Allie Kitsune
Crow T. Robot
Always Feelin' Foxy.
Celestial Princess in Exile.
Posts: 46,108
|
Post by Allie Kitsune on Feb 24, 2022 11:12:44 GMT -5
"We got jews in the house?" *slight confused applause mixed with slight confused boos* Both guys pulled it off perfectly, but the audience made me nervous just by existing. And it seemed like much of the audience was nervous, too. It's somehow the beauty of wrestling and it's grimace. The crowd initially booing MJF and cheering on him getting bullied and then QUICKLY having to do an about face to avoid coming across as abelist and antisemitic got a chuckle out of me. MJF is a master manipulator The best (and therefore most frightening) manipulators are the ones who can use the crowd around someone who would otherwise be able to resist manipulation to put crowd-pressure upon them. Where they can make you feel like you know exactly what's happening, but there's nothing you can do about it.
|
|
|
Post by Tiger Millionaire on Feb 24, 2022 11:14:10 GMT -5
It's wrestling and it's phoney and next week MJF will say how he was full of shit, but as a Jew, I will always appreciate the promo. And I think as soon as he mentioned the quarters, I knew where it was going, which is why is resonated with me.
|
|
Mecca
Wade Wilson
Posts: 25,061
|
Post by Mecca on Feb 24, 2022 11:21:24 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by This Player Hating Mothman on Feb 24, 2022 11:25:26 GMT -5
The crowd's awkward reaction elevated the entire promo so much. The entire conceit of that promo was that it took everyone's rejection of MJF over the years, all the booing and the disdain, and threw it on its head, forced people to have to feel sympathetic toward someone who was awkwardly baring his soul and revealing all the dark things inside of him that he refused to show. Punk came out looking just as confused the audience was supposed to feel; if there was any sort of rousing support for him, it would have undercut the majesty of it. The idea of feeling sympathy for MJF is supposed to make you uncomfortable and question things. It's a weird, actually artistic moment inside of a pro wrestling promo. You want to distrust him but in the silence of everyone thinking the same you have to wonder if maybe he's being sincere. But he's MJF, he can't actually be sincere right? But he's crying while he leaves, he has to be sincere.
A f***ing master class
|
|
Bad Moon
Unicron
for reasons known only to the goblins that live in my brain
Posts: 3,091
|
Post by Bad Moon on Feb 24, 2022 11:25:56 GMT -5
I'm not a fan of the "the bad guy was bullied or abused as a child" trope because in real life it's almost always the bullies who grow up to act like MJF as adults and never the victims, but that aside what a phenomenal f***ing promo. I don't even care whether he's justified about feeling betrayed and hurt by Punk, he IS hurt. Up until now this feud has been all legacy and competition and town rivalries and all that sports shit I don't care about, I wanna see personal deeply seated HATRED and that's what I got.
|
|
Dub H
Crow T. Robot
Captain Pixel: the Game Master
I ❤ Aniki
Posts: 47,850
Member is Online
|
Post by Dub H on Feb 24, 2022 12:17:50 GMT -5
He has actually talked a little before about when he made the decision to quit college. His dad basically said "You want to quit college to follow this dream?Fine , I will allow and I will support you but you are gonna give your absolute all and if you ever give up or quit it you are not coming back to this house". Which I thought was a reasonable line for a parent to walk .
|
|
|
Post by Cyno on Feb 24, 2022 12:30:23 GMT -5
I said it in the ratings thread, but that resonated a lot with me as a Jew. I never experienced that particular kind of antisemitism as MJF did, but I did get "jokes" at my expense, like edgelords thinking making jokes about the Holocaust around me were funny.
I know the whole point of the promo was to manipulate the audience and Punk into feeling confused and take his mind out of the game (and it worked). But it also made me think he could be really good at being a babyface, too, if he really wanted to.
|
|
Mecca
Wade Wilson
Posts: 25,061
|
Post by Mecca on Feb 24, 2022 12:38:50 GMT -5
I said it in the ratings thread, but that resonated a lot with me as a Jew. I never experienced that particular kind of antisemitism as MJF did, but I did get "jokes" at my expense, like edgelords thinking making jokes about the Holocaust around me were funny. I know the whole point of the promo was to manipulate the audience and Punk into feeling confused and take his mind out of the game (and it worked). But it also made me think he could be really good at being a babyface, too, if he really wanted to. He doesn't wrestle often and cuts the promos he does because it wouldn't take much at all for him to get cheered, he knows it, Tony knows it.
|
|
|
Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Feb 24, 2022 13:07:19 GMT -5
I said it in the ratings thread, but that resonated a lot with me as a Jew. I never experienced that particular kind of antisemitism as MJF did, but I did get "jokes" at my expense, like edgelords thinking making jokes about the Holocaust around me were funny. I know the whole point of the promo was to manipulate the audience and Punk into feeling confused and take his mind out of the game (and it worked). But it also made me think he could be really good at being a babyface, too, if he really wanted to. As much as I totally understand that, I still have my fingers crossed for a Pinnacle super run with MJF as champ for a few months before a hot face takes it from him. I think Max needs another nasty heel set up and who’s on a roll for him to work with before he turned.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2022 13:19:16 GMT -5
I am unsure if I can boo MJF anymore. That promo spoke right to me. Sorry for the life story bit.
