BrianZane
Team Rocket
The Finest Fibers All The Way From France
Host of Wrestling With Wregret
Posts: 972
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Post by BrianZane on May 31, 2007 3:34:13 GMT -5
A newbie here with a modest proposal regarding the WWE Divas (although "modest" and "WWE Divas" don't really belong in the same sentence *rimshot*). It is my opinion, based on a good ten minutes of consideration grand total, that the WWE Divas would seem at least 50% more respectable (granted, not saying a whole lot) if they billed them with their last names. Think about it. Do they bill Shawn Michaels as "Shawn"? Does Randy Orton's Titantron video just say "Randy"? And yet a lot of the Divas are simply referred to by their first names all the time. "Melina." "Maria." "Victoria." Granted, some of the "real" wrestler divas from the past have only gone by one name (Lita, Chyna, etc.) And granted, there are a couple divas where only using one suitably unique name fits the character better (Trinity and, yes, Ariel for example). And granted, there are some that they use last names for - but if you just listened to the names without knowing anything about the actual people, wouldn't you agree that they sound more credible? Jillian Hall, Torrie Wilson, Kelly Kelly... OK, that last one's a bad example, it's a dumb name and Kelly's never going to seem credible as anything (if you can't pull off "burlesque dancer" respectably when you owe your paycheck entirely to your physical assets, you should pretty much abandon all hope). But you get the point. Maybe it's just me, but calling most of the divas by only one name just makes them sound like callgirls to me. But I guess that's what the E is going for, since that "make the Divas classier" thing had the lifespan of a fruit fly. This problem is in all of sports, not just wrestling. Female tennis stars are referred to by their first name, male tennis players by their last, etc.
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Post by Red 'n' Black Reggie on May 31, 2007 4:51:43 GMT -5
i think thats just a small part of the divas being stereotyped all together. i mean, theyre pushing melina as a serious wrestler, and candice is starting to get some cool ring skills, so what do they put them in? a pudding match. i have no problem with semi-naked women in pudding, but i dont think that should be something that the womens champion should be involved in. it makes the title seem like a novelty, which makes the entire division seem like a novelty.
that and the fact that in the annual diva search, they dont even ask the girls if they have any ring experience whatsoever. they just pick whoever is the best looking, and the most naked, and put them in the shortlist. there are plenty of attractive girls on the indies, who actually are pretty good in the ring. why not hire them, instead of some supermodel who cant get a job anywhere else.
if i want to see naked women, i'll watch porn. if i want to watch women wrestling, i'll watch wrestling.
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Kae
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 3,610
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Post by Kae on May 31, 2007 5:19:06 GMT -5
If we're on the subject of name changes, I'd also stop calling the female wrestlers divas. It doesn't suggest that they're serious, capable athletes. I'd just call them superstars as well. It's not like it's a specificially male term.
I'd also drop any match that involved water, pudding, stripping, lingerie, pillows, etc. etc. I don't say that only because I'm a female and they do nothing for me in any way. I say it because the women's match that got the loudest pop in recent months was Melina vs Mickie at Backlash. That was psychology and wrestling from beginning to end, much as they would book a men's championship match, and the crowd was hot for it.
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Post by Just "Dan" is Fine, Thank You on May 31, 2007 5:24:55 GMT -5
I really liked how in the post-Invasion era, it seemed that every new wrestler on WWE TV was using a full name, and often a real (or almost real) name. Off the top of my head...
Shelton Benjamin Charlie Haas Bobby Lashley Brock Lesnar John Cena Randy Orton
These guys, I feel, make a stronger impact when they debut with a real, full name. It's an important subconscious step in the post-kayfabe era. Gimmicky names get pushed aside, and your "Brooke"s just don't seem like real women.
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Post by Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone on May 31, 2007 9:48:57 GMT -5
We could analyze the WWE women's division to death, coming up with various scenarios on how to save it or how to restore it. But in my opinion you can save yourself a lot of frustration and time by just acknowleding that the WWE women's division is what it is, and it's not changing until the McMahons want it to. And they don't want to change it. Seriously, just watch something else if you want something else. That's what I did and I am very happy. For example this coming weekend Shimmer is having a 2-day tournament to crown their very first Champion. None of the matches are being contested in pudding.
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King Rich
Samurai Cop
Just here for the fads.
