Friday Sports Entertainment 02.03.12: Inaugural Edition
Posted by Sean Kelly on 02.03.2012
Where we explore why Daniel Bryan is overrated, the makings of a Superstar, your Twitter #FF, Sports Entertainment Art Contest and more!
Greetings Marks,
I'm Sean Kelly, and I'm your new Friday columnist at the 411Mania Wrestling Zone. I'm from New York City and that makes me a WWE guy through and through. And 411 needs more people to espouse the WWE product, right?
Right?
Anyhow, I've been visiting 411 back when it was just wrestling and they had that weird black and yellow color scheme. When Larry put out the call to write for 411, I figured I'd take the chance to submit a sample that displayed my unique perspective on wrestling and showcased my vastly superior writing ability.
As a 411 fan, I thought it would be interesting to show you the column that got me the gig here. I've always wondered how the guys writing here got hired, so take a peek at the "pilot" of my column, which was written circa six weeks ago, shortly after Daniel Bryan won the World Heavyweight Championship from the Big Show at TLC. Keep in mind; this was when he was a babyface. Then Stick around after the pilot for some more fun stuff.
So, without further ado, here's the writing sample that got you the pleasure of reading my work every Friday:
Greetings Marks, and welcome to my column. This week we'll take a look at IWC darling Daniel Bryan, and I'll make the case as to why he shouldn't be anywhere near a major title at this point in his career.
DANIEL BRYAN IS OVERRATED
Yes, you read that correctly. Daniel Bryan is overrated, and he won the World Heavyweight Championship at least 2-3 years too soon. If you're World Champion, it means you have to keep the existing audience while attracting new eyeballs to watch WWE programming. You need to sell merchandise. You need to get media exposure for the company. It's a huge responsibility, and you need to be ready to take that ball and run with it. Ask yourself, do you think that Bryan is capable of doing all that right now?
WRESTLER vs. SUPERSTAR
IWC folks tend to think that Vince McMahon is crazy. Everyone complains that we're not supposed to say "wrestling" -- we're supposed to say "sports entertainment." Those guys in tiny trunks aren't WRESTLERS, they're SUPERSTARS. Well, let me tell you something, I'll take sports entertainment superstars over wrestling wrestlers any day of the week. Sure, classifying the WWE product less as sports and more as entertainment brings numerous regulatory advantages, but it's still a more accurate description of the product.
THE MAKINGS OF A SUPERSTAR
There are certain qualities inherent in a WWE Superstar (notice I didn't say wrestler). A recipe, if you will. And that recipe has four ingredients, which are:
Ingredient #1: The Look
In early 2011, I took my brother-in-law Mike to a WWE house show. Mike is the kind of guy that WWE desperately wants as a fan – he makes good money, he likes sports, and, more importantly, he doesn't watch wrestling at all (it's called GROWTH, people!). It was a great experiment for me, as I could get his take on the WWE's product and whether or not it intrigued him. Would they put on a show that would make him a fan? Would he enjoy it so much that they'd get Mike's hard earned dollars going forward? Also, would he pass that appreciation on to his young son?
Guys like Mike don't really care about work rate. He knows wrestling is scripted, but he still expects a degree of believability when watching two guys fake-fight. So let me ask you this, if you're brand new to wrestling, and you had to guess which guy was the current World Heavyweight Champion based on looks alone, which of the following would you pick:
Yeah. I thought so.
I used Mason Ryan (TM Ed McGuinness) & David Otunga as the other choices for a reason. Both draw the ire of the IWC, but you have to admit, both LOOK more like a champion than Bryan. If you just met these three guys, and had to pick two to back you up in a bar fight, which would you choose?
Ingredient # 2: Charisma
To be a champion of a scripted-competition company, you need to have a large helping of Charisma. People need to feel drawn to you. To paraphrase Chris Jericho on the new Steve Austin DVD, "men need to want to have a beer with you, and women need to want to sleep with you." And he's right. If you can appeal to both men and women, you're mainstream, baby.
So ask yourself this, how many regular guys who don't care about workrate would want to toss back a few beers with Daniel Bryan? How many women out there do you think throw themselves at him? Even when the WWE scripts it that way, like when the Bella twins had a Bryan infatuation, it was hard to swallow. They looked so awkward and it seemed forced. ZERO CHEMISTRY.
