WWE.com Smackdown Preview
http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2014-09-12/five-point-preview-9-12-14-26644091
How Does WWE Management View Dolph Ziggler's In Ring Work?
As far as his in-ring work is concerned, WWE management views Dolph as someone who works indy style, despite being told to slow down and make every move count and that he sells too much and in an over-exaggerated fashion.
Credit Wade Keller, PWTorch Newsletter
How Are WWE Developmental Deals Structured?
A majority of those working under a WWE Developmental contract earn between $24,000 and $25,000 per year, with the contract between two and three years in length. If you have a known name or if the company really thinks you can become a great prospect, the amount can increase but most indy stars are willing to take the pay cut for the opportunity.
Credit Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
WWE Hall of Famer Breaks Hip in Fall
Bobby Heenan fell recently and has broken his hip.
http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/118-daily-updates/38891-heenan-breaks-hip-in-fall
http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2014-09-12/five-point-preview-9-12-14-26644091
How Does WWE Management View Dolph Ziggler's In Ring Work?
As far as his in-ring work is concerned, WWE management views Dolph as someone who works indy style, despite being told to slow down and make every move count and that he sells too much and in an over-exaggerated fashion.
Credit Wade Keller, PWTorch Newsletter
How Are WWE Developmental Deals Structured?
A majority of those working under a WWE Developmental contract earn between $24,000 and $25,000 per year, with the contract between two and three years in length. If you have a known name or if the company really thinks you can become a great prospect, the amount can increase but most indy stars are willing to take the pay cut for the opportunity.
Credit Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter
WWE Hall of Famer Breaks Hip in Fall
Bobby Heenan fell recently and has broken his hip.
http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/118-daily-updates/38891-heenan-breaks-hip-in-fall
That is some terrible pay.
ReplyDeleteDamn I feel bad for Bobby. Always something going wrong, poor guy.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Dolph could actually try something new, and listen to management. Since being a rebel and doing things his own way has not exactly worked so far. He seriously does have the potential to be a huge player, he just needs to be smarter.
ReplyDeleteAnother day, another reason why Dolph Ziggler doesn't get pushed.
ReplyDeleteOn one of Steve Austin's podcasts, he made a great point that Dolph is great when taking offence/selling but his own offence is weak, which is true
ReplyDeleteYeah...at the same time, it's so hard to get a look from WWE if you're not a name so maybe it's just part of paying dues, etc.
ReplyDeleteI thought they'd get at least 50K. That's SSW money they're getting!
ReplyDeleteYou'd think he'd know how to take a bump by now.
ReplyDeleteI think we'd be shocked by how little wwe main roster guys get paid.
ReplyDeleteBryan is so poor he has to ask for a loan from Cena!
ReplyDeleteObviously, Dolph has the comparison to Curt Hennig, who was a very athletic wrestler and seller as well. But Curt, who if you think about it, didn't really have the most expansive moveset outside of his dropkick, neck snap and finisher but knew when to slow a match down as a heel to get his heat in. And as a face (not his strength in WWF), he also had good timing to do his fired-up comeback.
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of a no-win scenario. People like Austin and Ross always say that wrestlers should push the powers-that-be and "rattle cages", which Dolph does. But at the same time, they say that wrestlers should shut up and listen, too...but then you risk becoming a middle guy like Kofi who will probably never go higher than where he is right now.
I remember the 1993 Survivor Series, when Stu Hart was massaging his son Keith's shoulder.
ReplyDeleteHeenan: "Oh that will help!! With Stu doing that, he could dislocate his hip!"
KARMA?
Someone tell WWE management that you can't over exaggerate something.
ReplyDeleteDolph's offense doesn't even look like it would hurt to be honest.
ReplyDeleteAnd he takes insane bumps for no reason when he sells
Honestly, those assessments of him are valid.
Yeah good point, although Hennig did have an awesome gimmick and supremely over finisher as well. Dolph doesn't really have a gimmick and his finisher is awful!
ReplyDeleteAlso by rattle cages, I'm not sure JR/Austin mean vent your frustrations on Twitter, more stand up for yourself backstage maybe?
I'm not saying they aren't...I guess I brought up Curt as someone he's athletically similar to but Hennig had a better grasp of psychology.
ReplyDeleteI've read interviews with Dolph that he does push for himself but it comes across as complaining/whining, etc. But I actually don't blame him...hell, Shawn Michaels was the greatest ever but he helped put himself in situations where he could perform by being vocal and a pain in the ass.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, even though Dolph has some issues with his style, you put him in the ring and give him a decent amount of time, you know you're getting a good match.
