Who's "phoning it in?"

[poindexter]

Is there anyone you feel has given a sub-par attempt in WWE? Somebody that really wasn't giving it 100%, almost as if on purpose? Anyone in particular that was "half-assing" it through his career? Someone you feel could've been great, had they given it more effort?

[jcdenton]

just a question, where did the term phoning it in come from?

[Tapout]

poindexter said:

Is there anyone you feel has given a sub-par attempt in WWE? Somebody that really wasn't giving it 100%, almost as if on purpose? Anyone in particular that was "half-assing" it through his career? Someone you feel could've been great, had they given it more effort?

Check my sig.

[odor31]

Carlito.

End of thread.

[Mitch 4:20]

tapout said:

poindexter said:

Is there anyone you feel has given a sub-par attempt in WWE? Somebody that really wasn't giving it 100%, almost as if on purpose? Anyone in particular that was "half-assing" it through his career? Someone you feel could've been great, had they given it more effort?

Check my sig.

I can't read it... it's too small. I suppose those words are nothing new to you though.

[wahoowah11]

shelton?

[default]

odor31 said:

Carlito.

End of thread.

I totally agree. Carlito really seldom seems to care about doing what he does.

[Klax]

Definitely Carlito.

[Mongo & Pepe: Back in Black]

jcdenton said:

just a question, where did the term phoning it in come from?

1. phoned it in


to put in a half assed effort at something, but complete it. Often pertaining to work which is complete and pretending to have worked a long time on, when in fact little to no effort was put into it. Derived from deciding to not physically attend a meeting in, but rather to be present by phone only.

Example: Even though he had a huge project due Friday, he went to a party and got hammered Thursday night. He totally phoned it in.

2. Phoned it in


(verb) to have completed an action, especially giving a performance, while showing a minimum of effort.

Generally used to refer to performances that border on unprofessional. The intended audience would have been similarly disappointed if the person had delivered the performance by speakerphone, in order to spend more time on leisurely pursuits.

Example: Her song and dance routine at the music awards was horrible! She looked out of shape, she forgot half the words... she basically just phoned it in.

Credit: UrbanDictionary.com

[normcoleman]

Goldberg

[DAGOTRON LIVES!]

It seems to me that Kevin Thorn has been a little lax with the effort in the last couple of matches we saw him in.

Maybe it's just that he's been slowly stripped of his gimmick (first he lost the vest/tie combo; later the makeup; recently he hasn't even taken to shaving), but I just don't see as much energy as when ECW started.

[macdaddysquid]

stupidwopdago said:

It seems to me that Kevin Thorn has been a little lax with the effort in the last couple of matches we saw him in.

Maybe it's just that he's been slowly stripped of his gimmick (first he lost the vest/tie combo; later the makeup; recently he hasn't even taken to shaving), but I just don't see as much energy as when ECW started.

The E seems to have forgotten he is on the roster. his fault or theirs...I would be lazy to if they didn't care about me

[flea]

seems like Kane is kind of just going through the motions.

[Mozenrath]

flea said:

seems like Kane is kind of just going through the motions.

Actually, I think he's been busting his lately.

Carlito never struck me as very lazy, but that's a rant for another day.

Sometimes I feel like Batista is legitimately trying, but other times, I feel like he's half-assing it. Same goes for HBK.

Thorn seems like he could be trying harder.

[DAGOTRON LIVES!]

macdaddysquid said:

stupidwopdago said:

It seems to me that Kevin Thorn has been a little lax with the effort in the last couple of matches we saw him in.

Maybe it's just that he's been slowly stripped of his gimmick (first he lost the vest/tie combo; later the makeup; recently he hasn't even taken to shaving), but I just don't see as much energy as when ECW started.

The E seems to have forgotten he is on the roster. his fault or theirs...I would be lazy to if they didn't care about me

If this excuse must be made, then it HAS to apply to Carlito as well. His move to RAW and subsequent face turn killed any heat that he had, and his subsequent lack of purpose or push probably just lead to him starting to go through the motions as well.

[MolotovMocktail]

A heel turn may also have held him back. I have a feeling that heels are deliberately told to cut down on their moveset to avoid making the face look bad and having the fans cheer him instead. Look at any major face who later turned heel. You will notice a significant difference in the types of moves they do.

[Loki]

I think it's hard for us to rightfully judge who is phoning it in and who is not.

A performance may seem sloppy for many different reasons: fatigue, working through an injury, lack of chemistry with the opponent, booking style etc.

Sometimes Carlito looks quite out of it, but it may just be the demeanour required by his gimmick. RVD himself looked very very "uninterested" at times, ditto for Booker T, but I bet very few of us would say they were wrestling half-assed matches.

[Baixo Astral]

stupidwopdago said:

macdaddysquid said:

The E seems to have forgotten he is on the roster. his fault or theirs...I would be lazy to if they didn't care about me

If this excuse must be made, then it HAS to apply to Carlito as well. His move to RAW and subsequent face turn killed any heat that he had, and his subsequent lack of purpose or push probably just lead to him starting to go through the motions as well.

If someone is depushed and doesn't increase their efforts, they deserved the depush in the first place.

[BHB]

Batista. His recent promos have been completely awful.

[knightboat]

Paul Heyman from his gigantic 1990 cell phone?