No, not awkward AT ALL
Bryan faces the same "vanilla midget" handicap that affected Bret Hart, Chris Benoit, and countless others. The vanilla part doesn't mean he's Sheamus pale, it means he's boring. How many times in recent months have you said "OMG can you believe what Daniel Bryan did/said the other day?!" Guys like Stone Cold, the Rock and HBK had me saying that all the time. CM Punk does it now. How about Bryan? Quick, name the top 5 wild, spectacular, water cooler moments that Bryan has done in WWE. ReadysetGO!
...
…
Yeah. I thought so.
Ingredient #3: The Gimmick
You need a great gimmick to make it as a top superstar. Shawn Michaels had the "Heartbreak Kid/Sexy Boy" persona. Steve Austin modeled his Stone Cold character after a cold-blooded assassin for the mob. Undertaker's gimmick, although cartoonish, you understand just by looking at him. What's Daniel Bryan's gimmick? He's an underdog? OK, what else do you have? How long do you think he can keep that going? You can only be the underdog for so long before it gets tiresome. And if you're the champ, you need to have a gimmick that is sustainable.
When I was at that house show with Mike, one of the matches on the card was Dolph Ziggler vs. John Morrison. He asked me to explain who these guys were. And you know what? I couldn't do it. It basically went something like this:
"Ziggler is kind of like Mr. Perfect…only not really. He's a good wrestler, though. Um, he's, uh…kind of a douche?"
"Morrison calls himself the Shaman of Sexy, and, uh, well, he's a good wrestler, too?"
Sad, innit?
How would you characterize these guys? Tell me below. It's almost a year later and I STILL can't do it.
Ingredient #4: Ring Work
Now here is where Bryan shines. He's a master in the ring. We all know this. But you know who doesn't know it? Most of the WWE Universe. They haven't seen Bryan wrestle in indie shows, and they're sure not gonna look up those ROH matches on Youtube. Bryan's had some good matches in WWE, don't get me wrong, but not enough to the point where he can be considered a top ring general by a mainstream audience.
This is a very important ingredient in the WWE superstar recipe, but it's not THE most important, as many on the internet tend to believe. You could wrestle ***** matches all year long, but if I don't give a rat's ass about you, what's the point?
0+0+0+1 DOES NOT EQUAL 4
Think about the top WWE guys of all time and how many of them had the attributes mentioned above. Guys like Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, the Undertaker and the Rock had all four critical components that are needed to be a top tier Superstar. Mainstream successes like Hulk Hogan & the Ultimate Warrior had three out of four. Right now, Daniel Bryan has only one. And this guy is holding one of the top belts?
What Bryan needs is to come up with a good gimmick and to work on his charisma. There's only so much he can do with his look, but hey, smaller guys like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels did just fine. And it's not just size. It's your shape, posture, facial expressions, wardrobe, hairstyle – it all adds up. Bryan definitely has the tools to make an effective champion one day, but that day is not today. It's way too soon, and having the belt right now will ultimately do him more harm than good.
Think about it, how many people got the World Heavyweight belt before it was time, only to slide back down the ladder and languish in the midcard? When everyone in the company is scratching and clawing their way to the top, it's even harder for a guy who once had the belt and failed to make a case that he deserves another run at the top. And 9 times out of 10, a guy who gets the belt too soon will fail at being champion. Don't believe me? Ask Jack Swagger or the Great Khali how their World Title reigns worked out for them.
I'm pulling for Bryan. I really am. But things don't look too bright considering the way they are booking him. I really hope I am wrong and they come up with a hot angle that will fit him perfectly, but my cynical nature keeps me from thinking that'll ever happen.
POST SCRIPT
So whatever came of Mike and his first WWE experience? He liked it, but not enough to start watching on his own. And I don't blame him; there simply aren't enough big stars or compelling storylines at the moment to hook casual fans. What I found most interesting is that there was one guy he liked above all the others, who at the time was a top heel and did a lot of little, entertaining things for the crowd that Mike appreciated. That Superstar?
Interesting how it all works out, no?
