On fact has arisen in the last couple of years, there are a decent amount of wrestlers who are well liked. Harley Race and Terry Funk are pretty much bulet-roof, Bruno and Bob Backlund are usually very respected even some who get ons of criticism from former coworkers like Hogan and Dusty get a decent amount of love from some of their detrators. Flair has been losing a lot of his luster recently but his haters are almost always outnumbered, even Kevin Sullivan gets a good amount of love. So my question to you would be, Who is the most hated in your book? Who would get no friend requests on their facebook status? From all indications it seems to be either Tom Zenk and the worldwide leader ahead of him by a mile seems to be Ole Anderson. With the exception of a few very minute positive things, I never hear one good thing about either of these guys. Thoughts
I suppose Kevin Sullivan might have garnered more sympathy in the past few years for obvious reasons, but I wouldn't say he was exactly a popular guy or anything.
Ole Anderson by far is the winner. Tom Zenk burned all his bridges in spectacular fashion, but I don't think anyone really HATES the guy. Ole once told Vince to go fuck himself and called Linda a very bad name, so it's doubtful his legacy in wrestling will continue to exist once he's gone. Bill Watts is not exactly a popular guy either, given that he's a giant asshole much of the time and the people who REALLY hate him (ie, Shawn and Hunter) are the ones who in control of the business now.
It occurs to me that if you simply determine a formula to quantify hatred, this question has a definite answer. I'm going to just go with my instincts though and speculate that it is Hillbilly Jim. Sometimes it really is the guy you least suspect.
ReplyDeleteDoes it have to be a wrestler? I don't recall anyone ever saying anything good about Jim Herd, for example.
ReplyDeleteHow did Watts get into the WWE HOF if Hunter hates him? Does Vince just like him/have that much respect for him?
Whatever happened to Tom Zenk anyway? I really enjoyed his bitter sarcastic columns the better part of a decade ago and then he just suddenly stopped and the columns vanished (beyond looking them up on http://www.archive.org, possibly). Did he get sued for libel or something?
One for the win: Ultimate Warrior.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have a positive thing to say about the guy? Hell he is so hated they even made a DVD burying him!
Bully Ray is not very well liked. Although he isn't a wrestler, most people seem to detest Kevin Dunn.
ReplyDeleteFor all the shit he gets for his booking decisions and famous anti-finish, nobody really has anything bad to say about Dusty Rhodes...seems to be universally loved by everyone as a person, if not a booker.
ReplyDelete*looks into crystal ball*
ReplyDeleteI see...
It looks like...
....
It is...
It is May 2013...
I see..............
.....
....
Yes...
................
....Brock Lesnar....
I would think Shawn Michaels is still pretty close to the top of the list. Fans (and Bret Hart) may have forgiven him, but I doubt most of the guys that were buried by Clique politics have (the ones that haven't passed away, anyway). I guarantee that Vader and Jinsei Shinzaki aren't sending him Christmas cards. I've never heard anyone say anything good about Vampiro, but no one gives a shit about him. Mil Mascaras was legendary for being a dickhead in his day. I doubt Shane Douglas ever had too many friends in the biz. I get the feeling that with his attitude CM Punk isn't the most well liked guy in the locker room today, but who knows. And I'm sure there's still a LOT of people that hold a big grudge against Vince McMahon. Bischoff too, and to a lesser extent probably Russo.
ReplyDeleteJerry Lawler?
ReplyDeleteWatts is fine with Vince, as far as I know. I mean, Vince did hire him in 95 and gave him pretty significant power. Zenk's whereabouts are a mystery now, and Meltzer apparently knows but is unwilling to say.
ReplyDeleteHe may be too irrelevant, but Abraham Washington sure opened up a station's worth of gasoline to burn all those bridges.
ReplyDeleteDoes Paul Roma have more than a friend or two left in the bizz?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, Scott. I was really disappointed when Zenk vanished because he'd been talking about writing a book and based on how much I enjoyed his columns, I would definitely have bought it.
