How would you do a kid-friendly face, skill aside?

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

So even though I don't really have a problem with some of WWE's faces shilling merchandise (DX) or hyping the PPV (Cena), I know some fans do. Same with them looking dominant- I'm not against it in certain situations, but I'm aware there are folks that don't like it.

So, not counting whatever in-ring skill or promo ability a wrestler comes with, how would you mold them into a family-friendly face for the WWE that you could get into? Or would you even do a family-friendly face at all?

[Bub (BLM)]

CM Punk was a kid-friendly face when he debuted in ECW all the way up to the heel turn, despite only one year of that being under the new PG rating. He didn't curse in his promos, he spoke about being drug free, and he always showed a ton of heart in his matches. Kid-friendly, but also insanely over.

I guess my entire point was that it's really easy to make kid-friendly babyfaces that aren't annoying as hell.

[hbk4ever09]

Bret Hart.

[rnrk supports BLM]

[Deleted]

Dec 28, 2009 13:57:47 GMT -5 hbk4ever09 said:

Bret Hart.

Got it. The fact he would even sit there and call out those being morally corrupt pushes it even further.

The only thing would be to, of course, pull back on the angry promos.

[Young Game]

Lots of smiling. LOTS of free candy.
None of this "Fun-Size" nonsense, either.
This is a billion dollar company...spring for boxes of regular size.

[Apricots And A Pear Tree]

Colorful outfits and masks and impromptu dancing.

[Deleted]

The same way you'd make any wrestler a face. The whole anti-hero concept rightfully died with the '90s. He doesn't have to be a TV-Y rated character, just someone that kids (and adults) can get behind.

They can either be a relatable "every man" (DDP, Dusty Rhodes, Mick Foley), a colorful character with tons of charisma (Savage, Piper, Sting, Hogan), or a monstrous guy kids can get behind, too (Goldberg, Diesel, Warrior, LOD).

Really, kids just want to get behind the coolest guy - the best one to pretend to be, or the guy with the best toys. He doesn't have to be all smiles. The WWF had this nailed in the early '90s. You'd be hard-pressed to come up with more "kid-friendly faces" than the Undertaker, the Ultimate Warrior or the Legion of Doom. Just look at what makes Jeff Hardy so popular now.

[Soultastic]

Honestly? I think face Punk and face Christian are the best examples. Though I do like the free candy idea.

[Slim Loves Lily]

Hornswoggle.

[mrjl]

Dec 28, 2009 14:01:22 GMT -5 @geneyussrevolution said:

Dec 28, 2009 13:57:47 GMT -5 hbk4ever09 said:

Bret Hart.

Got it. The fact he would even sit there and call out those being morally corrupt pushes it even further.

The only thing would be to, of course, pull back on the angry promos.

judging others can be quite kid-unfriendly

[Lionheart]

Dec 28, 2009 19:20:54 GMT -5 mrjl said:

Dec 28, 2009 14:01:22 GMT -5 @geneyussrevolution said:

Got it. The fact he would even sit there and call out those being morally corrupt pushes it even further.

The only thing would be to, of course, pull back on the angry promos.

judging others can be quite kid-unfriendly

Not if he's right and is teaching kids something valuable.

[Cry Me a Wiggle]

I'd have my face go around to arenas offering children candy if they follow him back to his van.

[AriadosMan]

About what Jeff was. As corny as his dialogue was, it never came across as obnoxious or "kiddie" to me in a Hornswaggle manner, and his "power level" was just right. Not "weak" like World Champ Rey, not Kenshiro'd to death like a Cena push.

[steamboat1]

The biggest key to a successful face that both kids and adults both enjoy is having a guy that stands up for the crowd against heels in the promo side, but that takes a beating and scrapes together enough at the end of the match to get the win. That doesnt necessarily mean "hulking up" either. Make it believable. Kids love it when the face comes from behind and wins. The adult that pays the money for the kid wants to see something even he gets lost in. It is the reason guys like Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and Steve Austin were over with both the kids and the adults.

Alot of the time WWE seems to forget this when they have super faces like Hogan, Warrior and Cena. Its the reason alot of the teenage fans tune out when they get to that age where being a superhero isn't cool anymore. They don't have an everyday guy to get behind.

[Andrew is Good]

Dec 28, 2009 14:02:33 GMT -5 Young Game said:

Lots of smiling. LOTS of free candy.
None of this "Fun-Size" nonsense, either.
This is a billion dollar company...spring for boxes of regular size.

Dec 28, 2009 14:13:45 GMT -5 Apricots And A Pear Tree said:

Colorful outfits and
masks and impromptu dancing.

Ladies and Gentleman, we have our man:



Well, we have him at 1:07, but before then, we have Tiffany and Serena Deeb. But yeah, Sweet Papi Sanchez. Though I think we went back to being a very, un-kid friendly Black Pain recently.

Anyway, the Jeff Hardy one was a good idea. Jeff Hardy, I hope he comes back, because I feel he has the potential to be a star that really draws big money for WWE, because everybody likes him, for the most part. Jeff doesn't come off as fake. Jeff Hardy goes to the beat of his own drum, and with his style and his persona, he really appeals to everyone.

So, that's what you need. A strong babyface that appeals to everyone, who doesn't come off as fake, who is somewhat of an underdog and people can get behind. Cena, for example, is too strong to be an underdog. But, due to his size, Jeff isn't. However, people get behind him, because he will fling his body at his bigger opponent, and do everything to win.

[Hassan bin Sober]

Puppets.

[Andrew is Good]

You know who would have been perfect? Scotty Goldman. But, we all know what happened with him.

[Big L]

Idk!!!!!

[Mighty Mouth]

Where are the Cena haters?