Post by dancinfatass on Jun 25, 2007 0:28:41 GMT -5
I've been going over the roster lately out of boredom and I've come to realise, none of the new guys ever have unique names like the old days. IE: Vader, Tugboat, Earth Quake, Animal & Hawk (L.O.D), Sting, One man Gang, Tazz, Doink, Undertaker, Kane, Mankind, the Rock etc.
Now I look back and think about how well known most of them were by the general public. Like the Rock for instance, you go around today and ask people "Who is the Rock" 75% of the people you ask will know who he is. Now go around and ask people who John Cena is. Not many if any at all will know, maybe 15%. People are more intune with Nicknames rather than whole names and I think thats one problem WWE is having at the moment. None of their superstars other than old guys come across as memorable. Say Sting went by his real name rather than "Sting" most people probably wouldn't give a damn about him.
Now it's nice to have whole names as well but it doesen't really draw anyone trying to get into wrestling or casual channel surfers. What got me into wrestling was when I was flipping through the channels and came across a match between Doink v. Jerry Lawler. Just the gimmick vs. gimmick and the unique names hooked me, it was overall funny and entertaining and I could tell the crowd was really into it. If I was to flip through today and see an advertisement for Randy Orton vs. Santino Marella or Mark henry vs. Ken Kennedy vs. Kenny Dykstra in a 3 way bout, I wouldn't really even notice or care about it. You can really only market a persons real name only so far in the wrestling business. Now granted the names I mentioned are bore festers (other than Kennedy) but my point is, The Rock vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin wasn't just who they were, they were catchy names that drew CRAZY profit and viewers, all from a little catchy marketing.
So thats just one reason I do think wrestling is as horrible as it is now, nothing that interests people. They have some really good talent, and then the utterly horrible which is 85% of the reason wrestling sucks, but they're names are all blah and un recognisable, to the casuals and potential biters.
Now I look back and think about how well known most of them were by the general public. Like the Rock for instance, you go around today and ask people "Who is the Rock" 75% of the people you ask will know who he is. Now go around and ask people who John Cena is. Not many if any at all will know, maybe 15%. People are more intune with Nicknames rather than whole names and I think thats one problem WWE is having at the moment. None of their superstars other than old guys come across as memorable. Say Sting went by his real name rather than "Sting" most people probably wouldn't give a damn about him.
Now it's nice to have whole names as well but it doesen't really draw anyone trying to get into wrestling or casual channel surfers. What got me into wrestling was when I was flipping through the channels and came across a match between Doink v. Jerry Lawler. Just the gimmick vs. gimmick and the unique names hooked me, it was overall funny and entertaining and I could tell the crowd was really into it. If I was to flip through today and see an advertisement for Randy Orton vs. Santino Marella or Mark henry vs. Ken Kennedy vs. Kenny Dykstra in a 3 way bout, I wouldn't really even notice or care about it. You can really only market a persons real name only so far in the wrestling business. Now granted the names I mentioned are bore festers (other than Kennedy) but my point is, The Rock vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin wasn't just who they were, they were catchy names that drew CRAZY profit and viewers, all from a little catchy marketing.
So thats just one reason I do think wrestling is as horrible as it is now, nothing that interests people. They have some really good talent, and then the utterly horrible which is 85% of the reason wrestling sucks, but they're names are all blah and un recognisable, to the casuals and potential biters.
