Controls
This page provides an overview over the game's controls. It is recommended that you play Casual Pro Wrestling with a controller, but playing with a keyboard is also totally possible.
Once you connect a controller, keyboard and mouse input are disabled.
For the bindings shown on this page, I assume an Xbox 360 controller layout, keyboard and mouse bindings are given separately or in parantheses.
The Overview shows a very generic mapping. If you are looking on how to perform very specific actions that may not be very intuitive, have a look at How do I do X?.
In any event, playing the Sparring Session is a good idea to learn and experiment with the controls
Overview
This is a plain old table of button and key bindings for quick reference.
| Gamepad | Keyboard | Binding |
|---|---|---|
| Left Stick | W A S D |
Navigate around, choose between moves, push/pull opponent while grappling, stop running, turn around for reverse flying attack, set up weapon, turning during moves |
| Left Stick (press) | V |
Toggle pull/push during grapple |
| Right Stick | I J K L |
Target selection |
| Right Stick (press) | O |
Target last attacker |
| Right Stick (press & hold) | O (hold) |
Free roam |
| X | SPACE |
Perform weak strike, perform running or flying attack, kick out of a pin or hold |
| X (hold) | SPACE |
Perform heavy strike, perform running or flying attack |
| A | E |
Enter lock-up, perform grapple move, perform alternative running attack, kick out of a pin or hold |
| A (hold) | E (hold) |
Enter grapple, perform grapple move, perform alternative running attack |
| B | R |
Push opponent back during lock-up, push opponent into corner, roll opponent onto apron or table, throw opponent out of the ring, pick up opponent (from side), drag opponent (at head/feet) |
| B (hold) | R (hold) |
Perform a quick move, Pick up opponent fully |
| Y | Q |
Climb (ring ropes, off of / onto apron, top turnbuckle, stairs, barricade, stage, whatever else may be climbed), perform a springboard attack |
| Y (hold) | Q (hold) |
Slide out of or into ring, jump over barricade, climb top turnbuckle from apron |
| RB | F |
Pick up weapon, set up weapon, drop weapon |
| RB (hold) | F (hold) |
Throw weapon, pick up large over small object |
| RT | LSHIFT |
Start running, stop running, perform Irish whip |
| LB | G |
Pin opponent, switch between front and back grapple |
| LB (hold) | G (hold) |
Turn around laying opponent (from side), cancel grapple, pinfall or submission hold |
| LT | C |
Block, dodge, roll, counter, hold on to rope, kickout of a pin or hold → see Defense |
| D-Pad | 1 2 3 4 |
Taunt |
| Start | ESC |
Pause/unpause game, skip entrance |
| Start (hold) | ESC (hold) |
Skip all entrances |
| Select | TAB |
Next lesson (in Sparring Session), select next wrestler |
| Select (Hold) | TAB (hold) |
Previous lesson (in Sparring Session), give control to AI |
| – (only via Pause menu) | F1 F2 |
Quickly choose between cameras |
How do I do X?
Wrestling game controls are complex, and this holds for Casual Pro Wrestling. This section summarizes controls that are not very intuitive.
Move Control
Choose between moves
In many situations, you can choose between five different strikes or wrestling moves. Briefly, before striking with X (SPACE on keyboards) or performing a grapple or lock-up move with A (E on keyboards), move the Left Stick (W A S D on keyboards) in a different direction to perform a different strike or move. By not choosing any direction, the fifth move is chosen.
While running, you can choose between two attacks by pressing either X (SPACE on keyboards) or A (E on keyboards).
Do a Moonsault
To do a moonsault or other future reverse flying moves, while in a jump ready state (e.g., on the top turnbuckle or on a barricade),
for a short while, hold Left Stick (W A S D on keyboards) in the opposite direction that you are facing.
Your wrestler should then turn around, getting ready to perform a reverse flying move.
To avoid your wrestler turning around first after climbing the top turnbuckle or barricade and immediately go into reverse mode,
hold Left Stick (W A S D on keyboards) in the corresponding direction while they are climbing.
Springboard attacks
When you are running towards the ropes, press Y (Q on keyboards) at the right time to perform a springboard attack to the outside or a reverse springboard attack to the inside of the ring, depending on your targeted opponent's location.
Turn during a grappling move
Some grapple moves allow you to turn while executing them by moving Left Stick (W A S D on keyboards) in the held direction.
This works, for example, for the suplex or body slam or an Irish Whip and allows you to aim your opponent at something.