ReplyDeleteScott Hall had a bad rep in his later years according to Jericho and Buh Buh.
ReplyDelete''Hey Dudleyz...love your finish. I can't wait to kick out of it!''
I have heard Arn say some fairly nice things about Ole. not necessarily that he liked him, but I think he found teaming up with Ole to be educational.
ReplyDeleteKen Shamrock likes Ole too.
ReplyDeleteBilly Jack Haynes? Buzz Sawyer?
ReplyDeleteInvader #1
ReplyDeleteI don't know how hated he really is, but I think out of all the wrestlers that have died within the past decade, the one who received the least amount of love by people in the business is Ludvig Borga. When he died, nobody really had anything good to say about him and even the usually diplomatic JR pretty much called him a crazy arrogant bastard.
ReplyDeletetowards the end of the rants, he wrote a rant that was VERY VERY bad about stephanie.
ReplyDeleteand all of a sudden his site was shut down, so my guess is a cease and desist.
i mean it was absolutely terrible.
It was a story about meeting steph in a bar, and ended up having sex with her. i remember it like it was yesterday and i was just sitting there like "ugh... this is in bad taste zenk."
next week, gone.
I wouldn't necessarily call "educational" a compliment. "Don't turn your back on that guy" is a lesson.
ReplyDeleteWho should be the most hated? Chris Benoit.
ReplyDeleteIf nothing else 13 year old girls seem fond of the King, (sorry, sorry, know it's not true but it was sitting right there and I couldn't resist)
ReplyDeleteI always loved the story in Flair's book about how everyone hated Johnny Valentine, and then when we was practically crippled from the plane crash and lying drunk and helpless in Red Bastien front yard, Bastien took a piss on him. Really mean but pretty funny to. So for that I'm going to nominate Johnny Valentine.
ReplyDeleteThat's not how I meant it. If I remember the comments correctly (which I may not) I think Arn basically said that he learned a lot about wrestling, especially tag-team wrestling, from Ole. Arn was still young and fairly new to the business when he and Ole teamed up, so I think he felt that partnering with a veteran like Ole helped him grow as a wrestler.
ReplyDeleteI love that line from Hall. Scott Hall: Trolling Pro Wrestling since 1996.
ReplyDeleteJake Roberts, although "hate" isn't really the right word for this particular case. More "disgusted," "ashamed" or generally not liked is more appropriate.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but you're getting into an entirely different realm here.
ReplyDeleteBut on that same DVD there were a few people (Hogan and Dibiase off the top of my head) who also said they got along with him well enough for the most part. Warrior is a strange case, I'd say. He certainly wouldn't win any popularity contests, but I wouldn't call him the most hated either.
ReplyDeletePaul London might be up there. I saw his shoot with Kendrick (which is great) and he's just such a dick. Not that he's wrong in every case but even when he likes someone he's a dick about them.
ReplyDeleteVampiro is pretty despised.
ReplyDeleteTeddy Hart? He never really had the influence or longevity in the major feds to make a lot of enemies there, but he seems to have worn out his welcome everywhere else he's been.
ReplyDeleteI just watched the second shoot between the two and London is like a different person. Is wasn't drinking nor was he angry. The shoot wasnt great but I think it was pretty clear that London was going through some substance abuse issues at the time of that first shoot. He does seem a bit dickish and did not have good things to say about CM Punk but
ReplyDeleteGood one. The guy is so talented but no one wants anything to do with him.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what industry people think of him but I really don't like Gregory Helms
ReplyDeleteI watched that again last night. Just as you said. Also, even Vince said Warrior could be generous and funny. Though I DID get a huge vibe of him being asked "Now say something nice about him"
ReplyDeleteMe neither. He's a lot like Matt Hardy where he thinks he and his opinions are much more important than they actually are. Matt seems to be well liked, but he comes off like that friend who you just humor because he means well.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know there was a second shoot, I'll have to check it out. I loved the first one, really entertaining. There was one where London reviewed wrestling books that was fun to. Complete dick, but fun.
