]]'s family or faith in any way-- physically, mentally, financially-- is a great way to communicate to him you really don't need your bones anymore. [[Vince McMahon]], [[Chris Jericho]], and [[John Bradshaw Layfield|JBL]] all discovered this the hard way.
* In a July 11, 2011 promo, [[John Cena]] claimed that he was an underdog to [[CM Punk]]... but then Punk retaliated that ''he'' was the underdog, while Cena was the face of the company. And then rubbed salt into the wound when he compared him to his "hometown" (West Newbury, MA, but the show was in Boston so that's what got named) - going over its underdog history as insinuators of the American Revolution and the Boston Red Sox - but saying that now they were a dynasty, [[You Are What You Hate|they'd become the New York Yankees]]. Cena promptly punched him in the face.
** Cena's best bud, [[Zack Ryder]] is definitely off limits. Once you go after Ryder, Cena will definitely give you an attitude adjustment, and then some. Look no further than Cena beating the [[No-Holds-Barred Beatdown|holy freaking hell]] out of Jack Swagger on the 1/16/20 edition of Raw for proof.
* Learn from [[Christian]]'s example and do ''NOT'' slap [[Sheamus]] or spit in the face of [[Randy Orton]]<ref>That time he was being [[Dangerously Genre Savvy]] concerning Randy</ref>.
* Oh, good God. Don't even think about making personal attacks towards either the mother, father, or sister of [[CM Punk]]. Just ask Christian on exactly why<ref>Though Christian didn't even attack Punk's family, he just happened to be on the receiving end of an epic ass-kicking after [[Chris Jericho]] (the actual perpetrator) verbally mocked Punk's mother and father.</ref>.
{{quote|'''[[CM Punk]]''': ''(While holding Christian in a submission with enough force to get officials involved)'' [[Madness Mantra|THIS IS YOU, CHRIS! THIS IS GONNA BE]] '''''[[Madness Mantra|YOU, CHRIS!!!]]'''''}}
* Do '''NOT''' make fun of John Laurinaitis' voice.
** Unless your the [[Face]] [[John Cena|of the whole]] [[Professional Wrestling]] [[John Cena|industry.]]
* ''Never'' try to [http://www1.skoftenmedia.com/images/gifdump/155/24.gif remove a luchador's mask]{{Dead link}}; they wear it for a reason...
* If you see a male wrestler getting beaten by a Diva, even if it’s a bitch slap, DON’T laugh at that guy or risk retribution. [[Randy Orton| Someone]] learned this the hard way when he saw [[Batista| another one]] getting slapped by [[Stephanie McMahon| a diva]].
* During Christmas time, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUw_ZIDOK30 DON’T RUN OVER] SATNA CLAUS or a [[Mick Foley| badass legend in that role]], even if you can prove it was a mistake. Just ask [[Alberto Del Rio]] when he got the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enID3UuqrTQ entire roster after him] for this and had to do in battle in a street fight with [[John Cena| the man]] that had to save Christmas.
* Learn from Layla and DON'T THROW FOOD AT [[Natalya Neidheart]]! It won't end well.
** Same goes with Ryback, as [[Kane]] quickly discovered following Survivor Series (2014).
* If you're going to offer any diva a business deal, make sure that one or two things are clear: One don't hit on her and two check to see if she's married. [[The Miz]] failed to realize this when he made a move on Naomi, and {{spoiler| Jimmy Uso}} made Miz pay for it.
* For the love of [[Mick Foley| Foley]], DO NOT make a disrespectful remark about a wrestler's deceased [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAt1kk-632s#action=share family member]. Just go ask Paige when [[Too Dumb to Live| she made that mistake]].
* If a food fight is in process, make sure you refrain from throwing your ammo toward [[The Big Show]] and [[Kane]] if you can. If you're going to, make sure there are few people looking, or run the second they're hit by food from YOU. We're looking you, Heath Slater.
* If you're a woman and slaps a man, with a strict [[Wouldn't Hit a Girl| hands off of women rule]], you might wanna sure he isn't dating a woman who will attack... bonus points if it happens to be a [https://youtu.be/X11J2oRJn3E Bella]. Just ask Maryse when she opts to slap [[John Cena]], of all people.
** The follow week, (March 14, 2017), [[The Miz]] pushed [[Daniel Bryan]], despite being forced to retired due his injuries. Bryan had it with Miz, to the point he had to get [[John Cena]] and Nikki Bella to do the job.

{{reflist}}
[[Category:Berserk Button]]
[[Category:Professional Wrestling]]