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Post by Aceorton on Apr 10, 2024 12:17:35 GMT -5
I'm not talking about once-or-twice appearances (Lawrence Taylor, Jay Leno, Snooki), but characters who were around for months and months and meant to be taken seriously as wrestlers on the roster. Was there anyone you always considered a pretender or outsider?
Example A for me: Steve McMichael. A WCW fixture for a few years, and he did improve a little in the ring, but I could only ever see him as a football guy trying to play the role of wrestler.
Example B: Zeus. It's probably because he really only worked with Hogan, but the whole thing felt like a silly promotional stunt (which it was).
Some of the weightlifter guys fall into this category for me also (Bill Kazmeier, Ted Arcidi).
Is this how some fans feel about Logan Paul or Bad Bunny currently?
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thecrusherwi
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Post by thecrusherwi on Apr 10, 2024 12:49:22 GMT -5
I have no problem suspending my disbelief for guys like Mongo and Zeus. Mongo was an All Pro NFL defensive lineman for 15 years. Not hard for me to believe he can whip some ass. Zeus was enormous and presented (convincingly) as a total psycho. Believed him too. Was quite terrified of him as a child actually.
I had a lot harder time buying into people like the members of the McMahon Family, or the Mean Street Posse becoming somewhat regular wrestlers. Anyone who was presented as not a wrestler for a while suddenly becoming a wrestler. Or even some of the Tough Enough or Divas Search winners. It was hard to get over them as reality show contestants. Any ex-pro athletes or monstrous actors like Zeus never really seemed out of place for me. They weren't often good, but were as believable as anyone else being presented as a wrestler.
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Post by Jindrak Mark on Apr 10, 2024 12:49:27 GMT -5
I could take 1999-2001 Shane McMahon in crazy hardcore/street fight type matches with him using weapons/shortcuts to stay afloat but when he was in regular matches or actually presented as a badass who could go toe to toe with your Kanes and Undertakers in fair fights it was some of the worst shit I've ever seen. Like him being able to take out all of Legacy by himself with his crappy punches.
That hell in a cell match at Wrestlemania 32 is my least favorite match of all time. The booking of the match made it seem like they were equal. Shane wasn't running scared and using cheap shots. He was legit having strike exchanges with the Undertaker, kicking out of chokeslams, last rides and only lost because he missed a crazy jump from the top of the cell. And the match went THIRTY minutes. In kayfabe he basically put up a better fight against Taker at Mania than Cena/Bray/HHH/HBK/Punk/Edge/Batista/etc.
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tafkaga
Samurai Cop
the Dogfather
Posts: 2,100
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Post by tafkaga on Apr 10, 2024 13:32:40 GMT -5
Came here to say Shane McMahon as well. He just looked like some guy out of the crowd playing wrestler. Yeah, he could bump but his punches, which were the cornerstone of his offense, looked like shit.
El Gigante is another one. Dude was impressive to look at but that's literally THE ONLY THING he had going for him. I don't think he ever landed one strike or hit one move that looked like he knew what he was doing.
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UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm
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Post by UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm on Apr 10, 2024 13:39:27 GMT -5
yep, shane too. cool shit like jumping off onto test or that kurt angle match was fine but once he was presented as some legit talent i never once bought it
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Soultastic
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Post by Soultastic on Apr 10, 2024 18:22:38 GMT -5
Vince, Shane, pretty much every celebrity except for the Arrow guy, Bad Bunny and Maria Menounos.
I'd like to not accept Logan Paul as a wrestler but not only is he a natural, he's also a carny scammer, so he fits in even better.
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Post by Ronny Rayguns Is All Elite on Apr 10, 2024 18:40:03 GMT -5
Example B: Zeus. It's probably because he really only worked with Hogan, but the whole thing felt like a silly promotional stunt (which it was). He was dog shit in the ring and he was way more credible/acclaimed as an actor, but as a Little kid I bought into Zeus HEAVY as an insane monster. I legit thought Hogan was going to die if Zeus got his hands on him in a real match. I have no problem suspending my disbelief for guys like Mongo and Zeus. Mongo was an All Pro NFL defensive lineman for 15 years. Not hard for me to believe he can whip some ass. Zeus was enormous and presented (convincingly) as a total psycho. Believed him too. Was quite terrified of him as a child actually.Facts! I'm a grown ass man and he's been dead a few years now but I'm STILL afraid of Deebo |
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Post by sungod2020 on Apr 10, 2024 19:30:54 GMT -5
The only reason Sable became a "wrestler" was because her popularity overshadowed her then husband Marc Mero that they decided to give her a push.
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Post by KingPooper on Apr 10, 2024 19:47:23 GMT -5
Eddie Kingston and Kevin Owens they just look like jerks you would see starting crap at the bar. Nick Wayne looks child.
I’m no tough guy but I feel wrestlers should have a larger than life look to them. Not someone I wouldn’t back down from in a fight.
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Sephiroth
Wade Wilson
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Post by Sephiroth on Apr 10, 2024 20:34:47 GMT -5
Christy Hemme. Yeah, she tried, but she just wasn’t meant for the ring. TNA at least put her to the best use possible as a manager/valet and backstage hostess.
