Bodybuilding Fetish.

[Cronant]

Anyone else think that hasn't really been valid for like half a decade? Sure big guys get hired but they're just as jobber-ish as small guys.

If anything there seem to be a lack of them around.

[joebob27]

A couple of Punk's former lackeys from earlier this year fit the mold. I'm starting to think he doesn't like Mason Ryan.

It's starting to get extremely non-sensical. Like Russo WCW segments chucked into a mid 80's WWF show.

[Krimzon]

The steroid trial, and then the Forbidden One's actions, kinda killed this notion. They HAD to push "normal" guys, and those guys could do things roid-freaks couldn't and they got over. That opened the door for a ton of other small guys and we still see the results today. They do love their occasional hoss, though. Brodus Clay, Mason Ryan, & Ezekiel Jackson spring to mind. The bodybuilder-types still have their place in wrestling. It's just not as emphasized that much anymore. And hell, as long as you don't look like complete crap and can get from point A to point B, you'll get a shot somewhere.

[Yami Daimao]

It still exist, but it's very dormant. Guys like Ezekiel Jackson and Mason Ryan is proof.

But yeah, pretty weak argument by Punk. Hunter had a good retort, despite not mentioning Chris Jericho, to the surprise of no one.

[Kevin Hamilton]

It's more just an easy 'blanket internet complaint' to reference there. Validity is less important than recognition.

[joebob27]

Actually I'm pretty sure Cena is the biggest guy currently assigned and working on Raw.

[Perpetual Nirvana]

Yeah, the only current main eventer who you could really call a "body builder" is John Cena. Technically I supposed Mark Henry would fall into the catagory as well. But in the past year you've had Miz, Punk, Mysterio and del Rio holding the WWE title and Edge, Christian and Randy Orton (who I wouldn't class as a body builder since he lost a ton of mass) as World Champion so no, it doesn't really hold up.

[Renslayer]

It's still there, but it's not as pronounced as it used to be. However, what is there, & Punk mentioned it in a WWE Magazine interview, is the lack of focus & attention given to the wrestlers who were wrestlers first, not failed ex-football player, bodybuilder, etc. I wish he had mentioned that too because that's a stronger argument IMO.

[fizzeewater]

*cough* Bobby Lashley *cough*

[Krimzon]

Sept 12, 2011 22:27:25 GMT -5 fizzeewater said:

*cough* Bobby Lashley *cough*

In their defense, Bobby Lashley was a decorated amateur wrestler.

[fizzeewater]

Sept 12, 2011 22:29:12 GMT -5 Krimzon said:

Sept 12, 2011 22:27:25 GMT -5 fizzeewater said:

*cough* Bobby Lashley *cough*

In their defense, Bobby Lashley was a decorated amateur wrestler.

That is no defense.

No defense whatsoever.

[primetime110]

Yeah, punk's point with that made no sense. Trips also forgot to mention Edge.

[Cronant]

Or that druggie Punk feuded with over the title in 2009.

[donny]

Sept 12, 2011 22:21:04 GMT -5 Krimzon said:

The steroid trial, and then the Forbidden One's actions, kinda killed this notion. They HAD to push "normal" guys, and those guys could do things roid-freaks couldn't and they got over. That opened the door for a ton of other small guys and we still see the results today. They do love their occasional hoss, though. Brodus Clay, Mason Ryan, & Ezekiel Jackson spring to mind. The bodybuilder-types still have their place in wrestling. It's just not as emphasized that much anymore. And hell, as long as you don't look like complete crap and can get from point A to point B, you'll get a shot somewhere.

Whoa whoa whoa!!! Hold the phone!!!! Are you calling Brodus Clay a body builder?!

[rnrk supports BLM]

There was that chilling comment by Dave Lagana last year that Vince saw Skip Sheffield as the potential #2 babyface in WWE.

[keezy]

Nathan Jones
Jackson Andrews
Bobby Lashley
Chris Masters (as much as I liked him in 09-11, he was green while being pushed)
Heidenreich

All pushed to a degree, all flopped.