ReplyDeleteArn's a pretty nice guy in general, isn't he? are there a lot of instances of Arn just shitting on people? Heck, on one of the legends of wrestling roundtables where Michael Hayes is giving it to Bischoff for the "my spot" mocking, Bischoff mentions that, when he got on air fired and had to get his face shoved in a man's ass, he was thinking about just walking out. Arn helped talk him through doing it, so he didn't burn a bridge.
ReplyDeleteArn probably just wanted to see Bischoff nose-deep.
ReplyDeleteHe just seems like the loud as fuck prick at the party who kisses black ass and doesn't give other people a chance to talk. That's the impression he gives me anyway which is a shame cos I liked him as the Hurricane
ReplyDeleteOle Anderson is #1 with a bullet.
ReplyDeleteI love Jericho's hate-filled stories about him. Vampiro seems like the truest of d-bags
ReplyDeleteOoh, that's a good one. I'm not sure he has any redeeming qualities anymore.
ReplyDeleteI don't know. CM Punk can give HBK a pretty big Thank You to HBK for saving his career when Shawn stuck up for him at creative meetings (and then there was that neat story at HBK appreciation night and the moment they shared). Bret has nice things to say about him now, too. Then, there's about half of the modern roster that looked up to him and love him just because he'll say "hi" to them backstage. I mean, seriously--every interview with the smaller guys of today list Shawn as an idol or influence.
ReplyDeleteIt just depends on the guys you're referring to as well. Vader doesn't seem like someone who would hold a grudge for 15 years. However, Jim Cornette obviously does. The ones who can't forgive normally have much bigger mental issues than Shawn's obvious emotional and drug issues back in the day. Not to say that Shawn's an angel in every regard today, but he does seem like a decent guy with his fans and colleagues these days.
The stories that get to me are his apathy or distaste for the Make-a-Wish kids. There's quite a few stories about him trying to delay the visits, avoid the kids, or wrap up the meetings as soon as possible. That just kind of screams "dickhead" to me. But I think he's more universally disliked than HATED.
ReplyDeleteI would have gladly burned that bridge rather than have my face shoved into a man's ass on national TV.
ReplyDeleteFor as much the gets bashed, I'm surprised I haven't seen HHH all over this thing.
ReplyDeleteAfter that incident with him moonsaulting off the cage in R.O.H. I don't blame anyone for not wanting anything to do with him. He's lucky no one came out of that with a broken neck. He's known for having a real sense of entitlement too, thinking he should have a nice job and a big push because he's related to Stu Hart, despite doing absolutely nothing to earn it.
ReplyDeleteControversial statement, but I wouldn't be surprised if for a short time, Steve Austin was pretty much universally hated, at least by the WWE for his walkout.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I wouldn't be surprised if post 2003 Triple H somehow got the entire locker room into an anti-Rock position because "he too abandoned us".
One other guy that's probably not too well liked: New Jack. Works stiff as hell, doesn't sell for people (probably because he doesn't really know how), has a tendency to miss bookings because he's in jail, and just can't keep his fucking mouth shut.
ReplyDeleteAlso, given all the stories about them hazing people, I doubt Hardcore Holly and JBL are really popular either.
If Jericho is going out of his way to bury you, then yeah, you're a dick.
ReplyDeleteIt's a given with him. Too obvious an answer.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I just read Brock's autobiography and although he does come across as pretty arrogant, you can't help but respect him for his stance on the business (yes, yes, THE BUSINESS). He only looks out for him and his family and when Vince or Johnny Ace or JR tried to say he was "abandoning" the company when he left, he just shrugged it off as the mind games the higher-ups play to keep guys under their thumbs (which it was).
ReplyDeleteWhen The Fuj says something's in bad taste, you KNOW it must be terrible! 8 )
ReplyDeleteLike Ned Flanders being the devil.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that very people have anything nice to say about the Gagnes, particularly Verne. Even the old-timers he kept on the roster for decades seem indifferent to him.
ReplyDeleteBut Ole Anderson and Mil Mascaras are probably the correct answers.
