My opinion on the whole gimmickless WWE thing

[JumboCoast]

People on this board have been saying(and rightly so) that the WWE has less "gimmicks" than the attitude era. However, although we dont see Hispanic Evil Bakers from Hell anymore(yes i said bakers), each wrestler has a gimmick, though less obvious. I like this direction, and i even think (pull up flame shield) that Undertaker and Kane should be taken straight off tv because of their now goofy gimmicks. Cody Rhodes, has taken the cocky narcisist gimmick and put his own spin on it, and that is what every wrestler should do,take a base gimmick and add their personality to it or god help us we might have another Boogeyman in 2011.

[jadison]

I feel like its going back to the territory days when there weren't "characters" for wrestlers to play, but "gimmicks" instead. Like Husky Harris. Silly name aside, he's got a gimmick. A big tough kid from the south who played college football (which he incorporates into his ringwork), reps his wrestling heritage with his Blackjack Mulligan boots, and is overall a fat surly bastard, an army tank with a Ferrari engine. Its an extension of your real life personality, not some Papa Shango bullshit. I never want to see something like the Boogeyman again. Don't get me wrong though, there are plenty of wrestlers that need to flesh things out more, like Ted DiBiase, Evan Bourne, John Morrison, and others.

[Jeremy]

I wouldn't mind some more characters.

['Foretold' Joker]

I and many fans judging from reactions enjoyed The Boogeyman gimmick when he was around.

Heck it's what made me join the wrestlecrap forum, ridiculous but entertaining wrestling. Sure many roles don't work or are bad but the odd gem makes it through. Wrestling needs it's pirate Paul burchill or gangrels.

[Deleted]

To each his own, but I'm of the opinion that we need more over-the-top gimmicks. It's 50% of what makes pro wrestling fun.

[Woooooolhouse!]

I think at least nicknames should be given. And not nicknames like "The Viper" or "The Game." I'm talkin' nicknames that the announcers actually, well, announce. Like "Macho Man" and "The Hitman" and "The Barber." Just a cool-sounding nickname. If Ted DiBiase was announced as "The Fortunate Son" Ted DiBiase I think half the work would be done right then and there for him.

[Citizen Zero]

Take the most memorable gimmicks, like the Undertaker for example, and I think you'll see that the only reason you find them memorable is because of the talent and skill of the wrestlers behind them. Hell, Mark could've wrestled as the Gooker as originally intended and he'd probably still be headlining Wrestlemania today, in my opinion.

Personally I think we just need less 'scripted' promos and more wrestlers being allowed to use their natural charisma (where applicable).

["Dashing" Dr.VonPhoenix]

Dec 7, 2010 7:33:21 GMT -5 'Foretold' Joker said:

I and many fans judging from reactions enjoyed The Boogeyman gimmick when he was around.

Heck it's what made me join the wrestlecrap forum, ridiculous but entertaining wrestling. Sure many roles don't work or are bad but the odd gem makes it through. Wrestling needs it's pirate Paul burchill or gangrels.

Agreed, sir, but I couldn't disagree more with the OP. I love over the top gimmicks. They're fun and they have been for the past 25 years at LEAST. It's what got me into wrestling in the 80s and a large part of why I still watch. Kayfabe has been dead for years. Who would anyone be trying to fool by making things more "realistic"? Keep it simple, keep it fun, don't take it too seriously. That's how I feel.

[AndyUK]

Yeah. I used to be like this but I don't have a problem with it anymore. I've sort of realised that WWE need to get with the times and without the goofy gimmicks, they'll be taken a lot more seriously.

Some gimmicks will still work, like Rhodes and Del Rio's old school gimmicks but the majority won't. The King Sheamus stuff came across as a little bit hokey with the current WWE product for me, was the only thing I wasn't particularly keen on last night.

[salsashark]

They don't need to go all-out WWF 1995/1996 on us, but a few gimmicks wouldn't hurt. I'd give them to the least interesting people/those who need to stand out: Evan Bourne, Michael McGillicutty, Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Tyson Kidd, Tyler Reks, etc. Current Cody Rhodes and pre-serious Jack Swagger are good examples of gimmicks that work in 2010. They both have personalities of their own.

Which reminds me: does Dolph Ziggler have any kind of gimmick right now? Guy's really funny on Twitter and all, but I can't figure out the current appeal or what his character is supposed to be.

