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Post by Kill Em' All on May 5, 2019 22:00:00 GMT -5
I was a fan, but I feel like maybe prolonging Eddie's reign to drop it to like Angle could of been a nice alternative
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on May 5, 2019 22:35:16 GMT -5
I didn't mind it.
I remember it came out of nowhere though. I didn't watch Smackdown religiously back then, once Benoit went to Raw the night after Smackdown, I pretty much stopped watching that show steadily. And once guys like Edge and Benjamin got drafted to Raw, I was done with Smackdown entirely. I would read the spoilers, but that's about it.
So I pretty much missed seeing everything go down. I would love to re-watch it all now on the WWE Network though, I am sure I would enjoy watching it now.
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Post by Scott! on May 9, 2019 9:22:10 GMT -5
As a kid, I hated it. As an adult, I loved it.
When I was 11 years old, JBL was the wrestler I hated the most. I hated watching Smackdown to see him every week, but that's a testament to just how good he really was. He made me freaking despise him, and that just goes to show what an incredible heel he was. His matches were great and it didn't matter who he was wrestling, I was invested because I was desperate for him to lose the title. As an adult, re watching Smackdown from 2004 it was some of the best heel work in history. I mean, Eddies mother and the heart attack angle and the promo he cut the next week saying it was eddies own doing, was classic and by god I hated him.
It worked so well, from going from a beer drinking ass kicker to a cowardly but believable rich guy who thought he was better than you. Genius, one of the best rebrands in history.
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Post by JokerFC on May 24, 2019 10:29:12 GMT -5
I enjoyed it and here's why.....
Eddie had a meltdown and wanted the belt off himself ASAP.....Latino Heat crumbled under the pressure of being champ. JBLs gimmick was intended to be a cheap heat vehicle for Eddie to hammer but when Eddie wanted out JBL stepped in. He turned a shite xenophobic gimmick into something VERY workable.
He was a total cretin as champ who scraped his way though by the skin of his teeth...and the heat it garnered him was incredible. No better guy for Cena to take the strap off.
Also his reign ended in 2005.....14 years ago. Yeah its Classic wrestling. RA era is 100% classic.
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Post by LA Times on May 24, 2019 11:32:06 GMT -5
At the time, I thought it was bull$#!+, but looking back, its not as bad as some of the champions who have held it since. Being the champion helped put over John Cena and later Batista.
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Post by Rated [R] NinJa on May 24, 2019 13:15:51 GMT -5
I was 12 when it happened and absolutely hated it and wanted Taker as champ, seeing him manage to get the win over Taker, Booker, Eddie, Angle, Big Show etc really annoyed me at the time because back then we actually booed and hated the bad guys but as an adult I think it was terrific heel booking. He essentially played the chicken sh*t heel character which everybody appreciates now, however when Seth Rollins did it in 2015 everybody was bitching about how he was being booked weak and never got clean wins. HE WAS PLAYING A CHICKEN SH*T HEEL PEOPLE, IT’S WHAT THEY DO!
Another thing, at the time it was really hard to see what JBL was doing on SmackDown for a year right after Triple H’s “reign of terror”, good luck wanting a face to be champion as a kid from 2003-2005 lol
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Post by cordless2016 on May 25, 2019 7:45:44 GMT -5
I loved it. Sure his matches sucked, but it just played into his heel heat. The guy was one of the best talkers on the mic at the time and despite being a large man, played a great cowardly heel.
I enjoyed the storyline of him being a “survivor.” Despite being outmatched in most encounters they told a story of him finding ways to always walk away with the gold. I’d take his title run over HHH’s 2002-2003 “reign of terror” any day.