[Krimzon]

Sept 12, 2011 22:32:22 GMT -5 donny said:

Sept 12, 2011 22:21:04 GMT -5 Krimzon said:

The steroid trial, and then the Forbidden One's actions, kinda killed this notion. They HAD to push "normal" guys, and those guys could do things roid-freaks couldn't and they got over. That opened the door for a ton of other small guys and we still see the results today. They do love their occasional hoss, though. Brodus Clay, Mason Ryan, & Ezekiel Jackson spring to mind. The bodybuilder-types still have their place in wrestling. It's just not as emphasized that much anymore. And hell, as long as you don't look like complete crap and can get from point A to point B, you'll get a shot somewhere.

Whoa whoa whoa!!! Hold the phone!!!! Are you calling Brodus Clay a body builder?!

Hell no, but he fits the hoss mold. He just doesn't have visable muscles.

[Kevin Hamilton]

Sept 12, 2011 22:32:22 GMT -5 donny said:

Sept 12, 2011 22:21:04 GMT -5 Krimzon said:

The steroid trial, and then the Forbidden One's actions, kinda killed this notion. They HAD to push "normal" guys, and those guys could do things roid-freaks couldn't and they got over. That opened the door for a ton of other small guys and we still see the results today. They do love their occasional hoss, though. Brodus Clay, Mason Ryan, & Ezekiel Jackson spring to mind. The bodybuilder-types still have their place in wrestling. It's just not as emphasized that much anymore. And hell, as long as you don't look like complete crap and can get from point A to point B, you'll get a shot somewhere.

Whoa whoa whoa!!! Hold the phone!!!! Are you calling Brodus Clay a body builder?!

If cholesterol is a building material.

[zeez]

It's not nearly as bad as it once was but Vince still leans towards body builder types. How else did Mason Ryan get on Raw in the first place?

[flatsdomino]

Well, they're rarer becue of the steroid/Benoit controversy. Go back to '04-'06 and there were plenty to go around. Plus, the ones who are there (Batista, Orton, the Orton clones) always get top priority over the smaller ones, who can get as over as they like, but are often just not "seen as champions". They might get the biggest pops of the night, but they get shafted often. Plus, when discussing a smaller guy (say, Daniels) coming to WWE, most people say he wouldn't make it past being a jobber, as he's to small. Why? Because WWE is stuffed with guys that look like football players and bodybuilders and has been for YEARS (since, like, ever) and so most ROH/Indy types just don't "fit", even in fan's eyes. If Mason Ryan or Big Zeke had the charisma of a CM Punk, they'd be the next big thing. I mean, they're even trying it Zeke. Hell, look at wat happens when a big guy DOES have charisma - Sheamus, ALREADY a two-time champ who's beaten John Cena several times.

Punk DID get opportunities, and DID get over with the crowds, during BOTH of his WHC runs - the first where he ended up getting shafted for Orton/Cena/Batista, the second (where he was the hottest act in the company at the time, let's not revise history) where he was inexplicably shot right down the card to dark matches with R-Truth in favor of ANOTHER Undertaker/Batista feud, with added Mysterio. He WAS held down, and even got respect pops as a heel.

Triple H's argument was BS tonight, and it's LAUGHABLE to use Mick Foley as an example of a talent who "didn't fit the mold" but got pushed when in actuality Foley was EXACTLY what Punk is talking about when he talks about someone "different" getting held down. Vince & co. NEVER saw Mick as a star until their hand was forced by his popularity, Vince Russo and JR. Even Triple H apparently said some insulting thing about him, according to the Hardcore Diaries. And ironically, it took another steroid contrversy to get Bret and HBK where they ended up being by the mid-90's - and you're fooling yourself if you think Vince wouldn't have rather had Lex Luger or Ahmed Johnson in Bret's spot. And if Rey looked like he did in WCW, you bet your ass he never would've even sniffed the main event spot.