Posts: 2,244
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Post by King Rich on May 31, 2007 10:18:58 GMT -5
I really liked how in the post-Invasion era, it seemed that every new wrestler on WWE TV was using a full name, and often a real (or almost real) name. Off the top of my head... Shelton Benjamin Charlie Haas Bobby Lashley Brock Lesnar John Cena Randy Orton These guys, I feel, make a stronger impact when they debut with a real, full name. It's an important subconscious step in the post-kayfabe era. Gimmicky names get pushed aside, and your "Brooke"s just don't seem like real women. Yep I agree with you. I would actually go so far as to say that every wrestler should be given a first and last name, and any nicknames should just go in between in inverted commas. Sort of like "Stone Cold" Steve Austin... Oh, and while I'm thinking about it, can I just go off on a tangent and say, when Carlito first came to WWE, how would that board meeting have gone to decide his name?! Board Guy #1: So what about this guy Carly Colon, he's gonna have this 'cool' gimmick... Board Guy #2: Yeah so we need a cool name... how about Carlito? Board Guy #1: Hmm yeah sounds good, but what about a surname? Board Guy #2: Ummm, well he's from the Carribbean, and he's Cool. Damn, I can't think of anything. Board Guy #3: Oh I know! Why not just call him Carlito Carribbean Cool?! Board Guy #1: BRILLIANT! Board Guy #2: It's genius! Idiots.
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Post by Avalanche Alvarez on May 31, 2007 11:04:17 GMT -5
A newbie here with a modest proposal regarding the WWE Divas (although "modest" and "WWE Divas" don't really belong in the same sentence *rimshot*). It is my opinion, based on a good ten minutes of consideration grand total, that the WWE Divas would seem at least 50% more respectable (granted, not saying a whole lot) if they billed them with their last names. Think about it. Do they bill Shawn Michaels as "Shawn"? Does Randy Orton's Titantron video just say "Randy"? And yet a lot of the Divas are simply referred to by their first names all the time. "Melina." "Maria." "Victoria." Granted, some of the "real" wrestler divas from the past have only gone by one name (Lita, Chyna, etc.) And granted, there are a couple divas where only using one suitably unique name fits the character better (Trinity and, yes, Ariel for example). And granted, there are some that they use last names for - but if you just listened to the names without knowing anything about the actual people, wouldn't you agree that they sound more credible? Jillian Hall, Torrie Wilson, Kelly Kelly... OK, that last one's a bad example, it's a dumb name and Kelly's never going to seem credible as anything (if you can't pull off "burlesque dancer" respectably when you owe your paycheck entirely to your physical assets, you should pretty much abandon all hope). But you get the point. Maybe it's just me, but calling most of the divas by only one name just makes them sound like callgirls to me. But I guess that's what the E is going for, since that "make the Divas classier" thing had the lifespan of a fruit fly. If it were that simple, my friend. It's not the last names that take their credibility. It's; *Going inside of a WRESTLING ring and tossing water on each other *Following directions of a writing team that bores a nation respectively every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday night *And most of them not needing to be anywhere near a wrestling ring when they CAN'T WRESTLE (but it looks like a M.A.S.H. unit from the number of injuries they inflict upon one another) Good suggestion, but they're doomed.
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Post by drjayphd (feat. Pitbull) on May 31, 2007 14:42:23 GMT -5
if they had some girl that came out and just beat the wax out of everyone in her path, kinda like victoria.. but with more tv time, then she could get over with respect. but theres a lot of guys that would rather like her as a non-wrestler and would be turned off by it. That got me thinking about a similar kind of concept... kind of like Three Minute Warning's first month or so, if they were, in fact, just one woman. Maybe one of the wrestlers introduces her by saying that he's seen some damn good women wrestling elsewhere, and the state of WWE's women makes him sick? (Wait, what am I saying, they'd never be able to grasp the concept of a guy being a feminist. Probably guaranteed heel heat, though.)
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Post by Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone on May 31, 2007 14:46:57 GMT -5
if they had some girl that came out and just beat the wax out of everyone in her path, kinda like victoria.. but with more tv time, then she could get over with respect. but theres a lot of guys that would rather like her as a non-wrestler and would be turned off by it. That got me thinking about a similar kind of concept... kind of like Three Minute Warning's first month or so, if they were, in fact, just one woman. Maybe one of the wrestlers introduces her by saying that he's seen some damn good women wrestling elsewhere, and the state of WWE's women makes him sick? (Wait, what am I saying, they'd never be able to grasp the concept of a guy being a feminist. Probably guaranteed heel heat, though.) I personally volunteer to manage this female version of Three Minute Warning. After all, I have seen good women's wrestling elsewhere, and the state of the WWE women's division does make me sick. I nominate Amazing Kong and Sara Del Rey.
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Post by drakulon on May 31, 2007 14:48:36 GMT -5
More comedy boobs. That's how they will get respect.
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