CM Dazz
King Koopa
Chuck
Posts: 10,475
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Post by CM Dazz on Feb 2, 2013 19:02:23 GMT -5
I really liked the guy, and literally think about him at least once a week. He had the bad ass Samoan savage gimmick that should always be present in wrestling. There were some damn good matches with Cena & Punk, and his offense looked like it could do some serious damage. He likely would never be WWE/World Champion, but he would've gotten quite a few title matches I think. At the time I was really hoping Joe would get signed. The thought of them both teaming & feuding is awesome to me. I remember during Umaga's early days, many thought it was a lame attempt on WWE's part to copy Joe, which was silly. The only real thing they had in common was their heritage (I think, unless one isn't really Samoan?) and similar body types, although Umaga may have been thicker at the time if I remember correctly. When Umaga died it really got me down. The only death from that/this era that affected me that much would've been Benoit, and that was obviously a completely different scenario. *PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, DO NOT TURN THIS INTO A BENOIT DEBATE. PLEASE.* Curt Hennig & Rick Rude's deaths really sucked for me since they are two of my favorite wrestlers ever, but for some reason Umaga dying bothered me more. I would've never thought three+ years later I'd miss him the way I do. Anyone have thoughts, stories, photos or favorite matches from Umaga you'd like to share? Anyone else miss The Samoan Bulldozer? Any wrestlers who are no longer with us that you really miss, or care to reminisce about? Again, lets PLEASE keep this thread respectful, and on the lighter side. There's no need for arguments etc in a thread like this.
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Rican
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
July 17, 2011 - HHHe called it
Posts: 16,732
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Post by Rican on Feb 2, 2013 19:04:53 GMT -5
I miss him too. I was thinking the other day how badass it would be if he was a surprise Rumble entrant, and then remembered that he had passed.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2013 19:06:46 GMT -5
If there has been one wrestler that did a full complete 180 to me. It was Umaga. He took a stupid gimmick and a stupid finished in the TV 14 but not edgy as the Attitude Era era and made it work. His squash matches bece really really entertaining and he was always having a solid match with everyone on the roster. Very underrated wrestler. One of the most underrated wrestlers period
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chazraps
Wade Wilson
Better have my money when I come-a collect!
Posts: 28,270
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Post by chazraps on Feb 2, 2013 19:07:39 GMT -5
Savage still really bothers me. Even those he was inactive for so long, just knowing he was out there somewhere waiting in the wings and sharing a planet with us was the coolest thing.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2013 19:10:30 GMT -5
I'm not sure it counts but I really wish Bret Hart's career wouldn't have ended prematurely. In my perfect world Bret makes amends with Shawn Michaels 10 years early and Bret enjoys a second run in the WWE that's just as legendary as HBK's.
Of those who died it's easily Eddie Guerrero. The guy was working his craft into a fine science and he was better than he's ever been when he died, his time as a recognized main event talent was far too short, and it would have been amazing to see him go at it with today's generation (Ziggler, Punk, Bryan, Del Rio, Etc.).
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fw91
Patti Mayonnaise
FAN Idol All-Star: FAN Idol Season X and *Gavel* 2x Judges' Throwdown winner
Tribe has spoken for 2024 Mets
Posts: 39,764
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Post by fw91 on Feb 2, 2013 19:10:48 GMT -5
I miss Umaga in the sense that I wish he was still alive. But to be perfectly honest, I thought he was really stale at the end of his run.
As for me, I miss Mr. Kennedy, not Mr. Anderson in TNA, but Mr. Kennedy in WWE
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Post by mjolnir on Feb 2, 2013 19:33:34 GMT -5
I miss Umaga alot too. I remember when he first debuted, I somewhat laughed to myself, thinking Samoa Joe got the better deal out of the situation by dodging the bullet and not going with WWE & doing this gimmick, which they originally made for him. But then...he really made it his own. Admittedly it was partially because he had really developed as a wrestler in his time in Japan, but the guy proved to be a highlight in an otherwise rather dire era.
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Mochi Lone Wolf
Fry's dog Seymour
Development through Destruction.
Posts: 24,153
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Post by Mochi Lone Wolf on Feb 2, 2013 19:34:38 GMT -5
Umaga is one of those wrestlers that proved my initial thoughts about him wrong. He turned out to be awesome and one of my favorites on the roster after a while.
