Alcoholism - Most Failed Storyline? - Wrestling Forums : WWE, TNA, ECW, E-Fed, Wrestlemania, Live Wrestling Streams

Charles Widmore · 08-13-2009, 04:59 AM

We've seen it many times, a wrestler "Battles his personal demons" and a company decides to use those real demons in a storyline. In 1996, upon returning to the WWE as a changed man, Jake Roberts was thrown into a feud with Jerry Lawler that revolved around Lawler bringing up Roberts drinking problems in the past. In 1998, Road Warrior Hawk was told to act as if he was drunk by stumbling around at ring side. This eventually led to Hawk falling off of the Titantron. In 2000, WCW did the same with Scott Hall, pointing out his real life problems with drinking. In 2003, ROH's first major storyline success saw CM Punk start a war with Raven by pointing out Raven's past drinking problems. Finally, even TNA got in on the fad by having Rhino become uncontrollable after tasting alcohol that he drank some from a barrel.

Minus the ROH one, I can't really say any of these storylines really did anything to help the wrestler involved in it. It's bad enough that some of them were still "Battling their personal demons", is it really helping them to have it exposed to the world? In the end, it doesn't really create good TV, the wrestlers aren't helped and it's just an embarrassment to the company.

Has there been a storyline that has failed more times than this?

Tommy Platinum · 08-13-2009, 09:57 AM

It has failed a fair few times, but I think it has potential to be a good angle if done right. Like any sort of drug abuse, recovering from alcoholism shows determination and character, and these are obviously likeable characteristics in faces. It's hard to explain why the angle has failed on these occasions because it makes the heel look like the ultimate dick while also making the face look good to have overcome these issues. I really liked the TNA one, but mainly because it made Storm look so great as a heel. It's not always just about the face looking good at the end of it. It was awesome when Storm had Rhino tied to the ropes, forced him to drink some beer then hit him with the bottle. Obviously TNA screwed up Storm's push thereafter though.

Doctor Doom · 08-13-2009, 11:28 AM

There should never be a storyline that reflects a person's real life problems, all of the alcoholic storylines fail imo. The most failed was Road Warrior Hawk's storyline in 1998.

Tommy Platinum · 08-13-2009, 11:39 AM

Why shouldn't there be storylines that reflect people's real life forums? It adds realism and emotion to feuds.

Doctor Doom · 08-13-2009, 11:46 AM

If someone's really facing their demons, why mock them in storyline? Lita had off-screen problems with Matt Hardy, that was made into a storyline where Matt comes out of nowhere, attacking Edge, and was made into a match where Matt lost to him. Fans were shouting out unpleasant things because of her relationship problems w/ Matt, which made her retire from wrestling. I think storylines that reflect on real-life issues shouldn't ever been written. :/

Tommy Platinum · 08-13-2009, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Doctor Doom

If someone's really facing their demons, why mock them in storyline? Lita had off-screen problems with Matt Hardy, that was made into a storyline where Matt comes out of nowhere, attacking Edge, and was made into a match where Matt lost to him. Fans were shouting out unpleasant things because of her relationship problems w/ Matt, which made her retire from wrestling. I think storylines that reflect on real-life issues shouldn't ever been written. :/

That's different though. I am talking about faces who have OVERCOME those demons or past problems so it reflectls positively on their character, examples being Booker T and MVP with their jail time, and Hardy with his past drug issues. He is apparently clean now, so all it says about him really is that he is a strong person and has overcome those problems. Obviously a lot of it is about mic work though. MVP did very well putting over the fact that he made mistakes in the past, paid for them, and is now a changed man. He made a positive change in his life. People respect that.

Obviously when it's all negative, like with Lita, that is pretty bad, even as a heel.

Unforgivable Deuce · 08-13-2009, 12:21 PM

It works on occasion, like Punk/Raven, but for the most part, I haven't really seen another that personally jumps out at me as a great feud.

Granted, I didn't watch TNA when the Rhino/Storm thing was happening, so I'll reserve judgement.

Doctor Doom · 08-13-2009, 12:27 PM

I can accept that Tommy.

unn0129 · 08-17-2009, 05:34 PM

Not neccessarily a storyline, but Austins "drinking habits" helped make him one of the most entertaining performers in the history of the industry.

Charles Widmore · 08-17-2009, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by unn0129

Not neccessarily a storyline, but Austins "drinking habits" helped make him one of the most entertaining performers in the history of the industry.

Characters like Steve Austin and The Sandman weren't portrayed as self destructing men who was had struggled with trying to stay clean. Not really the same thing.

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