Best On The Mic?

TheUnforgivableOne · 07-20-2009, 07:31 PM

Who do you think, in all of wrestling, can cut the best promo. He/She doesn't have to be a face or a heel, it all depends on how they either pander to the fans or draw heat from them.

Tommy Platinum · 07-20-2009, 07:41 PM

I can't talk about the indies, but in mainstream wrestling I think it's CM Punk. We all saw what he was capable of on the mic in ROH, and due to his heel turn we are seeing the best of him again in WWE as far as charisma and mic work goes. Even as a face, his promos were always great and I love the way he makes everything seem a huge deal, which is important for us to buy into it and get behind him in his matches. As soon as you hear him talk you know the guy is a natural on the mic. He is just so composed and he plays the self-righteous prick better than anybody I've ever seen. He just makes you want to hit him the way he talks.

A close second would be another heel, Chris Jericho. Sometimes his act gets repetitive but I still say he is a phenomenal mic worker and creates a lot of great segments through his skill at this.

John Cena would rival these two if his character wasn't so restrictive. I firmly believe that.

Also, I have to give a shoutout to Mick Foley, who is still great. If only the promotion he was in cared about his matches as much as he does.

TheUnforgivableOne · 07-20-2009, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy Platinum
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I can't talk about the indies, but in mainstream wrestling I think it's CM Punk. We all saw what he was capable of on the mic in ROH, and due to his heel turn we are seeing the best of him again in WWE as far as charisma and mic work goes. Even as a face, his promos were always great and I love the way he makes everything seem a huge deal, which is important for us to buy into it and get behind him in his matches. As soon as you hear him talk you know the guy is a natural on the mic. He is just so composed and he plays the self-righteous prick better than anybody I've ever seen. He just makes you want to hit him the way he talks.

A close second would be another heel, Chris Jericho. Sometimes his act gets repetitive but I still say he is a phenomenal mic worker and creates a lot of great segments through his skill at this.

John Cena would rival these two if his character wasn't so restrictive. I firmly believe that.

Also, I have to give a shoutout to Mick Foley, who is still great. If only the promotion he was in cared about his matches as much as he does.

Please elaborate.

Agreed on Punk. Punk is heaps better as a heel, being a face is/was doing him a disservice. If Creative can lead him in the right direction, he can be really special. He can get under your skin easily, and does the "I'm right, and therefore I cannot and will not listen to your opinion" thing so well that its almost a science.

Tommy Platinum · 07-20-2009, 07:56 PM

Well look at Cena's character. He basically has to cut a similar ultimate cookie cutter babyface trying-to-be-funny promo every week. The goofyness of his character really restricts him and stops him producing good promos, yet the guy is so charismatic and we all know that. That's the reason he got over in the first place.

In addition to this, whenever Cena cuts a serious promo, it is usually pretty great. He just isn't serious often enough, due to the goofyness of his character.

If Cena were allowed to be a more serious face, or even better turn heel, I imagine he would cut some truly memorable promos.

In short, Cena showing emotion = epic

If Cena ever turns heel and cuts a promo about the fans criticising him I think I might die from marking out.

acailler · 07-20-2009, 08:12 PM

Chris Jericho. Be it the Ayatollah of Rock and Rollah, or the sicko-fan hating hypocrite. He promos are brilliant and manages to draw the exact reaction he needs no matter what he does.

Sir Nicky Talent · 07-20-2009, 08:15 PM

Is this the greatest in history or right now? If it is now, it will be Chris Jericho. The people are quick to react to his words, which are hell bent and based on hatred and raw emotion. It's just interesting what he will say next.

Punk, he has shown recently he can work a mic. His ROH stuff is magic (especially his heel turn).

I think of all time, though? That is pretty tough. I would have to say the Rock. You give him anything and he would bash it, push it over, turn it face, turn it heel. He was simply incredible with words.

Tommy Platinum · 07-20-2009, 08:17 PM

I'd agree with The Rock if we are talking all time. He was, for want of a better word, electrifying.

TheUnforgivableOne · 07-20-2009, 08:24 PM

Rock is in another universe. The thread was meant to be current, I probably should have stated that more explicitly though.

As for Cena, I do agree that his character is holding him back. Some of the stuff he used to do when he was on SD!, and he was ridiculously over as the "rapper/Marky Mark" type of guy, was pure gold. The fact that he's built like a fucking thoroughbred racehorse doesn't do his intimidation factor any disservice either. I never knew why they abandoned that gimmick, he started to get heat when that happened. Being put on Raw hurt his mic skills (save for the Edge rivalry) , but it made him a better wrestler.

horrorfan_1986 · 07-20-2009, 08:52 PM

If we're talking about all time, my vote has to go to Dusty Rhodes. The Hard Times interview is one of my favorites of all time. From the 90's, I'd have to say Mick Foley. The Anti-Hardcore promos remains some of the best realistic promos of all time. This decade has seen solid talkers in CM Punk, The Rock and at times Chris Jericho. However, Jericho is much more inconsistent than the other ones I listed.

Sam · 07-21-2009, 12:03 PM

I agree with all of your picks for best on the mic, and to Tommy I still think Cena rivals Punk and Jericho even with his restrictions.

Here are some who I believe deserve mention.

Paul Heyman--Wrestling's pied piper. He could cut a promo and have you ready march across hot coals, and gleefully walk across the hot coals. Kinda like a cult leader which brings us to...

Raven--It's said that most wrestling promoters have a character that the promoters themselves live through vicariously. Vince had Austin, that appealed to the rebel in him. Heyman had Raven. A cultish figure much like Heyman, Raven, who through his promos manipulated the happenings in ECW from '95-97

Vince McMahon--His promos are so intense, it's so easy not to get caught up in them. Whether he's the maniaical Mr. McMahon who put his corporation before his stars like Steve Austin. Or the impassioned leader of the WWF who wanted to destroy the invading Alliance once and for all. Or the compassionate father who's daughter was carted off for an 'Unholy Marriage' to The Undertaker. Or the Business Rival of Ric Flair whom after having a fast one pulled over on him, decided to inject his company with a '...with a lethal dose of poison'. Of course there are plenty others, but as over the top as Vince is, his promos are always emotional, and you get caught up in his character.

Cyrus aka The Jackyl--I don't know how the WWE (then WWF) didn't utilize him better. He's such a natural heel, and does it with such a swarmy and smart-ass over-the-top flair he's cool to hate. C'mon how does somebody who says "The problem with the Mexicans in this industry is that they steal all the good jobs from the Canadians." not rate as a class one prick in your book?

Kurt Angle--I firmly believe that Kurt Angle provided an early rough draft for CM Punk's "I am Straight Edge, therefore I am better you" platform. Kurt's milk and cookies, good guy personae preaching to everybody that they should live his lifestyle in order to achieve success in life was done so well that he actually turned a stripper into a housewife! (well for a time anyway)

Best On The Mic?

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