Here is an excellent article describing the on-screen character of the manager, promoter, commentator, et al that we love to hate. Heyman/Dangerously portrays a misogynist to the Nth degree and improves the quality of programming in doing so. While some men shy away from his true distaste for women in prominent roles women despise the character to the core. That, to me, is what makes Paul Heyman a fascinating player on the wrestling stage. Enjoy! https://medium.com/p/311b4cd1d4f9
I RESPECT YOU, BROOKE MAN!
ReplyDeleteI can just see the fans chanting GOLDBUG! GOLDBUG! GOLDBUG!!!
ReplyDeleteYea, I cant argue that.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Tremendous in the ring, but not an Austin/Hogan/Rock type draw. Not even close
ReplyDeleteIf Shawn was willing to take the Sting-type shit-kickings before finally overcoming and slaying the monster, I bet HBK might have been a slightly better draw during that '96 run
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day when all is said and done, Hogan will go down as the most iconic wrestler of all time, his name is more synonymous than anybody else's and always will be, because he was the first to take wrestling into the 'pop culture' mainstream and make it legitimately cool to be a fan. When I ask all non fans and family members what they think of when they see or hear about wrestling everyone says 'Hulk Hogan'... Austin funny enough despite spearheading the WWE's next golden age is practically unknown to the common outsider.
ReplyDeleteHogan brought it to the mainstream and probably has the biggest highlight reel of famous moments in history, he is the GOAT (and I'm not even a Hogan fan).
On Austin's podcast, Lawler said that they had to stop running Kaufman's promos because the Memphis TV station was getting death threats.
ReplyDeleteVader was a victim of politics and working a stiff style that a lot of guys outside of Japan didn't want to deal with. But there was a period in WCW where he was becoming the heel fans were getting into and with a good angle could have been a Road Warriors style Monster Babyface.
ReplyDeleteMemphis had the Macho Warrior Ric Hogan.
ReplyDeleteUh what?
ReplyDeleteIf we're going purely on talent in the ring, Shawn Michaels.
ReplyDeleteShirley this doesn't need explaining again?
ReplyDeleteWas Hogan a big deal? Sure. Is he in the same class as Triple H? Come on, be serious.
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting him to take on a Citizen X gimmick for years now
ReplyDeleteDo we think he's actually going to come out and do this on TV? It would make sense with him giving the mask to Steph and such. Sorry if all this stuff is obvious and already implied.
ReplyDeleteIn real-world logic this would kick off into a feud with the Real Americans, or maybe an alliance. God knows with those groups. In WWE logic it would never be mentioned, as they're at different spots on the card.
ReplyDeleteO.M.G.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/MlLRt7gARL0
DONT CALL HIM SHIRLEY!
ReplyDeleteThis is my criteria for the GOAT.
ReplyDeleteNot counting box office, outside ventures or anything outside the business.
I am going by:
-bell to bell (workrate)
-promos (whether they be insane, deliberate/serious, or comedy)
-charisma (whether it be match, or anything else else that falls into an intangible category)
-look (not necessarily jacked, but a distinguished look)
Move over Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels is my choice. Flair was the man, but that second run won me over. He did so much with doing so little. He was already good in wrestling pysch, but he took it to another level all the while keeping the workrate at an acceptable level.
I dare anyone to watch Survivor Series 03 cold and not get invested in the 5v5 Austin/Bischoff match by the end. once its 3v1 HBK takes it to another level and had Dallas eating out of his hand.
that is truly my signs of the GOAT.
as a rock-ribbed libertarian I would mark the fuck out if Kane exploded the ringpost, grabbed the stick, and the just dropped Ludwig von Mises name on Damien Sandow..
ReplyDeleteIf you exclude crossover appeal, "lifting up the business" and the other stuff we talked about in the A+ thread, and go by your listed criteria, there are only 2-3 choices...HBK, Flair, Austin. I lean HBK but could be talked into the other two depending on my mood.
ReplyDeleteIt'd be hilarious if his gimmick was giving boring rants about the gold standard and fiat money. He could also quote the Ron Paul newsletters.
ReplyDeleteNone of these conservatives seemed to be against big government when Bush was in office and putting all the tax dollars into the military. Being lumped in with those homunculi makes me regret voting for Gary Johnson.
ReplyDeleteAs long as he doesn't get into the creepy anti-Semitism hardcore goldbugs get into.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Bryan and that dude from the Wyatt family are the true GOATs. One's a goat face and the other wears a goat mask.
ReplyDeleteExcellent article. It always confuses and somewhat troubles me to see intelligent people writing about wrestling in the way academics would write about, say, sociology.
ReplyDeleteDear lord.
ReplyDeleteIf he does do this as a gimmick, does that mean the Wyatts beat conservatism into the people they target?
ReplyDeletePretty sure my wife could kick your ass.
ReplyDeleteWait....Roy Rogers McFreely? Dafuq?
ReplyDeleteI think that Ron Paul was against big government than as well. I don't support Paul's views but you really can't call him a flip flopper. His main thing has always been the Fed, the gold standard, and legalizing drugs because of personal liberty.
ReplyDeleteHis only hypocritical thing is his stance on women.
Gordie Howe was not a superstar caliber player anymore when he was playing hockey in his 50's
ReplyDeleteWayne Gretzky did shit after Edmonton and LA were done with him.
They're still two of the greatest hockey players of all time.
Ric Flair didnt retire in timely fashion, that doesn't some how negate how awesome he was in his prime.
And he was still pretty good all things considered when he "retired" at WM 24
I don't even know what I said to offend them so!
ReplyDeleteJust to threadjack.
ReplyDeleteHow about that Varlamov guy?
He'll turn into the male Ayn Rand. Who chokeslams people on the side.
ReplyDeleteHow about him? Is this just because he plays for Colorado? At any rate, he hasn't even been officially charged yet.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I was curious how Colorado fans might be taken this.
ReplyDeleteCause he's gonna get ribbed by snarky crowds in other markets, whether it's right or not. You think this is gonna lessen the number of starts he gets?
According to Patrick Roy, no.
ReplyDeleteI got to meet her and she was sincerely sweethearted. And gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteAs far as purely in-ring talent goes, Ricky Steamboat and Kurt Angle can breathe some of that rarified Michaels air -- Both could go with anybody at any time under any stipulation
ReplyDeleteComes from his birth name, right? Rogowski?
ReplyDelete