Really, Verne? I know a lot of guys had issues with him working for him at times, but it was my impression that a lot of people in the wrestling business felt he was a huge mentor and had a ton of respect for him.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think the 'heat' between the NWO and Horsemen over the Horsemen interview is and was totally worked.
ReplyDeleteYeah part of the problem with Warrior is that they commissioned a DVD for people to talk bad about him, which makes seem like the opinion of him a lot worse than it probably is.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, it just seems that whenever people talk about Verne, it's either in negative or indifferent terms. The guys who don't outright trash him seem to choose their words carefully when talking about him and aren't exactly effusive with their praise. It's also interesting that on the AWA DVD, the only person to really put Verne over was Greg. Everyone else seemed content to just talk about the promotion in general.
ReplyDeleteYeah very well may be true, it just surprised me as I've never really seen anybody be venomous towards him, just more or less that there were some missed opportunities because of how stubborn he was.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, I personally find him really likable in the interviews I've seen.
You know what, I don't know about HHH. Sure, disliked/hated, but *most* hated? I agree with Scott, that would go to Ole for sure. HHH has a lot of respect from quite a number of people in wrestling. Sure, there are a lot of people who also hate him but I find that's similar to people who hate Vince. I don't think he is universally disliked like some of the other people in this thread.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Verne:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-6OdotH_4Q
Go to the 6:30 mark. First time I've ever heard about this.
I feel like people have all this respect for Arn and yet there are umpteen stories where he's acted like a complete shithead, but for some reason no one seems to care. I doubt Sid or Disco Inferno are big fans of his.
ReplyDeleteI'd be surprised if the boys hated Austin for it. Upper management, yeah.
ReplyDeleteI have a buddy who wrestles in Ontario, and he's brought Paul London around for a few different autograph sessions, and apparently he just can't contain himself from talking shit about everything about the wrestling business and all the people who he feels did him wrong. Then he also burned bridges with a local promoter not long after I saw him there for showing up drunk or drugged up (on more than just weed) and half assing it in the ring, til the promoter ended up bailing out of the whole thing by having everyone in the crowd rush ringside to try and hug Paul London, just to avoid having to finish the match.
ReplyDeleteI think there are people that like him, he has supporters in some places certainly. Everyone that came from OMEGA gets tons of hate on the internet and amongst workers for reasons that are a little hard to understand sometimes. But he sure does like to share his opinion, that I can say.
ReplyDeleteThat and attempting to murder opponents.
ReplyDeleteYes and no. I think Arn and Flair were pissed off when it happened, but then they accepted Nash's apology. Sounds like there was a lot of politicking, bad blood, and in-fighting in the WCW locker-room at the time. I certainly don't think the heat between Flair and Syxx was worked, I get the impression they legit hated each others' guts.
ReplyDeleteKind of funny how Syxx mocked Flair for doing the same act over and over, and now Waltham has been pretty much playing the same grubby character himself now for well over a decade.
Probably nowhere near the top of the list but I've heard that no one has anything good to say in the business about Jacques Rougeau. His old manager Raven probably ranks somewhere as well.
ReplyDeleteThey may not praise him much, but you don't see many guys outright burying him the way they do Bischoff or Bill Watts.
ReplyDeleteI KNOW RIGHT!
ReplyDeleteI think that with Watts and Bischoff, the people who hate them do so with a fierce intensity and are extremely vocal about said hatred. But I've also seen them praised and defended by others in the industry as well (and not just by DDP and JR). Ole, on the other hand, seems to have A-bombed every bridge in existence and even the guys who would call him a friend don't seem too crazy about him. Even J.J. Dillon, ever the diplomat, stops just short of calling him a dick outright in his book.
ReplyDeleteWell I don't disagree with the idea that Arn was hurt by it once he actually saw it happen, but don't believe that it was an impromptu thing that Arn or Flair was unaware of. I think it was pretty much executed as was planned.
