Why do we "hate" certain wrestlers?

[Guest Trivia247]

Test is f'n awesome. Here is why:

 

1. His look. He's a got a killer look. He's got the body of a Greek god, and he just looks like one mean motherfucker. Notice that despite his lack of a monster push, the fans were buying him as a legitimate threat to Brock from the moment that they stood toe-to-toe? LOOK.

 

2. Athletic ability. He's 6'7" and he can MOVE. Seriously, name one other big man in the business that moves like Test. He's even faster than Mike Awesome. And I'm sure that everybody has seen his flying elbow off the top. The guy comes off the top like HBK, and he's 6'7", 287! Hell, I think he might have gotten even more air than HBK a few times.

 

3. Snug. He is SNUG. Everybody talks about how snug Benoit is. Well, Test is just as snug. Watch his punches and kicks. They are very credible. He's got this pissed-off look on his face, and he throws them with AGGRESSION. Don't forget that wrestling is all about suspending your disbelief. When some guys punch or kick or throw a forearm, you go, "Ah, that's so fake." When Test throws a punch or a kick, you go, "Ow."

 

4. Finishers. He's got like 12 finishers (which you "smart marks" should love, since it's so puro-esque...), and they all rock. The Big Boot, the Roll The Dice, the Pumphandle Powerslam, the Flying Elbow, the Doctor Bomb...

 

5. Cheesy promos. His promos are so BAD they are GOOD. Who hasn't cracked up upon hearing his electrifying introduction of Mr. Perfect, or his hitting on the WWE Divas?

 

...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

Anglesault just ain't convertable... LOL

[Guest Anglesault]

Test just aint watchable

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

For the first time...ever... I agree with Anglesault...

 

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

I think that oh so important factor with Test is that HE CAN'T GET OVER. Put him with Montley Crew... Nope... Corporation...nope...Union...nope.... Stephanie... Nope...Trish Stratus...Nope...The Alliance...Nope...

[Guest Vyce]

Well, I'm a bitter and cynical young man, so I can comfortably hate people for little to no reason at all.

 

So FUCK the Undertaker! Slow-moving bastard.

 

I'll hate him until he pulls out the tope again. Then I'll cheer him like a good little mark.

[Guest Downhome]

I actually remember Test being over in the Steph thing and then when he went out and started in those hardcore matches. Am I the only one that remembers the days of an "over" Test?

[Guest CanadianChick]

I remember those days to, Downhome

[Guest TestKick]

yes, but they never sustain his pushes and give Test a chance. After the Steph debacle where they made Test look like a complete pussy, it will take a lot of work for the fans to believe he's a badass again, but I believe his time will come soon with the likes of Austin and Angle leaving thus pushing new better talent

[Guest CanadianChick]

I don't mind test and I acually like him, but I don't think he is main-event level, Testkick.

[Guest TestKick]

he's not right now, but with the right push, I think Test definitely has a chance to get there. When i see the guys who are on top now, Test definitely has a chance.

[Guest CanadianChick]

Well I guess anyone has a chance with a good push. I'm hoping that Lance Storm will be a maineventer. It could happen...

[Guest cabbageboy]

Test has pretty much had his chance. Much like Mark Henry, when you are involved in an angle that just makes you look like such a tool you can't recover. Test could have gotten over after the wedding angle, but they buried him instead of pushing him against HHH. Sorry but there isn't a way to recover your heat after a guy steals your fiancee and marries her himself, then kicks your ass when you say something.

[Guest TestKick]

true, but I think enough time has passed where that is forgotten. Probably a good percentage of fans weren't watching WWF when the marriage angle took place. I don't think the past matters all that much, if the WWE wants to push you, they will, no matter how the reaction is, and I hope Test gets his chance.

[Guest CanadianChick]

I don't think that fans have that long of a memory anyways.

[Guest SuperTonyJaymz]

I wouldnt say Test is that good but he is solid. Been saying it since day one. The problem is, the WWE has fucked him up so many times the fans have stopped caring about him.

[Guest papacita]

Well I can name every WWF title change (all belts except the Hardcore) since 1991 out of the top of my head since I've been watching wrestling...

 

I'm just saying!

 

Anyway, I agree that Taker's got a lot of undeserved criticism over the past few years. What stands out the most is how a lot of smarks blame him for the ratings decline in Spring 2001 while failing to consider the effect of Austin's unexplained heel turn and the Rock's departure after WMX7. I'll be the first to admit that Taker's character isn't exactly the most entertaining, but that whole period cannot be blamed solely on him. And he's not given enough in ring credit either. People seem to have this mentality that if you're over 6'1", 235 pounds that you're incapable of having a good match. This doesn't just apply to Taker, but guys like Kane, Albert, and I'll even throw Big Show in there, as much as I hate him. I won't say that it's band-wagon hatred, but maybe that everyone is spoiled by the Benoits and Angles to the point where it's harder to appreciate the bigger guys.

