Danny Diamond

Founder/Admin

Is it possible that Vince has realized that the gimmick may be popular choice with wrestling fans in the year 2004?


I believe that Vince had the theory (and was correct at the time) that gimmicks should be slowly fazed out because kayfabe was being broken on a daily basis and the fact that the average wrestling fans was now 18-35 not 8-12 anymore.

Maybe he thought that he was insulting the intelligence of the fans by having people that could rise from the dead, or be crazy clowns etc etc. You get my point. Guys went from being "Diesel" to "Kevin Nash" (just an example.) New guys that came in are now using their real names etc etc.

Now it appears that Vince is ready to bring gimmicks back, slowly but surely.

We have seen it with Mordeci, La Resistance and JBL aka Bradshaw.

Is this just a rare occurence or a trend that is beginning? Not many new wrestlers have really been coming up the ranks as of late so its hard to tell if this is something we will be seeing more of. But I have no problem with it at all.

I mean, most people check their brain at the door when watching wrestling anyhow so why not bring back some well done gimmicks.

Talk amongst yourselves.

Bouchie

Watching Mordecai last night made me think of when Goldust first debuted. He needs a few tweaks in his overall presentation, specifically his music, but the general concept is there. I'm still a fan of the gimmick as oppose to your everyday vanilla wrestler. Even if, in this day and age, it's painfully cheesy, it's still more entertaining than "joe blow from OVW". The guy playing Mordecai is from OVW, yes..I know.

So, in conclusion, even though we don't believe in gimmicks anymore (because we're not 12 anymore), they are entertaining and the way to go, in my opinion.

kindred

Well I think that one man can answer that question

EUGENE

Here is a talented wrestler that drew a very short straw.

look at the wrestlers who are characters now

La resistance = the fabulous rougos

Mordecai = old school ut

JBL = the million dollar man

Rico andf miss jackie = adrian street and miss linda

all these characters have been done before except a eugene type vince is throwing some new in with some old and hedging his bets. I think that vince is trying to win back some fans he had before the attitude era. By reminding them of the good old days of a character fighting another character he can distance himself from the sleazy stigma that bad press has given his product. What a retort he has now '' So vince, ya still following that necro phillia story line ''

'' no i am presenting an autistic man as being capable of defending himself in wrestling '' What can people say to that. That would never happen ? then who is being the asshole ?

what id like to have right now.........

Danny Diamond

Founder/Admin

All very valid points so far.

I agree that, even though I haven't seen Mordeci that every character takes time to develop into who they truely are trying to portray.

I mean, ever see the first season of some of your favorite TV shows? The characters have no depth and are hardly anything like they are a few years later.

Dr. Giganto

take a look at simons sig to see someone whos career was going nowhere before he was given a gimmick

Drunksader

I loved old school wrestling, even with shitty gimmicks, and I hate current wrestling because WWE is trying to turn it into a sport by having everyone take their given name. I KNOW wrestling is fake - therefore I don't give a shit if a guy in a tophat pretending to be the walking dead gets into the ring to pound on an evil clown - in fact, I love that shit.

The Dude

Gimmicks have always been around, just lately we're getting the old school ones again (the only one worth it, IMO, is Taker's).

Has anyone seen Jindrack's Narcassist rip off? Talk about bringing back a bad gimmick. It has me scared we'll see another Doink the Clown.

I prefer more realistic gimmicks myself. Yeah, Taker's Deadman gimmick is better than the biker one, but that's the only old school gimmick I can see working today. Guys like Steve Austin and The Rock succeeded by having thin gimmicks and high personality.

Even Hulk Hogan didn't have much of a gimmick. He was basically just the pro-American, eat your vitamins/steroids wrestler.

Look at Chris Benoit. No gimmick and he's had a successful run as World Champ so far and is over with most people.

Gimmicks are okay, but don't let them dominate the person. When the wrestler is allowed to be themselves to the nth degree only then can he be successful and entertaining.

I do agree that the writers are just being lazy by bringing people in and keeping their original names. Give them something to work with! A guy coming in with normal looking tights, a name like "John Smith" and generic music isn't going to help the guy get over.

Give him a thin gimmick, and then let him work with it a la Steve Austin and the Rock.

When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fullfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and be taken as prisoners to all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
...At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
Luke 21:20-28

Dr. Giganto

Actually, i think Benoit has more of a gimmick than most people realize...the intense, no-nonsense, actions-speak-louder-than-words character is probably just an exaggeration of his character, but an exaggeration nonetheless, which makes it sort of a gimmick. It works for him and is effective, whereas a more over-the-top gimmick wouldnt work with him

i agree.This is sort of what theyre doing with Randy Orton...Gave him a little something to work with and hes running with it. The "Legend Killer" doesnt dominate his character, but it gives him a little something that Joe Blow from OVW doesnt have

Creature of the Night

A gimmick should be there just to separate you from 'Joe Blow' as its been popularly called this thread.

I dont think gimmicks have ever really gone away, its just that they were more personality tweaks than full blown characters. The Rock was a guy who was a jive-talking, in-your-face, cocky sonofabitch, and Austin was the I dont give a crap about anyone but myself badass character. HHH is the cereberal assassin, a methodical, evil bastard who uses his mind to outsmart his foe. Booker T is the cocky, self-centred, extrovery party animal/wrestler who thinks a lot more of himself than he has justification for.

Theyre gimmicks, but theyre more subtle than full blown costumes and textbook character sets.