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BigJerichool222
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
THE BIG DOG!
#NotInMySalad
Posts: 17,424
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Post by BigJerichool222 on Feb 2, 2013 19:42:54 GMT -5
As for me, I miss Mr. Kennedy, not Mr. Anderson in TNA, but Mr. Kennedy in WWE This.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2013 19:46:08 GMT -5
If there has been one wrestler that did a full complete 180 to me. It was Umaga. He took a stupid gimmick and a stupid finished in the TV 14 but not edgy as the Attitude Era era and made it work. His squash matches bece really really entertaining and he was always having a solid match with everyone on the roster. Very underrated wrestler. One of the most underrated wrestlers period Agreed 100% with all of this.
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Sam Punk
Hank Scorpio
Own Nothing, Be Happy
Posts: 6,321
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Post by Sam Punk on Feb 2, 2013 19:47:05 GMT -5
Owen
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Post by SkullTrauma on Feb 2, 2013 20:40:15 GMT -5
Savage, Crush, Pillman
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Post by Shy Guy on Feb 2, 2013 20:46:03 GMT -5
umaga 10:40. that's a guy that i know he's gone, but then when i think of his match with cena from the rumble a few years ago, i'm like "shit. he's *gone*"
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Eunös ✈
Dalek
Duck Feet Expert
Tolerated, just not practically liked.
Posts: 59,301
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Post by Eunös ✈ on Feb 2, 2013 21:43:36 GMT -5
I have to say that I keep forgetting his dead.
None the less the first time Umaga first came down the aisle to begin his feud with Ric Flair, I rolled my eyes thinking "Oh Look Headshrinkers V2"
But to his credit he really made the gimmick work and was really entertaining, should have been WWE champion imho.
You know who I miss?
Chris Benoit
Yes we all know what happened and I have no intention on bringing it up, however as a wrestler, he was one of my favourites.
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Post by Capt. Internet Darling on Feb 2, 2013 22:37:49 GMT -5
I know he's not dead, but he's retired, so I'm going to say Paul Burchill.
Based on how talents are being promoted to the main roster and utilised properly now, I just wish he was around 10 years later so his 'Ripper' gimmick could have made it to Monday nights. I miss his pirate entrance, and I miss the C4.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2013 22:59:54 GMT -5
Umaga will always have a special spot in my heart.
As for others, although retired, Sean O'Haire. He was so cool and had a great theme.
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Post by Henry Mark on Feb 2, 2013 23:18:15 GMT -5
Funny Umaga story, I manage a restaurant and I'd say more often than not, when WWE is in town, a bunch of wrestlers will stop by for lunch or dinner before or after their show. Many sit together or in their own little groups at different tables. Well one time Umaga came in and sat by himself, and I have this tiny female server, only about 5 feet tall, who ended up waiting on him. He ordered a sushi appitizer that she didn't know we were out of, and when she turned in his food, I told her we couldn't make it and she was scared to death to go out and tell him so. She had never waited on any of the wrestlers but anyone that has had them knows they're all very nice, very cools guys. She begged me to go out and tell him we couldn't make this sushi for him because she thought he looked like the type of guy you didn't want to upset. I swore to her he'd be fine with it, after a little convincing, she went and told him, then came back with a huge smile declaring him the nicest guy in the world.
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Nikki Heyman
Fry's dog Seymour
EXTREEEEEME Pony Manager
✬ Believe In The Fight ✬
Posts: 24,018
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Post by Nikki Heyman on Feb 2, 2013 23:35:01 GMT -5
. You know who I miss? Chris Benoit Yes we all know what happened and I have no intention on bringing it up, however as a wrestler, he was one of my favourites. I miss him too - he always brought the intensity to the ring and I loved his work 03-05. I miss Sean O'haire as well, loved the "Devil's advocate" gimmick. I was actually at Umaga's debut and wasn't even sure what to think. Sadly, I was also at the SD where he actually spoke english (setting up his strap match with Punk) that, because of how well he'd established the character, was jarring.
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Post by BiloxiParish on Feb 2, 2013 23:40:32 GMT -5
Benoit.. He was my favorite wrestler next only to Roddy Piper
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Post by kamotengkahoy on Feb 2, 2013 23:45:15 GMT -5
I miss Jimmy Wang Yang. Yeah him. Regarding Umaga, do you guys think his ex-tag partner Rosey could make the gimmick work?
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