Scott,
Was the plan always to turn Rick Martel heel upon his return in 1989 following his time off? When he came back he was in full babyface mode for several months, though he was in singles action instead of going back to teaming with Santana. Was this simply to bide time until they knew what direction to go with him? Or was the plan all along for him to turn on Tito?
Oh yeah, pretty sure they wanted to have him as a singles heel for a while before the turn, and Wrestlemania was just the optimal place to do it.
And a great turn it was too! Only wish Tito had gotten a good revenge in the end. Absolutely love the intensity of the SNME match they had pre Survivor Series '89. And the Summerslam six man tag was tremendous as well.
ReplyDeleteMartel had a super abrupt and aborted push in the 90's in both WWF and WCW:
ReplyDeleteComes out of nowhere to draw with Tatanka when he was undefeated, lasted until the final two with Razor Ramon in a battle royal to earn a shot at the vacant IC title, loses that match, and is never seen from again.
Comes out of nowhere to win the WCW TV title by submission the week before a PPV, loses the title back at the PPV, and is never seen from again.
When does the face ever get revenge on the heel guy who turned on his tag team?
ReplyDeleteRobert Gibson couldn't beat Richard Morton.
Marty Janetty couldn't (with the exception of one fluke) beat Shawn Michaels
John Morrison couldn't beat The Miz.
Etc., etc., etc.
The whole point of doing that is to push the heel.
His last WCW run had the makings of something great. He was really motivated. Damn that injury.
ReplyDeleteI still wish he had gotten revenge.
ReplyDeleteI think I enjoyed the endless Tito/Martel feud that seemed to last for about 2 years.
ReplyDeleteAnd Tito wouldn't get rid of the Strike Force tights either.
ReplyDeleteMartel was funny in the early 90s because he would disappear for months and then just appear and be involved in something rather important.
ReplyDeleteI remember when he was the last two with Razor and just wondered, "When the hell did Martel comeback?"
Not to mention always getting a good showing in the Royal Rumble every year, either lasting a long time (he held the record at one point, didn't he?) or finishing in the final four or five. Curious why Martel didn't get more of a consistent push, he was an all-around great performer. That "no punching in the face" comedy match with Michaels at Summerslam '92 was legitimately funny.
ReplyDeleteHe had awesome body language..!
ReplyDeleteHe was good, but I guess being in and out on the main roster affected him.
ReplyDeleteReally from that era you could probably list a dozen guys that should have been pushed more, but it was a product of the time.
Funny that a lower mid-carder like Martel is so memorable, more than a former world champion like Jack Swagger.
Oh, I believe Hogan got revenge on his tag team partners who turned on him. Again and again and again. And again.
ReplyDeleteNot the same. Zanatude is talking about guys in dedicated face tag teams, not faces who got turned on.
ReplyDeleteI know. Trying to be a smart-ass.
ReplyDeleteTwo words: bald spot.
ReplyDeleteIf it's any consolation, you were successful.
ReplyDeleteNow I feel bad. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteFeel bad for offending me? You must be new here.
ReplyDelete