True or False

[haVoc 0]

The Dudley Boyz are the greatest tag team of all time.

 

D-Von: True. There’s no other tag team that has accomplished everything that we have. No one has ever become 18-time World Tag Team Championship. And we’re still young. We haven’t even reached our prime yet.

 

Bubba: False. The Road Warriors are the greatest tag team of all time. The Dudley Boyz are the second greatest tag team of all time.

 

The Dudley Boyz will never break up again.

 

D-Von: True. I don’t think we’ll ever break up again. We may pursue singles careers, just like DX. They were a team, but they did singles matches, and you knew that whenever there was one, there was another.

 

Bubba: True. As long as D-Von knows his role and continues to get the tables.

 

Men prefer women with a little meat on their bones.

 

D-Von: In my case, true. Let’s just say I’m a brother, and brothers like them a little thick. I’m like Sir Mix-A-Lot in “Baby Got Back.”

 

Bubba: True. Especially if that meat is in the right places.

 

The Lakers should trade Shaquille O’Neal.

 

D-Von: False. I think Shaquille is a great asset to the team. Inside the paint, he’s tremendous. If you need the necessary points, Shaquille’s the guy to go to. No one can stop Shaquille on the inside. As far as I’m concerned, without that big man in the post next year, the Lakers won’t be as strong as they were.

 

Bubba: I hate basketball!

 

You prefer being on SmackDown! to being on RAW.

 

D-Von: True. At first, I didn’t want to go to SmackDown! I was into being on RAW and live TV. But the talent on SmackDown! is young, hungry, and they listen. They’re eager to learn, and they’re on the same page as you. They want to continue to make the product as successful as possible. Not that the people on RAW aren’t that way. But people on RAW have been to the top before; they know what it’s like to be on the top. Guys on SmackDown! want to be the top dog and they’re willing to do just about anything to see that that happens. Plus, we wrestle more on SmackDown! I like to say SmackDown! is the wrestling show and RAW is more of the entertainment show.

 

Bubba: Just like my good friend The Rock says, it doesn’t matter.

 

Credit: WWE.com

[Guest Fook]

I like to say SmackDown! is the wrestling show and RAW is more of the entertainment show.

 

This quote doesn't even deserve a sarcastic comment.

[DCMaximo 0]

D-Von: True. There’s no other tag team that has accomplished everything that we have. No one has ever become 18-time World Tag Team Championship. And we’re still young. We haven’t even reached our prime yet.

 

Nor does this.

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

Has there been a good one of these yet?

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Men prefer women with a little meat on their bones

 

You know, this statement/question could go very, very wrong.

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

I think it did. (See Buh-Buh's answer)

[Guest Coffey]

Bubba: False. The Road Warriors are the greatest tag team of all time. The Dudley Boyz are the second greatest tag team of all time.

Man, the Road Warriors always get tons of credit. I've never really understood why they get so much praise. From what I've seen of them, despite being really over, they were pretty much just power wrestlers. Hawk would play face in peril for awhile, and then Animal would come in and clean house. Power move after power move. No sell after no sell. Then suddenly Hawk wasn't hurt anymore and he'd join the beatdown party.

 

What was so special about them?

 

Why do teams like the Fabulous Freebirds never get any recognition? Hell, even older WWF teams like Strike Force or The Hart Foundation. It just seems like people in the business never acknowledge them as being good whereas teams like the Brainbusters & Bulldogs are always name dropped by Smarks.

 

Is there something to the matches that we, as fans, can't appreciate without having worked a match before or something?

[Precious Roy 0]

Is there something to the matches that we, as fans, can't appreciate without having worked a match before or something?

 

They got nuclear heat. Appreciate it.

[Guest Coffey]

What the hell are you talking about you fucking troll? I acknowledged that they had heat. I'm just wanting other people's opinion on it. I already stated they had heat, thus you repeating that adds nothing to the topic, and I take it as a flame-bait.

 

Are the Road Warriors just at the top of everyone's list just because of popularity? You would think popularity would play backseat to a number of other things if you were in the business. That's why I'm curious.

[Precious Roy 0]

What the hell are you talking about you fucking troll? I acknowledged that they had heat. I'm just wanting other people's opinion on it. I already stated they had heat, thus you repeating that adds nothing to the topic, and I take it as a flame-bait.

Who shit in your cornflakes bro? You asked a question, I provided the answer.

 

Are the Road Warriors just at the top of everyone's list just because of popularity? You would think popularity would play backseat to a number of other things if you were in the business. That's why I'm curious.

 

You're asking why people in the business give them so much credit and people like Bubba admire them, correct? It's simple. Because they had an amazing presence in an arena and got a shitload of heat. That's what every wrestler strives to have.

 

Now stop being a dick

[Guest Sturgis]

Cause they defiened the term "cool bad-ass heels" maybe.

[haVoc 0]

Is there something to the matches that we, as fans, can't appreciate without having worked a match before or something?

A lot of the wrestlers today grew up watching guys like Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, the Road Warriors, etc. They were/are fans of them. All because they became wrestlers and learned how to work doesn't mean they stopped being fans of the entertainment side of the business when it comes to flashy characters.

