Most Disappointing and Suprising Draws

[strummer 0]

Most Suprising Draws

 

Honky Tonk Man (1987-88) Incredibly weak in the ring, but drew big money headlining the B House Shows in 87-88. Without a doubt, the most suprising draw in WWE history in my opinion, although he only did it for a about a year and a half.

 

Jim Duggan (1988-89) solely based on his program with Andre that did good business in 88 on top of the card. They actually sold out MSG while on top. Again, very short term, but suprising that someone with as little talent as Duggan (at least the WWE Duggan) could draw any big house.

 

Yokozuna (1993) Drew pretty good money with his run on top in 93, even did good business with Tatanka of all people. Yoko was not that good in the ring, never spoke, but yet was able to be a pretty decent draw

 

Most Disappointing Draws

 

Rick Steamboat (1989) They guy I had in mind when thinking of this topic. Tremendous in-ring worker, great psychology, timing, transition etc. Had the every man's type charisma combined with the talent to play a perfect babyface. Was very over in 89 NWA, but was not super, super over like a legendary guy on top should be. In fact, I noticed on Flair's DVD that in the Clash leading up to their match, that Flair was getting bigger pops than Steamboat. All the talent in the world, but BOMBED on top. As Meltzer said once at WC message board, Flair drew against Luger before the Steamboat program, and drew against Funk after the Steamboat program, but couldn't draw against Ricky, which probably killed his run on top for the rest of his career.

 

Bret Hart (1992) Tough choice, but thought I would include his first run. 1992 was the worst year in WWE financial history. It was the transition period from 7 minute Hulk Hogan matches, to long, drawn out, psychology driven matches from Bret. Certainly not all his fault that business bombed in 92. He was in a tough position having to follow Hogan and get the fans hooked on "wrestling" again. The wrestlers got smaller due to the Steroid Trial and Bret was put in a real unenviable position of trying to get the fans to take to a "normal looking" champion. Could also include his run from Nov. 95 to March 96 as the buyrate for WM 12 tanked. Tough choice and I know a lot will disagree.

 

Shawn Michaels (1996) His wrestling ability is debated on this board almost constantly. Many here say he is overrated. But I think we could agree that he does have talent (how much is certainly debatable) and certainly had the charisma. His "boyhood dream" reign in 96 tanked ratings and did not have great buyrates. House Show business picked up during his reign, but that is just one piece of the puzzle. His program with Vader essentially killed Vader's heat as Vader was made to look like a complete idiot at Summerslam 96. Fact is while Shawn was champ, people watched the NWO on Nitro.

 

Any others to add to the lists?

[Copper Feel 0]

it seems to me all you think normaly matters in being a draw is in ring ability this is simply not true however charisma is just as if not more important than said wrestlers contributions to the in ring product as bruno sammartino and hulk hogan were both talently challenged as far as suprising title reings go i would have to say chris benoit 2004 first there was his lack of the all important it factor which separetes the men from the boys then there was the lukewarm reaction that he initally recieved on raw then there was the fact that all of the major wwf\wwe pay per views benoit has headlined prior fully loaded 2000 {triple main event} no mercy 2000 {fatal fourway} king of the ring 2001{triple threat match} and royal rumble 2003 {royal rumble followed} all had set ups incase like vince suspected benoit bombed on the main stage and dont even get me started on his lack of charisma he has however despite all this been accepted as wwe raws champion by the wwe faithull which is partly a direct result of the generosity of hhh and hbk regadless of this benoit should be ammeneded for in the era of skits and sports entertainment he stands ahead of the pack. phew long rant im going to bed.

[Guest Rrrsh]

Surprises: Austin 96, Angle 00 (altho they squashed that very nicely)

 

Dissapointments: Deseil 95, Luger 93, Taker forever, HHH past 2 years

[strummer 0]

When I mean disappointments, I'm talking in relation to their talent. Nash and Luger were not known as great talents, Steamboat, Hart and Michaels were.

[Guest Rrrsh]

When I mean disappointments, I'm talking in relation to their talent. Nash and Luger were not known as great talents, Steamboat, Hart and Michaels were.

Why?

 

Talent has never equaled drawing.

[Australian Pride 0]

For disappointment I have to add Curt "Mr Perfect" Hennig. He had runs with Hogan, Warrior and Flair but never managed to break through to the top level. People just didn't accept him as a WWF headliner. Some blame would have go to the booking as well - they never capitalised on the popularity he had after winning the 'loser leaves WWF' match with Flair.

 

I'd say a surprising draw would be Mick Foley - he was basically used as Undertakers whipping boy for ages (despite a couple of PPV wins), but then managed to get himself over to legitimate main event status.

[Guest Rrrsh]

For disappointment I have to add Curt "Mr Perfect" Hennig. He had runs with Hogan, Warrior and Flair but never managed to break through to the top level. People just didn't accept him as a WWF headliner. Some blame would have go to the booking as well - they never capitalised on the popularity he had after winning the 'loser leaves WWF' match with Flair.

 

I'd say a surprising draw would be Mick Foley - he was basically used as Undertakers whipping boy for ages (despite a couple of PPV wins), but then managed to get himself over to legitimate main event status.

Perfect was suppose to win the Royal Rumble back in 91 and fued with Hogan after Slaughter during the summer.

 

But Hogan Power Played him because he wasnt big enough and he got stuck in the mid card forever.

 

I think Perfect never got a shot, ditto with Dibease.

[Steviekick 0]

Couldn't you say that Goldberg's first WCW world title reign was a dissapointing draw? Aside from completely ruining anything that they could do with him in the future, for the most part it was treated like an upper midcard act.

[deancoles 0]

Goldberg's problem was the fact that he had no feuds at all and outside of Sting and Bret Hart there were no guys he could believably lose to, the potential for a Goldberg/Giant feud was killed at road Wild in a dumb move.

 

He's one of my favourites but Sting has to be on here, his Starrcade 97 feud was the only time he was ever a draw.Although had he been in the WWF in 1990 and got the Warrior's push I could see Sting drawing pretty well against Perfect and Dibiase.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

Ofcourse Goldberg had no opponents, at Road Wild he went over the ENTIRE UPPER MIDCARD in one match.