Patriots - Still Relevant?

horrorfan_1986 · 07-05-2009, 05:42 AM

It is perhaps the oldest gimmick in professional wrestling outside of the strong man. You either have a wrestler come out decked in stars and stripes for America or you have someone come out sporting the colors of another country and booed. Before my time, there was Mr. USA, Tony Atlas. Early in my childhood there was the All-American, Hulk Hogan. In my teens, there was Kurt Angle. In between Atlas and Angle, there were countless others. However, they're all mostly the same exactly gimmick. They're designed to get fans to cheer for the United States and boo anyone else. However, are they really relevant anymore, especially in the WWE?

Especially today with how the US is looked upon by the rest of the world, having a pro-American gimmick isn't the best way to become popular. Then there's the fact that the WWE travels to so many different countries in the year. Why would a country such as England cheer for a pro-American against someone such as William Regal? Quite honestly, I feel as if we the audience have outgrown the need to have such one dimensional tired gimmicks.

So, is the gimmick still relevant in 2009?

Mr. Sam · 07-05-2009, 05:59 AM

I think Kurt Angle is the exception to that rule. He was always pre-dominantly a heel and would get booed despite coming out wearing an American flag and preaching morals to anyone. Really, he was a parody of Hulk Hogan. When Angle talked about the "Three i's", people booed because he was being condescending. There's little more condescending than "Take your vitamins and say your prayers" or whatever the fuck that was.

As for right now, the only remotely "patriotic" gimmick is Jack Swagger as the All-American American. He's a heel.

I'm still convinced that if you've got the right foreign heel, they'll always cheer for the patriotic guy. And Hulk Hogan.

Kizza · 07-05-2009, 06:23 AM

It kinda of is, and it kind of isn't. The American crowds always get behind the Americans if being opposed to someone from a different country, like Kozlov or Regal. Whenever the American is getting beaten, a U.S.A chant always starts up. It just happens because I guess Americans have great pride in their country, and they hate seeing someone from their country getting beaten up by a "foreigner".

However, it also isn't. You just need to look at one man for that. Jim Duggan.

Y 2 Jake · 07-05-2009, 07:42 AM

Depends. The post 9/11 Smackdown show highlighted how everybody is patriotic towards America. Even Japanese & English WWE wrestlers.

But the answer is what Sam said, it's all about the anti-American heel. If he hates America so much, then they need somebody who loves America to beat him.

Sparverine · 07-05-2009, 06:41 PM

I think they are extremely relevant. In an age when people are thinking about boycotting the new GI Joe movie (I'm one of them), because they are trying to turn the organization into an "international task force" instead of the "Real American Hero(es)" they really are and a reboot of Captain America is up in the air...professional wrestling is one of the few vestiges where pro-American sentiments can be deeply rooted and supported through its characters and fans. Sgt. Slaughter, Corporal Kirschner, Hulk Hogan, and others were needed and still needed to pay homage for the fighting men and women in the United States Armed Forces. Yes, patriots are still relevant because every one needs a shining example to aspire to.

Tommy Platinum · 07-05-2009, 07:42 PM

I dunno. The fact that they've started using the term "WWE Universe" to describe the WWE fanbase, as well as the increased touring abroad, seems to suggest that WWE are going for a more global approach. They have also started bringing in wrestlers from abroad to appeal to a particular demographic, such as The Great Khali. I would say that it makes sense to keep the patriotism to a minimum in order to appeal to a wider range of people and avoid alienating certain sections of the WWE fanbase. It makes sense for WWE as a business to get as many people interested in the product as possible. WWE is a global corporation so they have to cater not only to the American market but to fans all over the globe, and personally I am turned off whenever they start going into the god bless America stuff on TV. It makes me feel like they only really care about their American fans.

In terms of gimmicks, we have seen that even when Regal is a heel he will get great reactions in the UK. Of course, people are always going to want to cheer for somebody who is from where they are from, so among the American fans the patriot gimmick will still work. However, I think WWE should be creating faces who everybody can get behind, and not just the Americans. Being an American hero who loves his country obviously isn't enough, and can actually turn foreigners off the product.

KenTheKiller · 07-07-2009, 02:41 PM

Or at least turn them off that wrestler.

I feel patriot gimmicks and anti-American gimmicks work. One of my favorites was the Hart Foundation v US in 97. Not because of necessarily American's reaction but because you had two different teams, and although one was more heelish it depends on where they went. There was a real gray area, which is good and bad, but hearing Canadians boo the hell out of the Patriot then have Americans love him was entertaining in itself. With WWE being global to an extent, they can't really have "America is the best country in the world" style face, because that would obviously get heat elsewhere. If you have a pro-American face DEFEND the country, then it could work.

I guess it's still relevant to an extent but with WWE's growth and worldwide fanbase, the formula needs to be tweaked, even if slightly.

Bigpapa42 · 07-07-2009, 10:39 PM

I'd say definitely. A gimmick is still required in wrestling, and a gimmick is basically a reason to try to make the fans cheer or boor. Until nationalities cease to matter and patriotism is no longer a factor, then the patriot will continue to be a relevant gimmick. Much like the evil foreigner. Perhaps they are not relevance in the manner that they once were, or to the same degree, but they are certainly still useable.

frank spencer · 07-11-2009, 03:21 PM

The easiest way for a non american heel to get instant heat is to go on about how much better their country is than the US cue uinstant 'USA USA USA' chant and said heel getting booed to feck

it's up there with hitting the woman/retard/midget for easy heat

Patriots - Still Relevant?

This is a discussion on Patriots - Still Relevant? within the General Pro Wrestling : Classic & General forums, part of the Wrestling Forums category; It is perhaps the oldest gimmick in professional wrestling outside of the strong man. You either have a wrestler come ...