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Post by Confused Mark Wahlberg on Aug 7, 2023 8:52:24 GMT -5
I don't really get it, but people like what they like, so more power to him.
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Post by Hypnosis on Aug 7, 2023 8:54:49 GMT -5
I don't love the guy and I don't think he's particularly good in the ring, but if the people like the guy - and the merch and reactions suggest they do - you have to go with the guy. He shouldn't be getting prioritized over Cody, but I think he's a really solid #2 on Smackdown. I could see him being a lead babyface on RAW for a few years. Like, I don't think he has as long a shelf-life is that but honestly, the big problem with the wrestling business (and every major promotion does it) is that they're so wary of just going with a guy and giving people what they want all for telling the story they want when it doesn't really benefit them to do so. You might as well build some goodwill up and down the card so if people buy LA Knight merch, have him win the US title. See what happens. If it flops, well, you took a risk and there's enough surrounding him to still grab people's interest. USA Network and FOX aren't going to cancel your show if a 40 something dude the crowd likes gets a little bit of a push and might not hit it in the same way. Akira Tozawa could beat Roman tonight on Raw for the Undisputed Belt and NBC Universal are going to give WWE a contract to stop RAW and NXT from leaving. You know, I kind of want that to happen. Imagine the "HAH! HAH! HAH!" chants sounding throughout the arena while Tozawa's holding the belt.
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Post by Mrs. Potato Dick on Aug 7, 2023 8:57:06 GMT -5
I want "Yeah!" to replace 'What?'
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Post by Feargus McReddit on Aug 7, 2023 8:57:20 GMT -5
Like, I don't think he has as long a shelf-life is that but honestly, the big problem with the wrestling business (and every major promotion does it) is that they're so wary of just going with a guy and giving people what they want all for telling the story they want when it doesn't really benefit them to do so. You might as well build some goodwill up and down the card so if people buy LA Knight merch, have him win the US title. See what happens. If it flops, well, you took a risk and there's enough surrounding him to still grab people's interest. USA Network and FOX aren't going to cancel your show if a 40 something dude the crowd likes gets a little bit of a push and might not hit it in the same way. Akira Tozawa could beat Roman tonight on Raw for the Undisputed Belt and NBC Universal are going to give WWE a contract to stop RAW and NXT from leaving. You know, I kind of want that to happen. Imagine the "HAH! HAH! HAH!" chants sounding throughout the arena while Tozawa's holding the belt. Bro, I'd want that to happen more than anything else but it'd be such a ratings killer at this point, he was the guy to use as the example.
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Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]
FANatic
Writer, Lover of all things Wrestling. Analytical, Critical, Lovable (hopefully). Lets all have fun!
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Post by Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] on Aug 7, 2023 11:44:21 GMT -5
One thing I learned from attending Summerslam: anyone posting things like “LA Knight is over ironically”, “Cody Rhodes is Lord Emperor of Bitchasylvania”, “The Bloodline needs to wrap up”…you are flat-out wrong. It is absolutely insane how over these men are with the crowd. In fairness, a lot of people didn't think The Bloodline needed to wrap up, people just want the belt off Roman and felt like all of this could have been accomplished without the title being hoarded like it has been.
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Aug 7, 2023 21:07:05 GMT -5
One thing I learned from attending Summerslam: anyone posting things like “LA Knight is over ironically”, “Cody Rhodes is Lord Emperor of Bitchasylvania”, “The Bloodline needs to wrap up”…you are flat-out wrong. It is absolutely insane how over these men are with the crowd. In fairness, a lot of people didn't think The Bloodline needed to wrap up, people just want the belt off Roman and felt like all of this could have been accomplished without the title being hoarded like it has been. It’s a weird situation that actually kind of exposes how meaningless the belts can be as a plot device. Like, if we’re basically saying these stories could’ve been run the exact same with Rhodes as the champion (and I’m not saying he shouldn’t have won, he should’ve), what difference does the belt actually make, you know? It might give WrestleMania 39 another point or two out of 10, but that’s about it.
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Renslayer
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
every time i come around your city...
Posts: 17,295
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Post by Renslayer on Aug 7, 2023 22:17:27 GMT -5
I enjoyed that segment with the miz
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Fade
Patti Mayonnaise
Posts: 38,512
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Post by Fade on Aug 7, 2023 22:48:23 GMT -5
I enjoyed that segment with the miz That was awesome. They really are twisted mirror versions of the other. They keep it up, it could elevate miz back up too again. Curious how Waller fixes into it.
