Most Emotional Wrestling Promos

[Guest BobBacklundRules]

The Terry Funk "forever" speech that was in the Beyond the Mat (a great must see video) got me to thinking about what was the most emotional wrestling promo of all time. Any suggestions?

[Guest Ace309]

Well, just to be different...

 

The only recent promo that's stirred up a lot in me was Chris Jericho's against the Rock. Just to see the man trying desperately to justify his title reigns when he won them through the help of others and was seen as nothing more than a way to hotshot them onto the Rock really made me think. Here's the top worker in the company, supposedly, and all the focus is on this flashy crowd-pleaser who can't do half of what Jericho can in the ring... and everyone thinks Jericho's a joke. Well...

 

"THIS IS NOT A JOKE.

 

I AM NOT A JOKE!"

 

Still fires me up a little.

[Guest T®ITEC]

Well, just to be different...

 

The only recent promo that's stirred up a lot in me was Chris Jericho's against the Rock. Just to see the man trying desperately to justify his title reigns when he won them through the help of others and was seen as nothing more than a way to hotshot them onto the Rock really made me think. Here's the top worker in the company, supposedly, and all the focus is on this flashy crowd-pleaser who can't do half of what Jericho can in the ring... and everyone thinks Jericho's a joke. Well...

 

"THIS IS NOT A JOKE.

 

I AM NOT A JOKE!"

 

Still fires me up a little.

That was actually the first promo that came to my mind... I haven't seen that much intensity and passion from Jericho since. Good times..

 

 

Another more modern promo would be Paul Heyman's from SmackDown last November. He seemed to take all of his frustrations and use them to verbally destroy Vince McMahon. It gave me chills... Until Michael Cole called him a "pompous idiot".

 

In late October of 1998, Shane McMahon also cut a wicked promo on Vince. It was just.. fantastic. Until they threw together the Corporation at Survivor Series and made the whole thing worthless. Psh.

 

EDIT: Ah, well. Here's a transcript of Shane's promo, from [slash] Wrestling:

 

"I don't listen to you anymore." (big pop) "I am an officer, more importantly, a stockholder of this company. And what you did to Stone Cold Steve Austin was wrong Dad, you were wrong. I just wanted to tell you personally that it was me, it was ME, Dad, that hired Stone Cold back, Dad, it was me. Hey, I guess I finally have your attention now, don't I? After 28 years, I FINALLY have your attention. I've seen Superstars come, and I've seen Superstars go, and why Dad why? Because it's always been about your ego. You said it yourself - no one's bigger than Vince McMahon, oh no. All my life, people have asked me 'Boy, what's it like to be Vince McMahon's son, boy, isn't that great? And I have lied year after year after year, to protect you, to protect our family name. Well the lying stops now! I'm tired of it! You never cared about me! Everything - I couldn't do anything right for you! Nothing is ever right. My grades in school were never good enough for you. My athletic accomplishments were never good enough for you. My business deals - no matter how much money I made you - was never good enough for YOU! The only thing I ever wanted from you, the only thing I ever wanted was for you to be proud of me, of ME! But I finally figured it out, that's never ever gonna happen, because it's never been about me, it's been about you - YOU, DAD! It's always about perception, perception. Ever since, I'm always known as Vince's boy - 'how does Vince's boy make him look?' It wasn't about me, it was about how I made you look, that perception, at your big corporate parties." "you're my son..." "Yeah I'm your son, but I'm not your little boy any more. I'm a man and I stand in this ring as a man. I'm no longer your boy, Dad. I'm proud of who I am. I am proud of the person I have become. My name is Shane McMahon, and for 28 years, for 28 years I've finally built up enough courage to face you hear today, to stand up to YOU! I guess now you have something to be proud of me about, don't you Dad, because I finally stood up to you and I had the BRASS to do it! Isn't it ironic, I guess I'm just like you after all, isn't that right Dad?"

[Guest shlidgn90]

in ecw: mick foley's anti hardcore promos and the final malenko/eddy match

in nwa/wcw: ric flairs return to nitro. flairs final nitro promo

in wwf: any jake roberts promo during his savage fued

[Guest AM The Kid]

"You're my brother Owen..."

