When one program clearly creates a new star

[Ravenbomb 0]

Possibly.

 

 

On a similar note, I'd say that the feud with Rhodes did a lot in the way of making Steve Corino

[humanoid92 0]

And finally, Perfect and Bret. This one's really hard for me to say. As a huge Bret fan, I'm well aware of the impact this had on his career but I'm not positive it can be considered the way the others are. For starters, they never really had all that much of a program. It was basically just the Summerslam match. And while it was huge in his development to that point, I don't know that it was bigger than the Bulldog match ended up ultimately being. Also, in my original examples, there was another common thread- Bret lifted Owen up right into his peak status. Bret lifted Austin up to the brink of his peak. Same as Foley with HHH. As far as Bret goes, I'd say the Bulldog match helped him right up into that peak level. And even that wouldn't qualify for the list, because Bulldog never reached down and pulled Bret over the hump. It was more a matter of a culmination of work, success and circumstances. So while Perfect definitely lifted Bret up onto a certain level, I'm not sure how much this one fits.

 

While I will certainly agree that the Bret/Bulldog program made Davey Boy Smith, and he pretty much lived off that one match for the rest of his career, Bret was already a star by that point. Even if you disagree that the Perfect/Hart program made him a star, then he was certainly made after the Piper program for Wrestlemania VIII.

 

The Perfect match made Bret into a legitimate singles star and credible IC Champion, which was no doubt very crucial to his career. I think people underestimate the impact of that Bulldog match though. It was their first PPV without Hogan. It was the first time Bret went on last to close a PPV. Yeah, there were a few other circumstances that led to Bret getting the Title six weeks later, but that match had a lot to do with giving them the confidence to make him the WWF Champion, and really, change the whole direction of the company by putting a guy like Bret into main events after Superman Hogan had run the show for so long. To me, Wembley symbolizes the transition from the Hogan/Warrior superhero (read: steroids) era into the mid 90's Bret/Shawn more workrate oriented era. Anyway, the Perfect match helped Bret onto one level, and the Bulldog match helped him take it to another, even higher level. (And I love the Piper match too; I've always thought it was criminally underrated.)

 

But all that doesn't really mean much within this thread. The whole point I was trying to get across was that not every star that comes along has something like my original examples happen to them. Not everyone that got to the top will have an example like that to show for it. That's not a knock on anybody or a way to say they were lesser stars. It's just an observation. If you want to say that Perfect played a huge role in first establishing Bret as a singles wrestler, then I agree. But I don't think he really "made" him in the way I was talking about.

[Naked Snake 0]

Michaels putting over Austin.

 

Yes, Austin was already over and already a star, but winning the title at WrestleMania 14 had an immediate effect on the ratings war. Austin went from star to mega star with his win over Michaels and putting the title on him to the WWF to a whole other level.

[slabinskia 0]

While Vader was over in Japan, I don't think he meant much to wcw until he destroyed Sting at Great American Bash 92. I think that made Vader.

 

The Bob Backlund reference got me thinking. I don't know how effective backlund would have been as the main event heel against people other than bret. Bret was the perfect opponent for backlund and his style.

 

On the same topic, Flair/Steamboat had there series in 89 where flair put steamboat over for the belt. Does anyone buy Steamboat as a World title threat against anyone other than flair. This is a different topic but I just thought I would ask.

[Hawkius Maximus 0]

I can't help injecting some Puro into this.

 

Misawa/Jumbo is THEE definition of this thread. When their program began, Misawa was a popular midcard babyface who was rising up the ranks. Jumbo took offense at Misawa being positioned as his heir, and the feud was on. Jumbo went heel for it for the first time in his career, and literally MADE Misawa during their feud. Misawa by the end was unquestionably the top wrestler in AJPW, and arguably all of Japan. Misawa was the first Japanese wrestler to ever make Jumbo submit, he was one of the few to ever pin Jumbo, and he did it for the top title in AJPW. Nothing is higher then this, period.

 

Another good one is Kobashi/Akiyama. Akiyama had been a strong upper midcarder/main eventer for awhile, but never gained any significant success as Misawa, then Kobashi's young disciple. At the first NOAH show, Akiyama without warning turned on Kobashi, and their feud was on. Kobashi's won most of the matches, but Akiyama was elevated just by turning on Kobashi, and being at his equal rank. Kobashi being forced to use the Burning Hammer to put down Akiyama in their first major singles match was a major accomplishment. Akiyama was solidified as a top of the line player and main eventer from this feud.

[Rendclaw 0]

I can't help injecting some Puro into this.

 

Misawa/Jumbo is THEE definition of this thread. When their program began, Misawa was a popular midcard babyface who was rising up the ranks. Jumbo took offense at Misawa being positioned as his heir, and the feud was on. Jumbo went heel for it for the first time in his career, and literally MADE Misawa during their feud. Misawa by the end was unquestionably the top wrestler in AJPW, and arguably all of Japan. Misawa was the first Japanese wrestler to ever make Jumbo submit, he was one of the few to ever pin Jumbo, and he did it for the top title in AJPW. Nothing is higher then this, period.