Yes, you can. Selling is exaggerating. The way Shawn Michaels sold for Hogan in their Summerslam match is overexaggerating.
ReplyDeleteI thought he had a pretty good superkick and that should've been his finisher instead of the stupid looking Zig-Zag. I think WWE's ban on certain moves really hurts guys like Ziggler. Basically you're kinda stuck with either a striking move, a spear or some lame neckbreaker variation. I've always thought that someone should use that suplex stunner variation that Truth uses as a transition move. He hasn't used it a lot in the WWE so it doesn't have any midcard stink associated with it and the few times he has done it, the crowd audibly reacts to it. No reason why that shouldn't be someone's finisher.
ReplyDeleteIts redundant.
ReplyDeleteDolph's mouth hurts him too when he runs it publically.
ReplyDeleteBut he is crazy athletic and the IC title picture is a good spot for him.
Comparing NXT pay to a standard 9-5, the NXT wrestlers are working a $12/hr job. They probably qualify for Medicaid jk it's Florida screw people who don't make six figures.
ReplyDeleteDolph's his own worst enemy. Foley told a story on Austin's podcast about Ziggler where he was on a panel or something and someone asked him about getting to the main event. He basically said something like "you work your ass off just to get to Cena and take his five moves." Foley was like, "come on man" and said no top guy wants to be talked about like that
ReplyDeleteIf Dolph got a new finisher I think he could be in business. Get me Backlund!
ReplyDeleteTranslation: "Dolph Ziggler is getting over because of his ringwork. Let's put a stop to it."
ReplyDeleteA lot has been made about Dolph going on Twitter or saying the wrong things...but maybe he's being judged too harshly on that. If you look at it, the guy has been with the company for awhile and is one of the few guys with no Indy background who made it all the way from development to world champion status (probably the best in-ring worker that WWE ever developed from scratch).
ReplyDeleteHe was a good soldier for a very long time and has always busted his ass so imagine the level of frustration he must have suffering to finally blurt out some of the stuff he did. Not the coolest move, I agree, but I still feel sympathetic to a hard-worker who craves to be in the spotlight and not just happy to be with the company.
I'm a fan of how Dolph sells, he makes his opponents look great and I never have felt like his selling was ridiculous, like D-Von Dudley twitching around.
ReplyDeleteZiggler should post here! He'd fit right in!
ReplyDeleteThat suplex-stunner is NASTY and awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sick of spears and neckbreakers, too.
"He makes his opponents look great." <~ that's the problem. Dolph shows so much ass he ends up making himself look weak and ineffectual in return.
ReplyDeletePlus all his comeback spots and near-falls get pops, even though it doesn't look like he has a chance to beat a top-level guy. Isn't that what WWE wants from their wrestlers?
ReplyDeleteYep, I remember Foley having the same problem early in his career according to his book. He's so good at selling that... he's always booked to get his butt kicked.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is he sells like a pinball as a face. I remember a shoot with one of the old-timers, maybe Sullivan where the idea is that a heel sells cartoonishly while the face should sell realistically to make people feel for him. I don't know if WWE uses this philosophy, but it does work.
ReplyDeleteTerry Funk told Scott Hall not to get too good at selling for that reason.
ReplyDeleteIn the end ... I think the injuries are what has hurt him more than anything. When you get concussions over and over, it's just really hard to convince people to give you a big run especially in this day and age.
ReplyDeleteHe IS strikingly handsome, so you're right!
ReplyDeleteI always like Tully Blanchard's approach to selling. You don't take crisp back bumps and flop all over the place in a real fight. Granted times have changed but I liked the way he and Morton used to sell where they could fall safely but it didn't look like something they were coached to do and most of their selling was them yelling out in pain or using their facial expressions.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Bret can send him a Helen er Bruins jacket.
ReplyDeleteHe should use Daniel Bryan's time machine, or better yet, the TIME STOPPER to rethink his career.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense. The first thing someone does in a fight is protect himself. Even when someone is clocked they don't fly but rather go down in a heap. Every young wrestler should watch simple stuff like how old Dusty sold Big Show's KO punch.
ReplyDeleteRe: Ricky Morton, I'd fly him to wherever just to teach the pretty boy faces how to sell to the girls. Justin Gabriel would double his income.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the Stu Hart story?