[Guest bravesfan]

In late October of 1998, Shane McMahon also cut a wicked promo on Vince. It was just.. fantastic. Until they threw together the Corporation at Survivor Series and made the whole thing worthless. Psh.

 

EDIT: Ah, well. Here's a transcript of Shane's promo, from [slash] Wrestling:

 

"I don't listen to you anymore." (big pop) "I am an officer, more importantly, a stockholder of this company. And what you did to Stone Cold Steve Austin was wrong Dad, you were wrong. I just wanted to tell you personally that it was me, it was ME, Dad, that hired Stone Cold back, Dad, it was me. Hey, I guess I finally have your attention now, don't I? After 28 years, I FINALLY have your attention. I've seen Superstars come, and I've seen Superstars go, and why Dad why? Because it's always been about your ego. You said it yourself - no one's bigger than Vince McMahon, oh no. All my life, people have asked me 'Boy, what's it like to be Vince McMahon's son, boy, isn't that great? And I have lied year after year after year, to protect you, to protect our family name. Well the lying stops now! I'm tired of it! You never cared about me! Everything - I couldn't do anything right for you! Nothing is ever right. My grades in school were never good enough for you. My athletic accomplishments were never good enough for you. My business deals - no matter how much money I made you - was never good enough for YOU! The only thing I ever wanted from you, the only thing I ever wanted was for you to be proud of me, of ME! But I finally figured it out, that's never ever gonna happen, because it's never been about me, it's been about you - YOU, DAD! It's always about perception, perception. Ever since, I'm always known as Vince's boy - 'how does Vince's boy make him look?' It wasn't about me, it was about how I made you look, that perception, at your big corporate parties." "you're my son..." "Yeah I'm your son, but I'm not your little boy any more. I'm a man and I stand in this ring as a man. I'm no longer your boy, Dad. I'm proud of who I am. I am proud of the person I have become. My name is Shane McMahon, and for 28 years, for 28 years I've finally built up enough courage to face you hear today, to stand up to YOU! I guess now you have something to be proud of me about, don't you Dad, because I finally stood up to you and I had the BRASS to do it! Isn't it ironic, I guess I'm just like you after all, isn't that right Dad?"

This promo (though I believe, not in its entirety) can be found on the "Best of Raw: Volumes 1 & 2" DVD.

 

My vote goes to the Final WCW Promo of Ric Flair.

[Guest godthedog]

flair's always great for an emotional moment. there were 2 promos he did early this year that just floored me. i think they were both post-rumble.

 

one was when flair was begging vince not to bring in the nwo, asking if it was because flair had beaten him...just screaming at vince, begging vince to hit him.

 

the other was when he was in richmond, doing his fake retirement speech. it was obvious that he wasn't really going to retire that night, but he sold it so well that for that promo i really did believe he might retire. he had tears in his eyes and sold it like the real thing. when i saw hogan's fake retirement speech later in the year i kept comparing it to flair's & thinking "man, this sucks."

[Guest eiker_ir]

whenever i see 'emotional promo' i always remember the JEricho one against the Rock in january...

 

the look he had in his is stamped in my mind forever....

 

easily Jericho's best 'serious' promo ever imo.

[Guest Anglesault]

Heyman's Two Major Invasion Promos were awesome.

 

He also had a couple minor ones where he gave the last rights that were very good.

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

- Jericho's "I am not a joke" promo

- Malenko and Guerrero's final promo's from ECW....to this day I have to hold back the tears while watching that thing.

- Cactus Jacks anti-hardcore promos

- Austin and Rocks "sitdown interview" with JR before WrestleMania 17 rules all because near the end Austin gets dead serious and says "I need to beat you Rock. I need it more then you could ever imagine." That line gets me all the time.

- Raven's "Keyser Soze" promo on Tommy Dreamer.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Foley's farewell speech before NWO.

 

Flair's return promo in Greensboro.