SPEAK UP
Your turn, screwheads. What do you think: Daniel Bryan – too soon or perfect timing? Leave your comments below and I'll respond next week.
Later, Marks.
END SAMPLE
AND NOW WE CONTINUE WITH OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING
There it is. Not bad for an audition piece. Stellar piece of work, that is.
Anyway, I still stand by everything I said. The good news is that the WWE is doing a great job of subtly turning Bryan heel, allowing him to showcase that charisma that's been sorely missing for so long. If he keeps this up, and provided he's booked properly, he can elevate his standing in the eyes of many fans. The whole over the top celebration & I'm a vegan gimmick is an improvement, and I hope they'll prove me wrong and use the belt as a tool to get him over.
BREAK ON THROUGH
He's still never going to become a breakthrough star, though. It's just not happening. You will never hear Bryan's name mentioned in the same breath as Hulk Hogan's, Ultimate Warrior's, Steve Austin's or The Rock's. Those are names -- where if you walked up to a complete stranger on the street and asked if he's ever heard of them – he'll say he has. Think that random guy will ever know who Daniel Bryan is?
Bryan will probably be more like an Edge. Edge is a great Superstar, well respected by his peers & the audience, and he's accomplished a lot in the world of Sports Entertainment. But John Q Redneck has no idea whom Edge is. Edge isn't the guy you send to yuk it up with Kelly Ripa or Jay Leno. I love Edge, but he's not at the top of the mountain with Ric Flair or John Cena. He's got a great view from his spot, but he's not at the pinnacle.
SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT #FOLLOWFRIDAY OF THE WEEK
Yeah, the WWE is shoving twitter down our throats. Yeah, it's annoying. But it's essential to join Twitter if you want to keep up with the latest Sports Entertainment developments. If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and sign up for Twitter. There are a ton of superstars on there, and a lot of them have great stuff to say.
In this segment, I'll recommend someone each week for you to follow on Twitter to further your Sports Entertainment education. You're so lucky to have me. This week, I recommend following @SethMates, a former WWE creative member who drops Twitter bombs loaded with WWE goodness. He's got no agenda; he just provides honest opinions and answers to fans questions, usually while doing cardio.
For example, did you know that Batista was never supposed to be eliminated with John Cena at the end of the 2005 Royal Rumble? That was a botch! And everything that happened afterward, with the referees playing along, Vince storming down (and subsequently tearing his quad), and the following shenanigans was ad-libbed! They did a great job, and the result was probably much better than whatever they originally planned.
Who says this has to be all about sports entertainment? Title kinda speaks for itself.
This week's Non-Sports Entertainment thing of the week is brought to you by Gizmodo.
Here are the directions:
1) Stare at the colored dots on the lady's nose for about 30 seconds
2) Look at a plain, white surface and blink a lot, really fast
3) What do you see?
Amazing what the ol' gray matter is capable of.
SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT ART CONTEST
This semi-regular feature is meant to show off the artistic talents of Team 411Mania NationUniverseArmy! The sports entertainment art contest will showcase your mad skillz, yo. Time to impress, kids.
For this week's contest, make me a banner for the column. Anyone out there got the Adobe chops to make me a swank Friday Sports Entertainment banner? It should say Friday Sports Entertainment with Sean Kelly, or something to that effect. Be creative. Winner gets a shout out and a plug for your Twitter/Facebook/website/whatever, where people can check out your other work. Gah! Free advertising! Ashish will kill me!
Your turn, screwheads. Post your comments below or drop me a line. I plan to make this a very interactive column, so check back to see if you get a mention here.
Posted By: Guest#2918 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 12:34 AM
How about Bryan? Quick, name the top 5 wild, spectacular, water cooler moments that Bryan has done in WWE.
His debut match with Jericho, his wildly entertaining match with Batista, mentioning his real name, the tie choking incident, spitting at Cena, his Summerslam return, winning MiTB, winning the title, his hilariously over the top celebrations after cheap victories, calling Big Show a bastard, the promo about AJ loving him ("And I appreciate that"), his great match with Punk.
Any of those count?
Posted By: Guest#8901 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 12:42 AM
So ask yourself this, how many regular guys who don't care about workrate would want to toss back a few beers with Daniel Bryan? How many women out there do you think throw themselves at him?