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing was awfully planned out to every detail -- Arn did his speech one week and they had Curt Hennig setup his heel turn, the next week the NWO comes out all with pretty damn good costumes, plus t-shirts made up with asses on it and and do their parody the next week -- all of it just a few weeks before Fall Brawl 1997, which is where they had the NWO vs Horsemen match with Hennig turning.
I think it was planned out the way it happened and then leaked to the dirt sheets that there was heat between them to build interest in the match.
He may have just been extremely uncomfortable when confronted with the realities of terminally ill children and unsure of how to handle the situation. Not everyone has the fortitude to deal with that sort of thing, which is why I can never completely hate Hogan. For all his bullshit, he threw himself into that program before it became fashionable to do so and doesn't always get the credit he deserves for it.
ReplyDeleteHHH reminds me of a guy I used to work with: he was sarcastic, arrogant and at times a bit too sure of himself and his abilities. We actually got along pretty well (which I guess makes me HBK), but I could certainly understand why other people didn't like him. However, he also respected as a highly competent worker and someone who had been around long enough to know the score and give good advice and useful knowledge. I'd imagine that most people in WWE feel the same about The COO.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the Horsemen knew that the NWO was going to come out and make fun of them, but they didn't know the details of what they were going to say. I agree that the overall angle was probably planned out, and Flair may have wanted to work a program with Henning.
ReplyDeleteIt's really so hard to tell with WCW during that stretch, since it seemed like they were constantly changing stuff on the fly.
Yeah, stabbing a guy during a match is usually a bad idea. Bringing down a shitstorm of bad attention from the media for carving up a fat kid wasn't too smart either, though to be fair that wasn't totally New Jack's fault.
ReplyDeleteyeah, that's all fair, but I'm still curious if he took a giant verbal shit on them at any time.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely.
ReplyDeleteBuddy Rogers was pretty much universally despised in his heyday.
ReplyDeleteDon't they all end up acting like dicks and/or get high on multiple substances? Jeff, Matt, Helms, Moore...
ReplyDeleteYeah but that's not the kind of thing that would make other wrestlers hate you. If wrestlers all hated any other wrestlers that did drugs and acted like dicks there'd be more fights in the locker room than the ring.
ReplyDeleteYou're right and that could be the case. But I do have my reservations about that theory based on what's been documented on the guy. Besides, at some point, he has to face the fact that he's the adult in the situation and can do a whole lotta good in that situation.
ReplyDeleteHe is nowhere near the "most hated" (well outside of the Rougeau family) but for someon who is just universally disliked- how about the Dynamite Kid. Everyone pretty much says the same thing, "Great talent... total asshole".
ReplyDeleteI mean even the guys who considered him a friend will openly talk about what a mean spirited jerk he was. In fact, in his book he talks about what a total bag of cocks he was and how he is not sorry for it. That type of total dedication to being a bastard has to be worth something.
Personally I love Brock. I love him even MORE now that he's so clearly shown himself to be a mercenary that couldn't give two shits about his "legacy" in a fake sport.
ReplyDeleteHe'sa UFC Champion. He's an NCAA Champion. Oh, and he played around in a rec league every once in awhile for millions and millions of dollars. His career arc RULES. The only guy that has it better is Rocky.
There's a story in Batista's book about a match involving a green-as-grass Orton and Batista versus The Dudleyz. Can't remember specifics, but Orton got injured and Bully Ray was a complete dickhead about the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteI live in NY and was actually at that show at what is now known as Izod Center. It was the same card where they filmed the Freebirds- Gagne-Tonga Kid match for The Highlander movie. I also remember the Channel 9 report and it was the first time I remember there ever being a recording of wrestlers conferring during a match.
ReplyDeleteI think so. Lots of guys hate him.
ReplyDeleteBlack ass?
ReplyDeleteYeah it seemed a few years ago that Roma was begging for attention with anyone who'd listen, pretty much talking about (giving idiotic shoot inteviews) anyone who came near him and even finding something wrong with Stemboat. Now if you had a problem with Steamboat, then it was YOU who was the problem, not him lol!
ReplyDeleteDoes ANYBODY like Shane Douglas???????
ReplyDelete