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Post by saggyboyflair on Jan 7, 2008 12:44:45 GMT -5
never did. Right off the top of my head, I always thought Rick Martel had what it took but was saddled with the goofy model gimmick for most of his career in the wwe. He could really go in the ring and was great heel or babyface. He did well in the AWA. I thought Stan Hansen could have made a big splash here in the states but he decided that Japan had the easier work schedule. I even though Dan Spivey could have went a long ways with his Waylon Mercy gimmick. That character seemed to have some longevity as a heel but it never materialized.
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Mac
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
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Post by Mac on Jan 7, 2008 12:55:46 GMT -5
Stan Hansen was pretty big in the WWE prior to going to AWA. He fueded with the champs Backlund/Sammartino pretty often. I think the WWF got the most out of Martel they could. Possibly giving him a run as IC champ would have about been the pinnacle I'd expect. And i was a huge Waylon Mercy fan, I think injuries (or the fact 95-96 had a new gimmick wrestler every month) did him in. It's tough rating the wrestlers during the Hogan era as guys who could have made it in the WWF especially if you use world title/main events as the starting point. Faces just werent going to get the shots with Hogan as the lead guy.
I guess its tough to pick, depends on your definition of "made it"
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Post by bitteroldman on Jan 7, 2008 14:39:35 GMT -5
Martel held a title in the WWF, AWA and the NWA/WCW, how is that "not making it"?
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King of Fighters
Unicron
Me and you, we get Superman, were from the streets
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Post by King of Fighters on Jan 7, 2008 14:43:48 GMT -5
Taka Michinoku, like Mick Foley said "If the champion was decided by skill alone, Taka would be the champ and top draw".
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Hiroshi Hase
Patti Mayonnaise
The Good Ol' Days
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Post by Hiroshi Hase on Jan 7, 2008 14:47:31 GMT -5
Taka Michinoku, like Mick Foley said "If the champion was decided by skill alone, Taka would be the champ and top draw". I'd disagree, I'd say Dean Malenko. |
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Post by saggyboyflair on Jan 7, 2008 14:49:28 GMT -5
well I was going by Martel not having more success when he turned heel in 1989 as I thought he would. Vince missed the boat with that IMO. and why didnt Martel have his blowoff fued with Tito at SS 89?
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King of Fighters
Unicron
Me and you, we get Superman, were from the streets
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Post by King of Fighters on Jan 7, 2008 14:49:45 GMT -5
Taka Michinoku, like Mick Foley said "If the champion was decided by skill alone, Taka would be the champ and top draw". I'd disagree, I'd say Dean Malenko. I love Dean but I like Taka a bit more for some reason. |
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Hiroshi Hase
Patti Mayonnaise
The Good Ol' Days
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Post by Hiroshi Hase on Jan 7, 2008 14:50:22 GMT -5
I'd disagree, I'd say Dean Malenko. I love Dean but I like Taka a bit more for some reason. To each his own I guess. I was never that into Taka unless he was doing his Kaientai "EVIL!" schtick. |
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Post by saggyboyflair on Jan 7, 2008 15:03:48 GMT -5
what about Rude or Henning? WC material? Both tremendous heels with never a shot at the "big one."
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blacksuperman
AC Slater
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Post by blacksuperman on Jan 7, 2008 15:10:00 GMT -5
The Mid-card back the day was almost just as important as the top guys. Being the IC champ actually meant something. It gave room for everyone to be showcased as a contender instead of just focusing on the World title like they do now.
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Post by Loki on Jan 7, 2008 15:10:03 GMT -5
Rude and Hennig, like Martel himself were more than fine at IC championship level... It was the 80s/early 90s. Small heel champions wouldn't have worked in WWF. And I don't honestly feel any of the aforementioned guys would had enough charisma/appeal to be the Top Guy. Ditto for Malenko  and plenty of others. Me, I'll go with Lex Luger. Sure, he held the WCW title, but considering his looks and the initial push he had in NWA, and the American Hero deal on WWF, I think it's safe to say he disappointed a lot. Scott Steiner too. And I thought Crush would have made it big when he turned face. I was wrong. |
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Post by Nick Loves Dr. Pepper on Jan 7, 2008 15:14:48 GMT -5
I have to say that I seriously thought about this and I have a reason to say Bam Bam Bigelow. He is praised so much as being a very athletic "bigman" and besides Japan, he really never got success in WWF. Think about it he lost to some football player, that's just rediculous, he is a hardcore icon to me.