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Post by K5 on May 25, 2019 9:38:24 GMT -5
I loved it. Sure his matches sucked, but it just played into his heel heat. The guy was one of the best talkers on the mic at the time and despite being a large man, played a great cowardly heel.I enjoyed the storyline of him being a “survivor.” Despite being outmatched in most encounters they told a story of him finding ways to always walk away with the gold. I’d take his title run over HHH’s 2002-2003 “reign of terror” any day. it helps that he’d softened up a lot by then and clearly laid off the juice. I feel like 1999 Bradshaw could’ve beaten the crap out of 2003 JBL |
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Post by cordless2016 on May 25, 2019 14:12:40 GMT -5
I loved it. Sure his matches sucked, but it just played into his heel heat. The guy was one of the best talkers on the mic at the time and despite being a large man, played a great cowardly heel.I enjoyed the storyline of him being a “survivor.” Despite being outmatched in most encounters they told a story of him finding ways to always walk away with the gold. I’d take his title run over HHH’s 2002-2003 “reign of terror” any day. it helps that he’d softened up a lot by then and clearly laid off the juice. I feel like 1999 Bradshaw could’ve beaten the crap out of 2003 JBL Agreed. Even 2002 Bradshaw during his Hardcore Title reigns looked to be in far better shape than 2003/2004 Bradshaw. It never bothered me though as he was still a large man who could beat the crap out of any ordinary person. |
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TheXtremisT
Main Eventer
10 Year Member
This is the way
Joined on: May 3, 2008 8:03:15 GMT -5
Posts: 3,953
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Post by TheXtremisT on Jun 3, 2019 6:23:14 GMT -5
As a kid, I hated it. As an adult, I loved it. When I was 11 years old, JBL was the wrestler I hated the most. I hated watching Smackdown to see him every week, but that's a testament to just how good he really was. He made me freaking despise him, and that just goes to show what an incredible heel he was. His matches were great and it didn't matter who he was wrestling, I was invested because I was desperate for him to lose the title. As an adult, re watching Smackdown from 2004 it was some of the best heel work in history. I mean, Eddies mother and the heart attack angle and the promo he cut the next week saying it was eddies own doing, was classic and by god I hated him. It worked so well, from going from a beer drinking ass kicker to a cowardly but believable rich guy who thought he was better than you. Genius, one of the best rebrands in history. That is exactly the same sentiment I had for Jeff Jarrett back in WCW in 2000. Absolutely hated him. But now I appreciate how well he was a heel and played his part perfectly. |
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Nev Jones
Mid-Carder
“Three letters say it all...WCW!”
Joined on: Jul 1, 2018 7:47:01 GMT -5
Posts: 262
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Post by Nev Jones on Jun 3, 2019 6:39:30 GMT -5
I liked it. I liked this over the top heel holding on to the belt no matter what odds were stacked up against him, and it felt like a big moment when his luck ran out against Cena. I’ll admit, I was skeptical at first because he hadn’t exactly had memorable single runs previously, but this one worked.
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robbutler01
Main Eventer
Joined on: Feb 10, 2013 15:10:27 GMT -5
Posts: 1,282
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Post by robbutler01 on Jun 3, 2019 7:13:32 GMT -5
Hated JBL and his title reign - actually turned off when he came on and stopped watching Smackdown at the time too.
Didn't like his matches which were usaually plodding and boring and he used cheap heat which I didn't like. He did well to reinvent himself but I couldn't get in to it and I felt he seemed like the budget version of the million dollar man (ironic considering his financial dealing and reputation back then)
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👑🇵🇭⭐️
Main Eventer
WF 10 Year Member
King Of The Ring 2007 - Team Undisputed
Joined on: Feb 4, 2013 13:46:47 GMT -5
Posts: 4,739
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Post by 👑🇵🇭⭐️ on Jun 3, 2019 11:32:09 GMT -5
I was just paying attention to the Undisputed Championship Title Belt.
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China Claus
Main Eventer
I can feeel your sensitivity
Joined on: Apr 17, 2012 20:05:15 GMT -5
Posts: 2,737
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Post by China Claus on Jun 3, 2019 17:09:08 GMT -5
The JBL character was a fresh and unexpected change to the "Hardcore/APA" Bradshaw we'd become accustomed to. The fact that he'd actually made some money, kayfabe or not, only added to his character.
And the fact we're still talking about him after all these years just proves he was doing something right.
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