Jeff Mangum PI
Hank Scorpio
11 herbs and spices for the rest of eternity; Is Number Two. Number Two!
The 2nd Coming
Posts: 6,957 
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Post by Jeff Mangum PI on Dec 12, 2014 23:16:50 GMT -5
I still haven't gotten used to "Dolph Ziggler".
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2014 23:19:03 GMT -5
Pretty much the only real case of where I get hung up on a previous name someone's used (which in this case isn't a threat anyway given I don't have any prior exposure to these guys) is I'll always think of Mr. Anderson as Kennedy. Mostly because I've seen way, way more of him in WWE and the name was such a big part of the gimmick.
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Reflecto
Hank Scorpio
The Sorceress' Knight
Posts: 6,847
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Post by Reflecto on Dec 12, 2014 23:23:23 GMT -5
The smaller stars have to sink or swim a bit, which is a problem- but we've also seen from Trent Barreta's rebirth on the indy scene that WWE can be relatively reasonable for those wrestlers...as long as they don't try jumping to TNA with their WWE name, they don't seem to care if one uses their WWE on smaller cards. The problem I have with this is that the majority of those smaller names pretty much stuck with either having to either change their identities or sacrificing their relevance. If a WWE performer has been established to the fanbase with that WWE name, they should be allowed to wrestle for TNA, or a major indy (if they can hang in the ring) under that name or something close to it. That's the whole point, though. Look at, for example- Trent Barreta vs. Derrick Bateman as the best example there. Both were obscure, smaller names when they left WWE the same day. Barreta had a couple cups of coffee in TNA, but never really stuck there (and in such a way it was clear that "being Trent Barreta" wouldn't have kept him there)- but on the indies, he's allowed to use the Trent Barreta name, and he's made a way for himself. By contrast, Bateman went to TNA, developed the EC3 gimmick, and ended up a far, far bigger star for TNA than he ever would have been if he just went to TNA as Derrick Bateman. Most of the biggest indy promotions are still too small to be a threat to WWE, so they can work under their own style- but when you talk about the biggest indies who have TV, the wrestlers- small or big, who can adapt and change their style up in their new promotion will be the ones who end up becoming bigger stars than the ones who show up and expect it to be "Holy crap, it's former WWE Star (BLANK!)" |
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StuntGranny®
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Not Actually a Granny
Posts: 16,099
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Post by StuntGranny® on Dec 12, 2014 23:24:22 GMT -5
I still want to call Hideo 'KENTA'. It feels weird calling him by another name.
I don't think I'll ever get used to 'Kevin Owens'.
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Blindkarevik
Grimlock
Rock... Paper... Straight-edge!
I Like To <blank>
Posts: 14,343
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Post by Blindkarevik on Dec 12, 2014 23:25:40 GMT -5
To me, there's a growth period.... where a guy like KENTA has to become Hideo Itami. Usually that's around the time when you realize WWE has an actual stake in the guy, he's doing well for himself, and looks like he'll be sticking around for quite some time.
