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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2015 14:06:47 GMT -5
I remember a quote from I think Kofi Kingston a few years back, where he said something like "There isn't a lot of politics among the newer generation of guys, we mostly just play video games." And this is exactly why wrestling has devolved to the level it's at now, with the scripted promos, the 50/50 booking, storylines built up and dropped for no reason. Wrestlers have no balls, they just do what they're told and collect the cash. Just watch the McMahon podcast with Austin, it's so obvious that he looks at his entire roster as a bunch of spineless chumps except for Cena. Probably feels that way about Cena too but he brings in so much cash, he automatically gets respect from the boss. Now they're digging into the Roman Reigns mine looking for gold. Who's going to object to that? I want to see more guys that are pissed off, legit or kayfabe, and want the damn belt! There probably is a lot more guys pissed off but you don't hear about it from the dirt sheets or translates onto the screen. It's pretty clear if management, doesn't love you, you'll probably never get a run as the top guys unless you generate so much buzz like CM Punk did with his pipebomb and have the stars align your final contracted match was in your hometown being a title match. Like I remember there was a story about a wrestler who is currently on the roster who actually stood up against Vince and had an actual fist fight with him. You'll never guess in a million years who it was. Seriously go ahead and guess. Click on the spoiler tag when you're done guessing. {Spoiler}KOFI f***ING KINGSTON. The same guy saying how chill everyone in the locker room is and how they all like to read comic books and play video games got in a fist fight with his boss. Where was his push after? Oh and this happened in 2013.
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The Ichi
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Post by The Ichi on Dec 24, 2015 14:23:45 GMT -5
I remember a quote from I think Kofi Kingston a few years back, where he said something like "There isn't a lot of politics among the newer generation of guys, we mostly just play video games." And this is exactly why wrestling has devolved to the level it's at now, with the scripted promos, the 50/50 booking, storylines built up and dropped for no reason. Wrestlers have no balls, they just do what they're told and collect the cash. Just watch the McMahon podcast with Austin, it's so obvious that he looks at his entire roster as a bunch of spineless chumps except for Cena. Probably feels that way about Cena too but he brings in so much cash, he automatically gets respect from the boss. Now they're digging into the Roman Reigns mine looking for gold. Who's going to object to that? I want to see more guys that are pissed off, legit or kayfabe, and want the damn belt! But the reason wrestlers these days are "spineless chumps" is BECAUSE of Vince. He's created an environment where everyone now has to walk on eggshells both in and out of the product. I know we like to create these weird fables about Vince that he respects someone who bends the rules and stands up to him, but the moment someone actually tries that, they're out of the company (unless they make him buckets of cash, but that would be in spite of it, not because of it). The last person that sort of met that criteria was Punk, and he left due to constantly butting heads with Vince.
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Post by audiencewatching on Dec 24, 2015 16:47:46 GMT -5
And this is exactly why wrestling has devolved to the level it's at now, with the scripted promos, the 50/50 booking, storylines built up and dropped for no reason. Wrestlers have no balls, they just do what they're told and collect the cash. Just watch the McMahon podcast with Austin, it's so obvious that he looks at his entire roster as a bunch of spineless chumps except for Cena. Probably feels that way about Cena too but he brings in so much cash, he automatically gets respect from the boss. Now they're digging into the Roman Reigns mine looking for gold. Who's going to object to that? I want to see more guys that are pissed off, legit or kayfabe, and want the damn belt! But the reason wrestlers these days are "spineless chumps" is BECAUSE of Vince. He's created an environment where everyone now has to walk on eggshells both in and out of the product. I know we like to create these weird fables about Vince that he respects someone who bends the rules and stands up to him, but the moment someone actually tries that, they're out of the company (unless they make him buckets of cash, but that would be in spite of it, not because of it). The last person that sort of met that criteria was Punk, and he left due to constantly butting heads with Vince. I think the biggest factor here is that theres no direct viable competition. If Kofi and co had a WCW to jump to and make more money they'd likely be gone. On the flip side, you could argue that Stone cold and HBK had strong personalities and told Vince what they wanted to do. Thats something Kofi could do.
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Post by Hit Girl on Dec 24, 2015 16:58:38 GMT -5
I remember a quote from I think Kofi Kingston a few years back, where he said something like "There isn't a lot of politics among the newer generation of guys, we mostly just play video games." And this is exactly why wrestling has devolved to the level it's at now, with the scripted promos, the 50/50 booking, storylines built up and dropped for no reason. Wrestlers have no balls, they just do what they're told and collect the cash. Just watch the McMahon podcast with Austin, it's so obvious that he looks at his entire roster as a bunch of spineless chumps except for Cena. Probably feels that way about Cena too but he brings in so much cash, he automatically gets respect from the boss. Now they're digging into the Roman Reigns mine looking for gold. Who's going to object to that? I want to see more guys that are pissed off, legit or kayfabe, and want the damn belt! The loss of WCW contributed to it. With no other big time option, WWE wrestlers just play ball.
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Professor Chaos
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
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Post by Professor Chaos on Dec 24, 2015 17:53:39 GMT -5
You're a good man Roman Reigns? A damn good man.
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Post by Mid-Carder on Dec 24, 2015 17:59:24 GMT -5
Roman's success surely has to be better for all of them. It's a change from what's been the same guys for the past ten years.
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Urethra Franklin
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Post by Urethra Franklin on Dec 24, 2015 18:12:53 GMT -5
It speaks to how toxic the industry is that it's a surprise when a new champion isn't met by scorn from his peers and a desire to undermine him.