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El Pollo Guerrera
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Post by El Pollo Guerrera on Apr 10, 2024 23:15:39 GMT -5
The Insane Clown Posse.
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Mozenrath
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Post by Mozenrath on Apr 11, 2024 1:12:23 GMT -5
The irony is that I am pretty sure they were wrestlers before they were musicians, weren't they? I never had an issue with them, but it probably helps that I've always heard them described as promoters who pay well and on time. Not exactly a given in indie wrestling. I admit, I'd love for them to appear in AEW at least once just to cross it off the list, those dudes have been weirdly well-traveled. WWE, WCW, TNA, ROH, etc. |
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Post by KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! on Apr 11, 2024 3:47:18 GMT -5
Eddie Kingston and Kevin Owens they just look like jerks you would see starting crap at the bar. Nick Wayne looks child. I’m no tough guy but I feel wrestlers should have a larger than life look to them. Not someone I wouldn’t back down from in a fight. In that vein I’d like to add Rey Mysterio with the caveat of only on his off years. In his prime and when he’s motivated he’s an incredible underdog and makes you believe he can beat a much larger opponent. But when he’s dealing with injuries or just unmotivated, it’s tough to believe he’s the same amazing performer. For instance, Eddiesploitation in part involved Rey getting a huge push and his 2006 Rumble win holding the record for years for being the winner to be in the ring the longest amount of time. But losing a good friend AND nagging injuries took their toll. Rey’s Rumble performance was very underwhelming and he sat around for a lot of it like a bum. It was tough to suspend disbelief because it looked like if anyone actually wanted to they could just pick Rey up and toss his out like nothing. |
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Post by 'Foretold' Joker on Apr 11, 2024 4:17:39 GMT -5
Taking this from a kayfabe point of view 90s Virgil - He was just Ted DiBiase's bodyguard, why is he wrestling and winning now?
This kind of applies to anyone else who was a manager, hired help, stylist etc who suddenly could wrestle I'm thinking Rico, Ernest "The Cat" Miller and whenever Eric Bishoff decided his karate skills might work in the ring.
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Johnny Flamingo
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Post by Johnny Flamingo on Apr 11, 2024 4:23:37 GMT -5
The irony is that I am pretty sure they were wrestlers before they were musicians, weren't they? I never had an issue with them, but it probably helps that I've always heard them described as promoters who pay well and on time. Not exactly a given in indie wrestling. I admit, I'd love for them to appear in AEW at least once just to cross it off the list, those dudes have been weirdly well-traveled. WWE, WCW, TNA, ROH, etc. Mad Man Pondo spoke highly of them in his book (highly recommended read). Pretty sure Raven has talked good about them as well. From everything I’ve read or heard they seem like pretty decent dudes. I wouldn’t mind seeing them have an appearance in AEW. |
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Post by "Playboy" Don Douglas on Apr 11, 2024 8:00:03 GMT -5
The irony is that I am pretty sure they were wrestlers before they were musicians, weren't they? I never had an issue with them, but it probably helps that I've always heard them described as promoters who pay well and on time. Not exactly a given in indie wrestling. I admit, I'd love for them to appear in AEW at least once just to cross it off the list, those dudes have been weirdly well-traveled. WWE, WCW, TNA, ROH, etc. Terry Funk was once asked about ICP’s tape where they dubbed commentary over the King of the Deathmatch tournament. Terry being Terry, he gave a half worked answer about not getting paid for it and being pissed at the clowns. Some time later, Terry gets a call, I think from Sabu, saying he was in Texas working a show for ICP and they heard he was upset about the tape and wanted to come see him and make it right. So he tells them to come on out to the ranch. ICP shows up in their bus and Terry shows them around the ranch and they go in the house for some homemade chili. As ICP was getting ready to leave, they said, “Terry, we want to leave you some money for the tape.” Terry told them not to worry about it and they insisted. He again told them not to, but left the room first so they could do it. He saw them off and went back inside, “expecting 20 bucks, maybe even 40!” He was excited, thinking it might at least pay for the chili. He opened the envelope they left and found $4,000. In his book, Terry followed this with something like, “I love the Insane Clown Posse, I think they’re great promoters and the best band in the world! I have all their records. I haven’t got around to listening to them, but they’re around here somewhere!” |
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Post by SkullTrauma on Apr 11, 2024 8:05:11 GMT -5
Cody Rhodes
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Post by Citizen Snips Has Left on Apr 11, 2024 8:40:25 GMT -5
The only reason Sable became a "wrestler" was because her popularity overshadowed her then husband Marc Mero that they decided to give her a push. The story about Luna Vachon being told that she’d be immediately fired if Sable came back with so much as a bruise on her after a match they had is still one of the saddest backstage stories I’ve heard. |
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Post by 06vwgti on Apr 11, 2024 9:50:15 GMT -5
Shane McMahon during the attitude era
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Post by I'm Team Bayley and Indi on Apr 11, 2024 10:05:40 GMT -5
Microman
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