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Post by polarbearpete on Dec 5, 2023 9:11:03 GMT -5
I was thinking about this after Orton and Punk’s returns last week. For the men’s division, is this the time period with the most extremely over babyfaces in company history? They’ve had a lot of faces before at one time (I’m sure post-Invasion was pretty strong), but I don’t think they’ve had this many that are over to a crazy degree with the crowd.
Cody
Orton
Jey
Rollins
Punk
Sami
LA Knight
And then slightly below I’d say you have KO, Rey and Styles when he returns.
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ASYLUMHAUSEN
Fry's dog Seymour
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Post by ASYLUMHAUSEN on Dec 5, 2023 9:16:41 GMT -5
I mean maybe in terms of sheer number of 100% faces? Maybe…I’d have to actually look and do alignment charts for the attitude era to know for sure and..who’s got time forTHAT? 😂
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Post by Citizen Snips on Dec 5, 2023 9:38:32 GMT -5
Late 80s had Hogan, Savage, Piper, Snake Roberts, Dusty, Demolition, Hacksaw Duggan, Brutus the Barber, Warrior all at levels of overness most of today’s wrestlers would cut their left hand off to achieve.
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Post by polarbearpete on Dec 5, 2023 9:43:03 GMT -5
Late 80s had Hogan, Savage, Piper, Snake Roberts, Dusty, Demolition, Hacksaw Duggan, Brutus the Barber, Warrior all at levels of overness most of today’s wrestlers would cut their left hand off to achieve. All faces at the same time? |
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Post by Jindrak Mark on Dec 5, 2023 9:45:28 GMT -5
Around September 2000 you had Austin, Rock, HHH, Taker, Jericho, Rikishi, Chyna, Hardys, Dudleys, Too Cool. Steve Blackman was at his peak popularity too with the Hardcore title stuff. Of course within a month or so Rikishi had his ill-fated heel turn and HHH went back heel too.
The mid-late 2000s had a lot of big babyface stars too. Cena, Batista, HHH, HBK, Taker, Hardy, Mysterio, Punk, RVD, Flair.
I think this current group is the best babyface roster in 15 years or so though.
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Post by Citizen Snips on Dec 5, 2023 9:46:45 GMT -5
Late 80s had Hogan, Savage, Piper, Snake Roberts, Dusty, Demolition, Hacksaw Duggan, Brutus the Barber, Warrior all at levels of overness most of today’s wrestlers would cut their left hand off to achieve. All faces at the same time? We’ll take out Savage since he turned early in 1989, but yes. These were the top babyfaces in 1989/90. And we can throw in The Hart Foundation to replace Savage. |
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Post by BayleyTiffyCodyCenaJudyHopps on Dec 5, 2023 9:59:30 GMT -5
Not *ever*, but there hasn’t been much of a feeling lately that Raw and Smackdown are “heel shows” anymore like during the Authority days.
We make fun of Pearce a ton (and rightfully so), but there’s been way more shows lately ending with faces like Sami and Kevin, Cody, Knight, Jey, Seth and others on top and more neutral decisions from management.
It also helps the heels lately like Bloodline and Judgment Day are more flamboyant and fun than the days of the “Corbin’s In Charge” and “Brock Holds The Belt Hostage” angles, and they struggle more often even when they’re holding titles.