What a shitty place it must be to work.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2015 18:18:43 GMT -5
f*** it, Roman is the motherf***ing man.
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Post by benstudd on Dec 25, 2015 8:45:29 GMT -5
I like the idea of the locker room culture being a lot more supportive and a lot less backstabby. I remember a quote from I think Kofi Kingston a few years back, where he said something like "There isn't a lot of politics among the newer generation of guys, we mostly just play video games." That's why they all draw flies.
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Big Poppa Pumpkin
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Post by Big Poppa Pumpkin on Dec 25, 2015 9:17:35 GMT -5
I can't believe some people actually buy into Vince's 'we aren't making new stars because these millennials don't want it enough' line. What company are you watching?
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Post by MrElijah on Dec 25, 2015 9:33:35 GMT -5
This is hilarious considering that the company didn't want Ricochet because was too well liked.
And anyway, good for Roman.
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Post by RI Richmark on Dec 25, 2015 9:43:54 GMT -5
I remember a quote from I think Kofi Kingston a few years back, where he said something like "There isn't a lot of politics among the newer generation of guys, we mostly just play video games." That's why they all draw flies. Because they play video games so much that they forget to shower?
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Post by ________ has left the building on Dec 25, 2015 9:57:00 GMT -5
This is hilarious considering that the company didn't want Ricochet because was too well liked. And anyway, good for Roman. He wasn't liked by the person doing the screening process aka Hunter. This generation has a brighter future in life with their positivity and healthier lifestyle. Vince might want the rock n roll, kill or be killed environment of the past but it's a new day. People are more hip to the game and mature. Wish fans would catch up with that instead of clinging to the ways of McMahonism.
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Allie Kitsune
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Post by Allie Kitsune on Dec 25, 2015 11:34:15 GMT -5
This is hilarious considering that the company didn't want Ricochet because was too well liked. And anyway, good for Roman. He wasn't liked by the person doing the screening process aka Hunter. This generation has a brighter future in life with their positivity and healthier lifestyle. Vince might want the rock n roll, kill or be killed environment of the past but it's a new day. People are more hip to the game and mature. Wish fans would catch up with that instead of clinging to the ways of McMahonism. It'll be interesting to see how much of that "Cut-throat, kill-or-be-killed" mentality goes by the wayside when Hunter takes over. He was as good at being cut-throat as anybody (learning from two of the masters, HBK and Nash), but he doesn't really seem to be fostering that mentality down in NXT...
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Post by Big Bad Kahuna on Dec 25, 2015 13:46:12 GMT -5
I can't believe some people actually buy into Vince's 'we aren't making new stars because these millennials don't want it enough' line. What company are you watching? Yeah, those current guys and gals (Owens/Reigns/Rollins/Ambrose/New Day/Horsewomen/Paige/Bryan/Cesaro/Kidd/Usos etc) sure don't seem like they bust their ass and even try to make the lamest of lame booking/angles look great...oh man, I think the current roster busts their ass more than ever actually (minus Orton, Sheamus, Show, Alberto, Bellas at times)
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Bang Bang Bart
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Post by Bang Bang Bart on Dec 25, 2015 14:23:22 GMT -5
He wasn't liked by the person doing the screening process aka Hunter. This generation has a brighter future in life with their positivity and healthier lifestyle. Vince might want the rock n roll, kill or be killed environment of the past but it's a new day. People are more hip to the game and mature. Wish fans would catch up with that instead of clinging to the ways of McMahonism. It'll be interesting to see how much of that "Cut-throat, kill-or-be-killed" mentality goes by the wayside when Hunter takes over. He was as good at being cut-throat as anybody (learning from two of the masters, HBK and Nash), but he doesn't really seem to be fostering that mentality down in NXT... Probably a "learn from past mistakes" thing and seeing how he can improve upon stuff.
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Post by Hit Girl on Dec 25, 2015 20:33:24 GMT -5
"Good Guy Reigns" would make a great meme.
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the2ndevil
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Post by the2ndevil on Dec 26, 2015 6:43:55 GMT -5
This is hilarious considering that the company didn't want Ricochet because was too well liked. And anyway, good for Roman. He wasn't liked by the person doing the screening process aka Hunter. This generation has a brighter future in life with their positivity and healthier lifestyle. Vince might want the rock n roll, kill or be killed environment of the past but it's a new day. People are more hip to the game and mature. Wish fans would catch up with that instead of clinging to the ways of McMahonism. Yes, it is.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2015 8:27:58 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2015 10:05:18 GMT -5
While I agree with lots of the sentiments in the thread, I think we're being too black-and-white on just how cutthroat things were before. There's always been strong camaraderie in wrestling. Like when Bret Hart won the title, people were happy for him because he was that good and earned it. People respected Hulk Hogan when he was on top because he drew tons of money and he was seen as a good person. But when Warrior was on top people were pissed because of the way he carried himself and the perception that he didn't pay his dues.
Things do seem better now in that you don't have (drug-fueled) ego-clashes between people over their SPOT. But, we often hear older stars saying the talent are on pins and needles trying not to piss off any of the higher-ups, and that overall the backstage vibe is different. Maybe those things are related; since current crop are seen as more passive, maybe they're seen as easier to control. There's zero reason that has to be the case though. I don't even understand why WWE wants to control the talent so much, when their biggest stars came from eras where that wasn't the case. Thanks, Steph?
Not saying it isn't better to chill and be happy for your fellow wrestlers, but it's not like the atmosphere was completely toxic then and we're in a utopic state of harmony now. The conflicts and problems are just of a different nature.
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