Something I didn't know about Paul Roma

[Joe Neglia]

He made his wrestling debut in a WWF ring. His first ever, in-front-of-a-crowd match was in the WWF against the tag champs during the months leading up to Wrestlemania I. He then remained employed for seven straight years - pretty much the entire boom, and when he went to the competition was placed in their most elite stable.

If Roma has an ego, or if people believe Roma has an ego...I can certainly see why and what has helped shape that perception.

[chazraps]

Interesting! Didn't know that.

I know Chazz Warrington (Headbanger Mosh) had his first match in a WWF ring too, it was even on Superstars. It was against Adam Bomb:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rstZA8Ul33g

[Reflecto]

That'd make some sense, but considering Mick Foley (who's widely considered to have one of the smallest egos in a wrestling ring) basically had his second in-front-of-a-crowd match in a WWF ring, that theory of why it gave Roma an ego is a little flimsier.

[Joe Neglia]

Jan 8, 2017 9:06:45 GMT -5 Reflecto said:

That'd make some sense, but considering Mick Foley (who's widely considered to have one of the smallest egos in a wrestling ring) basically had his second in-front-of-a-crowd match in a WWF ring, that theory of why it gave Roma an ego is a little flimsier.

The difference is Mick had those one or two matches, then went on a journey and spent the rest of the 80s and early 90s working for every promotion that existed, big and small. Mick worked in front of crowds of 50 people and got stiffed on pay by promoters. Weeks in-between runs without getting paid until he got in at another promotion.

Roma, on the other hand, was essentially told he was good enough to work - and stay in - THE big league for the entirety of its biggest boom period at the time. He never had to work the territories that (allegedly) paid in food stamps. Never had to worry about working a show and the promoter telling him that they didn't make enough at the gate to pay him. In his world, he was good enough to go the biggest and best on day one and stay there for years.

[The Thread Barbi]

Jan 8, 2017 12:48:05 GMT -5 Joe Neglia said:

Jan 8, 2017 9:06:45 GMT -5 Reflecto said:

That'd make some sense, but considering Mick Foley (who's widely considered to have one of the smallest egos in a wrestling ring) basically had his second in-front-of-a-crowd match in a WWF ring, that theory of why it gave Roma an ego is a little flimsier.

The difference is Mick had those one or two matches, then went on a journey and spent the rest of the 80s and early 90s working for every promotion that existed, big and small. Mick worked in front of crowds of 50 people and got stiffed on pay by promoters. Weeks in-between runs without getting paid until he got in at another promotion.

Roma, on the other hand, was essentially told he was good enough to work - and stay in - THE big league for the entirety of its biggest boom period at the time. He never had to work the territories that (allegedly) paid in food stamps. Never had to worry about working a show and the promoter telling him that they didn't make enough at the gate to pay him. In his world, he was good enough to go the biggest and best on day one and stay there for years.

Isn't the Rock also a predominantly TV wrestler? I'm not sure he went through any stint in non-WWE territory.

As a side, I will always mark out for Roma.

[Reflecto]

Jan 8, 2017 12:48:05 GMT -5 Joe Neglia said:

Jan 8, 2017 9:06:45 GMT -5 Reflecto said:

That'd make some sense, but considering Mick Foley (who's widely considered to have one of the smallest egos in a wrestling ring) basically had his second in-front-of-a-crowd match in a WWF ring, that theory of why it gave Roma an ego is a little flimsier.

The difference is Mick had those one or two matches, then went on a journey and spent the rest of the 80s and early 90s working for every promotion that existed, big and small. Mick worked in front of crowds of 50 people and got stiffed on pay by promoters. Weeks in-between runs without getting paid until he got in at another promotion.

Roma, on the other hand, was essentially told he was good enough to work - and stay in - THE big league for the entirety of its biggest boom period at the time. He never had to work the territories that (allegedly) paid in food stamps. Never had to worry about working a show and the promoter telling him that they didn't make enough at the gate to pay him. In his world, he was good enough to go the biggest and best on day one and stay there for years.

Even then, it still varies from person to person based on it.

Roma may very well have gotten an ego from having his debut match in the WWF...but then, Big Show (who the worst has been said about him is 'some people- often people who have reputations for being jerks themselves- may say he's a bit of a jerk') had his first-ever match, for WCW, in a PPV main event, where he won the World Title, from the biggest star in the history of the sport at the time,and it didn't cause him to have a huge ego.

