Meltzer and Alvarez - heat?

[Boo!]

Not sure where to put this, it's kinda wrestling related so I'll put it here but does anyone detect during the radio podcasts these two do that there seems to be a bit of a clash of personalities? I've only joined the sight this month but have listened to a few shows and the two don't seem to get on that well at all. There's nothing obvious but there's a lot of no-selling funny comments and plenty of pointed "I don't know, you tell me's" about. Recently they were talking about Ryback being in the dog-house and Alvarez made an exaggerate/jokey comment about how he'd lost something like '180 times in a row' and Meltzer, straight as a die, said "No he hasn't be pinned Khali" and not in a 'haha, he can only beat Khali, right?" way but in a "you're so ill informed, he beat Khali" way, like a disappointed parent correcting their child's incorrect attempt to do a multiplication sum.

These things happen a lot they either don't share the same sense of humour (very plausible)or they don't really like each other that much. There are a few examples if you listen to the archives of Meltzer deliberately no-selling/ignoring funny/sarcastic comments. Maybe I'm reading it wrong but I'd say there's heat between these two or the very least a personality clash.

[Steveweiser]

They've worked together on and off for nearly 15 years, so I doubt they'd have heat with each other, especially since they've been business partners for five years now. Sure they have different views on wrestling, but that's what makes the show work for me, but by and large, they get on very well.

[Lardlad]

I can't recall any heat between the two ... Bryan likes to joke or exaggerate sometimes, and Dave is often serious, or makes a little joke but still remains serious so it's hard to tell if he's really joking or not.

By the way, Bryan's "After Dark" show is now going to be streamed live on ArtBell.com which is pretty great news for him!

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Thing is, Bryan cracks a lot of (often shitty) jokes while Dave is a really serious guy with a really dry sense of humor. This results in Dave no-selling jokes often and causing a few seconds of awkward silence or taking the joke completely serious and talking about for five minutes while Bryan does nothing.

[Lardlad]

Nov 26, 2013 9:22:48 GMT -5 Magic knows Black Lives Matter said:

Thing is, Bryan cracks a lot of (often shitty) jokes while Dave is a really serious guy with a really dry sense of humor. This results in Dave no-selling jokes often and causing a few seconds of awkward silence or taking the joke completely serious and talking about for five minutes while Bryan does nothing.

Ever since I started listening to Wrestling Observer shows with headphones on, I think I can hear Bryan muting himself a lot when Dave goes on a rant. It becomes funny when he mutes his mic, then it seems like Dave is wrapping up so Bryan will unmute himself... only for Dave to keep on ranting so Bryan ends up muting again.

That's why lately I actually prefer Todd shows because Bryan seems much more at ease and can make jokes or fly off the handle and him and Todd will just argue their points back and forth, then move onto the next subject.

[Bear Skin Rug]

WRO is like the opposite of the improv lesson that teaches its students to respond "yes, and..." The ethos Bryan and Dave is "no, but..."

Also Dave constantly talks over Bryan

[cabbageboy]

I don't think there is any heat, but Meltzer is so utterly dry. He's actually really hilarious if you get what he's going for.

[greeby]

Maybe Bryan has the same irritation with hearing "y'know" being said 187 times in five minutes of speech that I do.

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Nov 26, 2013 18:33:24 GMT -5 cabbageboy said:

I don't think there is any heat, but Meltzer is so utterly dry. He's actually really hilarious if you get what he's going for.

I find Meltzer to be way funnier than Alvarez.

[Medicinal Thunder Liger]

meltzy just yells at him when he's being a dumbass so I can see why it happens a lot.

[Deleted]

A lot of their exchanges (I get the impression) are a result of Alvarez giving an opinion about something he doesn't really understand pertaining to wrestling, and Meltzer just kind of tells him he's incorrect or over reacting. That's just because Alvarez knows virtually nothing about wrestling before 1990 or so. I'm sure his lack of knowledge about the subject frustrates Meltzer frequently. If they're not discussing current wrestling, Alvarez's role is to basically press record and let Meltzer and the other guests talk.

[molson5]

Nov 26, 2013 9:22:48 GMT -5 Magic knows Black Lives Matter said:

Thing is, Bryan cracks a lot of (often shitty) jokes while Dave is a really serious guy with a really dry sense of humor. This results in Dave no-selling jokes often and causing a few seconds of awkward silence or taking the joke completely serious and talking about for five minutes while Bryan does nothing.

Ya, that's been a part of the show forever, and it cracks me up for some reason. I love how Alvarez will never give up telling jokes despite Dave's no-selling. It's such an odd pairing, but they do complement each other in that Dave is an unlimited source of content, and Alvarez knows how to move a podcast along.

I do detect them getting on each other's nerves occasionally, though not to the level of "heat". Sometimes Meltzer will just be stuck on some point that Alvarez doesn't agree with, and they fight over it for an unnecessarily long time. Meltzer will start whining and say, "but Bryan!..." When this happens, it's always up to Alvarez to move on to the next thing (otherwise Meltzer would just talk about it for 3 weeks), but sometimes, Alvarez will let it go a little longer that is comfortable to listen to.

[Joshie el Gato Rey]

They act like a married couple

[Jeremy]

When Dave says "But Bryan", I detect joy in his voice. He likes debating wrestling.

[Steveweiser]

My personal favourite was when Dave was asked about bodybuilding, said he wouldn't talk much about it... and then Bryan proceeded to let Dave talk about it for FORTY-FIVE MINUTES.

[Deleted]

It seems at least once per episode, Alvarez will be recapping something which took place on a wrestling show, exclaim that something was "preposterous," and try to convince Meltzer to agree with him. Nineteen times out of twenty, Meltzer reminds him that it's pro wrestling and what he is over reacting to wasn't a big deal. Definitely a "child seeking approval" vibe, and usually the approval isn't given, no matter how hard Alvarez tries to show that he has learned something.

[Bo Rida]

For one brief moment I thought this was going to link to a dirtsheet about dirtsheets.

[Lardlad]

I like how Bryan's attitude changes depending who he's doing a show with.

If he's on with Vinny, he generally runs the show and is very dominant and doesn't mind poking funny at Vinny's weight or his past.
If's he's on with Dave, he does a lot of listening or will be more serious than with Vinny. He sits back and often just let's Dave go off.
If he's on with Todd, he's also a little more cocky, but he also seems to get a kick out of Todd arguing his points/views on stuff.

It makes for fun shows almost every day of the week as you generally get a review of similar topics, but they're all unique in their own little ways.

[Deleted]

I've never listened to this podcast but it sounds like something I'd really enjoy, especially Meltzer's extreme dryness.

[SEAN CARLESS]

Nov 26, 2013 19:15:48 GMT -5 Magic knows Black Lives Matter said:

Nov 26, 2013 18:33:24 GMT -5 cabbageboy said:

I don't think there is any heat, but Meltzer is so utterly dry. He's actually really hilarious if you get what he's going for.

I find Meltzer to be way funnier than Alvarez.

I love Meltzer's dryness. My personal fave was the time Bryan said in context to Vince keeping on going and going at his age : "Vince will probably live to be 150!"

And then Dave replies: "Well, he's not going to," as dryly as possible.