Even though we are in the era of wrestlers using either real names (Cena) or made up names that are supposed to sound like real names (Dean Ambrose), do you think there is still a place for gimmick wrestlers that have a radical character (like the Undertaker when he debuted)? I think if done correctly, Snake from the Metal Gear Series could have been a success, a cross between Sgt. Slaughter and Benoit almost (plus he could have a manager like Otacon or Campbell who would yell SNAAAAAAAAAAAKE every time he lost). Your thoughts?
Of course there’s still a place for radical characters. Just look at Brodus Clay, the FUNKASAURUS. Total gimmick character and he’s over like crazy. Ditto for Hornswoggle and Santino, who are all total cartoon characters. Kane is fading fast but he’s still a major player and he only debuted 15 years ago, which is still part of the modern era. Really, it’s not the name or gimmick, it’s the person behind the character. Undertaker probably would have bombed with anyone but Mark Callaway behind it, and someone can easily take another goofy gimmick and run with it, too. In fact I wish they would try going that route more times than they do.
I miss Pirate Paul Burchill.
ReplyDeleteHe was only around for, like, a month, but he got really over in just that short amount of time.
There is just no way somebody with the name Seth Rollins is getting over, no matter how badass he is. And he had a great name
ReplyDeleteHonestly, of all the bland generi-names they've given people, I like Seth Rollins. If he'd had a different name prior to that I think people might not be so hard on the new name. Unfortunately, his name was Tyler Black which is one of the best names around, so pretty much anything pales in comparison.
ReplyDeleteThe Chris Hero-Kassius Ohno transition is FAR more egregious.
i think they should make a wrestling viking and make him liek the undertaker but with a crazy beard and a skull painted on his face
ReplyDeleteSeth Rollins won't get over not because of his name, but the fact that he's a black hole of charisma. I don't know why they bothered signing him. Yeah he's a great worker but outside of ROH or Japan that doesn't cut it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Scott, but it does seem like the "word-play" names have been abandoned. Clay is not billed as "Funk E. Sauras", for instance. Is there anybody left in the E with a name like General Hugh E. Rection, Justin Credible or Sparkie Plugg?
ReplyDeleteAnyone here seen Husky Harris's new character, Bray Wyatt I think? Kinda Waylon Mercy-ish but Rotunda plays it up great.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k07XrroeVpM
ReplyDeleteYeah, channeling Robert DeNiro's character from Cape Fear. And if that isn't a killer promo, I don't know what is.
See now THESE types of gimmicks I'm glad are starting to make a comeback. Not too cartoony but just amped up enough to set a guy apart from the pack. And I might be in the minority but I'd love to see them try out another heel Doink character.
ReplyDeleteI think the problem with a character like Bray Wyatt is that he's going to be limited when he gets called up to the main roster. He needs promo time, which will be limited. He also needs to be allowed to be edgy, which will be hard given WWE's restrictions for everyone but their main event. I love the redneck Raven meets Cape Fear thing but it'll be hard to maintain that kind of awesomeness on a stage like Raw or Smackdown. I see him either getting lost in the shuffle or turning into just another one of Vince's lovable redneck doofs.
ReplyDeleteTrue enough but let's just hope HHH sticks to his guns about making sure debuting talent get good buildups. A months worth of promos ala Damien Sandow would really help the character when/if he's brought up.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of the person behind the gimmick is very true. Look at Dolph Ziggler. He went from a cheerleader to a guy that introduces himself every time he runs into anyone to just Dolph Ziggler to Vickie's love toy to a showoff and became a triple crown winner.
ReplyDeleteFunk and Santino are midcard characters that are meant for comedic purposes. The reason they are so over is because most of the rest pale of comparison. Most of everyone else feel cookie-cutter, generic wrestlers. They call it Sports Entertainment for a reason, and that's to entertain. Funk and Santino might be goofy but they stand out and entertain.
ReplyDeleteMeet the Berzerker, minus skull.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8BoeOSvFbQ
Metal Gear Solid FTW.
ReplyDeletePirate or Incest Burchill?
ReplyDeletePeople said that about Bryan Danielson and he's doing pretty well. Let's just wait and see what character they come up with for Tyler Black before we judge him. Compared to most of the roster, he is already a step ahead from a in-ring performer standpoint. Chris Benoit was never a great talker or reeked of charisma outside the ring, but was able to get over for his in-ring ability, so even without charisma, the fans could connect with Black through his matches.
ReplyDeleteYeah, people also need to remember, in ROH he wasn't working off a script, so maybe when he has guidelines to follow he'll be a little more comfortable. Plus he's likely just going to be a midcarder, so he won't get a ton of mic time to begin with. He has good body language and charisma, and that's what he'll need to use.
ReplyDeleteI liked that a lot. It's a good use of Eli Cottonwood too, as his dumb redneck muscle. God knows anything would be an improvement over Husky Harris, but that's a money gimmick. I like the subtle reference to Captain Mike Rotunda, too. He looks like he's lost a little weight as well.
ReplyDeleteThey're actually doing some damn interesting stuff with some of these FCW guys, seems like they're gonna end up with a hell of a midcard.
I welcome the imminent death of really cartoony gimmicks, but I gotta say, I like things like Dean Ambrose as an evil dirtbag, or Damien Sandow as a smug intellectual. Brodus Clay is over the top but, as someone said, at least he's got a real name and is presented as a real person. Judging by how bad things like Mordecai and Deuce & Domino tanked, clearly characters need a strong foot in reality, but with some kind of character motivation that makes them seem bigger. I like where they're going with a lot of these guys.
ReplyDeleteI agree 100 percent. I watched the youtube clip (above) and liked it immediately. Probably because it reminded me of the old school vignettes WWE used to be so good at it in the 80's and 90's before they hired TV writers to script back stage drama and 20 minute in-ring promos. Those Hollywood guys tend to think vignette type-characters are "beneath" them. They also don't seem to think wrestlers are talented enough (you know, like real "actors") to carry off anything so we get a bunch of guys doing the same old, same old scripted stuff over and over again.
ReplyDeleteamazing promo.
ReplyDeleteI really don't get the hate for "Seth Rollins". I think it is a pretty okay name.
ReplyDeletePirate. He completely threw himself into the role, and the fans responded well.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Dusty still running FCW? I wonder what kind of input he has on this stuff.
ReplyDeleteAnd then Vince didn't get the gimmick, so he had it killed off.
ReplyDeleteWOW.
ReplyDeleteHoly shit that was like, Cane Dewey levels of good.
I dunno but I'd bet this one had a lot of Steve Keirn's influence on it,. I think he probably pushes for the grubby redneck characters to get their due.
ReplyDeleteOk...that was a money promo. But in this day and age aren't people gonna still remember/label him as Husky Harris?
ReplyDelete"A surveillance camera?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea who Husky Harris is and I've been watching RAW pretty regularly again since last summer.
ReplyDeleteSo...I dunno.