Shooting and Sympathy

[Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!!]

inspired by the "no more Ric Flair" thread.

I was thinking last night when Antonio Cesaro started talking about what an IRL loser Ric Flair is and how it was probably supposed to just get Cesaro some heat. it had the opposite effect for me, it just reminded me of what a colossal f*** up Ric Flair is and how he deserves to be seen as a joke by most people. it got me wondering about how WWE seems to like these little shoot comments lately, and what they do for an angle. and why wouldn't they be? a shoot promo made CM Punk into the company's biggest star other than Cena. we're always so excited when a heel starts shooting about something real in a promo, but obviously there's a point where it goes a little far and actually paints the face as a colossal douchebag. made me wonder if all these shoot comments are a detriment to the product or not. can you guys think of any other times where a heel shooting killed a face's heat?

[Cronant]

Cena's probably the only face immune to it. Anyone else and it starts to slip into 'burying' mode.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Jan 15, 2013 11:24:58 GMT -5 Cronant said:

Cena's probably the only face immune to it. Anyone else and it starts to slip into 'burying' mode.

I don't think he's immune to it either, or at least he wasn't at a certain point. HHH going on about how "uncoordinated" Cena's wrestling was back in 2006 wasn't necessary considering he was still being built up.

That said, I don't have an issue with heels bringing up a face's real life affairs so long as they don't criticize their ability as performers (as in breaking the fourth wall), and they go about it in a douchey way. Punk bringing up Hardy's drug problems worked because he was so overbearing and ridiculous about it. Same with Jericho riding HBK over his past backstage rep, he blew it out of proportion and used it as a springboard to attack the fans.

[Allie Kitsune]

Better question.

Why do "we" love watching someone (particularly if it's someone like Punk, Antonio, or even Dolph) pick and rip at someone's personal outside-the-company life so much?

Actually, I kind of understand why, but I can't really go into detail because I see it as being close to one of the forbidden subjects...

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

In recent weeks, Ziggler has tried to shoot on Cena with varying results. When Dolph makes LOL FIVE MOVES OF DOOM references, it's funny. But when he goes on about THE GOLDEN BOY HOLDING EVERYONE DOWN!!! he tends to come off as desperately trying to pander to the "internet fans".

[Allie Kitsune]

Jan 15, 2013 13:51:22 GMT -5 CATCH_US IS the Conversation said:

In recent weeks, Ziggler has tried to shoot on Cena with varying results. When Dolph makes LOL FIVE MOVES OF DOOM references, it's funny. But when he goes on about THE GOLDEN BOY HOLDING EVERYONE DOWN!!! he tends to come off as desperately trying to pander to the "internet fans".

Strangely enough, it came off as more Authentic when Carlito was doing it, with his "I don't like you. NOBODY IN THE BACK LIKES YOU." promo.