 

As for Test...I liked him back when he first came in, but his push was assassinated after the Steph wedding, which made it kinda hard to respond to him. I think he had something good with the T & A team. He and Albert really didn't mesh well at first, but after a while, they became a pretty good team IMO. I have no clue why the WWF decided to put the Tag belts on RTC instead of those 2. Anyway, I'm not gonna go out and call him the next big thing, but the WWF definitely missed the boat w/ him.

[Guest TheyCallMeMark]

This is the classic anti-smart mark thread. It's been done a billion times before. Not that this is the best one I've seen, but it's not awful either. I haven't yet to see one that stood out and wasn't the same old "you should respect them for their 100% effort they give every night" "they give their bodies for you" hyperbole. The post we have here is nothing different, just a post with the intention of giving the poster a self-rightous buzz about him or her self and inciting responses from people who disagree. The choice is an obvious one, just restate your argument over and over and it's a pretty easy one not to lose. Oh well, I'll give defending the "smart mark" position a shot.

 

Lets face it, these guys aren't giving us 100% every night. They can't be. Otherwise every Angle/Edge match would have been as good as the other, instead of a declining pattern. And, if every wrestler gave 100% every night, well then every single match between The Rock/Austin/Angle/Benoit/Jericho combinations would have hit ****+ regardless of wether it was on TV or off... Which is of course clearly not true. Until I start seeing classic matches on regular TV I refuse to believe everyone out there is giving 100%.

 

And the other main argument, the "they're destroying their bodies" bull, give me a break. You mean to tell me Undertaker throwing a few fake punches and falling over is sacraficing his body for my entertainment? I sacrafice my body when I fall over to make my friends chuckle, should I be praised by them and hailed as a saint for falling over for their entertainment and held in the highest respect? The big guys and the old guys aren't really killing themselves out there. I have no more respect for them than I do my mom for excercising for an hour every day.

 

Sure you could say Jeff Hardy sacrafices himself. But did I ask him to? No, I could enjoy the product just as much with or without sick bumps. I like watching high flyers as much as the next guy but if a person can't get over without highspots or likes using highspots it's not exactly my perogative, is it? As far as I'm concerned, anyone who wants to hurt themselves out there is welcome to it but I'm not going to tune in to a match just to see it or tune out of it's not there. Not to say I don't respect their willingness to do it... But I don't think I'm required to enjoy something that doesn't actually appeal to me.

 

Why should I have to like someone who doesn't do anything for me? That's like saying I have to masterbate to a picture of Rosie O'Donnell in a bikini just because she was trying equally as hard as Jennifer Love Hewitt was to look sexy.

 

Hell, I'm tired. I'm sure there is someone who can post a better rebuttal than me on this board anyhow. I just hope my main point got across.

 

By the way; this has been the classic smart mark response to the classic anti-smart mark thread.

 

And whoever wrote the bit about Test being good; that was gold. I'm still wiping tears from my eyes.

[Guest TestKick]

I didn't intend for it to be "anti-smark", i just think that Test was more qualified to be KOTR then brock at this time.

 

I don't understand your point about you have to like someone who don't do anything for you. Nobody is forcing you to choose who you like. If you don't like Test, fine, but it's wrong to say he don't give a shit and should be fired just because you don't like him.

[Guest Fook_Hing_Ho]

That's like saying I have to masterbate to a picture of Rosie O'Donnell in a bikini just because she was trying equally as hard as Jennifer Love Hewitt was to look sexy.

Gee, thanks for the visual. Now I have to take a meat skewer to my eyes.

[Guest CanadianChick]

Being anti-smark wasn't my objective either. I just think that ppl. underestimate test. I was not saying that you have to like him becasue of his effort. Hell, I don't like Undertaker at all, and i don't care the amount of effort he puts in, he still sucks, in my view. I was defending Test becasue I like him, not becasue he works hard.

[Guest Trivia247]

Confession I never liked Ultimate warrior I thought he was some Painted face hand talking moron who was so 2 dimensional he couldn't keep track of what gimmick he was in. And he bitches and moans on how he should be treated who he should face and Demands that he no sells here and there. and thought Goldberg is Overglorifed Nonwrestler who got lucky being paid a million plus contract Just to Win Matches and No Sell. And then sit at home and eat cheetos and Bashing the WWF everytime someone sticks a mike in his face to ask if he was going there, we all remember his inserting his foot in his mouth when he bashed the WWF for what he claimed not helping survivores of the 9/11 attack because they are a New York Based Promotion... Even though WWF gave over WWF NY to the city to use as a shelter. But in the same breath promotes himself and Vince Russo.

 

However... If both got in the WWF by some magical reason some Hallucination that Russo invisioned one night because he is still a Concussed basketcase. I hope they come in and serve out their contract. As long as they do what is required of them as wrestlers and didn't bitch about it. Warrior left because he didn't want to get into a 3rd rate feud he says with Nailz Well excuse the CRAP out of us Mr Erwig or EARwig, no wait your legally called Warrior now. We forgot to read the fine print that says you must be Main eventer for Life and wrestle only Main eventers...