[babyfootball]

Dec 7, 2010 14:19:06 GMT -5 salsashark said:

They don't need to go all-out WWF 1995/1996 on us, but a few gimmicks wouldn't hurt. I'd give them to the least interesting people/those who need to stand out: Evan Bourne, Michael McGillicutty, Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Tyson Kidd, Tyler Reks, etc. Current Cody Rhodes and pre-serious Jack Swagger are good examples of gimmicks that work in 2010. They both have personalities of their own.

Which reminds me: does Dolph Ziggler have any kind of gimmick right now? Guy's really funny on Twitter and all, but I can't figure out the current appeal or what his character is supposed to be.

He's just... a dude who's kind of a prick. So, half the current heel roster.

[Citizen Zero]

Dec 7, 2010 15:34:43 GMT -5 babyfootball said:

Dec 7, 2010 14:19:06 GMT -5 salsashark said:

They don't need to go all-out WWF 1995/1996 on us, but a few gimmicks wouldn't hurt. I'd give them to the least interesting people/those who need to stand out: Evan Bourne, Michael McGillicutty, Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Tyson Kidd, Tyler Reks, etc. Current Cody Rhodes and pre-serious Jack Swagger are good examples of gimmicks that work in 2010. They both have personalities of their own.

Which reminds me: does Dolph Ziggler have any kind of gimmick right now? Guy's really funny on Twitter and all, but I can't figure out the current appeal or what his character is supposed to be.

He's just... a dude who's kind of a prick. So, half the current heel roster.

I thought he was Mr. Perfect II?

[8-BitAssassin]

I'll also have to disagree. While I think that over the top gimmicky wrestlers shouldn't be shoved down our throats like the Boogeyman was at times, they definitely have a place in wrestling. A healthy mix of serious and gimmicky people in the midcard is always a good thing if executed well.

I also agree with the poster that said that there should be more actual nicknames. I remember when I was a kid, we would talk about guys like "Hulk" and "Macho Man", not Terry and Randy. Just imagine if the Ultimate Warrior went by Jim Hellwig when he was running down to the ring, rainbow tassels flying everywhere... not quite the same impact.

[Deleted]

Over the top gimmicks are what got me into wrestling, they're also what kept me watching. Even back in the Attitude era there were guys like the Godfather, Val Venis, and Gangrel.

Now virtually everyone is just some jerk that you'd see in a bar downtown.

[JumboCoast]

I suppose i just want WWE to mold more into a ROH based company. They have DBD, KavaKi and Blackie McTylerson so I dont see why its such a crazy idea to have a more pure future in WWE.

[mrjl]

Dec 7, 2010 17:42:56 GMT -5 JumboCoast said:

I suppose i just want WWE to mold more into a ROH based company. They have DBD, KavaKi and Blackie McTylerson so I dont see why its such a crazy idea to have a more pure future in WWE.

Because it's not what made them pretty much the only game in town in the US. And it's not what the people who run the company like.

[Citizen Zero]

Dec 7, 2010 17:45:27 GMT -5 mrjl said:

Dec 7, 2010 17:42:56 GMT -5 JumboCoast said:

I suppose i just want WWE to mold more into a ROH based company. They have DBD, KavaKi and Blackie McTylerson so I dont see why its such a crazy idea to have a more pure future in WWE.

Because it's not what made them pretty much the only game in town in the US. And it's not what the people who run the company like.

Doink the Clown and Skinner didn't make WWE what it is either. It Vince McMahon being more television-savvy than other promoters.

[salsashark]

Dec 7, 2010 17:42:56 GMT -5 JumboCoast said:

I suppose i just want WWE to mold more into a ROH based company. They have DBD, KavaKi and Blackie McTylerson so I dont see why its such a crazy idea to have a more pure future in WWE.

I love ROH but if I could change anything about that company, I'd add more characters. I love El Generico and Delirious--two great guys with lots of personality--and would personally have less of boring guys like Erick Stevens or Roderick Strong.

BTW, I think ECW should be used as a model more for interesting characters. Most of the guys in ECW had great individualistic personalities, which was a huge benefit when the wrestling was limited. Also, keep in mind that all the top stars in WWE history had well-defined personalities and quirks that set them apart from everyone else. The whole roster should strive toward that level of quality.

[JumboCoast]

Im a huge generico fan btw, i wish he could make the bigtime but that would mean losing his amazing gimmick.

[waluigi]

Dec 7, 2010 4:31:55 GMT -5 JumboCoast said:

or god help us we might have another Boogeyman in 2011.

Sorry, but...you lost all credibility with this.