Mozenrath
FANatic
Foppery and Whim
Speedy Speed Boy
Posts: 121,051
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Post by Mozenrath on Aug 26, 2014 12:59:32 GMT -5
He is the Russian Super Athlete, the recipient of the Gold Star Medal from the Hero of Russian Federation, and his numerous victories bring all glory to the world's greatest leader, Vladimir Putin. RUSEV UDREA! RUSEV MACHKA! I lnow ypu may be joking but sadly it's this crap that holds him back. Without getting into politics, who he has been said to be trying to appeal to has been a huge source of heat for the guy. I do hope that he transitions well whenever that comes to an end, but I don't really blame WWE for thinking there's meat on that bone.
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Post by Session Moth is over on Aug 26, 2014 13:06:34 GMT -5
I lnow ypu may be joking but sadly it's this crap that holds him back. Without getting into politics, who he has been said to be trying to appeal to has been a huge source of heat for the guy. I do hope that he transitions well whenever that comes to an end, but I don't really blame WWE for thinking there's meat on that bone. I can see why they ran with this gimmick but it just seems so behind the times. USA = good, Russia = bad. Especially when you hear the likes of JBL saying things like 'who does he think he is, playing his anthem in MY country'. I'm European and hate these storylines.
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Post by CATCH_US IS the Conversation on Aug 26, 2014 13:08:56 GMT -5
He's not a future main eventer yet but I like the throwback feel of his character. If they started directing their Russian propaganda towards heels instead of the crowd, it might come off less forced and more tongue-in-cheek. Him and Lana could probably be good midcard faces. In Soviet Russia, buzzards follow you!
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Post by The Tank on Aug 26, 2014 13:09:09 GMT -5
I'll give him credit for actually subtly selling an injury. Seems like that's something of a lost art these days.
And admittedly, I haven't seen a whole lot of the guy actually wrestling, but he wasn't too bad at SummerSlam.
Seems like the guy's possibly being wasted on a "USA GOOD, EVERYWHERE ELSE BAD!" storyline.
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Mozenrath
FANatic
Foppery and Whim
Speedy Speed Boy
Posts: 121,051
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Post by Mozenrath on Aug 26, 2014 13:09:54 GMT -5
Without getting into politics, who he has been said to be trying to appeal to has been a huge source of heat for the guy. I do hope that he transitions well whenever that comes to an end, but I don't really blame WWE for thinking there's meat on that bone. I can see why they ran with this gimmick but it just seems so behind the times. USA = good, Russia = bad. Especially when you hear the likes of JBL saying things like 'who does he think he is, playing his anthem in MY country'. I'm European and hate these storylines. I think doing political storylines is a bad idea given them being international and it making for an awkward sell in other markets, though I guess JBL himself is an example that it can kind of work, since his biggest push was powered in part on the political climate of the time.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2014 0:03:59 GMT -5
I can see why they ran with this gimmick but it just seems so behind the times. USA = good, Russia = bad. Especially when you hear the likes of JBL saying things like 'who does he think he is, playing his anthem in MY country'. I'm European and hate these storylines. I think doing political storylines is a bad idea given them being international and it making for an awkward sell in other markets, though I guess JBL himself is an example that it can kind of work, since his biggest push was powered in part on the political climate of the time. At least there though, JBL was kind of one specific type of person being painted as the heel - a small-minded loudmouth throwing money at everything while denouncing everyone who didn't fit his narrow definition of what a proper champion should be, be it due to their race, their culture, their economic status, or whatever else. This is a case where Rusev is kind of playing it that way, but everyone else is treating it less like he's a heel because Lana's insulting everyone who isn't Russian and more he's a heel because he takes pride in his country which happens to not be the US.
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Post by bigjohnsons on Aug 29, 2014 0:07:17 GMT -5
I can see why they ran with this gimmick but it just seems so behind the times. USA = good, Russia = bad. Especially when you hear the likes of JBL saying things like 'who does he think he is, playing his anthem in MY country'. I'm European and hate these storylines. I think doing political storylines is a bad idea given them being international and it making for an awkward sell in other markets, though I guess JBL himself is an example that it can kind of work, since his biggest push was powered in part on the political climate of the time. That JBL on the Mexican Border segment was gold
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2014 3:49:13 GMT -5
Rusev's actual matches are cool.
I think he has potential. Even in this outdated gimmick. Like Umaga before him, it may look limiting, but that all hinges on what they let him do with it. Which, so far, hasn't been much, 'cuz it's all been Lana.
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Post by Prince Petty on Aug 29, 2014 5:11:59 GMT -5
Instead of the repetitive promos about how great Putin is, I wish they'd aired some of the instagram videos that he and Lana did (or produced their own version of them), where they're "not impressed" by the lack of taxis, the state of arcades, and other mundane aspects of American life.
