Now we're of similar age, and if you remember the Apter mags of our youth, the covers were always Hogan, Flair...and Rick Martel, the AWA world champ, who was this hotshot and the future of wrestling. Martel wrestled Flair in champion vs. champion matches -- see the link to a match in Japan below -- possible Match of the Day.
So...what the heck happened? He signed with Vince and tagged with Zenk and Santana, which was weird since this was THE AWA CHAMPION. Then he became the Model with the legendary vignettes, but stayed in the midcard. Then way later, he had that late comeback run in WCW (where he could still work) with Booker T until he got injured for good.
Was this Vince being Vince (Martel is not my creation nor is he big enough)? Why didn't Martel sign with the NWA and have a Steamboat-like face run against Flair? And what are your thoughts on his career overall?
Here's the link to Martel vs Flair (AWA champ vs NWA champ) in All Japan. This is good stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCSlFPoXowM
So...what the heck happened? He signed with Vince and tagged with Zenk and Santana, which was weird since this was THE AWA CHAMPION. Then he became the Model with the legendary vignettes, but stayed in the midcard. Then way later, he had that late comeback run in WCW (where he could still work) with Booker T until he got injured for good.
Was this Vince being Vince (Martel is not my creation nor is he big enough)? Why didn't Martel sign with the NWA and have a Steamboat-like face run against Flair? And what are your thoughts on his career overall?
Here's the link to Martel vs Flair (AWA champ vs NWA champ) in All Japan. This is good stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCSlFPoXowM
Well, keep in mind that the Apter mags were based on what would sell, and good-looking babyface Martel was a better bet for that than some of the other alternatives. And the Can-Am Connection was a pretty massive success and was on track for an epic tag title reign, don't forget. Zenk flaking out and leaving wasn't really Martel's fault. Even Strike Force as the sloppy seconds had a six month title reign. I think after that, though, the back injury really forced him to change his style, and the Model character just screamed midcard. Plus he only seemed to be motivated in bursts, like the Shawn Michaels feud in 92. I think the position he was in by that point in his career was fine given his work and age.
Speak of the devil, I actually watched Martel's shoot yesterday http://youtu.be/Ggqqjw7YoTw the guy has aged differently to what I expected, but still, good for him being one of the success stories who saved his money and invested it wisely after he retired from wrestling.
ReplyDeleteAlso speaking of Martel's workrate, I never got how most of his matches in the WWF were pretty bad, yet when he got in WCW, his workrate improved and was having decent-good matches on a weekly basis.
From what I understand he wasn't that over as AWA Champion. He was an example of someone who won due to being in the right place at the right time in a place with no real alternatives. The fans turned on him while he held the belt and his title loss was viewed as a mercy killing.
ReplyDeleteAs for why he was a "better" workee as he became older, it may be due to the quality of workers he worked with, particularly as The Model. All the better workers at the time were heels,thus the faces theyvworked with were not that good. Thus there were only so much you could do with them. Plus the IC belt were held mostly be heels who worked with the better faces. This was before multiple midcard titles and rapid fire title changes. You could only get so high on the card before going done. Plus he was perceived as a bad promo due to his accent and how his English came off. I liked the character and he did fine but I he was not the top of the midcard and there is only so much you could do after getting fed to Hogan.
From what I have heard in interviews, he demanded the heel turn and was thinking of leaving the company until Vince gave in and agreed to let him turn.
ReplyDeleteIt was most likely his English holding him back in WWF. Even though he's fluent, the heavy accent just wasn't acceptable to fans at that time.
