Franklin's Words of Wisdom:Asian Wrestlers

Rated-RKO-Franklin · 07-06-2009, 01:26 PM

As many of you know Asian wrestlers have not made it far in the WWE, TNA, and other wrestling companies. There has never been a World Champion Asian wrestler in the WWE. Ricky Steamboat(who is part Asian or full) has won the NWA World Title. They have won some titles but never the big one. They never seem to make it to the top of the ladder. Why is that?

Most Asian wrestlers have stereotype gimmicks. The gimmicks are related to their culture. It is good they want to respect and honor their heritage. However this is what holding them back. There have been talented Asian wrestlers who make it nowhere in wrestling. Their gimmicks do not appeal to Americans.

They need to change their gimmicks. It just does not appeal to Americans. They may get attention but it will not last. If they want to be successful in this business they need to make a change. Many have the in ring skills but that can only go so far. You still have to appeal to the audience.

Tommy Platinum · 07-06-2009, 01:29 PM

Well mic skills are a huge part of being a WWE main eventer and a lot of them can't really speak English well enough so that's a big part of it.

Kayla · 07-06-2009, 01:34 PM

I thought you left in protest of your name being changed?

Anyway, as Tom mentioned, mic skills are a big part of wrestling entertainment. It's kind of hard to understand them if they can't really speak english. But like you said too, sometimes they get joke gimmicks. Like Jimmy Wang Yang. "The Asian Redneck"...what the fuck? I thought Jamie Noble was the redneck? Or was it the trailer trash gimmick? Does he still have that one?

horrorfan_1986 · 07-06-2009, 03:14 PM

The simple reason for why they haven't been pushed is because most people do not think of Americans as someone who looks like Jimmy Yang. With the WWE being an American based company who just so happens to broadcast in other countries and travels now and then, they're going to put the belt around the waist of those who look American. Especially coming off of World War II, anyone who looked Asian could easily be portrayed as an evil Japanese wrestler to get the cheap patriotic heat. To this day, these borderline racist beliefs exist. After all, what does the typical World Champion look like in the WWE? White male. Granted, you're not going to put the belt around someone just because they're black or Asian, but I highly doubt Vince McMahon or others actively seek out black, Asian, ect to be the future of the company. Wrestlers like Bobby Lashley had the look that Vince loves. It just so happens that he was also black.

Tommy Platinum · 07-06-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horrorfan_1986
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The simple reason for why they haven't been pushed is because most people do not think of Americans as someone who looks like Jimmy Yang. With the WWE being an American based company who just so happens to broadcast in other countries and travels now and then, they're going to put the belt around the waist of those who look American. Especially coming off of World War II, anyone who looked Asian could easily be portrayed as an evil Japanese wrestler to get the cheap patriotic heat. To this day, these borderline racist beliefs exist. After all, what does the typical World Champion look like in the WWE? White male. Granted, you're not going to put the belt around someone just because they're black or Asian, but I highly doubt Vince McMahon or others actively seek out black, Asian, ect to be the future of the company. Wrestlers like Bobby Lashley had the look that Vince loves. It just so happens that he was also black.

Fair point. Although wrestlers of other races are often pushed, it is very rare that the company, or a brand, is based around them.

I may be forgetting some really obvious names, but I'm struggling to think of black World Champions in WWE (excluding the ECW title which is more of a stepping stone). Can anybody help me out?

Booker's WCW Title reign doesn't really count because he brought the belt to the company.

horrorfan_1986 · 07-06-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy
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Fair point. Although wrestlers of other races are often pushed, it is very rare that the company, or a brand, is based around them.

I may be forgetting some really obvious names, but I'm struggling to think of black World Champions in WWE (excluding the ECW title which is more of a stepping stone). Can anybody help me out?

Booker's WCW Title reign doesn't really count because he brought the belt to the company.

The only black world champions in the WWE:

Booker T (World Heavyweight Championship)
The Rock (Half black at least)

That's it. You'd obviously need to look at each year's roster to see if there was a black wrestler who deserved to be champion, however; in a company that has been around for nearly 50 years, it's clearly more than just not having a capable black wrestler to be champion.

Tommy Platinum · 07-06-2009, 03:51 PM

Yeah I forgot about Booker's reign as World Heavyweight Champion.

I knew there wern't many but that is surprising to say the least. I have to say I can't think of many black wrestlers in recent times who deserved to be World Champions though.

tdigle · 07-17-2009, 03:22 PM

I agree with what most people here say, in that Asians don't go very far in WWE because: a) one's mic skills are just as important as one's prowess in the ring; b) those who compose WWE's audience are probably not that open to seeing an Asian headline one of WWE's brands. But, there have been some exception in America (namely, Muta and Liger in early 1990s WCW), and these reasons definitely don't explain away why African-Americans aren't pushed that much in WWE. I think there would need to be a separate theory for this latter case, as African-Americans do speak English, and there are probably quite a few African-American wrestling fans.

Franklin's Words of Wisdom:Asian Wrestlers

This is a discussion on Franklin's Words of Wisdom:Asian Wrestlers within the General Pro Wrestling : Classic & General forums, part of the Wrestling Forums category; As many of you know Asian wrestlers have not made it far in the WWE, TNA, and other wrestling companies. ...