ReplyDeleteCalled her a cunt
ReplyDeleteCharming.
ReplyDeleteBut probably truthful
ReplyDeleteHow is that the worst thing possible?
ReplyDeleteOh, given the rank horseshit coming out of Linda's mouth during her two Senate campaigns, I'd be inclined to believe it IS the truth.
ReplyDeleteBut it's still tasteless.
I've never quite understood why that word is so reviled. I mean yeah it's vulgar and rude as hell, but it hardly strikes me as the worst thing you can call someone.
ReplyDeleteDepends on where you are in the world. In some countries it's not that bad but it's probably the worst thing to call a chick here in the US.
ReplyDeleteI recently downloaded the book on the kindle and I enjoyed it. Its definitely stroking his own ego, but he had a bunch of great stories and interesting insight into booking during the territory days.
ReplyDeleteLinda is pretty hot, though.
ReplyDeleteYeah, what's the story?
ReplyDeleteWhat's the worst thing you can call someone? A smark?
ReplyDeleteI've meant to read that, so thankfully it's on Kindle. His interviews were always pretty good at showing how corporate America doesn't really get how to promote wrestling.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm remembering correctly after Owen died, Ole called Verne Gagne to get Stu's number to offer his condolences. Verne explained to Ole that he had already called to offer his own condolences. When Stu realized it was Verne on the phone he started reminiscing about a match he had with Verne back in the day, but this was as the family was getting ready to leave for the funeral.
ReplyDeleteI guess the big deal was he was getting ready to leave for his son's funeral, but an old buddy called and he decided it was better to chat about the good old days instead of leave for his own son's funeral.
Another imposter came up? Where?
ReplyDeleteYeah there is discussion about wrestlers understanding how to promote wrestling better than outsider corporate types.
ReplyDeleteAs others have said, at least the name change was done in an acceptable manner. Better to do it that way then to throw it in there randomly.
ReplyDeleteI got a copy at a second hand book store a few years ago and its worth a read. . .
ReplyDeleteTerm of endearment in Australia now
ReplyDeleteMaybe they have that planned for next time. Big hug. "I'm so glad you won that." WHAM! Package piledriver. "So I can take it from you!"
ReplyDeleteIts not a nice thing to say to a woman. Is it the worst thing possible? Depends on her race, age, weight, and IQ level.
ReplyDeleteSo for Linda...probably.
ReplyDeleteWhere's Cucch when we need him?
ReplyDeleteOn the one hand, maybe it helped Stu to take his mind off it for a few minutes. On the other hand, Stu was also never in the running for Father of the Year.
ReplyDeleteYeah what the hell happened to that guy. He kept reviewing after his DX Review and then just fell off the face of the earth.
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the stories. (I'm the one who asked the question.) The book's a heck of a read. You have to take everything with a healthy dose of skepticism, but it's still entertaining.
ReplyDeleteHis central argument is that pro wrestling was best when there was a mystique around it. He never hides from the notion that the outcomes are fixed, but he does believe that you should build just a hint of doubt in the audience's mind. To him, it's not about believing it's all true; it's about not being 100% sure it's fake. Given how the WWE has been successful doing that with Lesnar recently, it's not a bad argument and could be extended to other characters.
Didn't know the Linda story (haven't gotten to it in the book, if it's in there). Very interesting.
Well Owen was the youngest of 12 kids, I'm sure by that point it was 5pm on Friday for Stu.
ReplyDeleteYeah I don't think he 'can't succeed' I just think he needs to keep quiet and maybe have a mouth piece for him. Bryan and Punk can both TALK very well, neither of them would be anywhere if they couldn't in the WWE.
ReplyDeleteWas Ole racist in the book, because according to Teddy Long he was racist as shit.
ReplyDeleteVince wanted to discuss business with Ole. Ole didn't take to kindly to Linda being in on it and let Vince and Linda know that in a way only Ole can.
ReplyDeleteWe have guys at our indy who try to start "Chris Benoit" chants and call the matches to the guys in the ring. It's really really fucking annoying.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to a play and telling them how to act from the front row. "MORE EMOTION" "EXIT STAGE LEFT!"
Is the intro to his theme the sound of 300 lbs of crap hitting the fan?
ReplyDeleteWell, Camacho can get resigned and they can give him the Japanese gimmick. He was a Latino Samoan in the first run.
ReplyDeleteJust keep Sami away from Robocop and cages.