 

And Goldberg.. He wouldn't survive the WWE. because unlike his last cushy job of being a Ratings Ploy. He would actually have to WORK in the ring. he would have to learn how to sell moves...Not get hit with something major and just shake his head like he was a cartoon character that got hit by a Anvil. got to make people look good, carry them as well as let them make you look good. and you got to love the business instead of the bottom dollar your lawyers would be guaranting you to join that little organization. He said that he could legitly beat the hell out of anyone in a Shoot... Yea.. So Can Haku. Doesn't mean nothing. besides That doesn't mean Haku nor Goldberg wouldn't get their butts whooped by anyone on the roster in a straight fight. But its WRESTLING Billy boy.. remember scripted entertainment... Not just oh Im Goldberg WHACK! by contract your suppose to sell to me like you were hit by a brick wall!

 

those are the only two people in Wresting I dislike.

 

everyone else I neither Love or like just either tolerate or give them the proper amount of attention or time to see how they do in the ring.

 

 

Takes a breath....

 

ok im done with my rant.

[Guest CanadianChick]

*Applauds Trivia*

Very good (and accurarte) rant. I too dislike Warrior, but I don't hat Goldberg as much as you do, but I still see all your points.

[Guest TheSmarkzone]

Almost ANYBODY can be a main eventer with the right push. They could have given Test the exact same push as Brock, and he would have gotten over. He has all of the tools that Brock has and more. The ONLY thing that has held Test back is an inconsistent push. They started to push him in the summer of 1999, then backed off. They started to push him late last year, then backed off. When given the chance, Test excels. They pushed him hard during the summer of 1999 and he and Shane stole the show at SummerSlam in the Greenwich street fight. They pushed him hard following last year's Survivor Series and he was drawing some serious heel heat with the immunity/player gimmick.

[Guest papacita]

I didn't get Test's last push. Every week he would come out and do little else but push some ref's around, put his feet on the ropes and JR would say "Boy that there Test has been on such a roll!" What, they they figure that if JR said that enough times, he'd eventually get over? And they did that with a lot of people too...Lo-Down's a good example of that. Ok, I'm getting a little bit off topic, but half assed pushes like that really piss me off.

[Guest Trivia247]

well it takes serious building for someone to go up Main Event, not only from WWE Creative writing staff , Bookers. but SOME not total..Not Major but some Fan based influence... cheers pops etc merchandise sales, perhaps even past history, but like fan influence only some influence not major.

 

Test was on the brink of hitting major for a while but never got over that brink. Some say its because of HHH pressing his foot on his neck to keeping him down. but thats said for just about anybody the group of us like but aren't full main event status. Test and Albert would have been a Solid Tag team as T & A but was never seriously pushed into Tag team title contendership for some reason. so they were always the "B" Tag team while the E&C Hardy Boys and Dudleys go round and round in their year long feud with each other.

 

If they were to convincingly Build up Test, the only ways I see to get momentum at this rate is either him turning babyface and then taking the run against the Major heels.

Or Perhaps in the New Canadian group being the Heavyweight Monster that Lance Storm would direct into Major titles.

 

don't know how likely either is.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

Hey, is Test givin Mikey Cole the ol Elix Skipper/Stevie Ray treatment? If I hear Cole drool over test one more time I will hit my tv with a slap-jack.

 

Test is a Wwf boy. He is like Billy Gunn, the Godfather, Rikishi, Bob Holly, etc. They will never get fired no matter how much they suck or how little they are over. I bet the wizards over at Titan have a game of darts quarterly and put up pictures of each Wwf boy currently active. They close their eyes and just throw one to the wind and whom ever picture it hits gets a push.

[Guest El Psycho Diablo]

On 'taker: I don't mind him right now. He's also been working with the young guys, which in my book is an improvement from the last few champions. He's even made guys like Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton seem like they have a chance. Can you see Stone Cold doing that? ppbht.

 

However, during the invasion..when he was squashing people left and right, no selling everything, and outright burying DDP..I hated his guts. Still resent that in a way. He isn't the perfect champion, but unlike HHH and Hogan..at least he TRIES.

 

-Shiro

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

Confession I never liked Ultimate warrior I thought he was some Painted face hand talking moron who was so 2 dimensional he couldn't keep track of what gimmick he was in.

That little bit right there was GOLD!

 

I'm still trying not to break in a big ass laugh and wake up everybody in the damned house.

 

As far as the rest of the rant, you hit it right on the head, brotha.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

I've basically been a smark my entire life. Even when I had no idea about backstage politics. It was probably my dad and brother that told me people like Flair, Anderson, Steamboat, Dibiase and Mr.Perfect where the talented wrestlers. You watch enough and understand what they mean, and grow to appreciate how talented these guys where.

[Guest Lord of The Curry]

Something a little off topic here...

 

Ya'll is talking aboot the Taker "tope con hilo." Taker did just a tope, didn't he? From what I know a tope with a "con hilo" added to it involves a running senton over the ropes w/out your hands touching the ropes. I've never seen Taker do a running senton over the ropes. A running dive, yes, but no senton.

 

Great Sasuke= Tope Con Hilo

Undertaker= Tope

 

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, cause I very well could be.

[Guest -Cutthroat-]

Cause' they "hate" the wrestlers we like...