The One and Only Lockerroom Etiquette Thread

[Guest wrestlingbs]

Remember during the beginning of the InVasion angle? We'd hear stories about how the new WCW guys were rubbing people the wrong way. Sean O' Haire didn't shake Droz's hand. Booker T likes to play video games rather than watch old wrestling tapes. Referee Silverman quits over a hazing incident with Bradshaw. Taker complaining about how these WCW guys can't work. Then on TV we'd watch these guys get buried while JR talks about how, "This isn't ballet." We'd wonder, "What the hell are these guys doing? Are they really so self-centered that they would chuck this big angle just because of a few people didn't get along?"

 

Of course, it didn't start out this way. Back in the recent goden age of the WWE(F), lockerroom etiquette had a purpose. The cutthroat atmosphere of WCW's lockerroom was a constant reminder that things (and people) need to be kept in order. So when wrestlers came into the WWF they were expected to act not like a loner but like part of a big family. A family working together to make a good product. Stuff would not resolved on-air but between the parties in a civil off-air. New wrestlers went through a humbling process in which if they worked their way up the ladder they were rewarded.

 

But that was what was supposed to happen. In real life the system worked differently. Wrestlers already at the top decided that they would choose who was ready and who wasn't. Guys loyal to Vince over the years (Austin, Bradshaw, Taker) became their own little police, picking on others for violating what they thought was wrong. The whole thing blew up around mid 2001 when it became apparent that the WWE's system of lockerroom etiquette was less about protecting the company and more about cutting the legs off new guys the old employees saw as threats.

 

An example of this is the recent string of new talent the WWE has gotten on SD. Orlando Jordan, Spanky, Paul London, Ultimo Dragon, Kanyon. These guys debut on the show and then immediately get jobbed away to the older guys. I would call it humbling them but since their has so far been no reward for these guys it's more like career assasination. Everytime the annoucers say "Welcome to the WWE!" as the new guy loses it's almost like that what they expect every new guy to do: lose and then go away.

 

So what do you guys think about this? You think lockerroom etiquette shoulld stay or be removed?

[Guest OnlyMe]

You think lockerroom etiquette shoulld stay or be removed?

 

I don't care. If they play videogames, watch tapes or fuck each other up the ass, it doesn't matter.

 

If it affects my enjoyment of what I see on TV, that's when I start to care.

 

And even then, there's nothing I can do about it, and it doesn't affect me personally, so who cares?

[Guest Basswitch]

II agree with how most of those guys coming and getting jobbed imediately sucks....Except Orlando Jordan... I dont see anything special in him, but hopefully he'll pull a John Cena and start to rule, very quickly.

[Aero 0]

So what do you guys think about this? You think lockerroom etiquette shoulld stay or be removed?

Depends... if the "bad" etiquette (like O'Haire & Palumbo during Invasion) leads to holding down deserving wrestlers, than it should be removed. But if a wrestler is a legitimate jackass, than he should be punished on occasion... just not COMPLETELY de-pushed.

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

Yeah I remember those. With Referee Silverman if I remember was that for main eventers Vince pays for the 1st class tickets and everybody else gets coach and if they want to ride 1st class they have to pay with it from their own pocket. Silverman, out of his own money, flew in 1st class a few times and this for whatever reason pissed off alot of the main eventers. But, I tink it might also had done with Sliverman's attitude.

[Vyce 0]

I still don't understand the Silverman thing.

 

If the guy was paying for his own ticket, what did it matter?

 

I would have told them all to fuck off.

[KTID 0]

..as would I, Vyce.

[CanadianChick 0]

If you were a relativly small referee, you would tell guys like Taker, Austin, Bradshaw, ect, to fuck off? Sure you would.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

You would. If they did anything to you that's physical, or even tell Vince you PAID FOR YOUR OWN FIRST CLASS TICKET, then you'd have a lawsuit on your hands. Of course, Silverman left on his terms, so a lawsuit wasn't plausible. If, however, he was terminated because of him, again, PAYING FOR HIS OWN FIRST CLASS TICKET, then he'd probably have a lawsuit, because I doubt buying your own ticket is against the contract clauses.

[Guest Choken One]

Likely Not but why the fuck would he buy a First Class ticket?

 

It only gives off a bad attitude aura about him

 

"Too good to sit with the others" which would rub off the wrong way with those perfectly fine with coach and insulting the main eventers who worked for those first class seats...

[Guest deadbeater]

The Divas are a great example of how to behave professionally in and out of the ring. They stick together through injuries, bad angles, and, yes, bad matches, and emerge stronger than ever.

[CanadianChick 0]

Just to play devil's advocate, didn't Trish and Torrie used to have pretty bad problems with each other and didn't exactly act professionally with each other.

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

"Too good to sit with the others" which would rub off the wrong way with those perfectly fine with coach and insulting the main eventers who worked for those first class seats...

 

Ok, see this is what I don't get. Why in the hell would paying for your own first class ticket insult the main eventers? It's just first class. I mean it's a public airplane they sit whereever they want if they paid for it. And I doubt the WWE can make rules against sitting in first class. And if it really did pissed them off that bad they need to go up.

[1234-5678 0]

If you were a relativly small referee, you would tell guys like Taker, Austin, Bradshaw, ect, to fuck off? Sure you would.

I would, and then if they touched me, I would have sued. Most lawyers would have loved to have that type of case against WWE.

[haVoc 0]

Just to play devil's advocate, didn't Trish and Torrie used to have pretty bad problems with each other and didn't exactly act professionally with each other.

I think that was Debra and Torrie. Torrie was known for "sucking" up to people in power and Debra didn't like it when she saw Torrie talking (or flirting) with Austin. I remember reading Debra threw a little hissy fit and told Torrie to keep away from him.