[Guest bob_barron]

Jericho's 'I am not a joke' promo is too awesome. Especially with the tears flowing in his eyes. I still watch it from time to time and it still gives me goosebumps

[Guest converge241]

Flair @ Starcade vs Vader

[Guest chirs3]

Barron, you have the Jericho/Rock promo? I don't suppose it's on your computer, and available to be sent to me, is it?

[Guest bob_barron]

Sorry chirs3- I have it on tape

[Guest deadbeater]

Foley's running down The Rock because he thought The Rock threw Foley's book in the garbage.

 

Foley's speech after giving HHH the rub in HITC. He lost? didn't sound like it.

 

Dame the WWE miss him.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

Foley's speecdh the week after DX reformed when he ran down the fans for chanting Austin's name while Foley and Funk were beaten.

 

Ric Flair's speech on the final Nitro.

[Guest ShooterJay]

Is there anyone who can transcribe the Jericho promo, or have it on their computer?

[Guest bob_barron]

Merry Xmas Shooter (from CRZ)-

 

Jericho: Cut that music! Cut the damn music NOW!! How dare you, Rock. How dare you disrespect me, Rock! I AM THE UNDISPUTED CHAMPION - I AM THE MAN YOU WILL BE FACING THIS SUNDAY AT THE ROYAL RUMBLE AND YOU HAVE NOT EVEN MENTIONED MY NAME ONE TIME! On top of that, everybody's talking about facing you at WrestleMania as if it's some kind of a foregone conclusion that you're gonna beat me this Sunday - as if I'm some kind of a fluke champion, or a transitional champion, but they can all go to hell if they thing that! And all of YOU all can go to hell if you think that! But most importantly, Rock, YOU can go to hell, too. Because there's something a lot more painful than any beating you can get, Rock, and that is the truth - because the truth hurts!" Pause for "Rock E" chant. "The truth hurts, Rock, and the truth is you had the chance to become the Undisputed champ last month at Ven gea nce, but YOU FAILED! YOU were beaten by ME! And you wanna talk about facing the Undertaker or Steve Austin at WrestleMania - you can face anybody you want at WrestleMania, but it won't be for this Championship! ["Ass hole!"] Because this championship is not yours, Rock - this championship is MINE - it's MINE - IT'S ALL MINE - IT'S ALL MIIIINE - and the truth is...Chris Jericho is the most overlooked champion in WWF history! But you know what else is the truth, Rock? At WrestleMania, I will STILL be the Champion - because this is MY championship - this is my championship, dammit, and this is my show, and this is MY

 

Rock:Whoawhoawhoawhoawhoawhoawhoawhoawhoawhoawhoa whoa whoa whoa whoa! Let the Rock clarify something to you, Undisputed champion or not, this is not YOUR show...this is SmackDown!, this is THEROCK's show! And what you're failling to realise is everybody is talkin' about WrestleMania, facin' the Rock, for one reason: because THEY know, them in the back, they know, the guys in the back, they know, them, the MILLIONS...and millions of the Rock's fans, they know that the Rock...is better than you. You see the guys in the back know it, everybody around the world knows it, you know it - and you see, Chris Jericho, the truth, it does hurt - it really really hurts - but not as much as the Rock is goin' to hurt you this Sunday at Royal Rumble IF YA SUH-MELLLLLLL

 

Jericho: "NO!!! NO NO NO NO NO!! THIS IS NOT A JOKE! I AM NOT A JOKE! I AM SERIOUS! AND YOU WILL NOT LOOK PAST ME, YOU STUPID SON OF A (BITCH)!

 

Rock: The Rock DOES NOT THINK that this is a joke. The Rock is not smiling - he's not laughing...the Rock is taking you very serious, Chris Jericho - dead serious, Chris Jericho - and cannot wait to whup your candyass..." Now standing behind him. "...at the Royal Rumble this Sunday night. And just so you know, and you never forget...if you ssssssssssmell...what the Rock...(nose to nose)....is cookin'."

[Guest dvkorn]

Flair's one when he returned and it was the reformation of the 4 horseman. September 14th, 1998.