Maybe Roma had those things, but there's more than just that.

[Joe Neglia]

Jan 8, 2017 15:48:34 GMT -5 Reflecto said:

Jan 8, 2017 12:48:05 GMT -5 Joe Neglia said:

The difference is Mick had those one or two matches, then went on a journey and spent the rest of the 80s and early 90s working for every promotion that existed, big and small. Mick worked in front of crowds of 50 people and got stiffed on pay by promoters. Weeks in-between runs without getting paid until he got in at another promotion.

Roma, on the other hand, was essentially told he was good enough to work - and stay in - THE big league for the entirety of its biggest boom period at the time. He never had to work the territories that (allegedly) paid in food stamps. Never had to worry about working a show and the promoter telling him that they didn't make enough at the gate to pay him. In his world, he was good enough to go the biggest and best on day one and stay there for years.

Even then, it still varies from person to person based on it.

Roma may very well have gotten an ego from having his debut match in the WWF...but then, Big Show (who the worst has been said about him is 'some people- often people who have reputations for being jerks themselves- may say he's a bit of a jerk') had his first-ever match, for WCW, in a PPV main event, where he won the World Title, from the biggest star in the history of the sport at the time,and it didn't cause him to have a huge ego.

Maybe Roma had those things, but there's more than just that.

You might want to go back and re-read my last sentence in the first post. You're arguing a point that was never offended.

[Urethra Franklin]

Jan 8, 2017 4:49:14 GMT -5 chazraps said:

Interesting! Didn't know that.

I know Chazz Warrington (Headbanger Mosh) had his first match in a WWF ring too, it was even on Superstars. It was against Adam Bomb:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rstZA8Ul33g

Is there anybody else of note with similar stories?

I'd hafta guess Mongo McMichael's first match was in a WCW ring and maybe even televised.

[The Dark Order Inferno]

Jan 8, 2017 13:17:40 GMT -5 The Thread Barbi said:

Jan 8, 2017 12:48:05 GMT -5 Joe Neglia said:

The difference is Mick had those one or two matches, then went on a journey and spent the rest of the 80s and early 90s working for every promotion that existed, big and small. Mick worked in front of crowds of 50 people and got stiffed on pay by promoters. Weeks in-between runs without getting paid until he got in at another promotion.

Roma, on the other hand, was essentially told he was good enough to work - and stay in - THE big league for the entirety of its biggest boom period at the time. He never had to work the territories that (allegedly) paid in food stamps. Never had to worry about working a show and the promoter telling him that they didn't make enough at the gate to pay him. In his world, he was good enough to go the biggest and best on day one and stay there for years.

Isn't the Rock also a predominantly TV wrestler? I'm not sure he went through any stint in non-WWE territory.

As a side, I will always mark out for Roma.

Rock went through Memphis, but that was the defacto WWF developmental territory, back in the 90s.

[sdoyle7798]

Jan 8, 2017 15:48:34 GMT -5 Reflecto said:

Jan 8, 2017 12:48:05 GMT -5 Joe Neglia said:

The difference is Mick had those one or two matches, then went on a journey and spent the rest of the 80s and early 90s working for every promotion that existed, big and small. Mick worked in front of crowds of 50 people and got stiffed on pay by promoters. Weeks in-between runs without getting paid until he got in at another promotion.

Roma, on the other hand, was essentially told he was good enough to work - and stay in - THE big league for the entirety of its biggest boom period at the time. He never had to work the territories that (allegedly) paid in food stamps. Never had to worry about working a show and the promoter telling him that they didn't make enough at the gate to pay him. In his world, he was good enough to go the biggest and best on day one and stay there for years.

Even then, it still varies from person to person based on it.

Roma may very well have gotten an ego from having his debut match in the WWF...but then, Big Show (who the worst has been said about him is 'some people- often people who have reputations for being jerks themselves- may say he's a bit of a jerk') had his first-ever match, for WCW, in a PPV main event, where he won the World Title, from the biggest star in the history of the sport at the time,and it didn't cause him to have a huge ego.

Maybe Roma had those things, but there's more than just that.

I thought Show has admitted that when he first moved to WWE he had an ego problem due to how he was brought into the business.