ReplyDeleteI'LL TELL YOU WHAT THOUGH. WHEN I WAS 9, I WAS STARTING TO GET INTO WCW AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I STAYED WATCHING WAS BECAUSE RICK MARTEL. HE HAD A PRETTY GOOD COMEBACK RUN IN WCW AND THE TV TITLE SCENE WAS ACTUALLY WORTH WATCHING. YOU HAD MARTEL FEUD WITH BOOKER WHO WAS FEUDING WITH SATURN. PUT FINLAY IN THE MIX. GOOD TIMES~~~
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I always liked the blindfold match as sort of a guilty pleasure comedy. Plus Martel got his so it was all good.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Martel vs. Shawn match. Just a really well-booked comedy match with great crowd reactions and something they could NEVER pull off now.
ReplyDeleteNow if he were an All-American Boy like the Rougeau Brothers. Man, what a great theme song. Jimmy Hart, everyone.
ReplyDeleteYeah, 80's and early 90's WWF didn't really support workrate--they cared more for "character" and "story" than anything else. Duggan was an AWESOME brawler in the UWF and then became a cartoon by 89.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to Martel: Harley Race (7 time World Champ) was made to be a King. True, he was at the tail end of his career, but they could do better than a joke title.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I thought of when I read the title was that when Pro Wrestling Illustrated had its 10th anniversary in 1989, Martel made the list of 12 that "Made a Difference" (which was strictly limited to wrestlers, so promoters/managers/etc. didn't count). And he was only the second most dubious inclusion.
ReplyDeleteGreat athlete, great look... not much charisma.
ReplyDeleteIf Harley says he was honored to have that position, that's all that matters. Even he admits that he should have been passed over at that point.
ReplyDeleteTHREADJACK:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lordsofpain.net/news/wwe/Backstage_News_on_a_Kofi_Kingston_Heel_Turn_Another_HHH_Change_In_WWE_Developmental.html
"A new change in WWE developmental is to give the talents bullet points instead of
scripts and teaching them to do promos like they used to be done."
if this turns out to be true it could work wonders for the quality of their shows.
Worthy of a separate thread. I'd start one but the posting mechanism doesn't work well on my phone. Great idea, though.
ReplyDeleteAfter years of being hated by so many, I really think Triple H is going to end up being the savior.
ReplyDeleteSo who was the most dubious?
ReplyDeleteTHREADJACK:
ReplyDeletePrice of WM is going up this year. $60 for regular and $70 for HD.
HHH bless HHH
ReplyDeleteHad that been in '95, #1 would have been Fatu
ReplyDeleteCautiously optimistic.
ReplyDeletewho knows? DDPs in ring career also seems a lot less important than what he does nowadays.
ReplyDeletehe had his work boots ON in WCW, looked a lil "well" as well.
ReplyDeleteIm thinking Bisch was paying him per app.
i swear CLM, i was just talking abt Superbrawl 8 with Booker/Saturn/Martel
ReplyDeletenot much?
ReplyDeleteagree to disagree. while he wasnt oozing it. he had it well enough. especially especially match charisma
WM IS TOO DAMN HIGH!!!
ReplyDeleteNow there's an idea. Do the Martel/Jake feud with Martel/Hogan instead.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing it was Tommy Rich
ReplyDelete"The fans turned on him while he held the belt"
ReplyDeleteSo he was like an 80s version of Cena?
Thank you King of Kings, the Messiah, the Game, the Moses, the Ass Kicker, the Noah, and whatever else Triple H is calling himself this week.
ReplyDeleteOrdering WM is now more expensive than nose bleed seats.
ReplyDeleteis there a kd lang woman poster who never uses capitals here as well?
ReplyDeleteIf it was a 10-year anniversary, why 12 wrestlers?
ReplyDeleteIf they had wellness in 95 would they have been saying this about Waylon Mercy? (the initials WM made me think of him for some reason)
ReplyDeleteHow is being called the "King of Wrestling" a joke title? The mere fact that Vince gave him that gimmick and push considering how he treated other non-WWE guys shows how much respect he had for him.
ReplyDeleteHow so? There's no reason to think Sheamus can't also learn to cute a good promo.
ReplyDeleteWas thinking the same thing - his comeback in WCW was pretty remarkable. Martel got himself in AMAZING shape and the three way feud with Booker T and Saturn was shockingly fun.