Juxtapose the tongue-in-cheek vignettes and promos with the deadly serious ring style, and I think you could have something pretty interesting.
But I do think Rusev is good in the ring. The old cliché about him being agile for a big man is true. He seems to have a good amount of wrestling ability, and great presence, as well as the attention to detail we saw in him selling that injury against Swagger. He also gets this great confused, distressed look when he's hurt, as though it's something he's not familiar with.
And Lana is really good as his manager. An old school heel, distracting referees and controlling everything her wrestler does, trying to protect him when he's vulnerable, enjoying seeing him beat his opponents up. Plus, she's good at getting heat, even with the crazy accent and repetitive promos.
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Boo!
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 4,417
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Post by Boo! on Aug 29, 2014 5:38:21 GMT -5
I'm not a fan. They're like a nostalgia act that don't actually benefit from being nostalgic.
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mrbananagrabber
King Koopa
Paul Heyman's unofficial joke writer
Posts: 11,795
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Post by mrbananagrabber on Aug 29, 2014 8:18:29 GMT -5
"LANAAAAAAAAAA."
"Rusev... CRUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSH."
I like that bit, especially if Lana bends over and I see her boobies more.
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Post by Ryushinku on Aug 29, 2014 8:30:35 GMT -5
I like him.
The evil foreigners act is corny as hell, but amusing. I'm not American or Russian (or Bulgarian) so maybe that helps. Lana plays the role to a tee, Rusev looks the part and the Swagger match at SummerSlam showed me that he's not just a musclehead. His selling of the ankle injury, even better his CONTINUED selling of it and thinking about how it would affect his offense as well, was very good. He's also got the big plus of a great entrance theme, very aggressive and gladatiorial. So so important to have a good theme.
Also kind of reminds me of Meng, in that extremely solid looking powerful way.
Bit unsure about his future, because at some point he's going to be hitting a ceiling and then you dread the wacky comedy turn. But for now, keep doing what they're doing, I think.
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Bo Rida
Fry's dog Seymour
Pulled one over on everyone. Got away with it, this time.
Posts: 23,517
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Post by Bo Rida on Aug 29, 2014 8:33:37 GMT -5
He's strong in a lot of areas and he understands the importance of the little things but I'm not sure all those individual elements add up to a complete whole, mostly due to the gimmick.
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Essential1
Hank Scorpio
Sigs/Avatars cannot exceed 1MB
Posts: 6,080
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Post by Essential1 on Aug 29, 2014 8:35:56 GMT -5
Looks like a friendly kebab seller.
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Post by joediego on Aug 29, 2014 8:36:47 GMT -5
The problem with this gimmick is that the wrestler doing it looks like God while they're in the ascendancy and then after they're sacrificed in the Good vs Evil finale their entire raison d'etre is gone, and they rarely recover unless their character is tweaked.
See: Slaughter/Borga/Yoko
Something that I haven't read but obviously happened is that WWE didn't always plan to go this way with Rusev, or at least not as alpha as they have. He came in as 'The Bulgarian Brute' but McMahon soon noticed Russia's antagonism on FOX News and he slowly dropped the Bulgarian aspect, to the point where it's no longer mentioned.
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bob
Salacious Crumb
The "other" Bob. FOC COURSE!
started the Madness Wars, Proudly the #1 Nana Hater on FAN
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Post by bob on Aug 29, 2014 8:39:36 GMT -5
In ring I think he's great but I hate his gimmick for reasons I can't get into.
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BobW
Bubba Ho-Tep
Mono No Aware
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Post by BobW on Aug 29, 2014 8:40:18 GMT -5
Looks like a friendly kebab seller. After the Russian gimmick wears off, he can come back as STAVROS
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2014 11:27:18 GMT -5
A lot of complaints that he's just being built up to lose to a top face. The guy is obviously going to lose some day. The fact that his first loss is probably going to be a top babyface is a great sign for him. At least he's being built up. Now, what happens after that initial loss is the question. If he gets Bray Wyatt'd, then all is for nought.
The problem I see is that without Lana, he'd probably get cheered. And as long as he's with Lana, they have to do the Russia #1 USA hackpooey gimmick. Otherwise, she has no point. So, how long a shelf-life does it have?
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Ben Wyatt
Crow T. Robot
Are You Gonna Go My Way?
I don't get it. At all. It's kind of a small horse, I mean what am I missing? Am I crazy?
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Post by Ben Wyatt on Aug 29, 2014 11:32:46 GMT -5
His kicks look like death and the pre camel clutch back stomp is a great touch
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fw91
Patti Mayonnaise
FAN Idol All-Star: FAN Idol Season X and *Gavel* 2x Judges' Throwdown winner
Tribe has spoken for 2024 Mets
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Member is Online
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Post by fw91 on Aug 29, 2014 11:40:22 GMT -5
I don't like him. Still pretty confident, he'll go the way of Tensai a little later down the line
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