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Post by CATCH_US IS the Conversation on Dec 12, 2014 23:38:19 GMT -5
The smaller stars have to sink or swim a bit, which is a problem- but we've also seen from Trent Barreta's rebirth on the indy scene that WWE can be relatively reasonable for those wrestlers...as long as they don't try jumping to TNA with their WWE name, they don't seem to care if one uses their WWE on smaller cards. The problem I have with this is that the majority of those smaller names pretty much stuck with either having to either change their identities or sacrificing their relevance. If a WWE performer has been established to the fanbase with that WWE name, they should be allowed to wrestle for TNA, or a major indy (if they can hang in the ring) under that name or something close to it. That's the whole point, though. Look at, for example- Trent Barreta vs. Derrick Bateman as the best example there. Both were obscure, smaller names when they left WWE the same day. Barreta had a couple cups of coffee in TNA, but never really stuck there (and in such a way it was clear that "being Trent Barreta" wouldn't have kept him there)- but on the indies, he's allowed to use the Trent Barreta name, and he's made a way for himself. By contrast, Bateman went to TNA, developed the EC3 gimmick, and ended up a far, far bigger star for TNA than he ever would have been if he just went to TNA as Derrick Bateman. Most of the biggest indy promotions are still too small to be a threat to WWE, so they can work under their own style- but when you talk about the biggest indies who have TV, the wrestlers- small or big, who can adapt and change their style up in their new promotion will be the ones who end up becoming bigger stars than the ones who show up and expect it to be "Holy crap, it's former WWE Star (BLANK!)" I just think it's an unnecessary hurdle for the wrestlers to climb in a business that is already difficult enough to make headway in. Imo The only thing a wrestler should have to adapt to is being free from the rigid match formula that WWE pigeonholes everyone into. It's not "holy shit it's former WWE Star <blank>" that these wrestlers should be going for so much as "WWE booked <blank> like such a loser that I never got to see what he's capable of. But Hes actually pretty damn good. I think I like him now" |
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543Y2J
Patti Mayonnaise
Seventh level .gif Master
Posts: 38,794
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Post by 543Y2J on Dec 13, 2014 7:36:55 GMT -5
I'm already used to and like Itami/Balor/Owens. I think it's a combination of how many times it is said and getting used to seeing them on WWE TV. I think all three are great names
Sami Zayn/Adrian Neville/Seth Rollins/Dean Ambrose/Kalisto/Crowe are absolutely perfect for those men as well.
My first ipressions don't normally mean a lot as the names mean a completely different thing once they have been on TV, given theme music, presence infront of the crowd, crowd chants etc etc all playing a factor in getting conditioned to new names.
I will say that I may have preffered King or Prince Balor compared to Finn though. But on the other hand, Finn has become really chant able for the NXT crowd. Give and take I guess
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Mozenrath
FANatic
Foppery and Whim
Speedy Speed Boy
Posts: 121,124
Member is Online
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Post by Mozenrath on Dec 13, 2014 7:41:47 GMT -5
In some cases, I prefer them. I sometimes almost forget Claudio Castagnoli, Cesaro's a really nice name, which I actually prefer with Antonio at the front of it.
KENTA's is taking getting used to for me, but Finn Balor I kind of got right away.
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Bub (BLM)
Patti Mayonnaise
advocates duck on rodent violence
Fed. Up.
Posts: 37,742
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Post by Bub (BLM) on Dec 13, 2014 7:56:28 GMT -5
I'm used to them, but I don't follow much indy wrestling. Here's the biggest thing for me, though. I'm seeing way too many snotty comments towards indy fans who still call guys by their indy names. They don't do it out of stubbornness. They do it because they've known these guys for years and their gut instinct is to use that name. If Marvel bought Spawn, then changed his name, people would still call him Spawn. It's established with them.
Stop being judgmental dicks to indy fans. Some can be elitist jerks, but most of the ones on this board aren't at all. I find the "WWE can do no wrong" crowd much more condescending.
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BigWill
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Posts: 16,619
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Post by BigWill on Dec 13, 2014 8:05:46 GMT -5
Yes, but it doesn't mean they are good names. Dean Ambrose, Finn Balor, Hideo Itami, Kevin Owens, etc....are not names suited to what should be larger than life wrestling superstars Even "Daniel Bryan" is a pretty dull shitty name. I'm actually fine with all those name changes. The only one that feels odd is Adrian Neville, as it makes him sound really dorky. |
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Burst
El Dandy
*inarticulate squawking*
Posts: 8,599
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Post by Burst on Dec 13, 2014 8:31:49 GMT -5
Hideo Itami is still kind of weird and awfully generic but still, they could've done a lot worse as far as Japanese names go. A lot worse.