ReplyDeleteAccording to a lot of people he was racist
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't sound that bad. It's no Lucky Cannon.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's awful. Kenta sounds awesome and is very easily chanted. I knew it would happen but when they introduced him as Kenta compete with Titantron, I had hope they'd let him keep his name.
ReplyDeleteIs there anyone in the industry who likes Ole Anderson?
ReplyDeleteI want this in audio book form, with Ole reading it with The Black Scorpion/Shockmaster voicebox.
ReplyDeleteCena fan.
ReplyDeleteWhen he first came out and they had his name on the 'tron, I thought they'd changed his name to "Ken Ta" the way it was spaced...and I thought that was a brilliant way to get around the "you need to change your name so we keep all your licensing rights even if you leave but we're banking on some people knowing who you are" stuff.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Hideo Itami goes...I bet he ends up being just Itami before too long.
HOW DARE YOU, SIR?! WE DO NOT ABIDE BY THAT KIND OF FILTH HERE!!!
ReplyDeleteYou may show yourself out.
Plus, he was old and probably senile, too.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/7Lc86JUAwwg
ReplyDeleteChyna's poon fluffer
ReplyDeleteSo an "X-Pac"? Or a "Waltman"?
ReplyDeleteWait what, like you know Zana in real life?
ReplyDelete...KENTA doesn't even wrestle for the number one Japanese promotion...He's a big star but he isn't Japanese John Cena by a long shot
ReplyDeleteHe is also the leader of the resurrected "Klub Kamikaze" stable.
ReplyDeleteOle was a great heel in the ring...because he was a great heel out of the ring, too. As for anyone liking him, the only one I can think of is Jim Cornette.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you're under crediting the Japanese guys.
ReplyDeleteI think you're over crediting Cena. Almost no one who isn't a wrestling fan knows what the hell a "John Cena" is
Don't forget a kick in the nuts to set it up.
ReplyDeleteBrack Friday Bunduru?
ReplyDeleteYou're probably just saying as a practical joke so if any of us go visit Australia, we'll go around calling women cunts.
ReplyDeleteOf course. And afterwards, snot rocket, "Ole!", mic drop.
ReplyDeleteRhino looked like a pudgy, pale guy in a bad singlet in 1996 when he was doing jobs in WCW. Bull Dempsey is a 2 year project. He isn't awful for so early on.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shit name.
ReplyDeleteCoooooolldddd Bloooddedddd
ReplyDeleteHow come Cornette liking Ole doesn't surprise me,
ReplyDeleteNah trust me man, cops love the respect.
ReplyDeleteYep, he pulled a Michael Bradley.
ReplyDeleteI've not heard a ton of Ole stories, but this is my favorite. He tells Cornette, "Cornette, I used to think you were a dumbfuck, but so many dumbfucks have come along recently that you've moved up without actually having to do anything,"
ReplyDeleteRaven likes him too.
ReplyDeleteHe can be Magnum TA's illegitimate Japanese son, Ken TA.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I like best about Bull Dempsey, right now, is his theme song.
ReplyDeleteOf course, if he ever makes it up to the main roster, that'll be ruined by shitty fans adding "-shit" to every shout of "Bull"...
Ruined? Or IMPROVED?
ReplyDeleteWHAT?
ReplyDeleteWell, he got turned into a bit of a whipping boy for most of his reviews, so I can imagine why he would leave. I'd hate to read all these books (some of which are quite lengthy) and get THAT kind of reception. Not that he didn't deserve it at times (his raging about the Clique got old real fast), but I can see it.
ReplyDeleteIs there anyone in wrestling who's any good that doesn't have a bit of an ego? Bret & Foley have had that heaped on them in recent years, but let's be honest- Flair had an ego, Shawn had an ego (he said he always had the best match because his ego demanded no less), Austin had an ego, Hogan is INFAMOUS for his (to the point where it obscures the truth), etc. I think any elite talent in wrestling needs to think highly of themselves. Hell, and sport, fictional or otherwise, is the same way.
ReplyDeleteBeing a fan of Jim Jeffries, I get the idea cunt is still a curse word over there but it's not viewed as horrible as it is in the US. That about right?
ReplyDeleteHow about Kunta KENTA?
ReplyDeleteI don't know who Jim Jeffries is, but no, cunt is still the number one bad word to end all bad words to the majority of people. But I wasn't lying when I said it's a term of endearment now for some eg. "Aw yeah he's a mad/sick/good cunt". Still can be an insult if you say like "you're a dog/dirty cunt" but I'm sure it'll lose all meaning soon.