So we're assuming all male wrestling fans only like people they can get drunk with and female fans only like the wrestlers they want to have sex with? Anyway I can think of plenty of guys who fit neither criteria. Mick Foley, Brock Lesnar, Kane, Undertaker, Miz, Big Show, Vader, Henry etc all won world titles without anyone wanting to get drunk or sleep with them.
Posted By: Guest#3420 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 12:48 AM
Lol call us screwheads and marks sum more! it moar better than good writing!
Posted By: lol (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 12:50 AM
You need to sell merchandise. You need to get media exposure for the company. It's a huge responsibility, and you need to be ready to take that ball and run with it. Ask yourself, do you think that Bryan is capable of doing all that right now?
Well I think having a teetotal vegan who doesnt look like a meathead steriod user and can drag a 3 star match out of a broom stick is probably good for the company, at least in terms of WWE's image and from a media standpoint.
Posted By: Evan's Mom (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 12:54 AM
this article is overrated not D bryan.
Posted By: Guest#0866 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 01:01 AM
The first part of this column is everything I hate about wrestling... if this is meant to be polarizing, you definitely have succeeded! I'll give you a couple reads to see if u alienate the type of fan I am more. But do give you credit for recognizing the strides Daniel Bryan has made
Posted By: SuperCorky (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 01:02 AM
When I was at that house show with Mike, one of the matches on the card was Dolph Ziggler vs. John Morrison. He asked me to explain who these guys were. And you know what? I couldn't do it.
Dolph Ziggler considers himself to be utter perfection. He is fantastic in the ring and isnt afraid to let the whole world know about it. He dresses stylishly outside the ring, and gives us the impression he'd probably be a model if he wasnt so damn good at wrestling. Making sure to associate with only those that can help his career (Vickie, Swagger), Ziggler doesnt just think he's headed to the top, he KNOWS it.
In another life, John Morrison would be a rock star. However, his passion for athletics (and specifically wrestling) has led him to the WWE. Like most rock stars, Morrison is a showman, and always does his best to perform spectacular moves and stunts to wow the crowd. Thanks to his parkour training, he is able to do this with ease. While not the biggest or strongest wrestler, Morrisons unique offence makes him more than a handful for his fellow WWE superstars.
Something like that I guess.
Posted By: Guest#2058 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 01:07 AM
When I was at that house show with Mike, one of the matches on the card was Dolph Ziggler vs. John Morrison. He asked me to explain who these guys were. And you know what? I couldn't do it.
Dolph Ziggler considers himself to be utter perfection. He is fantastic in the ring and isnt afraid to let the whole world know about it. He dresses stylishly outside the ring, and gives us the impression he'd probably be a model if he wasnt so damn good at wrestling. Making sure to associate with only those that can help his career (Vickie, Swagger), Ziggler doesnt just think he's headed to the top, he KNOWS it.
In another life, John Morrison would be a rock star. However, his passion for athletics (and specifically wrestling) has led him to the WWE. Like most rock stars, Morrison is a showman, and always does his best to perform spectacular moves and stunts to wow the crowd. Thanks to his parkour training, he is able to do this with ease. While not the biggest or strongest wrestler, Morrisons unique offence makes him more than a handful for his fellow WWE superstars.
Posted By: Cussler (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 01:07 AM
For example, did you know that Batista was never supposed to be eliminated with John Cena at the end of the 2005 Royal Rumble? That was a botch!
Was that a joke? Virtually EVERYONE knows that. Can you also ask your insider friend who Fake Diesel was?
Posted By: Guest#2957 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 01:12 AM
oh boy.
Posted By: Guest#0580 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 01:19 AM
smh.
Posted By: Guest#7099 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 01:19 AM
D bryan has shown a lot of charisma as of late and he is kinda like the tim tebow of WWE.
Posted By: Guest#1990 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 01:27 AM
no. i am not a mark.
Posted By: Guest#8781 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 01:27 AM
me again
meh debut, maybe i'll enjoy it more next week
Posted By: Guest#2101 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 01:33 AM
"He's an underdog? OK, what else do you have? How long do you think he can keep that going? You can only be the underdog for so long before it gets tiresome."