 

The 1st line was excellent. I loved it.

 

Could it be true that the most elite group tha Eric Bischoff said was dead is alive and well??

 

Another good one from Flair in 97 before Fall Brawl at beginning of September. A week or 2 after Arn gave his spot to Hennig. After the nWo did the parody.

 

One of the lines that Flair said which is also part of the Fall Brawl 97 promo.

 

The day you leave your livelihood and there's someone standing next to you with a tear in their eye, you're a luck man, because buddy at the end of this road, if their one person in the world that you can say is your friend, that is for life, and Arn Anderson was my friend.

 

Flair promos are GOLD.

 

Heymans ones in 01 with ECW reforming and the one on the Smackdown before Survivor Series were both bloody unreal.

[Guest bob_barron]

Flair's promo on the last Nitro where he just poured his heart out and then called Sting was fantastic

[Guest razazteca]

Mick Foley

 

In ECW:

 

The Uncle Eric Doritos one Foley aimed at Mikey Whipwreck

 

The Uncle Vince Anti-Hardcore one Foley aimed at Tommy Dreamer.

 

In WWF

 

I ate worms JR! as Mankind

[Guest Insanityman]

Ric Flair always stands out in my mind for promos. I know he's in better shape than me (and I think I'm quite fit at the moment) but I still worry every time he gets too emotional or takes any back bump- besides the solution of landing more on the side.

[Guest nl5xsk1]

The two people who immediately came to mind are:

a) Flair - it seemed like he had a handful of promos in WcW that had him almost in tears, and showing real emotion within the guise of a wrestling angle.

 

b) Foley - moreso in his ECW days than either before or after. The anti-hardcore that everyone referenced is a perfect example. Again, seems to be baring his sole under the pretense of a wrestling promo.

[Guest Renegade]

One of Foleys best lines:

 

"You will look into my eyes and realise that I am going tear you apart at the rumble!"

 

Right after he said that line I thought "damn HHH is screwed now."

 

The Austin/Rock promos leading to WM were great, toying with who will turn heel or who will strike first. Austin ending with "there can be only one wwf champion" it rips of highlander but still effective.

 

Alot of Bret Harts promos IMO were all round great.

[EL DANDY~! 0]

Flair's return with the Horsemen in the background has been, and always will be my favorite Flair promo.

 

There was also one when Anderson was talking about War Games and how he was going to HURT somebody. I had never seen such emotion before.

 

Foley's leading up to HIAC and the Rumble were pure gold.

 

Jericho's "I'm not a joke" promo still stands out big time.

 

Rocky's imitations of Big Show get me laughing out loud. Also, his promo on the nWo was PRICELESS.

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

i remember a AA promo vs the nwo where he talked about being the original gang, and that the nwo broke the 1st rule of gang warfare, never let them live. Cause you send one Horsemant to the hospital, they send two of you to the mourge. awsome.

[Guest The Amazing Rando]

I love Foley's from when they chanted Austin's name when he was being pulled out of the dumpster...

 

I need to go watch that on tape now....

[Guest Dmann2000]

Bret's profanity-laced promo on the RAW before WM 13. I bet real frustration regarding the change in wrestling was being unleashed by Bret that night.

[Guest Austin3164life]

Bret's profanity-laced promo on the RAW before WM 13. I bet real frustration regarding the change in wrestling was being unleashed by Bret that night.

I was just going to post that. It was crazy the way he shoved Vince down and starting cursing about how wrestling is heading downhill and everyone backstabbed Bret. Looking at Vince's expression and Bret's actuall rage in his voice, I bet at least half of what he said was real. The who comes on the titantron but the character Bret hated most, Stone Cold Steve Austin. When Bret and Austin started taking shots and arguing, Bret's hatred for Austin (althought he never hated him) showed very clear.

 

The promo where Vince wanted the "old" Stone Cold back for the WWF's battle against WCW/ECW. When Austin just shook his head after Vince and the fans were pumped was priceless. Especially when Austin walked up the ramp head down, and Vince saying "Come back, Austin!".