I myself have ADHD. Bullied and struggled all through school. A few years ago I made the jump to go to grad school despite thinking I never could succeed at such a level. Wanted to improve my lot in life and prove I’d grown in the years since since my teens. I’ve succeeded despite struggles. Now I’m sitting watching one of my escapes from life in wrestling with a midterm a week and a day away and the biggest heel connects with my story on such a level I don’t even know how to respond. Bravo MJF, bravo.
|
|
Kalmia
King Koopa
Happy to be here
Posts: 11,679
|
Post by Kalmia on Feb 24, 2022 14:06:00 GMT -5
It's the kind of segment that reminds you why, on its best day, wrestling is f***ing awesome. Movies can try and redeem or give sympathy to a villain, but they don't have literal years of weekly footage to draw on, or the reaction of the crowd. It's a kind of storytelling that only exists in wrestling, and it's going to lead to a very interesting match.
|
|
Dub H
Crow T. Robot
Captain Pixel: the Game Master
I ❤ Aniki
Posts: 47,850
Member is Online
|
Post by Dub H on Feb 24, 2022 14:14:59 GMT -5
I am unsure if I can boo MJF anymore. That promo spoke right to me. Sorry for the life story bit. I myself have ADHD. Bullied and struggled all through school. A few years ago I made the jump to go to grad school despite thinking I never could succeed at such a level. Wanted to improve my lot in life and prove I’d grown in the years since since my teens. I’ve succeeded despite struggles. Now I’m sitting watching one of my escapes from life in wrestling with a midterm a week and a day away and the biggest heel connects with my story on such a level I don’t even know how to respond. Bravo MJF, bravo. Next Week: MJF decided to retire from pro wrestling, his last message to AEW was "Now you have to boo me, Bagins"
|
|
4real
Wade Wilson
Posts: 27,726
|
Post by 4real on Feb 24, 2022 14:16:27 GMT -5
It was weird. I’m not sure I want face MJF. At all. I’m sure this is all a swerve so Punk takes it easy on him at Revolution. MJF beating him down next week might actually be a dumb move.
|
|
|
Post by kingoftheindies on Feb 24, 2022 14:21:04 GMT -5
So the promo legit is Bruce Wayne vs Jason Todd
|
|
Allie Kitsune
Crow T. Robot
Always Feelin' Foxy.
Celestial Princess in Exile.
Posts: 46,108
|
Post by Allie Kitsune on Feb 24, 2022 15:06:21 GMT -5
It was weird. I’m not sure I want face MJF. At all. I’m sure this is all a swerve so Punk takes it easy on him at Revolution. MJF beating him down next week might actually be a dumb move. Like, I know this might be the most unsatisfying result, but maybe he never does the Group Beatdown, but still decides he's going to continue to be a massive asshole to everyone anyway. Just because someone has a sad backstory doesn't always mean they'll change for the better. ...this is kind of why I don't like the blurring (and sometimes even blending) between performer and who they are off-the-clock, heh.
|
|
|
Post by A Platypus Rave on Feb 24, 2022 15:38:00 GMT -5
It was weird. I’m not sure I want face MJF. At all. I’m sure this is all a swerve so Punk takes it easy on him at Revolution. MJF beating him down next week might actually be a dumb move. Like, I know this might be the most unsatisfying result, but maybe he never does the Group Beatdown, but still decides he's going to continue to be a massive asshole to everyone anyway. Just because someone has a sad backstory doesn't always mean they'll change for the better Yeah, someone having a sad backstory or previous trauma can be a reason for someone's behavior... but it's not an excuse for it. Even if everything MJF said is true (and I'm speaking in kayfabe terms obviously) he's still been a massive asshole bully to like literally everyone himself.
|
|
|
Post by Texas Tornado on Feb 24, 2022 16:05:10 GMT -5
Brilliant.
|
|
|
Post by Fade is a CodyCryBaby on Feb 24, 2022 16:15:18 GMT -5
It was really good.
Straight off the bat, I’m confused where the “MJF isn’t good on the mic” sentiment seems to pop up the last few years but MJF’s been one of the best in the industry these last few years. And those closest to compete with him are usually much older guys. MJF’s promo ability at his age is incredible and rare the last decade or so.
It was hard for me to detach “he’s going to go back on all this” even with how good it was, but it was so good it popped a begrudged crowd and he managed to win them over. Adds a lot of intrigue where it’ll go from here. My personal favorite bit? There were moments he was “breaking” while talking to the camera, vulnerable and even speaking differently, but then he’d up the bravado, pronunciation, all that towards the crowd. Now there’s a few ways to interpret that and it depends how they develop the story but I loved it. Very well done.
|
|
The Ichi
Patti Mayonnaise
AGGRESSIVE Executive Janitor of the Third Floor Manager's Bathroom
Posts: 37,294
|
Post by The Ichi on Feb 24, 2022 16:17:41 GMT -5
Not that I mind his usual promos, but it's good to see him show the versatility some claim he doesn't have.
|
|
|
Post by "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik on Feb 24, 2022 16:17:45 GMT -5
It was really good. Straight off the bat, I’m confused where the “MJF isn’t good on the mic” sentiment seems to pop up the last few years but MJF’s been one of the best in the industry these last few years. And those closest to compete with him are usually much older guys. MJF’s promo ability at his age is incredible and rare the last decade or so. It was hard for me to detach “he’s going to go back on all this” even with how good it was, but it was so good it popped a begrudged crowd and he managed to win them over. Adds a lot of intrigue where it’ll go from here. My personal favorite bit? There were moments he was “breaking” while talking to the camera, vulnerable and even speaking differently, but then he’d up the bravado, pronunciation, all that towards the crowd. Now there’s a few ways to interpret that and it depends how they develop the story but I loved it. Very well done. I think it came from the idea that MJF would often go for the low hanging fruit and say things that few others would say and he would say it far better than anyone else who would try. Some saw it as shock for the sake of shock and thought he didn't have much range. I think he's shown to have a lot of range in the past but there's no doubting him after last night.
|
|