It's been serving Rey Mysterio Jr well for the past 15 years.
Posted By: Guest#9152 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 01:55 AM
I agree with you that DB was given the title too soon. The underdog role is nearly impossible to pull off at the top of the card, and he doesn't come off as a guy that feels he doesn't have a shot in hell but he wont quit. IF it wasn't for Jericho and Miz doing Nick Bockwinkel impressions in their promo work I would like to see Bryan use. His ring work and demeanor suit it perfectly.
I'm shocked you couldn't describe Ziggler and Morrison to another guy. They're one in the same, Ziggler just has the mean streak. They both feel that they are the physical embodiment of perfection/awesome/cool/sexy or any other adjective you could think of.
Posted By: K. Bett (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 01:58 AM
First off, Dolph Ziggler called and he wants his catchphrase from Z True Long Island Story (later marks) back. It works for him, not so much you.
Second off, until Bryan's heel turn I would have agreed with you 100%. The guy had a few good moments as a face but I didn't think he was nearly as good as the IWC proclaimed him to be. The Bella Twins thing I agree was totally awkward and forced. His U.S title reign was boring as hell. He put on great matches, but he had zero substance. He was a lot like Punk when he first showed up in ECW. He was a talented guy who didn't have a character. (And yeah, I thought Punk was bland as hell till the heel turn on Jeff Hardy)
But since the heel turn, he's had the water cooler moments. He's slowly become one of the best parts about the WWE. He's getting to show his charisma now and now I'm starting to see what all the hype was about.
You're column wasn't bad except you come of like kind of a douche with all the "screwheads" and "later marks" and "that's what I thought" and other things you seem to be trying to make into catchphrases. Tone that down a tad and I think you'll be alright.
Just my 2 cents.
Posted By: Guest#8870 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 02:19 AM
So anybody have a prediction on when Sean Kelly and Wes Kirk have a blow off to this pseudo-feud?
411 is a fucking joke.
Posted By: Guest#1037 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 03:23 AM
Why do so few people understand and use the words charisma and irony accurately?
A person either has charisma or they don't. It can't be developed or showcased anymore than a midget can be developed or showcased to be 6 ft tall.
Another Wes Kirk type moron.
Who wants to bet that within a month this douche will introduce his liberal politics into the column to complete his bizarro world Wes Kirk gimmick?
Posted By: Guest#0361 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 03:33 AM
#1 the look. Stand up Mick Foley next to Ahmed Johnson and Buff Bagwell and tell me which one of these 3 deserved to be a world champ
#2 charisma - are you so deaf you're not hearing the heat he's been getting with his promos? keep that head buried in the sand buddy
#3 gimmick - pretty sure his gimmick isn't that he is an underdog anymore. Pretty sure his gimmick is that he's a thinking man's champion who is going to use whatever means necessary to keep the title even when faced with opponents who are physically superior to him.
#4 ring work - no further comment necessary
Nice try buddy, but I won't be checking this one out again.
Posted By: Guest#7625 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 08:49 AM
me again
meh debut, maybe i'll enjoy it more next week
Posted By: Guest#2101 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 01:33 AM
who are you? you just commented one time only..
Posted By: Guest#8317 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 09:18 AM
Why do I care about the casual fans? If the WWE wants to hook more viewers by having Mason Ryan or David Otunga as champion...I'll pass.
Weak column.
Posted By: RC (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Why should you care about casual fans? They're what keep businesses thriving. It's the $2 bets that keep racetracks in business. The dollar slots are where casinos make their money. The market for wrestling is shrinking terribly. Look at comic books. 30 years of catering to hardcore fans have reduced sales by a factor of 10 from the 70's. They make the real money from licensing, not publishing. Tens of thousands of hard core fans read the books. Millions of people who'll never read a comic will see the movies. That's where the money is and that's what business is about.
Posted By: Carl (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Bryan is pushing his beliefs (as a Vegan) and he's winning in really unconventional ways.
He's WWE's version of Tim Tebow.
Posted By: Guest#5610 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 11:16 AM
LOL You're not really endearing yourself to your main demographic here. But I am willing to give you a chance. Plus a good column on Fridays is something that has really been lacking in 411 wrestling.
