Was Austin's Pop diminished?

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

You know watching the sacrifice video I remember when Austin had just began his run on top. Everytime the guy moved the fans went nuts. I mean they lost it for the guy. He got popped from the entire arena everytime he moved. Then I noticed in later years, specifically after his neck surgery that his pop was not as big as it used to be. The arena's still exploded but there was no longer that roof-blowing off the place feel. You no longer felt the magic so to speak. The fans didn't go crazy whenever he would do anything like they used to. Did anyone else notice this?

And when Austin returns do you think that his pop will be as big as it used to? Do you think the fans will take to him like they did in 97-99? Will they go crazy for every little move the guy makes?

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

I think they will and I'll tell you why.

 

He'll get pushed.

 

Name another face that fans like that gets pushed.

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

Umm.......RV.....sorry that's not right.

That is sort of weird. They never had plans to make Austin into a huge star but he got over on his own with his attitude and his new catchphrase that they were practically forced to push him b/c he was getting over.

But nowadays if someone is getting over, rather than push them like the fans want, like Austin and Rock, they just find a way to kill there heat. I still say that they'll never be able to completely kill RVD's heat. There will always be that guy in the background going "RVD! RVD!"

[Guest Shanghai Kid 2003]

Austin was getting unimaginable pops in 97-98...but it wasn't there in 99. I mean you can make a serious argument that Rock was way more popular than Austin in 99.

[Guest Zero_Cool]

I disagree about the pops Austin would get. I have the best of RAW dvd, and unless they changed the audio on the segments, Austin's pops in 1997 weren't that good, and could be compared to RVD's right now.

 

Now, after RR 98, they really started to pick up, IMO.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

That's because people realized the WWE was actually going to push him.

 

That's also why I think RVD would have been incredibly over if the WWE had ever given fans a reason to cheer.

[Guest Shanghai Kid 2003]

Maybe Austin wasn't as popular as he was in 98, but he was WAY more over than RVD is now.

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

Yes but RVD is over for no reason. He wasn't pushed. He showed up and they went crazy. If he had gotten a push like Austin, like BPS said giving the fans a reason to cheer, then he might've made it to Austin level.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

No I'm sure he wouldn't have reached Austin levels because Austin was multi-dimensional.

 

But he would be blowing away everyone else on the roster by a wide margin.

[Guest BoboBrazil]

Same thing with Booker T. He was getting way over so they cut his promo time now and he is wrestling in meaningless matches and jobbing 90% of the time.

[Guest Shanghai Kid 2003]

It doesn't matter if RVD gets pushed, he's too one dimensional to ever be the #1 guy. Booker T could do it, cause he has the charisma and promo skills and he can get over on his promos alone. RVD will never be able to get over with his "everything is cool" catchphrase.

 

Given, if they pushed him like Brock, than he would be a main eventer, but he'd have to work with really good mic workers.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Says who?

 

Vince?

 

How's his business doing?

[Guest Shanghai Kid 2003]

It's just a fact, the only way to get over without mic skills is to get a huge push as somebody dominant like Brock has. It's too late for RVD to ever get that push.

 

RVD was at his most popular when he first came in the WWF, I doubt anything he does can surpass those first few months where he got cheered over everybody.

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

You don't have to be dominant to get over. You can get over on skills alone. Hello. Remember Royal Rumble 2003? Chris Benoit?

[Guest Shanghai Kid 2003]

Yeah, but can RVD put out matches like Benoit? I don't think so.

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

Yeah but the fans really dig RVD's flashy offense.

[Guest Shanghai Kid 2003]

At the same, the fans probably realize just how stale his offense has gotten.

[Guest CanadianChick]

The thing is, you are assuming that RVD will never be the number 1 guy because of his personality, it's not a "fact". You can't state something is fact if it isn't proven.

[Guest CanadianChick]

At the same, the fans probably realize just how stale his offense has gotten.

Oh, so thats why he is still getting cheered like crazy?

[Guest Shanghai Kid 2003]

His entrance gets cheered like crazy, that doesn't mean the crowd is into his matches.

 

And please don't tell me that his offense isn't stale.

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

The crowd is very into his matches. That's why the chant "RVD!" during every match and cheer when the guy hits anything big.

[Guest HartFan86]

Austin is the most over face in the company right now and he's not even come back yet.

[Guest Brian]

But RVD doesn't understand how to put together matches like Benoit. I mean, all that great build, making himself look strong and letting his opponent look good, and teases; and plus the months they spent building up submission hold really helped get him over.

 

They missed a big opportunity to push RVD.

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

I know........RVD is nowhere near Benoit. DUH. I'm just saying that RVD could get over on his flashy moveset and his "whatever" attitude. Oh wait he did get over on that. And he would be huge if they pushed him. I know I cry about it at night to.

[Guest Brian]

If they had pushed him. But you've got to run with what's hot. And right now, re-build RVD and strike with Booker.

 

What I was saying was Benoit just has a way of holding himself in matches that reflects and keeps him strong, and RVD doesn't have that in his ringwork if he's put in the same position.