What is MMR?
MMR (Matchmaking Rating) is a skill rating system borrowed from competitive gaming and chess. We've adapted it for professional wrestling to create objective, data-driven rankings based on actual match results.
Think of MMR like a wrestler's "power level" - it goes up when they win and down when they lose, but HOW MUCH it changes depends on who they beat (or lost to).
The Simple Version
- Beat a strong opponent = Big rating boost
- Beat a weak opponent = Small rating boost
- Lose to a strong opponent = Small rating drop
- Lose to a weak opponent = Big rating drop
How It Works
We track match results from wrestling events and feed them into our rating algorithm. Every wrestler starts at a baseline rating, and their rating adjusts after each match.
Example: An Upset Win
Let's say a mid-card wrestler with a 1400 rating beats a main eventer with an 1800 rating:
| Wrestler | Before | Change | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-Carder (Winner) | 1400 | +45 | 1445 |
| Main Eventer (Loser) | 1800 | -45 | 1755 |
The upset causes a big swing because it was unexpected. If the main eventer had won, the changes would be much smaller (maybe +5/-5).
What We Track
- Singles matches - 1v1 matches (most important)
- Tag team matches - All participants share the rating change
- Multi-person matches - Winner gets a boost, all losers drop
What is Glicko-2?
Glicko-2 is the specific algorithm we use to calculate ratings. It was created by Mark Glickman, a Harvard professor, as an improvement over the famous Elo system used in chess.
Why Glicko-2?
Glicko-2 is smarter than basic Elo because it tracks two additional things:
- Rating Deviation (RD) - How certain we are about a wrestler's true skill level
- Volatility - How much a wrestler's performance tends to fluctuate
A wrestler who competes every week has a low RD (we're confident in their rating). A wrestler who's been away for months has a high RD (their true level is uncertain).
Wrestling-Specific Adjustments
We've tuned the algorithm for pro wrestling's unique characteristics:
- Different promotions maintain separate ratings
- Returning wrestlers adjust back to form over several matches
- All match types are tracked (singles, tag, multi-person)
Understanding the Numbers
Rating Scale
| Rating | What It Means |
|---|---|
| 1800+ | Elite - World champions, protected stars |
| 1600-1800 | Main Event - Top-tier competitors |
| 1400-1600 | Upper Mid-Card - Solid competitors |
| 1200-1400 | Mid-Card - Average performers |
| Below 1200 | Lower Card - Enhancement talent, newcomers |
What Affects Ratings?
- Win/Loss record - The core factor
- Opponent quality - Beating stars matters more
- Recency - Recent matches count more than old ones
- Match frequency - Active wrestlers have more stable ratings
Fantasy Wrestling
Our Fantasy Draft lets you build a team of wrestlers and compete based on real-world results.
How Fantasy Scoring Works
- Draft cost = Wrestler's MMR rating
- Weekly score = Sum of all your wrestlers' MMR changes
- If your wrestler wins, their MMR goes up = you score positive
- If they lose, their MMR goes down = you score negative
- If they don't wrestle that week = 0 points
Strategy tip: Expensive (high-MMR) wrestlers are protected and usually don't lose much. Cheaper wrestlers are riskier but can have big swings when they win upsets!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't my favorite wrestler have a higher rating?
Ratings are based purely on match results, not popularity, star power, or match quality. A beloved wrestler who loses often will have a lower rating than their fans might expect.
Do DQ finishes count?
Yes! A win is a win and a loss is a loss, regardless of how the match ended.
What about multi-person matches?
The winner gets a rating boost. All other participants are treated as "losers" and drop rating, though the drop is divided among them.
Why are there separate ratings per promotion?
A wrestler's standing in AEW is different from their standing in WWE. Separate ratings let us track each promotion's hierarchy accurately.
How often do ratings update?
Ratings are recalculated daily based on the latest match results from Cagematch.
Can I see historical ratings?
Yes! Visit any wrestler's profile page to see their rating history over time.
Where does the data come from?
Match results are sourced from Cagematch, a comprehensive wrestling database.