How to come up with QUICK-WITTED COMEBACKS

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper's 4 EASY TOOLS to coming up with FAST THINKING COMEBACKS.

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If you grew up in the 80s, you were likely a wrestling fan at some point… I mean, everyone was.

The WWF was beyond pop culture at the time, with its larger-than-life characters.

And no character was larger in wit than the villainous Rowdy Roddy Piper.

Piper always seemed a step ahead of everyone when it came to having the gift of the gab. His comebacks and one-liners were legendary.

But, what most people don’t realize is that the key to having a great comeback is more than just lighting speed.

So, in this video we’re going to be looking at examples from the Hot Rod to analyze the keys to being quick-witted and ways you can develop that skill.

When it comes witty comebacks, timing is everything. They are made in the moment, meaning, you can’t necessarily plan them.

Or can you?

One tool to improve your comeback skills is to revisit past situations. Think about those times when you didn’t know what to say… focus on what was said, and try to write a better script. Actually, write it down!

One of Piper’s not-so-known secrets was that he had a notebook filled with one-liners. Phrases he wanted to remember so that he could use them at a later date. This is actually where the iconic “bubble gum” line came from in John Carpenter's They Live.

Now, keep in mind that no two situations will be alike. So this exercise is strictly for inspiration. But, you might end up with something in your back pocket that you can use for a later showdown.

When it comes to witty comebacks, we tend to think that it’s all about the text, but it’s much more about the tone. {It’s not about the text. It’s about the tone}

Let’s be honest, for every great zinger Piper had, he had 10 more that just made no sense…

And much like his other WWF counterparts, it was more about the way they said things vs. what they said.

Look at how the Rowdy one uses his tone to communicate.

Whether he wants to be serious… Or wants to be snarky.

He doesn’t shy away from changing the pitch, volume and speed of his voice to make a point.

But, a note on being sarcastic. Sarcasm works if it’s not overdone and is treated with cleverness, and obviousness. Don’t be too subtle with your sarcasm or you run the risk of it not being fully understood.

It might surprise you but coming up with a well time rebuttable is in part of being a great listener. The wittiest comebacks are in direct response to what has been said. Focus on the words coming at you, what they mean and be prepared to jump when you see an opening.

Look for things like contradictions and be prepared to pick apart what your adversaries say.

Just don’t get too long-winded, as that will open yourself up to being interrupted.

Lastly, the key to a great comeback, is to take your time.

Being quick-witted doesn’t necessarily mean being fast. In stressful situations, time will feel faster than it actually is. It’s said that most people only give themselves 30% of the time they’d give someone else to respond.

Watch at how Roddy listens, thinks and reacts accordingly.

Slowing things down, allows you to think calmly so you can react in the best way possible.

Now, we might not all be as good as the late great legend. Piper was truly one-of-a-kind. But, we can still sit back, take notes and enjoy a classic Piper’s Pit.