The Wrestling Story

Major Sales conference. Key message: “ We’re taking a hammering, let’s get out there and retaliate”. OK, some obvious metaphors to play with there so the plan was to start with an upbeat fun opening VT – get everyone in the mood and on our side.

So we set up a ring in the studio, hired some pro-wrestlers and settled down for a fun afternoon of slamdown.

The hired talent were great, Real pros. They took the Executive team under their belts and trained them on how to look the business and throw them around the ring. We were one contestant short –the CFO who was turning up later.

Ever seen competitive dad? Think you know where this is going?
OK so CFO turns up.

He’s not happy and his meeting has not gone well, he changes reluctantly into his ringwear and awaits direction and pecks furiously at his crackberry from one corner of the ring.

The Wrestler walks over introduces himself and outlines how he expects the talent to run at him. “Don’t hold yourself back, make it look as realistic as possible and shout as you start to make it look aggressive. Okay.

Everyone assumes their positions.
“Standby for a take”, “Turnover”, “Camera rolling”, Cue Name
Our talent accelerates across the ring at a ferocious lick screaming at the top of his voice and as he sails past his open mouthed colleagues in a pose reminiscent of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, our other performer has literally been caught off guard and the CFO crashes into him taking him down.

A huge cheer rises from the Exec team and our wrestler takes it very well.

On film, it looked awesome and played out live it provoked the kind of reaction from the audience that we wish we could bottle but the best roar of the day was reserved for the head of HR when she sits on top of a 400Lb veteran and attempts to rip his cheeks off.

Ok this didn’t quite sit with the new values of integrity and respect but her own personal brand went off the scale for the remainder of the conference.

The Wrestler recuperated, People listen intently when the CFO speaks.

We still work with them. They trust us.

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