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Post by subject2 on Jan 6, 2007 11:27:05 GMT -5
Its one thing ive wondered...im such a big fan of davey boy smith...he was one of my all time faves. Its funny that for a british guy to be around wrestling so long..esp during the wwf era when everyone was a stereotype..and not be classed as a snob or some sort of royalty.
Almost every other british wrestler gets saddled with that gimmick..even finlay gets 'fighting irishman' gimmick..and the higlanders get the 'braveheart' style gimmick..so why was the bulldog never stereotyped?..he played just a regular face for his earlier years..and an over one at that.He was just a guy who was a solid grappler and proud of where he came from...its just so odd for the E to produce a character like that that wasnt american.
Thoughts?
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Bub (BLM)
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Post by Bub (BLM) on Jan 6, 2007 11:28:10 GMT -5
That's a good point. In todays WWE, he'd either be a heel, or they'd say he was from the States ala Chris Benoit.
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STMP
Hank Scorpio
Wild and Only 50
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Post by STMP on Jan 6, 2007 12:06:26 GMT -5
Well, actually he was. He was never Davey Boy Smith very good and strong wrestler. But Davey Boy Smith the strong guy from England. He wore the British flag on his tights, he wore the colours. He had the nickname British Bulldog and most of the times his feuds and angles were based on him being foreign. Like in the Hart Foundation.
However, he never got a ridiculous gimmick. He was definately the 'token British guy' but nothing outrageous, probably because he got over with Dynamite and when Dynamite left Davey was still loved by the crowd.
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Post by Citizen Snips on Jan 6, 2007 12:25:07 GMT -5
That's a good point. In todays WWE, he'd either be a heel, or they'd say he was from the States ala Chris Benoit. I can actually see some members of the creative team giving him the hometown of like Chicago before ever hearing him speak. |
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Post by Andrew is Good on Jan 6, 2007 12:31:11 GMT -5
I have the best of Confidential Vol. 1, and The British Bulldog was really proud of his heritage and felt that the Union Jack was the best flag in the world, and even after years of living in North America, he never lost his accent. So being someone who made a big deal about being from England, and had the music and the Union Jack on his tights and everything, Davey probably wanted that.
But it is interesting. I think it was because he was always a well known star in the WWE maybe so he didn't get saddled with a ridiculous gimmick. But then again, what about Ricky Steamboat.
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Lt. Palumbo
Hank Scorpio
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Post by Lt. Palumbo on Jan 6, 2007 12:35:49 GMT -5
Well, actually he was. He was never Davey Boy Smith very good and strong wrestler. But Davey Boy Smith the strong guy from England. He wore the British flag on his tights, he wore the colours. He had the nickname British Bulldog and most of the times his feuds and angles were based on him being foreign. Like in the Hart Foundation. However, he never got a ridiculous gimmick. He was definately the 'token British guy' but nothing outrageous, probably because he got over with Dynamite and when Dynamite left Davey was still loved by the crowd. But then you have to ask my both of them didn't get stereotyped from the start? |
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STMP
Hank Scorpio
Wild and Only 50
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Post by STMP on Jan 6, 2007 12:53:38 GMT -5
Well, actually he was. He was never Davey Boy Smith very good and strong wrestler. But Davey Boy Smith the strong guy from England. He wore the British flag on his tights, he wore the colours. He had the nickname British Bulldog and most of the times his feuds and angles were based on him being foreign. Like in the Hart Foundation. However, he never got a ridiculous gimmick. He was definately the 'token British guy' but nothing outrageous, probably because he got over with Dynamite and when Dynamite left Davey was still loved by the crowd. But then you have to ask my both of them didn't get stereotyped from the start? Well, they were a tag team. Brought in for their talent. During the days they became popular, the tag teams were pretty normal and not as over the top as singles wrestlers. |
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Post by Tea & Crumpets on Jan 6, 2007 13:29:13 GMT -5
I have the best of Confidential Vol. 1, and The British Bulldog was really proud of his heritage and felt that the Union Jack was the best flag in the world, and even after years of living in North America, he never lost his accent. So being someone who made a big deal about being from England, and had the music and the Union Jack on his tights and everything, Davey probably wanted that. But it is interesting. I think it was because he was always a well known star in the WWE maybe so he didn't get saddled with a ridiculous gimmick. But then again, what about Ricky Steamboat. That sounds likely. However I must point out- The flag is NOT called the Union Jack! It is the Union Flag! It is ONLY the Union Jack when on a SHIP!!!! Trivial I know, but it is something that has always drove me berserk. |
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Legion
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Post by Legion on Jan 6, 2007 13:33:42 GMT -5
Lol, now you sound like Rose Tyler........
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Post by odanobunaga on Jan 6, 2007 14:03:41 GMT -5
Well I love the Union flag. It´s a clever way to mix the England, Irish and Scotland flag.
And I love Davey Boy Smith...I was pretty sad the day he passed away.
Hm...I am start to sound like that russian guy.
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Post by Loki on Jan 6, 2007 14:33:53 GMT -5
Well, walking Winston/Matilda to the ring wasn't exactly a stereotyped gimmick but wasn't an "honourable" thing either...
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Rocky Angle
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Post by Rocky Angle on Jan 6, 2007 14:41:53 GMT -5
Am I missing something? The whole British Bulldog thing has been a national stereotype for centuries. The bulldog is used as a symbol of britain like the bear is for russia and the bald eagle is for the usa.
It would be like an american wrestler in a british fed being called "American Eagle" and having stars and stripes tights.
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Cranjis McBasketball
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Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Jan 6, 2007 14:52:03 GMT -5
Perhaps for the same reason Bret Hart never came out in a huge winter parka, sipping a jug of maple syrup and smashing hockey sticks over people.
They let his wrestling speak for itself.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2007 15:05:51 GMT -5
Perhaps for the same reason Bret Hart never came out in a huge winter parka, sipping a jug of maple syrup and smashing hockey sticks over people. They let his wrestling speak for itself. In all honesty though I would mark for what you just described |
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Johnny D
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Post by Johnny D on Jan 6, 2007 15:35:16 GMT -5
Because he's BIZARRE!
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KyleR007
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Post by KyleR007 on Jan 6, 2007 15:37:24 GMT -5
Perhaps for the same reason Bret Hart never came out in a huge winter parka, sipping a jug of maple syrup and smashing hockey sticks over people. They let his wrestling speak for itself. In all honesty though I would mark for what you just described And he'd manage to get in EH, 4 times a sentence. Greatest gimmick ever |
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