MVP as a babyface

[Tapout]

therza said:

The Rock was an average wrestler, so I don't really much care if he has the uber movelist of a technical wrestler. Just as long as he has more than Khali and matchwork. I can honestly see him as a face and I wouldn't mind. Cena was a bitch because it was obvious he was a fake ass wanna be thug. MVP actually comes off as a ligitimate balla.

Not to be a dick, and I'm really not trying to start an argument or anything, but how does this translate to a babyface gimmick?

I just don't see it. Rich, overpaid, loudmouth, "blinged out" professional athlete becomes someone people cheer for?

How does that work, exactly?

[kittylimits]

tapout said:

therza said:

The Rock was an average wrestler, so I don't really much care if he has the uber movelist of a technical wrestler. Just as long as he has more than Khali and matchwork. I can honestly see him as a face and I wouldn't mind. Cena was a bitch because it was obvious he was a fake ass wanna be thug. MVP actually comes off as a ligitimate balla.

Not to be a dick, and I'm really not trying to start an argument or anything, but how does this translate to a babyface gimmick?

I just don't see it. Rich, overpaid, loudmouth, "blinged out" professional athlete becomes someone people cheer for?

How does that work, exactly?

I think he is referring to MVP's actual background, with the prison and the tatts and the once was a Muslim.

Well maybe. I'm not quite sure I know what "balla" means exactly.

[The Ichi]

tapout said:

therza said:

The Rock was an average wrestler, so I don't really much care if he has the uber movelist of a technical wrestler. Just as long as he has more than Khali and matchwork. I can honestly see him as a face and I wouldn't mind. Cena was a bitch because it was obvious he was a fake ass wanna be thug. MVP actually comes off as a ligitimate balla.

Not to be a dick, and I'm really not trying to start an argument or anything, but how does this translate to a babyface gimmick?

I just don't see it. Rich, overpaid, loudmouth, "blinged out" professional athlete becomes someone people cheer for?

How does that work, exactly?

Worse character development has happened.

[bubbles]

How could The Rock be face when he was part of a Black Panther style group?

How could Undertaker be face after trying to sacrifice people?

[Bub (BLM)]

ridley said:

curryman said:

Not every face has to do that. He could be like when The Rock first turned face in 99. Same character, but fights heels and eventually plays along with the crowd more.

Dude, wasn't Rob Van Dam the same?

Yep. RVD never turned face in the original ECW. He just started winning all the time and playing with the crowd, but his character was exactly the same. He would fight faces as much as he fought heels.

As for MVP, I'd rather see him lure Matt to the dark side and bring back V1. Heel MVP and Matt Hardy V1 as a tag team = awesomeness.

[Tapout]

bubbles said:

How could The Rock be face when he was part of a Black Panther style group?

How could Undertaker be face after trying to sacrifice people?

Uh-huh.

But nobody here has an actual answer about how it would work.

If they wanted to eventually turn the guy face, which I doubt, since I doubt they even thought that far ahead, they've dug themselves into a real deep hole, I'll tell you that. Again, his whole character is rooted in a heel gimmick. I'd like to see how it could possibly work with a face turn, but so far no one here has any actual answers.

And for the record, Undertaker, like him or not, was a great in-ring performer. Rocky is the best talker of the modern era. MVP has neither of those gifts.

[Deleted]

tapout said:

bubbles said:

How could The Rock be face when he was part of a Black Panther style group?

How could Undertaker be face after trying to sacrifice people?

Uh-huh.

But nobody here has an actual answer about how it would work.

If they wanted to eventually turn the guy face, which I doubt, since I doubt they even thought that far ahead, they've dug themselves into a real deep hole, I'll tell you that. Again, his whole character is rooted in a heel gimmick. I'd like to see how it could possibly work with a face turn, but so far no one here has any actual answers.

And for the record, Undertaker, like him or not, was a great in-ring performer. Rocky is the best talker of the modern era. MVP has neither of those gifts.

It doesn't really matter all that much that it's a heel gimmick. Face/heel turns in wrestling are very superficial, not much needs to change. He could still remain cocky and even retain most of his heelish qualities which are the basis for his character. He's actually in the midst of a face turn right now, they can just choose not to go through with it (I don't think they are).

Here's an easy way which is consistent with the WWE style of face turn:

Hardy/MVP feud has ended. Doesn't really matter which one won. Hardy has entered a feud with a heel that has more universal heel heat, such as Edge or even Khali. Hardy is being pummeled badly and MVP saves him, nods and leaves. Next show MVP is booked in a match with this heel, and MVP plays the face. Crowd sides with him immediately and cheers when he manages to get the win.

That's sufficient enough for the WWE really. Now to do his actual face run properly, he'll act out both his old traits and his newfound "respect" traits and combine them. He'll still remain cocky and even brag about his accomplishments, it'll be Jerichoesque. However he'll also give respect when it's due. Meanwhile the crowd is happy to say "BALLIN!" with him whenever possible.

[carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army)]

tapout said:

But nobody here has an actual answer about how it would work.

It's not brain surgery. They'd just let him be cool, instruct the announcers play up his athletic skill, and have him start wrestling like a face.

I don't think the world has as much rabid dislike for rich professional athletes as you imply. Besides, how long has it been since Cole or JBL have even mentioned that side of his character? They used to talk about it all the time, now when they want to play up his heelness, they point out his cowardice or cheating.

[The Genesis of KoOS]

I want to see him as a babyface, as long as he doesn't go the way of John Cena. Or Randy Orton in 2004.

[Big L]

kingofoldschool said:

I want to see him as a babyface, as long as he doesn't go the way of John Cena. Or Randy Orton in 2004.

agreed