X-Pac

[David Blazenwing 0]

I started watching WW(F)E in early 2002. That being said, I've missed a lot, but have been able to catch up through the magic of VHS and DVD, in addition to what I can find on the 'net.

 

Now, watching stuff from early 98 - late 99/early 2000, it seems like X-Pac is one of the most over guys on the roster... and yet, by 2001 and 2002, he's hated by the fans, and the term "X-pac heat" that I've heard so much about (the get off my TV, you suck kind) followed him around until his WWE dismissal in 2002.

 

So, I gotta know... what happened? What could have changed between 1999 and 2002 that made the fans turn on X-Pac so badly?

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

What could have changed between 1999 and 2002 that made the fans turn on X-Pac so badly?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nothing changed. Which is exactly the problem.

[Guest]

He hasn't changed since around 1996.

[Guest JMA]

What could have changed between 1999 and 2002 that made the fans turn on X-Pac so badly?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nothing changed. Which is exactly the problem.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Bingo. Edge's classic promo about him was completely correct.

[Papacita 0]

He was doing fine until his heel turn in 99. I think it was a combination of his feud with Kane and that weak tag team he had with Road Dogg (which WWF sold as the greatest tag team in history, despite their being together for maybe 6 months and doing nothing significant) that made people start to sour on him. I still think he could've been a serious World Title contender...maybe even a Champion if he had remained face, especially once HHH got the belt.

[Guest JMA]

It didn't help that he was still called "X-Pac" even after DX disbanded. WWE has always been so damn slow changing names when they don't work any more.

[nl5xsk1 0]

It didn't help that he was still called "X-Pac" even after DX disbanded. WWE has always been so damn slow changing names when they don't work any more.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Wellll, it's the Big Show.

[cabbageboy 0]

I agree. His god awful heel turn and the ludicrous push he was given way beyond his level of talent or credibility just soured the fans. I think the point where I truly started getting disgusted with him was when he dicked around with Jericho and Jericho couldn't beat him! Jericho was an ultra hot newcomer at the time and here he was fucking around with the fucking KID???

 

Also, he actually beat Kane in that long running feud which was disgusting since everyone else of similar size was getting killed by Kane. And of course his truly awful, stale tag team with the Road Dogg.

 

Add up all these things and by 2001 people wished he would just get released.

[David Blazenwing 0]

What could have changed between 1999 and 2002 that made the fans turn on X-Pac so badly?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nothing changed. Which is exactly the problem.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Bingo. Edge's classic promo about him was completely correct.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Never heard that one, anyone got a transcript?

[Guest Ransome]

Bingo. Edge's classic promo about him was completely correct.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Never heard that one, anyone got a transcript?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

It's from the October 1st, 2001 Smackdown. In fact, it really sums up this entire topic nicely. From CRZ (http://slashwrestling.com/raw/011001.html):

 

<X-pac> All right - hey - in case you hadn't - in case you hadn't remembered, I was on top of the world around here. You know? I was part of the most popular group in World Wrestling Federation history! You know what I mean? And you know what happened? I went out on my own, you know people love me, I went out on my own, became a successful singles competitor, you know what they did? They turned on me, man, just like you, they turned on me. You know what? They chewed me up and they spit me out.

 

<Christian> Shame on you people! Shame on you all!

 

<X-pac> Hey - hey hey - that's all right - that's all right, bro. Let 'em have their fun. Let these nimrods have their fun, because you know what? The fact of the matter is...all you people are LOSERS! And you and I...you know...we're winners. Hahahahahaha!

 

*Edge comes out*

 

<Edge> X-Pac, my good man, a few corrections if I may. These people didn't chew you up and spit you out, you simply make them wanna puke!

 

<X-pac> That ain't funny!

 

<Edge> And as far as being part of the most popular group in WWF history, well hanging out with cool people does not make you a really cool person. Oh, and by the way, 1998 called and they're sick and tired of you, so feel free to join us in the year 2001 any time! Now you look confused, so let me explain. You see, at one point I was into this whole goth thing, but then I developed my very own persona - it's called character development. You should look into it sometime.

[Guest jenzie]

i always called him "the papercut kid", 'cos if you touched him, you might get an awful little nick

 

remember when he *ahem*relieved himself in double j's boots ..... "don't p**s me off!" .....

 

but probably his biggest downfall was when he put something else into a certain "lady"

[cabbageboy 0]

That was probably Edge's best mic work ever, though even then he had a tendency to really trash his opponents and hurt their heat.

 

Now a tangent: Has anyone besides me noticed that Edge never ever seems to lose a feud to anyone? Aside from perhaps the Regal "Power of the Punch" debacle Edge has seemingly won feuds against everyone since he and Christian broke up.

[Guest Fishyswa]

Edge is a WWE golden boy, I'm convinced the only reason they haven't pushed him to a title is because they want to make sure he can stay healthy. Would explain the MITB shot.

 

Xpac motivated could of been one of the great NA talents of this generation, but as is, he's more headache than anything.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

Edge should have been world champion by now, he's been with the company for 7 -8 years for crying out loud. After all, he was pretty much a main eventer when he was on SD being one of their top stars, but then again the neck injury and the Lita debacle haven't exactly helped out.

[cabbageboy 0]

Yeah but with Edge he wins feuds against guys that honestly he has zero business winning feuds against, if that makes any sense. The weird aspect is that the one guy who actually beat him in a feud (Regal) got jack shit out of it, just jobbing the IC to RVD at WM.

 

Edge's problem is that he's not a terribly compelling performer and is upstaged easily, even in a feud designed to push him. For instance, the Angle feud. Do you recall Edge beating Kurt in most of the matches, or do you remember Angle having his head shaved and wearing the hilarious wig? Edge won the matches but Angle did most of the entertaining stuff in the feud and thus he ended up getting more over. Ditto Eddie in that 2002 feud with Edge. The crowd so obviously could tell he was carrying Edge that quite a few people cheered for Eddie. Even though Edge won the blowoff to that feud, it was Eddie who got more out of it.

 

Hell, you could go to last year with Orton as well. Orton was being groomed for the world title, yet he actually LOST that feud with Edge over the IC. Yet the crowd responded more to Orton than Edge, thus Orton got pushed harder (though the face turn did serious damage to him).

 

You can add the Matt feud to this as well. Edge is the guy they want to push, but the crowd obviously is behind Matt more.

 

I think once RVD gets back he should feud with Edge. It's such a natural idea for a feud. The two have wrestled sparingly and have both been on that cusp of the main event. It can be a "There isn't room enough at the top for both of us" type feud.