 

Some smarks believe they're above it and act like they never were fans of characters like that.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

As long as D-Von knows his role and continues to get the tables.

 

Bubba's keeping D-Von down?

[Guest Coffey]

Is there something to the matches that we, as fans, can't appreciate without having worked a match before or something?

A lot of the wrestlers today grew up watching guys like Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, the Road Warriors, etc. They were/are fans of them. All because they became wrestlers and learned how to work doesn't mean they stopped being fans of the entertainment side of the business when it comes to flashy characters.

 

Some smarks believe they're above it and act like they never were fans of characters like that.

I agree with this. I still pretty much refuse to believe people when they say they didn't mark for Hogan and were generally bigger fans of people like Ted DiBiase and Ricky Steamboat. That is, unless, they are like thirty years old. Then they would've been older than a little kid looking up to Hogan. Of course, I base my assessment on the fact that the average age of the forum is around 18-20...which means younger than me...and I was young enough to be a "Hulkamaniac" so....

 

On the other hand, however, which is the point I'm trying to make, how can someone in the business still be a "mark?" What I mean is, we, as internet fans, over time, have pretty much developed a common standard that pertains to work rate. That's just from what we read and compare. So, people in the business, whom actually work with the best and whatnot, how can they come forth and acknowledge the well-knowns and forget the technitions? That's all I'm wondering. Like, when I was a little kid, I loved Hulk Hogan. I can look back on Hulk Hogan now and still see why I loved him, but I also, through the power of the internet™ have to realize that he wasn't the best of workers. So, if I was aspiring to be a worker, or was already a worker looking to improve on my skills, you'd think I'd be bright enough to study someone other than Hogan.

 

So, while I can understand Bubba name dropping the Road Warriors because of his markdom, as a worker, why wouldn't he name drop the technitions too? Shouldn't he, as a current worker (whom should constantly be looking to improve) try to find alternatives? Like he can still say he likes the Road Warriors. That's fine. I don't have a problem with that. I do, however, have a problem with him still referring to them as the best of all-time while his knowledge of the business has to have expanded (since he's in it).

 

Does ringwork really play that big of a backseat role to wrestling in the States these days? Maybe the Road Warriors were just better workers than I'm giving them credit for, and it was just before my time?

 

I understand that the Warriors were over. I understand that they had heat. I can see why fame & fortune would be something to aspire to obtain in the business. Everyone wants to have a lot of money. But, afterall, it is still the wrestling business, so why does it seem like people (generally speaking about people in the business) are still all "marks" that let the show take over priority of the wrestling? You'd think wrestling ability would be at the top of everyone's list.

 

Does that make sense?

[haVoc 0]

On the other hand, however, which is the point I'm trying to make, how can someone in the business still be a "mark?" What I mean is, we, as internet fans, over time, have pretty much developed a common standard that pertains to work rate. That's just from what we read and compare. So, people in the business, whom actually work with the best and whatnot, how can they come forth and acknowledge the well-knowns and forget the technitions? That's all I'm wondering. Like, when I was a little kid, I loved Hulk Hogan. I can look back on Hulk Hogan now and still see why I loved him, but I also, through the power of the internet™ have to realize that he wasn't the best of workers. So, if I was aspiring to be a worker, or was already a worker looking to improve on my skills, you'd think I'd be bright enough to study someone other than Hogan.

I'm sure most do study more then one or two guys once they break into the business. But, they always remember the guys that made them want to be wrestler even if they become better workers then their "idols." Wrestlers are still fans.

 

Think of it this way. Should Eddie Van Halen or Zakk Wylde not admit to being fans of lesser guitar players or bands that came before them? They're both successful and very talented, but their still fans of music.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

I'd think making money would be on top of every wrestlers list.

 

Everyone has their own definition of greatness - prolificacy, influence, longevity, popularity, "success". I don't agree with Bubbas claim, but I think if you ask any wrestling fan to name 5 tag teams, the Road Warriors would be one of them.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

And wrestlers, really, are idiots. You'd have to be stupid to do that much work for that little money.

[Guest Coffey]

Yeah, you guys are right. Just something that irked me I guess.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

What irked me is Dvon (and the WWE) portraying Smackdown as the "younger show". The Younger Show wrestling the shitty "Older" style. It's refuckingtarded.

[Exslade ZX 0]

So, while I can understand Bubba name dropping the Road Warriors because of his markdom, as a worker, why wouldn't he name drop the technitions too? Shouldn't he, as a current worker (whom should constantly be looking to improve) try to find alternatives? Like he can still say he likes the Road Warriors. That's fine. I don't have a problem with that. I do, however, have a problem with him still referring to them as the best of all-time while his knowledge of the business has to have expanded (since he's in it).