[Guest netslob]

the thing i find most amusing about the Silverman thing is, here is a group of men (GROWN men, mind you, men in their 30's and 40's) who evidently have absolutely nothing better to do with their time and energy then to worry about where a fuckin' referee sits on a plane. un-Fucking-believable. is this elementary school? is this recess where everyone has to get in line to use the swing set or use the slide? NO! it's Professional Wrestling Company...try being PROFESSIONAL, and get over this petty, cock-measuring shit.

[Fökai 0]

I think it's "understood" among the boys that the main-eventers (at the moment) are the only ones who sit first-class.

 

No one threw a hissy fit about it, either. That just put Silverman off as a guy who "disrespected the rules", which put him on thin ice, not only with the company, but with the boys backstage.

[Guest netslob]

it's bullshit, tho...it's a fucking plane seat, who the hell is he hurting by sitting in it...besides, he was a referee, it's not like he was ever gonna become a main eventer...not until he learns how to WORK "main event style" of course...

 

that's another thing: the "main eventers" who were graced with the priviledge of flying 1st class at the time of the Silverman incident were, i believe, Austin, the Rock, Undertaker, HHH and...X-pac. now, i ask you...on what fucking planet is Sean-fucking-Waltman considered a Main Event wrestler? so it's obvious they made SOME exceptions...

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

I think it's "understood" among the boys that the main-eventers (at the moment) are the only ones who sit first-class.

 

You know it's funny how many damn "unwritten" rules there are in WWE and how just about anything you can do can piss people off. WWE should make a lockerroom rulebook and be done with it.

[KTID 0]

The point I, and most others with any sort of real adult life outside of WWE BIZARRO WORLD, are trying to make is that IT IS NO BIG DEAL AND DOESN'T MATTER. So Taker, Bradshaw and whoever else was complaining about this childish and petty thing need to grow up and get a life.

[The Dames 0]

You know....not to open up a can of worms, but would you say that Kurt Angle gets to fly first class now?

 

Dames

[KTID 0]

I would say...IF HE WANTS TO FLY FIRST CLASS HE WILL PAY FOR A FIRST CLASS TICKET AND FLY FIRST CLASS BAH GAWD...but yet again that's just me.

[Guest nikowwf]

I know 90% of the time they are jackasses, but if you compare it to team sports I'd say its about the same. Rookies have certain things they need to do, and yes, they can choose not to do them but it will have consequences. I think the WWE is about the same as that.

 

niko

[Damaramu 0]

The WWE reminds me of high school...a bunch of people with an inflated sense of presence making stupid rules and etiquette and getting mad over stupid shit.

Oh and CanadianChick I hate that defense. "Well would you tell big wrestler he sucks?" or "Would you tell big wrestler to fuck off?"

Yes yes I would. If they touch me I sue.

[TheFranchise 0]

The WWE reminds me of high school...a bunch of people with an inflated sense of presence making stupid rules and etiquette and getting mad over stupid shit.

Oh and CanadianChick I hate that defense. "Well would you tell big wrestler he sucks?" or "Would you tell big wrestler to fuck off?"

Yes yes I would. If they touch me I sue.

Yes, there are lots of things like high school.

 

 

'If you touch me, i'll sue'

 

Jesus man, BE a man, if they touch you, you smack them back, regardless of size.

[Guest Random Hero]

The WWE reminds me of high school...a bunch of people with an inflated sense of presence making stupid rules and etiquette and getting mad over stupid shit.

Oh and CanadianChick I hate that defense. "Well would you tell big wrestler he sucks?" or "Would you tell big wrestler to fuck off?"

Yes yes I would. If they touch me I sue.

Yes, there are lots of things like high school.

 

 

'If you touch me, i'll sue'

 

Jesus man, BE a man, if they touch you, you smack them back, regardless of size.

Then they laugh at you and shove their fist down your throat.

 

It's all too easy to say you'd take on the Undertaker from behind a computer screen.

[TheFranchise 0]

The WWE reminds me of high school...a bunch of people with an inflated sense of presence making stupid rules and etiquette and getting mad over stupid shit.

Oh and CanadianChick I hate that defense. "Well would you tell big wrestler he sucks?" or "Would you tell big wrestler to fuck off?"

Yes yes I would. If they touch me I sue.

Yes, there are lots of things like high school.

 

 

'If you touch me, i'll sue'

 

Jesus man, BE a man, if they touch you, you smack them back, regardless of size.

Then they laugh at you and shove their fist down your throat.

 

It's all too easy to say you'd take on the Undertaker from behind a computer screen.

I didn't say i'd kick his ass, lol.

 

In all honestly, if someone took a shot at me, i'd take one back.

 

I'd get my ass handed to me i have no doubt, but i'd take a shot.

[Damaramu 0]

Yeah...if it was a guy that I go to school with and see on a daily basis then I wouldn't have any problem with punching his lights out.

But if it's a guy that I see on TV weekly that is MUCH bigger than me and I know get's hurt for a living and makes a lot of money for this living then I'd sue his ass off.

[TheFranchise 0]

^ good point, i forget other people aren't my size.

 

Apologies.

[CanadianChick 0]

The WWE reminds me of high school...a bunch of people with an inflated sense of presence making stupid rules and etiquette and getting mad over stupid shit.

Oh and CanadianChick I hate that defense. "Well would you tell big wrestler he sucks?" or "Would you tell big wrestler to fuck off?"

Yes yes I would. If they touch me I sue.

If you honestly would, great. But most people would be scared shitless in front of guys like Undertaker. Most guys wouldn't dare to touch him or even mouth off. I'm not doubting some would, but A LOT wouldn't.