ReplyDeleteDisagree. Martel was really charismatic - while Scott is right in that the Model gimmick was midcard, Martel played it to the hilt and did a great job with it.
ReplyDeleteNot quite. Cheapest individual seats on stubhub are going for 94 before fees. Cheapest seats together are going for 109 each before fees. Plus, watching from the extreme nosebleeds at a stadium show really means watching the jumbotron more than anything. At that point, you're better off staying warm and dry at home.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing Martel became persona non grata after the steroids trial (I think he testified for the prosecution), since he has never shown up as a legend.
ReplyDeleteHe and Garea did a run-in about 6 years ago, IIRC. Might be Rick's call.
ReplyDeleteI hope they still script Sandow's stuff though, his character works best that way unless he can do REALLY good adlib stuff.
ReplyDeleteThe last time management had talent take more responsibility for their characters, we only had the biggest run since Hogan.
ReplyDeleteLet the horses run, Vince.
No, I remember him showing up at least once - during one of the Night of Champions PPVs, maybe?
ReplyDeleteThe Model is one of my all-time faves and I still think he should have gotten an IC title run (although I certainly understand why he didn't). He had the goods in the ring but he tended to use a more methodical moveset during his heel run. He's just a guy who was firmly entrenched in the midcard and wasn't going anywhere.
ReplyDeleteYeah he and Garea were in the crowd and then hopped in the ring to run off the tag champs...Rhodes & DiBiase maybe? Don't remember what year, but it was def NOC.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking more an ee cummings type.
ReplyDeleteI cheered Rick Martel when he fought Razor Ramon in the finals for the IC title.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was an amazing run out of nowhere, and yet just so brief to think what could have been. As Fuj said above, he had his work boots ON.
ReplyDeleteI'm not following Scott, the Model was a strictly midcard gimmick, yet it was basically the same template as Mr. Perfect? The vignettes, everything.
ReplyDeleteMore likely he just never had that serious moment -- instead of spraying Jake in the face, he should've beaten him with the sprayer and stated that he wasn't some pretty boy to be slept on.
The model before his wm VIII match vs Tatanka
ReplyDelete"I heard there might not even be amtach, becasue I heard Tatanka is still outside SCALPING TIckets hahahaha"
Yeah but the Attitude Era is LONG gone and they can't repeat it even if they tried, the overall culture is different and it would be just a retread. I'm all for the talent having more mic freedom though.
ReplyDelete"Zenk flaking out and leaving wasn't really Martel's fault" So what you're saying is Tom Zenk's claim that Martel was paying him less isn't credible? I'm sure you know a lot more about the situation that I ever could. I LOVED Martel, heck when i was a kid I used to IDOLIZE him during his time on the local Montreal wrestling scene and I think I totally marked out and cried when he lost his title to Stan Hansen.
ReplyDeleteWatching Martel-Booker T at Superbrawl and holy shit does Martel get the jobbiest jobber entrance music ever.
ReplyDeleteThat is what was awesome.
ReplyDelete"Hey, who's that jobber?"
"Holy shit it's Rick Martel!"
Hey boyo, I like to fight, fella!
ReplyDeleteSo long as he can remember that what will be any different?
Hennig was a better wrestler and talker than Martel. Plus Mr; Perfect was about being the perfect athlete and wrestler. The Model gimmick was all about looking good.
ReplyDeleteNot that Martel was a slouch by any means.
NO WAY it matches last year's buys. NO WAY. Willing to bet fake money with Scott or Meltzer or anyone on that. I'll eat crow if I'm wrong, but I don't think it comes close to last year's number.
ReplyDeleteMe too! Very interesting. Really left me wondering if he and Patterson were close.
ReplyDeleteThey really buried Martel on the way out of the AWA. Hansen just beats him unmercifully and makes him submit to his own move. As the match happened in Japan I'm not even sure if it aired in the US. Here's the link..