Posted By: Adam (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 11:21 AM
That way of thinking is completly outdated. The look, who cares? I know personally I don't want to have a beer with Ryan or Ortunga because they both seem like dinks. The gimmick, it's 2012 not 1988. Charisma is imporant, but that comes with someone being themselves and your promoter being able to sell you properly, which WWE has never done with Bryan since day one. The work rate is more important than anything today for a few reasons. 1) A good worker can make other people look good. Cena is the top mech seller, but he can't have a good match on his own, he needs someone to lead the way like Punk, Bryan, or Umaga. 2) Since there are no territories left, there's no where left for anyone to learn their craft. The best wrestlers of yesteryear learned outside WWE, like Bret Hart, Mr. Perfect, Randy Savage, and Chris Jericho. Bryan has experience and has a different way of thinking, he can teach something to Sports Entertainers that they need to be successful. Look at Miz. He became better just buy doing a short program with Bryan. 3) 2012 is UFC/MMA world, so you need superstars that can emulate that style. Punk, Bryan, and to lesser attempt McIntire, can do that. Cena, Miz, HHH, can not. If they stay the course with Punk and Bryan, and find other wrestlers who can match their style, then you will see the wrestling boom kick in again.
Posted By: awsome69 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 11:57 AM
Love all the comments, folks. Keep em coming, even the ones that say how much I suck.
I can promise you this - I will listen to you all and respond to many of you in next week's column
Posted By: Sean Kelly (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 02:09 PM
While Daniel Bryan might have only had one of your mentioned qualities, there is yet another that could have made it two. The ability to carry yourself like a champion. Daniel Bryan's current storylines do not center on his gimmick, they center on the world championship. This is something that many wrestlers currently fail to do, make you care about the belt they are defending. In old school heel fashion Daniel will do whatever it takes to keep the championship. At the Royal Rumble there was a spot that cemented Daniel Bryan's place as a champion in my eyes. Daniel and Big Show are on top of the cage, Daniel is holding The Big Show's hand in an effort to not go back in the ring or risk severe injury. Daniel Bryan eventually goes for the later, and it ends up in a succesful title defense. Daniel Bryan's match against CM Punk this past Monday is an example of two champions putting everything on the line, outside of a history in ROH there was no backstory. Yet Daniel still competed with CM Punk taking him to the very limit. This match should cement Daniel Bryan as a champion in the eyes of Raw Viewers. I agree that he does not have Hulk Hogan or Edge level charisma, yet he makes up for what he doesn't have with quality matches, a passion for wrestling that blends greatly with his current title reign, and a knowledgable fan base, with casual fans at least giving him their respect.
Posted By: Cannonite (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 02:33 PM
I just think you have your order wrong. The look hasn't been number one since the eighties and ringwork hasn't been number four since the eighties. If Hulk Hogan did everything the same but debuted now he would be crapped on. I think it goes:
Charisma, Ringwork, Look, Gimmick, Booking
Bryan has the charisma but has just lately been put in a position to show it.
I don't necessarily mean HBK or Bryan level ringwork but these days you have to be able to put on good matches week after week. Bryan can, of course, do this.
Bryan needs improvement in his look but I think you mistake look for being muscular. Guys like HBK and Foley have shown a look needs to be unique not necessarily muscular.
I'm a firm believer that almost any gimmick can get over if the performer is good enough. Bryan's gimmick is evolving nicely. I do agree though that before his heel turn he was lacking in this area.
And finally if you never get put in the right situation to show your talent you won't get over no matter what. Bryan is getting this chance now.
Also, I think your definition of success in the wrestling industry is misguided. Guys getting mainstream recognition depends on too many things out of their control including coming being in the right place at the right time. Also it is not indicative of financial success either. Both the Ultimate Warrior and Goldberg had lots of mainstream recognition but I'm sure Bret Hart and Edge have made more money in their lives.