ReplyDeleteDon't give him a boat either. Hornswoggle will pull a Cheatum and blow it up.
ReplyDeleteI'd say it's probably the most offensive swear word in the American vernacular.
ReplyDeleteHe called her a wrestler instead of superstar.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuIAJEnU1Qs
ReplyDeleteBest Ole Anderson interview ever.
“How come I haven’t heard of any of these guys before?”
ReplyDeleteYour answer should've been, "I wanted to change things up a little and watch something that doesn't suck."
Then two years later he'll go on the internet bitching about how an A+ player stole his woman from him.
ReplyDeleteI'd say nigger tops it. Also for females gash or slit feels more offensive than cunt. I think cunt is gonna eventually be OK here because in the most of the world it just means asshole.
ReplyDeleteI've been watching shows where JBL used to be AWESOME on commentary. "Teddy Long is responsible for MVP being burned in the name of entertaining the fans, SCREW ENTERTAINING THE FANS!"
ReplyDeleteI don't see how WWE can claim ownership of "KENTA" when it's his real name.
ReplyDeleteCause they're both bitter assholes?
ReplyDeleteAt least TRY to explain a backstory as to what "heroes" he named himself after.
ReplyDeleteIt's no Braden Walker.
ReplyDeleteSo we have people making up ID's to imitate other posters on the boards? Holy fuck does that make me feel better about my life.
ReplyDeleteI said it before, when he hits the main roster he should get the Muta treatment. Even face paint and mist if he needs it. Muta was smaller when he debuted but everybody was scared to death of him for the way he was portrayed and built up.
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't need to talk. Muta got crazy over without saying a word. I know this is a different era but it could still work. Plus 90% of what is said on Raw is pure shit anyway.
ReplyDeleteI would have marked so hard for this I would have jumped through the ceiling.
ReplyDeleteOne of the many things Corny is spot on about is how fucking stupid it was to repeatedly batter the fan base over the head with a stick labeled 'THIS IS ALL FAKE' during the Attitude Era. It was a stupid idea on every conceivable level. 99% of fans already knew, or at least suspected, that the product wasn't wholly genuine - but part of wrestling's intrigue is/was that it could be, or that you didn't know which parts were bogus. Having it writ large that the business was all predetermined detracted almost all the drama from proceedings, and also made fans embarrassed about watching it; this made it very difficult indeed for viewers to get emotionally invested in matches and angles. It made wrestling the subject of ridicule, and also created a climate where wrestlers had to take increasingly nasty bumps to get over, as people wouldn't believe the pain was real otherwise. Indie guys kill each other trying to make their shit look impactful and it still doesn't work.
ReplyDeleteCase in point - UFC exploding because people can get emotionally invested in matches, because anyone could feasibly win and both guys clearly think the match matters.
Nigger is pretty bad, but there's a lot more women than there are black people, so I'd say cunt wins out.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I've never heard a woman being referred to as either of those terms. I've referred to their sex organs as, but never a person.
I'm still here and watching dudes. Just had to take a hiatus...got laid off the day after Christmas, then my old man was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer...so I decided to slink away for a bit. Yes, some of the ruthless comments hurt me, but that was never the reason why I took time off. Also, going back to college to refine my writing skills (seeing as I only have a High School diploma). Plus, one of my most ardent critics, Farva....his sudden passing really hit me. I will return later this year, as I still have some books to review and plenty still in the tank, but sometimes you just have to put your real, offline life ahead of anything you do online. I want to cherish every memory of my dad at this point, and that will remain my focus for the foreseeable future. If you wish to follow me on a shorter, more humorous edge, I run the Last Man Standing Wrestling Group on Facebook, where me and the other members run threads on Raw, NXT, Impact and random PPV's, and do quite well at it. I invite you all to join. That said, God Bless you fine folks for even MENTIONING me, I appreciate it in this time of torment for me. And, no, I have not read Ole's book. He took his thumb and forefinger, measured my wrist and said I was too bony to read it....
ReplyDeleteAny man who is going to be a success in any realm has to have an ego.
ReplyDeleteIt's true - I live in New Zealand, and it happens here, too. Not in polite society, mind, but there are plenty of working class who use cunt or bastard exactly like that.
ReplyDeleteActually, I think he is pretty awful.
ReplyDeleteBreeze is ready for the title. Best character/gimmick/promos in NXT.
ReplyDelete