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDUBMtTBpCs
Zenk claims that Martel negotiated a deal that paid Martel a significant amount more than Zenk and Zenk thought they had gone in as a team and therefore he felt he should receive the same amount of money. When he found out that he wasn't he quit. I don't think that's flaking out, that's taking someone (Martel) at their word and then being pissed when you find out that you were deceived.
Whatever happened to Zenk? His rants were great, he'd be great on twitter.
That is on the resale market. You could get in for $50 during initial sale.
ReplyDeleteI'm not advocating for the Attitude Era to return, just to return to the same ownership of one's own character. Guys who live their characters do better.
ReplyDeleteTHOSE WERE GOOD TIMES, MAN. THAT 3 WAY ALONG WITH THE BEST OF 7 SERIES MADE BOOKER T INTO ONE OF THE MOST LIKABLE BABYFACES IN WCW.
ReplyDeleteALWAYS HATED THAT BANDAID ON HIS NOSE THOUGH. ROFL
ReplyDeleteCan't speak to his AWA stuff, but whether a face or heel in the WWF, he always seemed, to me, to be trying for a crowd reaction, as opposed to generating one. Like Swagger does today. That's the difference. Just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteMartel followed the same path as Santana: First run as a tag team champion with a WWF vet, leave to get more experience, then come back. But unlike Santana, when Martel returned in late 1986, Hogan, Savage & Roberts were so over as the top faces and Santana, JYD, & Steamboat were solid faces in the mid-card, Vince didn't need or want Martel as a singles guy at that point. Tag team success with Zenk then Santana solidified Martel as a tag team worker but a run like Santana had upon his return was not meant to be.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sure Vince was the one paying Zenk, not Martel. And it wouldn't surprise me if Martel was out-earning Zenk, Martel had a previous WWF run and had an impressive resume when he returned. Zenk was in the early stages of his career at that point. As unfair as it sounds, why would Zenk get the same money that Martel was?
ReplyDeleteToo bad about the injury, I'm thinking he could do maybe two more good years in the midcard... Programs w raven, benoit, jericho coulda been tailor made
ReplyDeleteYeah.
ReplyDelete"Oim going to kick your arse."
Not much to it. (And I like Sheamus)
Yeah, Martel was REALLY unmotivated during a lot of his heel run- he just never seemed to care as much. That heel turn at WrestleMania where he just kept throwing his hands up was weak, too- just the exact same move over and over again. The midcard angle didn't help- I always figured he could have been the IC Champ if he'd been motivated, but he never really was.
ReplyDeleteI think Zenk bailed after the threat of a lawsuit over some REALLY nasty comments he made about Stephanie McMahon or something. His bile-filled rants were hilarious at times, though (I especially liked "J.R.- FITNESS GURU" over a picture of the fat-assed Okie, regarding JR's public insults of the WWF's workers' physiques).
ReplyDeleteI had that issue, and the 12 were Martel, Rich, Hogan, Savage, Flair, Steamboat, the Von Erichs (as one), Andre, Piper, Backlund, the Road Warriors and Rhodes. We had many arguments about the list, and whether people like Race, Brody, Hansen, Bockwinkel and so on should have been included.
ReplyDeleteThis is crazy that Martel got brought up on the thread because on Friday as I was roadtripping up to Minneapolis for the Jerry Lynn retirement show my nerd mind wandered through wrestling and I thought about what would happen if Rick Martel went back to WWF in late '97 instead of going to WCW. Would he have still blown out his leg? Or would be have gotten a nice veteran nostalgia run. On the heel side he had guys like Mero, Jarrett and Owen to run with and could've welcome kids like Edge, Val Venis & D-Lo in throughout 1998. He screamed European Champion and could've had some fun Canadian alliances throughout. He would've probably faded to the back in mid 2000 by after testing Angle, Jericho and The Radicalz through the first half of the year.
ReplyDelete