Turn during a flying move
Some flying moves allow you to turn mid-air by moving Left Stick (W A S D on keyboards) in the corresponding direction.
This works, for example, for the frog splash or moonsault.
Handling Opponents
Target somebody or roam freely
By targeting another match participant, your wrestler will - if possible - rotate to face towards that opponent.
Unlike in other wrestling games, because matches can get big, Casual Pro Wrestling introduces directional targeting.
To change who you are targeting, move the Right Stick (I J K Lon keyboards) towards the wrestler you want to target.
If there are multiple wrestlers in the same direction, do so multiple times to choose between eligible targets.
By default, an indicator will briefly show who exactly you are targeting.
You can quickly target the wrestler who last attacked you by pressing down Right Stick (O on keyboards).
In some cases, you may want to roam around freely and make your wrestler face the direction that you are walking in.
To do so, press and hold the Right Stick (O on keyboards).
Push wrestlers aside
By simply walking against other wrestlers who are standing, you make way for yourself by slowly pushing them aside.
Toggle between pulling and pushing during grapples
When you initiate grappling by pressing A (E on keyboards), you can move around and pull your opponent with you. You can toggle between this and instead pushing your opponent by pressing down Left Stick (V on keyboards).
Defense
LT (C on keyboards) is your key to blocking and countering.
In some situations, holding the button will increase your chance of a bad outcome:
- When being whipped into a rope or in danger of falling over the top rope, your chance to hold on to the rope is increased.
- When being whipped into a corner, it increases your chance to stop.
Blocking and Dodging Strikes
When you are standing, you can block by holding the button, shrugging off many attacks. If you start blocking just before receiving a strike, you may catch it, staggering your opponent or holding their leg, opening up an opportunity for a counter-attack.
If you press the button while moving, you will dodge in the corresponding direction.
Rolling out of the way
When grounded (ragdolling), hold the button while moving the left stick (W A S D on keyboards) to quickly roll to a sitting or all-fours position, depending on whether you are laying prone or supine. The success chance depends on how long the wrestler has already been laying. If an attempt fails, it can be attempted again by moving the left stick back to the middle and trying again. If fully rested, success is guaranteed. Rolling requires energy and is not available if the wrestler is fully fatigued.
Countering Moves
When you are on the wrong end of a wrestling move, you need to press the button as close as possible to a sweet spot. Said sweet spot differs from move to move: picture your wrestler being forced into a grapple, grabbed before the lift for a body slam or being up high before being slammed down in a powerbomb – there are many opportunities to counter!
See Countering Moves for more information and details.
Kicking out of a pin or hold
When you find yourself in a pinning predicament, submission hold or similar, you will notice the orange kickout progress bar appear over your head.
Quickly tap the block or attack buttons to retaliate, advancing the kickout progess. The number of button presses it takes to fill the bar depends on your wrestler's Condition.
Moving Furniture
Shoving objects around
By simply walking against large objects such as tables, you can shove them around much like other wrestlers.
Prefer picking up large objects
By default, when pressing RB (F on keyboards), your wrestler prefers small weapons over large objects.
You can flip this logic around and prefer a large object over small weapons by instead holding RB (F on keyboards)
Set up and stack tables
Setting up tables and other objects is done by moving the Left Stick (W A S D on keyboards) while pressing RB (F on keyboards).
This way, you gently place down the held object.
In the case of foldable objects such as tables and chairs, these are unfolded in the process.
By placing an object while facing another object, you stack it on top of that other object. This way, you can stack multiple tables on top of each other.
Get large objects in and out of the ring
Unlike smaller weapons, large objects like tables or stairs cannot be thrown.
However, you can still use place them in ring or get them out.
Stand at a ring apron, hold the Left Stick (W A S D on keyboards) towards the ring and press RB (F on keyboards) to place an object in the ring.
Using the same controls, when not already holding a weapon, you can pick up an object that is laying inside the ring if it is close enough to the apron.
Put tables in a corner
There is no way yet to properly fixate objects in a ring corner.
However, when holding a table, you can stand in a corner and face towards the middle of the ring.
Then, press RB (F on keyboards) to drop the table in its folded state and quickly move away to the left or right.
Typically, the table will fall into the corner quite nicely.
Other Controls
Free Wrestler Selection
If you enabled Free Wrestler Selection in the Match Setup, you can freely choose which wrestler you control during the match by pressing Select (TAB on keyboards). By holding Select (TAB on keyboards), you can also give up control to the AI.