Controversial Characters

[Fignuts]

Ok so WWE has decided not only to create a mentally retarded character named eugene, but to push the envelope even further by taking advantage
of america's bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during world war II. A subject that, although over 50 years old is still very touchy. Now I myself have been very entertained by eugene's exploits mostly because I know Dinsmore is not really retarded and is actually a very talented wrestler. However there is enormous potential for catastrophe with this Hirohito character. It seems to be portraying the japanese people in a very negative way, and if wwe doesn't handle the Angle carfully it could blow up in their faces.

Anyway, I'm fully expecting to tune into raw monday night to see Alex Wright return as the long lost son of Hitler or something.

[Rob]

Because they have portrayed Japanese wrestlers well without stereotypes over the years haven't they?

[Kane Knight]

Because they have portrayed Japanese wrestlers well without stereotypes over the years haven't they?
Yeah, really. Remember all those Japanese people who were treated with the dignity according to the poud culture from which they originate?

Kaientai...The ultimate dub club...

Tajiri, Mister "Meso sally!"

[Funky Fly]

Because they have portrayed Japanese wrestlers well without stereotypes over the years haven't they?
Well, you have to give them credit for Ultimo Dragon's debut. He looked great, and Tazz and Cole put over his wrestling career including the 10 held titles at the same time bit.

Too bad they haven't done anything since then. Aww fu</>ck it. WWE sucks for handling international wrestlers.

[Kane Knight]

Well, yeah, but it's not like one guy can prove their lack of characterisation.

I just think it's a little late in the game to mention that they'd "started" with controversial characters.

[PureHatred]

Let's not forget to bring up Tito "the Matador" Santana or Tony Atlas being forced to dress up like Shaka Zulu.

Face it, if you want racial sensitivity, you pretty much shouldn't be watching wrasslin'.

[Doink]

what about the iron shiek, srly that was handled well withthe oil crisis at the time and his constant battles against americas own sargent slaughter, oh no hang on it wasnt handled well was it!

well what about jbl and his mexican border patrol oh no habg on he jus kicked and spat on them didnt he!


erm aw ive got it funaki as smakdowns #1 announcer, now thats the way to handle international wrestelers give them a mic and let them speak, its jus a shame he could only say funaki #1 announcer but hey he said it well...kind of!

[Batsu]

as for the Iron Sheik, if they didn't play up his Iranian heritage, those fans back then probably would have thought he was from Mexico...

...but seriously, yeah.

Controversial characters are always gonna be around. The "flamboyant sissy" type (from Adrian Adonis to Goldust to Rico), the mysterious Japanese guy who kicks the hell out of people and spits green mist (Mr. Kabuki? Muta? Tajiri?)...though, Tajiri doesn't seem entirely stereotypical to me, he's just...well, Tajiri. He got cooler to me when he grew out the beard.

I even think La Resistance was a controversial stable...it seemed WWE was going too far to get cheap heat. If they wanted cheap heat, they might as well rehire X-Pac and say he's from France (notice how how, they've become The Quebecers '04).

I'm a little worried about Hirohito myself. When you bring in people with a gimmick like that, it screams shelf-life off the bat. Also, given their record with Kaientai (they were actually a fearsome stable at home, but they were usually comic relief here), I'm not completely convinced it's gonna be a good idea. At least with Tajiri, he won the Cruiser belt for a while and had a good over-period with the fans (still does, just not as great when he first showed up in WWE)...

My favorite "controversial character" was Faarooq in '97 as leader of the Nation of Domination. It was a vast improvement from that ridiculous Spartan crap he was wearing when he joined WWE...and to date seems to be the only character to suit him (he seemed better at that than Teddy Long; Faarooq evoked memories of Jim Brown to me). His "Ministry" Acolytes/APA gimmick was No. 2.

[PureHatred]

Awesome. Farooq as a Jim Brown character. Right on the button. And I agree, that wa the most successful the WWF has been at using a racial issue to its advantage. I'd rep you, but apparently I have to spread some love.