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Post by polarbearpete on Dec 5, 2023 10:00:44 GMT -5
All faces at the same time? We’ll take out Savage since he turned early in 1989, but yes. These were the top babyfaces in 1989/90. And we can throw in The Hart Foundation to replace Savage. Looks like Piper returned in the summer of 89. Take out the tag teams. Hogan Piper Dusty Warrior Roberts Duggan Brutus So similar in number. Were Brutus, Hacksaw and WWF Dusty over to a crazy degree at a main event level? Or more similar to how Rey and Owens are over now. |
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Post by Tiger Millionaire on Dec 5, 2023 10:05:51 GMT -5
We’ll take out Savage since he turned early in 1989, but yes. These were the top babyfaces in 1989/90. And we can throw in The Hart Foundation to replace Savage. Looks like Piper returned in the summer of 89. Take out the tag teams. Hogan Piper Dusty Warrior Roberts Duggan Brutus So similar in number. Were Brutus, Hacksaw and WWF Dusty over to a crazy degree at a main event level? Or more similar to how Rey and Owens are over now. Yes. And you can add Tito Santana in there. |
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Post by polarbearpete on Dec 5, 2023 10:19:51 GMT -5
Looks like Piper returned in the summer of 89. Take out the tag teams. Hogan Piper Dusty Warrior Roberts Duggan Brutus So similar in number. Were Brutus, Hacksaw and WWF Dusty over to a crazy degree at a main event level? Or more similar to how Rey and Owens are over now. Yes. And you can add Tito Santana in there. So looks like late 1989 may be neck and neck with current day in terms of sheer number of majorly over faces in the men’s singles division. |
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Post by Tiger Millionaire on Dec 5, 2023 10:37:27 GMT -5
Yes. And you can add Tito Santana in there. So looks like late 1989 may be neck and neck with current day in terms of sheer number of majorly over faces in the men’s singles division. WWF was a Babyface promotion, probably until the Mr. McMahon stuff. |
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Post by polarbearpete on Dec 5, 2023 10:49:29 GMT -5
So looks like late 1989 may be neck and neck with current day in terms of sheer number of majorly over faces in the men’s singles division. WWF was a Babyface promotion, probably until the Mr. McMahon stuff. That’s true. And even with all of the over faces on the roster right now, the most over talent of all is a heel in Roman Reigns. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2023 10:56:50 GMT -5
I would think this has to go to the attitude era in 2000.
Austin
Rock
Taker
Kane
Too Cool
Hadryz and Lita
Godfather
Chyna
Jericho
Mick Foley
Probably a good nearly dozen more one could add to this because that is how over that roster was.
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Post by polarbearpete on Dec 5, 2023 10:59:37 GMT -5
I would think this has to go to the attitude era in 2000. Austin Rock Taker Kane Too Cool Hadryz and Lita Godfather Chyna Jericho Mick Foley Probably a good nearly dozen more one could add to this because that is how over that roster was. Limiting it to the men’s singles division. So it would be only Austin, Rock, Taker, Kane, Rikishi, maybe Godfather from that list.. Don’t think Jericho was crazy over in 2000 outside of the Dusty finish world title match. Foley was also only there as a wrestler until Mania. |
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Post by clc on Dec 5, 2023 11:24:48 GMT -5
Missing one huge face from the 1980s...Andre the Giant! He was a face until 1987. And he was one of the most over wrestlers in the world. Bruno Sammartino was still working up until the mid 80's too.
I think in the 80's the mid-carders were way more over than mid-carders of today. I think partially it's becasue they had squash matches back then. Every week you would see guys like Hacksaw, Beefer, Tito, etc. actually piling up wins. People thought those guys were legit. Today the face mid-carders are mostly losers or obviously joke characters. Popular, but people don't really get invested in them.
I would add the women when compiling a list of the over baby faces of today. Becky, Bianca, Rhea (gets cheered like a face despite not being one). Back in the early 2000's and 80's and 90's women were not treated seriously. Today they are. Since the company is giving them time and attention it's only fair to include them.
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Dec 5, 2023 15:33:11 GMT -5
I think in the 80's the mid-carders were way more over than mid-carders of today. I think partially it's becasue they had squash matches back then. Every week you would see guys like Hacksaw, Beefer, Tito, etc. actually piling up wins. People thought those guys were legit. Today the face mid-carders are mostly losers or obviously joke characters. Popular, but people don't really get invested in them. Can’t do those today, though, nobody would f***in’ watch or go to the shows. AEW is the proof in the pudding, look how little interest there was in Dark and Elevation by the end because people had figured out that the people racking up wins on those shows would never win on Dynamite. |
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