I can see him being pushed as Intercontinental Champion. I think he'd be able to pull that off, but I can't imagine him being a World Champion or even being in the running for a World title, and to be honest I don't want to.
His wrestling skills were so weak but he had a strong connection with the fans and I felt that always worked for he.
I have a very difficult time seeing Sandman in WWE's main event or upper midcard.
And I'm a Sandman and original ECW mark.
I'm with this guy. Sandman admitted that every time he held the ECW title was because he was a "Plan B"; somebody was either leaving the promotion (beating Shane Douglas) or needed time off (Raven) for personal reasons.
He's a great gimmick, but that doesn't automatically translate into championship caliber status, unless it was booked like the ECW Tag title reign he had with Scorpio. I would think he'd sooner cash in the World title for a 24 pack of beer and a carton of smokes than actually defend said belt.
Post by The Dark Order Inferno on Oct 10, 2009 10:32:06 GMT -5
The WWE missed the boat with him. I kept waiting for a backstage skit with the Spirit Squad singing 'Mr Sandman' at him like a glee club then being soundly caned, but it never happened.
Mr. Sandman, bring us a dream (bung, bung, bung, bung) He caned the Zombie, and made Eugene scream (bung, bung, bung, bung) He drinks a lot, and he's highly over, (bung, bung, bung, bung) He'll cane your head until you run for cover. Sandman, with a Kendo, A random jobber, you know he'll own. And while you're on the TV screeen. Mr. Sandman, bring us a dream.
Post by Prince Petty on Oct 10, 2009 17:41:41 GMT -5
As Heyman always said, his philosophy was to enhance the good, and hide the bad, in his wrestlers.
Sandman was a perfect example of that. The guy wasn't a wrestler, by any stretch of the imagination. But cool music, followed by beer drinking and whacking people with sticks got him over. Like Steve Austin, but without one iota of the talent, even after Austin's injury.
-First off, why are people saying Austin was limited in the ring post-neck surgery? The guy had many great matches post neck-surgery just look at his main matches in the year 2001. He had 4-5 match of the year candidates that year.
-Sandman had a character people could relate too. It was realistic and could've fit into the attitude era. Plus he had decent size and if he could've easily roided (Which he did for a time) to make his body look better. Decent mic work and charisma helped as well. He easily could've been an upper-midcarder type in the WWE around 98 and 99.
As Heyman always said, his philosophy was to enhance the good, and hide the bad, in his wrestlers.
Sandman was a perfect example of that. The guy wasn't a wrestler, by any stretch of the imagination. But cool music, followed by beer drinking and whacking people with sticks got him over. Like Steve Austin, but without one iota of the talent, even after Austin's injury.
Ah, that's not fair.....Sandman was a decent brawler. He was custom made for the Original ECW......I think had WWE not scrapped their Hardcore division, he'd have been a BIG part of that.
I have a very difficult time seeing Sandman in WWE's main event or upper midcard.
And I'm a Sandman and original ECW mark.
WWE did try and push Sandman but when he left ECW and went to Raw he just did not have a connection with the fans. Also boring matches.
The RAW fans were digging the Sandman, but he was quickly jobbed out and released. One only needs to watch the 2007 Royal Rumble to see what WWE thought of Sandman.....he made his entrance through the crowd (Getting a pretty sizable pop), nailed a few people with the cane, and then immediately got eliminated by Booker.
That didn't stop the WWF from pushing Steve Austin to the moon after he incurred his neck injury. Whereas Austin did little but punch, kick, and stomp his opponents after becoming injured, the Sandman was still going at it with his full (although somewhat limited) repertoire.
Austin with a neck injury was still alot better in the ring then Sandman.
Sandman couldnt have a good match without his cane.
That didn't stop the WWF from pushing Steve Austin to the moon after he incurred his neck injury. Whereas Austin did little but punch, kick, and stomp his opponents after becoming injured, the Sandman was still going at it with his full (although somewhat limited) repertoire.
Austin with a neck injury was still alot better in the ring then Sandman.
Sandman couldnt have a good match without his cane.
Agreed. Austin could work good matches. Sandman has not had many classics.
Because he was never the best worker and never had that connection long term with WWE fans.
But he did listen to the reactions he got on Raw. I also think Sandmans quite underrated he was a good brawler and his selling was actually pretty great IMO.
Because he was never the best worker and never had that connection long term with WWE fans.
But he did listen to the reactions he got on Raw. I also think Sandmans quite underrated he was a good brawler and his selling was actually pretty great IMO.
He got a reaction when he first went to Raw but long term it would have deid out big time.
That didn't stop the WWF from pushing Steve Austin to the moon after he incurred his neck injury. Whereas Austin did little but punch, kick, and stomp his opponents after becoming injured, the Sandman was still going at it with his full (although somewhat limited) repertoire.
Sandman's character was enough to make him world champion. The WWF made Austin their world champion even when he could barely do anything besides punch in the ring, and Austin's character wasn't even original - it was based off The Sandman's!
The only thing Stone Cold Steve Austin had in common with The Sandman was the fact that they both drank beer and lots of it. Steve Austin, as a character, was envisioned as a cold and angry sociopath. Sandman, as a character, was fun-loving but dangerous-in-the-ring white trash.