 

Another good one is Kobashi/Akiyama. Akiyama had been a strong upper midcarder/main eventer for awhile, but never gained any significant success as Misawa, then Kobashi's young disciple. At the first NOAH show, Akiyama without warning turned on Kobashi, and their feud was on. Kobashi's won most of the matches, but Akiyama was elevated just by turning on Kobashi, and being at his equal rank. Kobashi being forced to use the Burning Hammer to put down Akiyama in their first major singles match was a major accomplishment. Akiyama was solidified as a top of the line player and main eventer from this feud.

 

I still have trouble believing that Misawa was Tiger Mask.

[Enigma 0]

Bob Backlund psycho heel scared the shit out of me as a 9-year-old.

[Black Lushus 0]

backing up a bit back to HBK...I totally agree with Kahran, the Rumble made me go, hey look at HBK! It was his match with Nash at WM11 and the following night when Sid powerbombed him to hell that made me get into the character. I liked his 95 run, but the "boyhood dream" run kinda soured me to him, despite the fact that he had a series of good matches during that run (street fight with Nash, Vader at Summerslam and Foley)

[King Cucaracha 0]

Wow, can't believe this one hasn't been mentioned.

 

RVD made Jerry Lynn.

[claydude14 0]

Triple H almost made Shelton when he first came to RAW, but they never really followed up with it.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

They didn't follow up on it because HHH didn't want to make Shelton.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Jericho's program with Malenko in 1998 got Malenko MEGA over as a babyface, see Slamboree '98.

 

Of course they f'd that up.

[Vern Gagne 0]

What about examples of wrestlers given the rub, but failing at it?

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Benoit getting the rub from Triple H in 2004, because Benoit was booked to like an idiot against the retarded Eugene and couldn't beat him on Raw, plus the Benoit/HHH rematches (Iron Man and Vengeance PPV) weren't very good. Then Benoit gets beat twice by Triple H's lapdog, Randy Orton, only for Triple H to ultimately come out on top and crush Orton. Oh, and don't forget HHH main eventing Raw PPVs despite Benoit being the World fucking Champion.

 

Plus, Benoit's two big challenges came in the form of two BATTLE ROYAL WINNERS, which is never good, in Orton and Kane.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

What about examples of wrestlers given the rub, but failing at it?

 

Rob Van Dam. Wins the WWE Championship and is given the ECW Championship within a week, only to get arrested a short time later suspended and jobbed out, losing both titles within a day of each other.

[Black Lushus 0]

I still can't decide which title reign was worse: Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio or Randy Orton?

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Randy Orton shouldn't be there. His reign was so short people could easily just forget it. Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio carried the title(s) for more than 2 months and were looking like lame ducks the entire time.

[Red Baron 0]

Benoit was worse than Mysterio and Jericho

[bob_barron 0]

Benoit was worse than Mysterio and Jericho

 

What?

 

Rey jobbed his entire reign, Jericho had to cheat to beat everyone.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Benoit went over everyone for about 6 months straight. He beat HHH at Mania, made Shawn submit in Canada, won the tag titles, etc. His title reign was booked perfectfully for him.

[Black Lushus 0]

sure Orton should be there...talk about toally botching a guy. I don't think I've ever seen someone get so heavily hyped by management yet so heavily botched by management. Of course some of that was probably his own fault, but still...either push the fcking guy or get rid of him already!

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Jericho's reign was pretty terrible...remember him taking care of Stephanie's dog?

 

Benoit's reign wasn't that bad. He wasn't the focal point of the show, but he was still booked as a dominant champion for the most part.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Jericho's reign would have been remembered a little better had it not ended on such a whimper. The timing was poor because of the arrival of the NWO and the whole fiasco with Stephanie, HHH and the dog just killed any momentum he had dead. The reign started okay with the unification and the wins of Rock and Austin in consecutive months. He really needed to retain at Mania 18, though.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Orton's title reign certainly deserves mention amongst the weakest ever. On his first night as champ he got punked out by his buddies, spent the next month running away from them, then when he finally got HHH in a title match he lost. That was a complete joke of a reign.

[Black Lushus 0]

exactly...then when he had a chance to regain it at the Royal Rumble, he was pretty much made a joke again...getting a "concussion" and shit.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

exactly...then when he had a chance to regain it at the Royal Rumble, he was pretty much made a joke again...getting a "concussion" and shit.

 

Yes. That was the match where HHH brought the sledgehammer into the ring and decided not even to bother hitting Orton with it because he was beaten anyways. Orton's run was the most mishandled for what was supposed to be a big time face that I've seen since Lex Luger failed to win the title at Summerslam 93.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

Foley made Orton - Nobody took RKO seriously until that match, then Orton started slowly gaining support from the crowd clearly throughout the summer and was doing well until HHH put the nail in his coffin.

 

Undertaker made Cena - it was around that time that people started taking a liking to Cena.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

To TNA we go:

 

Lynn MADE Styles. I won't talk about his career elsewhere, but considering that Styles was "just another indy guy" before Lynn feuded with him...yeah. In 3 weeks Styles went from upstart babyface rookie to the top heel in TNA.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Title reigns:

 

Benoit > Jericho > Rey > Orton

 

In terms of how they were presented. Sure, Jericho may have been Honky Tonk 2002, but he was champion during a hot time "Rumble to Mania", and didn't lose clean every week ala Rey for a month.