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Post by Hensley on Jan 7, 2008 15:15:01 GMT -5
TAKA!
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Post by saggyboyflair on Jan 7, 2008 15:18:17 GMT -5
I dunno I thought Luger could have a had a WWE title run in 1993. He was no hogan but he was definitely over. He should have got the strap at Summerslam in 93. Things could have turned out different for him. I was at one of his autographs signings during his lex express tour and it was insane how many kids flocked to see him. The business due to the steroid deal was already at a downturn by the time Luger got his big run. I never understood the point of the buildup for luger and then give him a cheap countout victory over Yoko. I know people like to bash luger because its the "in thing to do" but I thought he did draw pretty well in his day and he sure made a buttload of cash in wcw and the wwe. But he definitely had the look and decent charisma.
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Godhand
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Post by Godhand on Jan 7, 2008 16:05:09 GMT -5
Raven. He was a maineventer in ecw and a solid midcadred in wcw and he never really got a chance in wwe. I dont see being a 27 time hardcore champion as any kind of accomplishment.
Bigelow should have been a maineventer.
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Post by BlackJackRobby on Jan 7, 2008 16:15:39 GMT -5
I think some of the guys mentioned did have there runs.
Luger, often times champ in WCW. He was HUGE in 97' and won the title from Hogan for a week.
Curt Heening, was a very strong AWA champion. I know not winning a world title in the WWF or WCW hurt the claims that he made it, but he was the essence of you don't need a title to be the best.
Injuries took him down also.
Rick Martel same thing, he was a great AWA champion. Same thing in the WWF if you were not Hulk Hogan at the time you were not champion.
My two that should have made it, are Scott Hall who personally saw fit to taking every shot he ever made away from himself.
Rick Rude, he would have made it though if the injury had not taken him out.
BTW if you see that footage of the injury wow.
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Crappler El 0 M
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Post by Crappler El 0 M on Jan 7, 2008 16:17:14 GMT -5
The problem with this thread is defining "made it." Bam Bam and Raven certainly had their moments to shine in ECW as ECW Champion. Bam Bam had some nice moments in WWE and WCW as well. Raven was utilized well by WCW initially, but was never used to his potential in WWE. I definitely think both Hennig and Rude "made it." If Hennig and Rude didn't "Make it" then "make it" must be pretty distinguished.
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ilggant
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Run...
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Post by ilggant on Jan 7, 2008 16:44:38 GMT -5
Rude and Hennig, like Martel himself were more than fine at IC championship level... It was the 80s/early 90s. Small heel champions wouldn't have worked in WWF. And I don't honestly feel any of the aforementioned guys would had enough charisma/appeal to be the Top Guy. Did this guy just say Rude and Hennig did not have enough charisma, or am I just too tired? (do not mean to flame or anything, but I did not even think it was even possible for someone to think that) |
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Post by MiLo Duck on Jan 7, 2008 16:54:41 GMT -5
Christopher Nowinski
The absolute best thing about Tough Enough 1 was this man. Even though he didn't win, he got a contract none the less. Perfect heel, great skills, his combination of being an amature wrestler and Harvard graduate wrote his gimmick as good as Kurt Angle before him. He was even getting the reactions of the crowds and a push in the right direction.
An unfortunate injury in a car accident cut it all short. Saddness.
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Bo Rida
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Got away with it, this time.
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Post by Bo Rida on Jan 7, 2008 17:41:05 GMT -5
I may be biased but I really think Regal would be awesome as Vince's hand picked corporate champion.
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and plenty of others.
