When Was The Last Time Someone Was Given "The Rub"

[chunkylover53]

I always hear about this or that guy should get "the rub" from a veteran, be it Shawn Michaels or Undertaker what not to elevate their careers. But in all honestly, when was the last time one person truly elevated another?

The best example I can think of was Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in their Wrestlemania 13 I quit match. This is one of those rare cases where a wrestler was put over by a loss, as Austin refused to give up from Hart's sharpshooter. A famous image was Austin's face covered in blood. After the match, Austin's popularity SOARED. Hell, I was 10 at the time, but I knew even though Austin wasn't even IC champion yet, that his popularity was too great to deny.

What cemented the future Hall of Famer's legacy was when he defeated Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania XIV to become the WWF champion. After that, the Texas Rattlesnake brought us many memorable moments and even rivaled Hulk Hogan in popularity(this was before The Rock became a huge star).

This day and age, I feel success is alot harder to come by in the WWE. I mean, if you aren't in the main event, you are an afterthought. The Intercontinental and United States titles are not the stepping stones they use to be. And the tag titles, while they still have potential to help create new stars(Cryme Tyme are LOOOOOOOOONNNNGGGG overdue to hold them) they rather give it to already established stars or bland midcarders.

The last time I feel one person helped another person's career was when Chris Benoit feuded with MVP over the United States championship. After The Ballin' superstar became champ, he was put in a high profile feud with Matt Hardy. During that time, MVP was making a name for himself and even became the longest WWE United States champion in the process(and the third longest in its entire history).

Now, I feel that feud should've helped Matt Hardy's career, but after that, he was just another face in the crowd. Also, MVP seemed to be in the same spot he was 2 years ago, but I will give him(and the WWE the benefit of the doubt) that these things should take time.

So what other example can you think of in this modern(say 2005 onwards) era?

[TheJaredAnderson]

Well we all thought DX was gonna give it to Legacy but I guess now they are back to rubbing only each other.

[MGH]

Punk getting to not only beat Jeff Hardy in HIS match, but then retire him 5 days later.

Granted HIAC did him no favors, but that Hardy program helped make him.

[Ragnal]

Oct 6, 2009 13:33:55 GMT -5 MGH said:

Punk getting to not only beat Jeff Hardy in HIS match, but then retire him 5 days later.

Granted HIAC did him no favors, but that Hardy program helped make him.

Punk also seemed to get support from Cena during his first World title reign.

Shelton seemed to be on his way there after wins against Triple H, Jericho, and others, but then he just stopped cold turkey for some reason.

[Thrillho]

Last time a WWE superstar got "The Rub" was in 1987 when Missy Hyatt left. But what's that got to do with pushing young talent? [/striker]

[Mayonnaise]

DX/Legacy. Look at the number of people who thought they would win HiaC, despite booking logic dictating otherwise. If they weren't given "the rub" at Breaking Point and Summerslam, than it hasn't happened in a long time, IMO.

[delurked]

Cena being the one to end JBL's long reign after guys like Undertaker, Kurt Angle, and Big Show failed.

[Branimal]

Triple H when he defeated Cactus Jack in the 2000 Royal Rumble Street Fight..and one month later when he "retired" him in Hell In A Cell.

Foley had a big hand in making Triple H a top heel at the time.

[Tapout]

Foley was instrumental in making people, not just HHH. See also: Edge.

It's possible to give a rub to someone in many different ways, not just by lying down clean in a one-on-one match. Undertaker gave Maven the rub by being eliminated by him at the Rumble, and also arguably gave Hardy the rub by actually selling his offense in that first ladder match and making it not a total squash. DX arguably gave Miz & Morrison the rub when they sold a ton of offense and let Morrison hit Sweet Chin Music on Michaels (DX won anyway).

[Nuke is Good]

When JBL encountered Duke the Dumpster drosse in the shower.

[hargh]

[The Doctor]

I'd say the IC and US titles are regaining their importance recently. He hasn't even held the title yet and it is helping to elevate Dolph Ziggler. I am sure had he not been suspended Rey would have happily jobbed for him.

[don]

I posted the following in a debate about whether or not Shawn Michaels' retirement match should be against Triple H and I think that it is appropriate here:

I wonder if all the people saying that it shouldn't be Triple H because he doesn't need the rub are the same people who swore up and down that Ken Kennedy should have ended Ric Flair's career because he had much more of a future in WWE than "old man" Shawn Michaels. I guess while they're at it, they should let Bobby Lashley end the Undertaker's streak and Brock Lesnar be the first man to simultaneously hold every title in the company.......what? What't the problem? They're all young and it'd be a rub!! That's what's important to a lot of you guys here who rather than being entertained by a good match have to sit back and analyze, "Who got the rub here?" like it matters to the average fans. If Shawn Michaels wants his last match to be against Triple H, then I say give it to him. Besides, those two always have wonderful matches with each other and this will be no different.

In other words, who gives a damn about a "rub?" Look at CM Punk. I saw a post on here earlier with people bashing the Undertaker for going over at Hell in a Cell instead of giving Punk the rub. Well, Punk is a multi-time world champion, a former IC champion, a former tag champion, a former ECW champion, and the only back-to-back Mr. Money in the Bank, not to mention the fact that he recently defeated Jeff Hardy in his own match and later retired Jeff, one of the most popular wrestlers in recent memory. After all that, what would a victory over the Undertaker be? Just a victory, not this massive, star making act "rub" that people seem to think it would be. Furthermore, after all those accomplisments, if a loss to the Undertaker was enough to derail your career, are you even worth "the rub?"

[chunkylover53]

Oct 6, 2009 13:42:40 GMT -5 Mayonnaise said:

DX/Legacy. Look at the number of people who thought they would win HiaC, despite booking logic dictating otherwise. If they weren't given "the rub" at Breaking Point and Summerslam, than it hasn't happened in a long time, IMO.

In my honest opinon, Ted Dibiase and Cody Rhodes don't deserve to be elevated, let alone having a match with DX. They need to find their own niche and not live off their fathers' past glory.

I don't know so much about Cody Rhodes, but what could've helped Ted Dibiase is the RAW where he slapped his father in the face. THAT RIGHT THERE should've started a serious push for him. He could've gained a mean street and everything, but no, he continued getting his ass kicked for his hero Randy Orton.

Problem I have with WWE these days is when there is an opening to capitalize on, they just gloss over it, common sense suggests otherwise. Thats a huge reason why I don't watch them anymore.

[Lancers]

For an extra five dollars, you'd think we'd see more 'happy endings'.

[YellowJacketY2J]

Randy Orton.

Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibiase give him "The Rub" each and every night with baby oil.

[Lancers]

Oct 6, 2009 16:34:06 GMT -5 YellowJacketY2J said:

Randy Orton.

Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibiase give him "The Rub" each and every night with baby oil.

"SHUSHERMOUF! IT'S NOT BABY OIL! IT'S CRISCO!!!!"

[Tiger Millionaire]

When Trish Status hosted Raw someone was given a rub....

[Ben Wyatt]

DX/Legacy

Yes, DX won the "series" 2-1, but Legacy was made to look like a million bucks all 3 times. Legacy got their victory clean, and niether DX win was the squash that everyone predicted beforehand.

Honestly, if that's not putting someone over, I dont know what is

[bob]

Oct 6, 2009 13:33:55 GMT -5 MGH said:

Punk getting to not only beat Jeff Hardy in HIS match, but then retire him 5 days later.

Granted HIAC did him no favors, but that Hardy program helped make him.

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