In a way though...I have to say I kind of disagree. I mean, this is hypothetical but let's just say you're a huge fan of the Undertaker...always have been contrary to what's been said, even if you aren't a mark. And one day you decide, hell I'm going to enter the wrestling business...Taker being the main inspiration. Now if you eventually make it to the top, even though you know Benoit is the better worker, one of the best at the moment...when you are asked who do you think was the best of all time? Or who did you love the most or whatever, I'm pretty sure you would name The Undertaker, seeing as he was your favorite...the one that got you into the business, even if you are a 'smark' and knew Benoit was better.

 

As I said this was just hypothetical, but I believe that's the case with most wrestlers. They tend to talk about the people they liked...of course. They aren't going to change, just because now they're in the business.

[Guest Coffey]

I can see that, Exslade, but why couldn't they name more than one person? See, if I was put in that situation, I'd go with the "safe" answer and say something like "I like different people for different aspects of the business." Something like that.

 

To continue this conversation somewhat, what if it's just wrestlers trying to go back to being Kayfabe again? What if saying something like The Brainbusters would look bad because they were heel and not nearly as recognized as the Warriors?

[haVoc 0]

It was only "True or False" on wwe.com. That section is small as shit. It's not like it was the Dudley's autobiography.

 

You're looking a bit too much into this.

[Guest Coffey]

Perhaps. I just want to get some conversation going now though. It's not like WWE.com hasn't been kayfabe in the past. Small section or not.

[BHK 0]

When you heard "oh what a rush" hit the speakers, you KNEW the place was going to explode.

 

I marked for Hogan, Warrior, etc. Of course I'm only 19 now. Conversely, I was also a huge Bret Hart fan when I was younger, because as my dad put it once "Look at that guy, he can actually do moves."

 

I basically think the same thing that Rudo does. It depends on your defenition of greatness. By a fan reaction/over standpoint, yes, they're one of the greatest teams of all time. But from a wrestling standpoint? no

[Precious Roy 0]

I hate to break it to you, but most pros aren't as concerned with textbook holds and transitions as they are with getting reactions from the crowd. If you gave the Dudley Boyz the choice of wrestling 5* matches every night and getting semi-dead crowds or wrestling **1/2 matches and blowing the roof off the place I think it's obvious which option they'd take. The term "workrate," at least to me, has never been about just the holds and reversals, the presence in the ring and manipulation of the crowd is just as important. A lot of people will claim Ric Flair is the greatest wrestler of all time, yet there was nothing flashy or fancy about his work, it was simply proficient. There are lots of guys who had Flair blown away in terms of surgical work and impressive moves, but what seperates Flair is the charisma and the presence, the guarantee that he could work any crowd to a fever pitch. At the end of the day that is what every pro wants to have, that connection and hold over the audience.

 

Excellent technical wrestling is a beautiful thing, but it doesn't always guarantee food on your plate. Excellent crowd heat does, it's why Hogan can still demand huge paydays and why Flair continues to be a top guy despite diminished skills.

 

There isn't a single tag team in the world today that can compare to the awesome presence of the Road Warriors. They made matches memorable just by being in the ring, they didn't even have to do anything to get a reaction.

 

And not every aspiring wrestler will be inspired by the same things, but it's obvious that the Dudley Boyz have never wanted to be The Midnight Express, they've always wanted to be the intimidating brawlers in the vein of the Road Warriors. Have they succeeded? IMO no, they're not even close to the LOD, but it's a lofty goal, no shame in coming up short.

[BHK 0]

The term "workrate," at least to me, has never been about just the holds and reversals, the presence in the ring and manipulation of the crowd is just as important.

I used to downplay the crowd factor a lot when I rated matches. Then came Rock/Hogan, and I jsut couldn't ignore it after that.

 

That's much of the problem with rating matches. Loss brought it up in his article on the main site. the fact is that many people will jsut look for/attach star ratings to something without wanting/giving an explanation.

 

Combine that with the fact that each person looks for different things in a match when they rate it, and the entire system looks like a mess because there are no true standards. One person can think a match is comparable to Falir/Steamboat while another can think it's nowhere near that level, because htey look for and are entertained by different things.

[Guest iamgod410]

bubba is fat dvon rules

[haVoc 0]

And that's why I could give a fuck about star ratings. Some matches pull me in more then others. Depends on the match, the person, the crowd heat, the storyline building up to it. I really can't explain it. Some match like Benoit/Angle (Rumble '03) and Bret/Austin (SS'96 and WM13) just do it.

 

Once you start over analyzing every little thing you lose the entertainment aspect of it.

[iggymcfly 0]

Well, the one thing that really strikes me about the article is the Dudleys calling Smackdown the "wrestling show" right after they were in a PPV main event handicap match where the whole point was whether or not an old manager would be smothered in cement. Shit, the Dudleyz have been doing nothing but angles for the last month.

 

As for the greatest tag team debate, I can't really judge the Road Warriors since I only started watching when they were on their very last legs, but the Dudleyz aren't even the best tag team of the last 5 or 6 years. I'd say Edge and Christian take that crown easily, with the New Age Outlaws running a distant second.

 

Just because Bubba and D-Von failed on their singles pushes, and became a tag team again after they had no heat doesn't mean they're anything special.

[syxx2001 0]

You worry about workrate too much Coffey. You are the type of people the WWE likes to go off on.