I don't think ANYONE got used to Kassius Ohno, not even Chris Hero.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2014 8:38:29 GMT -5
Yes, but it doesn't mean they are good names. Dean Ambrose, Finn Balor, Hideo Itami, Kevin Owens, etc....are not names suited to what should be larger than life wrestling superstars Even "Daniel Bryan" is a pretty dull shitty name. Aye, because Jon Moxley is? |
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Post by Andy Martin on Dec 13, 2014 8:41:41 GMT -5
I still want to call Hideo 'KENTA'. It feels weird calling him by another name. I don't think I'll ever get used to 'Kevin Owens'. Itami's is the only one I'm struggling with. But I'm sure I'll get used to it like all the rest of them. |
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Post by Rolent Tex on Dec 13, 2014 9:06:48 GMT -5
I'm not a fan of how the WWE deals with talent names. A guy can spend years on the indies building his name and brand and they get names pulled out of creatives ass just so Vince can copyright it. It's all about owning every little part of a guy so they can't jump elsewhere and make money on their time in the E. Other than Punk, Lesnar and Sting...no one else could get that luxury of using their name and gimmick. That will probably never happen again.
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Post by A Platypus Rave on Dec 13, 2014 13:18:53 GMT -5
I had a hard time remembering Cesaro's indie name the other day. I don't... I miss Claudio... but they dropped Antonio anyway so the point is moot... though Cesaro is an upgrade from Castignoli in my opinion. Other than that most names I don't get hung up on. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2014 16:14:16 GMT -5
I'm not a fan of how the WWE deals with talent names. A guy can spend years on the indies building his name and brand and they get names pulled out of creatives ass just so Vince can copyright it. It's all about owning every little part of a guy so they can't jump elsewhere and make money on their time in the E. Other than Punk, Lesnar and Sting...no one else could get that luxury of using their name and gimmick. That will probably never happen again. I think that's what bothers me the most, especially after Punk's interview that exposed how badly they treat their talent. The only benefit the WWE has to trademarking a name is that the talent won't be able to profit from that name elsewhere, and that goes against everything an "independent contractor" stands for. If you want to take a guy and give him a gimmick'd name (i.e. Million Dollar Man, Undertaker, Mr. Perfect, etc), then I can understand the trademarking aspect of it. However, why in the world would you change Tyler Black to Seth Rollins? Or Jon Moxley to Dean Ambrose? Just so those guys won't be able to profit at all from their WWE tenure after they leave? That's a terrible way to do business. Of course, the WWF had no problem using WCW (or ECW) names/gimmicks when talent jumped during the MNW, but yet threw a fit when Scott Hall showed up in WCW with the Scarface accent in tact. They are so hypocritical and unsympathetic. That's actually why I like when people use Indy names over WWE names. Look, no one is going to last in the WWE forever. They may have to leave at some point, for any number of reasons. Keep their Indy names alive, especially if you want them to succeed. If Punk showed up with the name "Brook Phillips", then he would have lost a lot of leverage that he had when he ultimately left. If you want to call them by Kenta or whatever, do it. If WWE fans get upset with that, so be it, but in no way are fans obligated to cater to the WWE's obsession with trademarking. "Hey, they changed Sting's name to Steve Bordenson....stop being a prick by calling him Sting!". Yeah, that doesn't fly. |
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SAJ Forth
Wade Wilson
Jamaican WCF Crazy!
Half Man-Half Amazing
Posts: 27,214
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Post by SAJ Forth on Dec 13, 2014 22:29:58 GMT -5
The names have gotten better.
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Post by A Platypus Rave on Dec 13, 2014 22:38:02 GMT -5
The names have gotten better. I'm going to guess they didn't originally let them pick their own names. Then again it's not like all the wrestler picked names were great... |
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Post by Nic Nemeth on Dec 14, 2014 0:39:53 GMT -5
PAC -> Adrian Neville = Worse
El Generico -> Sami Zayn = Better
KENTA -> Hideo Itami = Awful
Prince Devitt -> Finn Balor = Equal
Kevin Steen -> Kevins Owens = Better simply cause of initials
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