Posted By: gpjunk (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 06:16 PM
Why should you care about casual fans? They're what keep businesses thriving. It's the $2 bets that keep racetracks in business. The dollar slots are where casinos make their money. The market for wrestling is shrinking terribly. Look at comic books. 30 years of catering to hardcore fans have reduced sales by a factor of 10 from the 70's. They make the real money from licensing, not publishing. Tens of thousands of hard core fans read the books. Millions of people who'll never read a comic will see the movies. That's where the money is and that's what business is about.
Posted By: Carl (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Fair point. Allow me to clarify that I meant why do I care about their opinion is on who looks like a champion. I'm well aware its their money that drives the company.
Posted By: RC (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 06:48 PM
wes kirk wanna be, your a dweeb
Posted By: Guest#9657 (Guest) on February 03, 2012 at 08:03 PM
Interesting first article. Too bad it seems outdated by Bryanson's current actions.
Please don't try so hard to troll. Then again, it get's Wes Kirk's column a shit ton of clicks, I hear, but it's not going to get mine.
But, I'm alwayss pleased to see something new to read.
Oh, and who would I rather have in a barfight, Bryan or Ryan? I think back on Jericho-Goldberg, and came up with my answer. Also, Ziggler's and asshole who thinks he's God's gift to wrestling. Morrison is a guy who wants to go over the top to put on a show in the ring.
Posted By: G-Walla (Guest) on February 04, 2012 at 12:05 AM
Quite a few interesting points, and I understand what perspective you see this from. That, however, is also the only perspective you're able to get through, which is why you look one-dimensional, and why you're flamed in the comment-section. Well, that and the fact that you're not endearing Daniel Bryan in an internet wrestling column. But you already know that.
Posted By: Candy Bottocks (Guest) on February 04, 2012 at 06:18 AM
Awwwww, someone went and criticized poor wittle Danny Bryan!!! Get the tissues. 1/4 is essentially correct. The heel turn is slowly working, but he still gets much less reaction than the MAJORITY of superstars.
He will never be the next HBK or Bret Hart no matter how hard he tries. He will NEVER stay on a main even level either. He will go back down to the mid-card where he belongs when this reign is over.
The biggest thing he has going against him is he is just not believable. Everytime he gets a fluke win, most people just shake their heads and say "figures". They aren't making him look "smart" by winning the way he does against large opponents - they know no one would believe he could actually beat Henry or Show with his offense or his "submission". They'd swat him like a fly.
Posted By: Guest#7434 (Guest) on February 04, 2012 at 01:53 PM
wes kirk wanna be
Posted By: Guest#1193 (Guest) on February 04, 2012 at 09:33 PM
imagine if somebody broke the mold of having the look. lets look at the sport closest to wrestling in real life, MMA. Anderson Silva does not look like a killer yet he is. I'm glad wrestlers in the WWE are not being held down by looks anymore, and it has something to do about talent. How about we embrace breaking the mold?
Posted By: Guest#3040 (Guest) on February 05, 2012 at 03:34 AM
So your amazing writing ability has led to you notice that Daniel Bryan is not muscular compared to other wrestlers, and is an awkward promo when a babyface? Wow. I agree with you, but I think even Daniel Bryan would agree with this. You're not saying anything remotely shocking. Bryan is a better heel, like many wrestlers are. Being a face is hard.
"For example, did you know that Batista was never supposed to be eliminated with John Cena at the end of the 2005 Royal Rumble? That was a botch!"
Yes. Yes, I did know that, and so do most fans who, y'know, use the internet. Jeez.
Posted By: Guest#8456 (Guest) on February 05, 2012 at 06:01 PM
Fuck off is Daniel Bryan overrated, he's as good in the ring as Benoit or Dynamite Kid ever were & cuts a much better promo than either of them. As far as " keeping the current audience while attracting new eyeballs " goes then every champ of the past 5 years is overrated because the ratings have been in the same ballpark for years now. If having "The look" was the most important thing then Lex Luger or Chris Masters would've been the biggest draw in the history of the sport. It's also worth noting that this weeks Raw rating went down in the 2nd hour again, after the Punk/Bryan match, during the Kane/Cena segment.
First and last time I read this shitty column.
Posted By: Phil M. (Guest) on February 05, 2012 at 07:51 PM
not a bad 1st column. ill check it out again next wk
Posted By: Guest#0987 (Guest) on February 05, 2012 at 09:34 PM
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