mcd
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,283
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Post by mcd on Sept 21, 2013 1:49:35 GMT -5
I was re watching Punk's DVD tonight and a thought occurred to me. Now, or in 5 years or ten could a "Homegrown" WWE star gimmick work for a face wrestler? Someone who was trained, lived and breathed WWE and WWE only? Like talking up the opportunity being on NXT then a Main Show was good for their career. Not disparaging the Indy's, or talking about how they had a safety net of professionals that steered them in the right direction. I know most see Cena as an example of this but what about a new up and coming talent who either plays along with the idea of WWE at home or cuts an intense promo that has "I struggled here but I had help teaching the ropes.
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y4j1981
Dennis Stamp
Rowsdower
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Post by y4j1981 on Sept 21, 2013 2:06:03 GMT -5
but what would be the point?
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Post by CATCH_US IS the Conversation on Sept 21, 2013 2:13:20 GMT -5
I think it could work NOW. The best way to do it would be to take a decently talented to exceptional "homegrown" star and push them as "Bizarro Vanilla Midget". Much like guys like Daniel Bryan or CM Punk had to overcome the stigma of not being "big enough" or "not having the "WWE look", this superstar would be overcoming all the stereotypes of being a "WWE Guy", i.e. he's just a bland generic "underwear model/fitness model/bodybuilder". He was "only hired for his looks", he's "only doing this because his pro football career didn't pan out", he "never worked the indies so that means he can't wrestle" or he "has no real passion for wrestling". Basically all the things that Daniel Bryan said about John Cena, but apply that to someone MUCH less established and base their character around it.
A few good examples of who I think could fit in this role are Dolph Ziggler and Alex Riley. Someone like Cody Rhodes could fit as well once you throw in the 2nd generation, nepotism, etc. argument.
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Post by Brother Nero....Wolfe on Sept 21, 2013 2:17:52 GMT -5
I'm not sure what would be interesting about that. I mean, we already have people like Ziggler who did that. It's not exactly a huge gimmick, nothing to center your character around - more like a bullet point during a promo. "Homegrown wrestler" isn't, by itself, a gimmick.
Unless of course we are talking about a cartoonish logical extreme of that idea where Vince McMahon kidnapped a baby and raised him to be the ultimate wrestler, never allowing him to live outside the WWE - he went to WWE school, watched nothing but WWE, and literally was trained, lived and breathed WWE. Like Vince would put a microchip inside the baby to avoid him going to TNA or something where he would self-destruct if he didn't breathe the air of an arena WWE had gone to within the last week. He would be the ultimate corporate heel champion who knew nothing besides the company. Ultimately, he would be defeated once a group of jobbers taught him the meaning of Christmas and his new, confusing emotions overrode his programming(the kidnapped baby would have turned into a cyborg at some point for reasons not quite explained).
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Bub (BLM)
Patti Mayonnaise
advocates duck on rodent violence
Fed. Up.
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Post by Bub (BLM) on Sept 21, 2013 2:21:05 GMT -5
I think it could work NOW. The best way to do it would be to take a decently talented to exceptional "homegrown" star and push them as "Bizarro Vanilla Midget". Much like guys like Daniel Bryan or CM Punk had to overcome the stigma of not being "big enough" or "not having the "WWE look", this superstar would be overcoming all the stereotypes of being a "WWE Guy", i.e. he's just a bland generic "underwear model/fitness model/bodybuilder". He was "only hired for his looks", he's "only doing this because his pro football career didn't pan out", he "never worked the indies so that means he can't wrestle" or he "has no real passion for wrestling". Basically all the things that Daniel Bryan said about John Cena, but apply that to someone MUCH less established and base their character around it. A few good examples of who I think could fit in this role are Dolph Ziggler and Alex Riley. Someone like Cody Rhodes could fit as well once you throw in the 2nd generation, nepotism, etc. argument. LOL at your persistence with Alex Riley. Ziggler, yeah, absolutely. He's 100% WWE homegrown, and yet he's captured the exact same fanbase as the indy guys. He's also a phenomenal wrestler and has the "it" factor. He's definitely the go-to guy for an angle like that. He's also never done this:  Or this:   |
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Bo Rida
Fry's dog Seymour
Pulled one over on everyone.
Got away with it, this time.
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Post by Bo Rida on Sept 21, 2013 3:42:28 GMT -5
In that last batch of practice promos Leo Kruger actually talked about the indy talent having an unfair advantage, I thought that was an interesting twist given recent angles but the idea in the OP wouldn't fit his gimmick.
I could see Bo Dallas doing a heel version of it though, his Brother wondered off and morphed in Bray Wyatt while WWE kept him on the straight and narrow as they were grooming him to be the next John Cena.
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Post by rnrk supports BLM on Sept 21, 2013 3:55:50 GMT -5
I can't see it working. When it comes down to it, "self-made outsider who plays by his own rules" is an archetype that people can get behind even if they don't actually know or care about independent wrestling. What appeal does this gimmick have to that non-smarky audience?
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Toates Madhackrviper
King Koopa
Is owed an Admin life-debt.