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Aug 7, 2023 22:57:18 GMT -5
I enjoyed that segment with the miz Really good segment Rare that you can see someone go face to face with Miz and win that battle. Him shooting Miz go to material about him being bullied in the locker room was also really good stuff too This is what Miz needed and this is next right step for LA Knight to continue to build up his babyface run
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Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]
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Post by Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] on Aug 7, 2023 22:57:36 GMT -5
This thread ages worse by the actual second that it still exists lmfao
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Post by HIM on Aug 7, 2023 23:11:46 GMT -5
I enjoyed that segment with the miz That was awesome. They really are twisted mirror versions of the other. They keep it up, it could elevate miz back up too again. Curious how Waller fixes into it. I see it as this. Miz = Young guy gets into the WWE, is disrespected and has had to climb his way to the top to become an older established veteran trying to keep his spot LA Knight = Young guy gets into indies and smaller promotions who's disrespected and had to climb his way to the WWE to become an older established veteran trying to take what he's earned and now Waller = Young guy who gets into the WWE and isn't disrespected because they see how talented he is
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ghost
Don Corleone
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Post by ghost on Aug 7, 2023 23:39:09 GMT -5
Kevin Nash thinks he’s just a Rock impersonator. That’s pretty rich when that guy's big break came from imitating a semi-truck. I don't think Nash is completely wrong here... but also who cares? If someone can do a half decent version of a popular gimmick (also see Hogan and Superstar Graham) it doesn't matter so long as it works. He's just playing a variation of a character WWE fans already love to get behind. That's not a bad thing. In 1998 when Rock was a heel, he had a segment before Summerslam where he verbally humiliated Chyna while DX was trapped in the back. In that promo he said something like “get her on her knees where she belongs, you look good on your knees Chyna it almost looks like a natural position”. I could be misremembering because I didn’t watch much TNA but I distinctly remember Knight (as Eli Drake) saying that exact line word for word. Like I don’t even think he paraphrased it, he just flat out said it almost the exact same way to whoever he was talking to. In other words, yes he’s mimicking the Rock, from the cadence to sometimes even the verbiage. However I agree that I don’t think it’s a big deal. He’s making it his own right now and that’s all that matters. If he was doing this same thing but not getting over, then it would have looked like a bad cosplay. As is Knight is succeeding with it. I’ve said before, he’s a main eventer if the company wants him to be. Even with his ring work not being the best, he’s good enough and does everything else great. He can work a crowd beautifully.
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Post by jivesoulbrah on Aug 8, 2023 0:18:58 GMT -5
As much as the internet loves their work rate darlings, the causal audience will cater toward those with charisma and mic skills. He’s not a direct ripoff of The Rock but he seems to have bottled up the things that helped make The Rock massively over.
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DichEvans
Samurai Cop
Lenny Lazy Lane Stinks
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Post by DichEvans on Aug 8, 2023 0:53:30 GMT -5
Uh I thought he was on SmackDown
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Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]
FANatic
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Post by Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] on Aug 8, 2023 0:56:15 GMT -5
Uh I thought he was on SmackDown WWE never actively enforces or gives a shit about their brand split and hasn't for years, the Drafts are a joke because the second someone gets over both shows need to have them for big numbers lmfao
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A Little Doo Doo
Salacious Crumb
An unconventional man with unconventional methods.
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Post by A Little Doo Doo on Aug 8, 2023 1:26:31 GMT -5
Good shit. Miz cut his best promo in a long time and while I thought Knight schooled him, he also did a good job putting Miz over at the same time IMO.
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spagett
Hank Scorpio
Great Job!
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Post by spagett on Aug 8, 2023 3:03:11 GMT -5
I don't think Nash is completely wrong here... but also who cares? If someone can do a half decent version of a popular gimmick (also see Hogan and Superstar Graham) it doesn't matter so long as it works. He's just playing a variation of a character WWE fans already love to get behind. That's not a bad thing. In 1998 when Rock was a heel, he had a segment before Summerslam where he verbally humiliated Chyna while DX was trapped in the back. In that promo he said something like “get her on her knees where she belongs, you look good on your knees Chyna it almost looks like a natural position”. I could be misremembering because I didn’t watch much TNA but I distinctly remember Knight (as Eli Drake) saying that exact line word for word. Like I don’t even think he paraphrased it, he just flat out said it almost the exact same way to whoever he was talking to. In other words, yes he’s mimicking the Rock, from the cadence to sometimes even the verbiage. However I agree that I don’t think it’s a big deal. He’s making it his own right now and that’s all that matters. If he was doing this same thing but not getting over, then it would have looked like a bad cosplay. As is Knight is succeeding with it. I’ve said before, he’s a main eventer if the company wants him to be. Even with his ring work not being the best, he’s good enough and does everything else great. He can work a crowd beautifully. I've said it before but in wrestling if you get over than you get over and how you did it doesn't really matter. He's clearly taking a lot from Rock and also to a lesser extent from Stone Cold but who cares, it's working and he's really over. Most wrestlers steal, copy and borrow from the guys before them anyway. Like you said, if it was bombing and he wasn't over than yeah it would be a little embarrassing, but he's arguably the most over guy in the company so I don't see the issue. WWE should go with it.
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msc
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 4,560
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Post by msc on Aug 8, 2023 3:18:40 GMT -5
He's clearly studied Rock's promo delivery and style but I mean, why wouldn't you try and pick up tips on promos from one of the greatest of all time at them? Like studying Austin's comebacks or Dusty's elbows or so on.
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Post by Slammy Award-Winning Cannibal on Aug 8, 2023 4:08:13 GMT -5
Miz and LA in a promo off is destination TV. Give them a feud together. Dunno their chemistry but if it’s good, let’s ride this out to Payback.
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salz4life
Grimlock
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Post by salz4life on Aug 8, 2023 7:46:11 GMT -5
Kevin Nash thinks he’s just a Rock impersonator. That’s pretty rich when that guy's big break came from imitating a semi-truck. I don't think Nash is completely wrong here... but also who cares? If someone can do a half decent version of a popular gimmick (also see Hogan and Superstar Graham) it doesn't matter so long as it works. He's just playing a variation of a character WWE fans already love to get behind. That's not a bad thing. Yeah... I'd take what Nash says as a complement. The best people in this business usually borrow some stuff from other successful guys (or ladies) and put their own spin on it.
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