The Wrestling Doctor 12.09.08: Underneath the Paint

Posted by W.S. Thomason on 12.09.2008

MANTAUR!!!! And some guys named Sting and Muta…

THE WRESTLING DOCTOR

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THE SECOND OPINION

I got a lot of feedback on last week's column asking why I omitted Rey Mysterio and the "masked WCW cruiserweights" (who were all luchadors). I was focusing on masked wrestlers with origins in the United States, as the Lucha tradition in Mexico is not equivalent to any American wrestling experience.

I cannot believe that I omitted The Spoiler from a discussion of masked men. A Canadian, Don Jardine developed The Spoiler gimmick in the US in the 1960s. His top rope walking elbow smash and other tactics were very influential on the move sets of many – not the least The Undertaker – and his feud in the mid-1970s with Mr. Wrestling II was one of the best mask man vs. mask man confrontations. Lansdell's photographic inclusion of The Spoiler in his Final Resolution coverage jarred my memory. Shame on me…

Just like last week, I am focusing this column on wrestlers based in major US promotions.

THIS WEEK'S PATIENT: FACE PAINT

The late eighties through the early nineties was the high-water mark of face paint. During this period Sting, the Ultimate Warrior, The Great Muta, The Road Warriors, and Demolition were top stars in the WWF and WCW. From July 1990 to January 1991, Sting held the NWA (WCW) Word Title while his former Bladerunner partner The Warrior was WWF World Champion –the only time that the champions of the Big Two both wore face paint.

The tag team title scenes in both companies also enjoyed painted runs. Demolition held the WWF Tag Team Titles on three occasions totaling 22 out of 29 months between March 1998 and August 1990. The Road Warriors had long been considered wrestling top team regardless of their championship status, and they were the only team to hold World Tag Team Titles in the AWA (Aug 1984 – Sept 1985), NWA/WCW (Oct 1988 – April 1989), and the WWF (Aug 1991 – Feb 1992). After they joined the WWF as The Legion of Doom, they teamed with the Ultimate Warrior in a series of six-man matches against the triumvirate version of Demolition.

Sting and The Great Muta (Muta's face paint was largely a WCW gimmick) spent the better part of 1989 in the WCW main event scene feuding over the TV Title. The Road Warriors and Demolition spilt time in 1988 feuding with The Powers of Pain (even though the Warlord did not wear paint during their JCP run, one of the clearest examples of McMahon's eye for presentation). Kamala was a major heel in just about every company that mattered in the 1980s. The Great Kabuki – Muta's kayfabe father –, The Missing Link, and Exotic Adrian Street all built considerable reputations across the US while wearing the paint. Kevin Sullivan used paint to accent his already crazed look to appear his most Satanic during his peak in Florida, the Freebirds brushed on the Stars and Bars for special occasions, and even a young Tazmaniac dabbed a little on before he no longer needed appearance to make opponents crap their pants.

By the mid-nineties there were very few painted wresters of note left competing in the United States. Sting was the notable exception, the franchise face that WCW could always call upon. He continued to win major championships and headline pay-per-view even through a massive image change that still involved face paint. He returned to wrestling in 2006 with a hybrid look of his three major images, and continues to be a top player. But Sting established his character during an era where face paint was widely accepted.

After 1991, face paint was mostly abandoned in new characters, with few wrestlers employing it and even fewer finding success. Doink the Clown made a mid-card impact on the WWF, but face paint was required by the nature of his gimmick instead of being something used to define the character. Hakushi was briefly pushed in the WWF, but his paint was minimal. Forgettable or laughable painted characters of the mid-nineties included Papa Shango (who was also pushed for a while), Mantaur, Spelbinder / Phantasio, Zodiac, The Shark, and The Renegade.

The most successful of the post-1991 painted wrestlers was Goldust, whose contribution to the Attitude Era and his character development both remain underrated. He won three Intercontinental Titles, and was a major fixture throughout 1996. He did not enjoy the same level of success after 96, but he still was one of the more recognizable stars the company had through his 1999 release.

Most of the painted wrestlers who have come about since Goldust have lacked originality or characterization. The Headbangers won the WWF tag Team Titles, but their major run lasted less than two years before both guys disappeared. The Hurricane is a fun character, but his gimmick actually limits how far Gregory Shane Helms can go, as he cannot be taken seriously in a non-cartoon era. The Blue Meanie is memorable but he never rose beyond a comedy act – even in ECW – and spent time in the WWF aligned with Goldust. WCW originally wanted to bring Dustin Rhodes as in as a creepy Goldust-knockoff called Seven, but those plans were ditched when corporate worried that his introductory vignettes portrayed a child molester. The Demon was the result of a WCW cross-promotional deal with KISS, so cannot be considered original. Vampiro does not really count, as he began his character in Mexico (remember this column is looking at face paint in the US) and neither does the Insane Clown Posse, as they developed their image pre-wrestling.

Face paint, like masks, are a great way to make a character stand out from over-oiled and under-trained masses of new talent. But also like masks, face paint has not been employed in any significant way by United States wrestling promotions in recent years. Umaga has been very successful, but face paint is not an integral part of his character – he would be just as impressive without it. Jeff Hardy only paints sporadically. The Boogey Man is an embarrassment and should have never made it to the WWE roster. TNA tried for Goldust 3.0 last year with Black Reign and his sidekick Rellik (who, as far as I remember, never won a match) but neither man was given any meaningful opportunities. A lack of territorial promotions where young wrestlers can work on developing their talents in a variety of ways may be to blame for the lack of masks and face paint (as well as other major problems). The WWE developmental system, like the company itself, suffers from acute tunnel vision. TNA is not much better, and the creative teams of both companies have not made any noticeable attempts to step outside of their comfort zones in several years. Someone, somewhere, is ready to break out with an original face-painted character. The WWE and TNA would be smart to let that someone run with the idea.

It could also be that new talent have no idea how to put on the paint. Sometimes the easiest explanation is correct.