This avatar is so far out of date I might as well stick with it forever now.
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Post by Toates Madhackrviper on Sept 21, 2013 4:12:34 GMT -5
I think it could work NOW. The best way to do it would be to take a decently talented to exceptional "homegrown" star and push them as "Bizarro Vanilla Midget". Much like guys like Daniel Bryan or CM Punk had to overcome the stigma of not being "big enough" or "not having the "WWE look", this superstar would be overcoming all the stereotypes of being a "WWE Guy", i.e. he's just a bland generic "underwear model/fitness model/bodybuilder". He was "only hired for his looks", he's "only doing this because his pro football career didn't pan out", he "never worked the indies so that means he can't wrestle" or he "has no real passion for wrestling". Basically all the things that Daniel Bryan said about John Cena, but apply that to someone MUCH less established and base their character around it. A few good examples of who I think could fit in this role are Dolph Ziggler and Alex Riley. Someone like Cody Rhodes could fit as well once you throw in the 2nd generation, nepotism, etc. argument. LOL at your persistence with Alex Riley. Ziggler, yeah, absolutely. He's 100% WWE homegrown, and yet he's captured the exact same fanbase as the indy guys. He's also a phenomenal wrestler and has the "it" factor. He's definitely the go-to guy for an angle like that. He's also never done this: Or this: Everyone has botches on their record dude. Riley is very charismatic and has this incredible ability to pop a crowd on almost NO momentum. He has something raw that can and should be used. He needs some work in the ring to be sure but he should be able to get there. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2013 7:07:10 GMT -5
I think it could work NOW. The best way to do it would be to take a decently talented to exceptional "homegrown" star and push them as "Bizarro Vanilla Midget". Much like guys like Daniel Bryan or CM Punk had to overcome the stigma of not being "big enough" or "not having the "WWE look", this superstar would be overcoming all the stereotypes of being a "WWE Guy", i.e. he's just a bland generic "underwear model/fitness model/bodybuilder". He was "only hired for his looks", he's "only doing this because his pro football career didn't pan out", he "never worked the indies so that means he can't wrestle" or he "has no real passion for wrestling". Basically all the things that Daniel Bryan said about John Cena, but apply that to someone MUCH less established and base their character around it. . So Randy Orton apart from the less established bit right? |
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Post by OldDirtyBernie on Sept 21, 2013 7:18:32 GMT -5
I don't see that it would work very well as stated in the OP. The way I'm envisioning this. again based on the OP, would be someone with a build like Cena or Mason Ryan coming into that part.
I think the person who said that, if you make it a point in passing, it would be fine to show pride in being introduced to the world of pro wrestling by coming up entirely through the WWE developmental system. However, if you base their entire persona on something like "I was brought in because Vince liked my look. I've had little to no training...etc etc" you're basically just running the guy down every time you mention it.
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mcd
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,283
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Post by mcd on Sept 21, 2013 10:15:47 GMT -5
Apologies all around for not laying it better y'all. What I had envisioned was an NXT or "former athlete" that had come through the WWE system and has found success and is proud of what the 'E had done with his training and how the system works to develop talent.
I agree wholeheartdly with others that it would be a fine line between pride and happiness with the "E and arrogant, selfish "I didn't have to sleep three to a motel room or survive on little food and no money" promos. But I think it could work out the gate with a very new superstar or rising talent. Stating that they respect the independant's struggles but that there sre more than one avenue of approach to get to the spotlight.
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Post by Hit Girl on Sept 21, 2013 10:21:08 GMT -5
No, it's too "insider"
Gimmicks for the most part need to be clear. If they require extensive explanations of the difference between "in-house" talent and indie signings, it won't be accessible for the casual fan
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Post by Unaffiliated on Sept 21, 2013 11:28:35 GMT -5
Apologies all around for not laying it better y'all. What I had envisioned was an NXT or "former athlete" that had come through the WWE system and has found success and is proud of what the 'E had done with his training and how the system works to develop talent. I agree wholeheartdly with others that it would be a fine line between pride and happiness with the "E and arrogant, selfish "I didn't have to sleep three to a motel room or survive on little food and no money" promos. But I think it could work out the gate with a very new superstar or rising talent. Stating that they respect the independant's struggles but that there sre more than one avenue of approach to get to the spotlight. Like that, I think it can be done. As long as they keep careful not to break the fourth wall. I don't see the problem with indies being mentioned, it's also part of the "pretend" world of wrestling, so you can still pretend that the matches there are also real. Just as long as this guy doesn't talk about workrate, or saying stuff like he can work a better match than any indy talent, then it would be fine. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2013 16:09:09 GMT -5
This sounds like a line for commentary team to mention during that persons match, not as a whole base of the gimmick.
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Post by BayleyTiffyCodyCenaJudyHopps on Sept 21, 2013 16:48:25 GMT -5
That could work as a quick line in one promo, but making that a babyface's entire gimmick would be a recipe for disaster as too many people would wrongly assume "well, he must be fake, look at him constantly talking up the establishment".
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