Shawn Daivari on the importance of perception outside ALLAYLAHAYYLAHAYYLA

[Autobahn]

www.tpww.net/2012/08/shawn-daivari-speaks-out-wwe-vs-tna-russo-hogan-more/

There were a few things of interest in his interview, but the below caught my interest:

Would he got back to WWE and TNA and the importance of perception on the indy scene: “Oh, yeah, I think so. I’d be surprised if this last TV run was my last one. But when I go back I can’t be misused. I have to be booked correctly because I can’t jeopardize my career on the independents. If you looked at my calendar April through mid June, I haven’t had more than three days off in a row and when you think about it my last prominent TV run was in 2008 with WWE, if you don’t count TNA, whereas I know guys that have been on TV more recently, won more belts than I have that can’t buy a booking now. That’s something I’m really aware of. “Tyler Reks is an example. Next year he’ll
have been there one more year than I had. I was there four years. He’ll have been there five and when they let him go, nobody’s gonna give him a substantial booking of a plane ticket, a hotel room, food expenses and promote him. They’d rather get a Hacksaw Jim Duggan or Chris Masters. If you hang on for too long when your wheels are spinning, you might make a bit more money in WWE, but when you leave you won’t get another booking in this business. When you become shit on TV, that’s what you’re perceived as. “Drew McIntyre is getting dangerously close to that point. If he hangs on another year and doesn’t do anything worth a ****, I’m gonna see a hard time for a promoter to call him and offer him a $1000 dollar booking, $400 plane ticket, $100 hotel room, [and] advertising. You’re talking almost a $2000 investment hoping that say 200 people at $10 are gonna come out to see Drew and that’s not including the cost of the building, paying the other talent. When you render yourself invaluable, its hard. Whereas if he’d seen the writing on the wall after the stuff with Vince McMahon on TV, and quit then, he could go places and people would remember him as the Scottish guy on SmackDown that did all the good shit, Vince’s chosen one or whatever.”

Do you think this is true, that wrestlers need to be aware of their marketability outside of WWE/TNA? And who do you think is getting close to that point, along the lines of Drew?

[James Steele]

Duh.

Why do you think old wrestlers would screw over promoters, refuse to job, change the finish, etc. back in the territory days? It's even more important now because the only wrestling most of the people on this planet see is from one source: the WWE.

[Autobahn]

Honestly whilst it does seem obvious, i cant help but think a lot of the talent are just happy to be employed with WWE, even when they are poorly used, without thinking of how it can affect their careers long term.

[CSL]

there's some truth there but at the same time the WWE income and the potential opportunities would be pretty hard to walk away from. With guys like Drew and others in his position, half of their problem appears to be just "settling" as opposed to going the Zack Ryder route and actively trying to do something to change their situation. And I'm not sure what his point is about "being perceived as shit". The guy did nothing but job pretty much before getting boot. History is filled with guys that left WWE and "reinvented" themselves on the indy scene.

[Razzamajazz]

why does that interview say shit but then censor something else with ****?

[Wishbone]

Huh makes you think a bit. Not sure if he's totally right on this but it's still interesting.

[Keith]

He's right to a certain degree. But he's basically saying that guys in WWE (or to a lesser extent, TNA) should leave when they're coming off a push or coming off the best work they've done, in order to avoid "sitting on the bench", so to speak (not being used), or being misused.

Thing is, in order to do that you'd have to be a psychic (look into the future and predict you're not going to be used right at all, or get another push). By leaving, you'd be running the risk of the WWE looking at you as a quitter and as a guy who won't pay his due and "stick it out" as creative comes up with something good for you.

Look at Glenn Jacobs, for example. In 1995 the guy played a freaking dentist on tv, and didn't last long. Then the next year he came out as "Fake Diesel", and that didn't last long. It was the year after that that WWE (WWF at the time) hit the nail on the head, came up with the Kane character, and Jacobs took the ball, ran with it, and now he's a former World Champion and future Hall of Famer. He didn't say "Fuck this" and jumped ship to WCW or quit WWE. He stuck it out.

And there are many, many other examples like that one, of guys who stuck it out, worked hard, and eventually got their breaks.

So he's right to a degree, but it's tricky. But I guess that's what taking gambles is all about.

[James Steele]

He's right to a certain degree. But he's basically saying that guys in WWE (or to a lesser extent, TNA) should leave when they're coming off a push or coming off the best work they've done, in order to avoid "sitting on the bench", so to speak (not being used), or being misused.

Thing is, in order to do that you'd have to be a psychic (look into the future and predict you're not going to be used right at all, or get another push). By leaving, you'd be running the risk of the WWE looking at you as a quitter and as a guy who won't pay his due and "stick it out" as creative comes up with something good for you.

Look at Glenn Jacobs, for example. In 1995 the guy played a freaking dentist on tv, and didn't last long. Then the next year he came out as "Fake Diesel", and that didn't last long. It was the year after that that WWE (WWF at the time) hit the nail on the head, came up with the Kane character, and Jacobs took the ball, ran with it, and now he's a former World Champion and future Hall of Famer. He didn't say "Fuck this" and jumped ship to WCW or quit WWE. He stuck it out.

And there are many, many other examples like that one, of guys who stuck it out, worked hard, and eventually got their breaks.

So he's right to a degree, but it's tricky. But I guess that's what taking gambles is all about.

Good examples currently are Dolph Ziggler and (potentially) Damien Sandow.

[Keith]

Yes.

[Ruien]

With his example of Drew not being done yet gives a little insight to how long they need to bury you for. Drew has done nothing for a year but randomly appear on Raw or Smackdown to be squashed. Even with this happening Davari says he still has drawing power.

I don't think he means leave right away but leave after a long period of time of not doing anything. Not saying I agree with it but it is how I took it in.

[James Steele]

I really don't see how any of those guys are Indy draws. Hell, I don't get how Daivari is a "draw"? Does being a manager in WWE over 5 years and X-Division jobber in TNA really put that many butts in seats? I'd argue that Heath Slater would be a bigger Indy draw than Daivari right now and Slater does nothing but job. Daivari has some name recognition, but I'd imagine he gets a bunch of bookings because he is a pretty good wrestler with some name recognition that fits the mold of what most indy shows want (aka skinny guys doing flippity flop bullshit).

[James Steele]

Think of all the potential "Legends of the Ring vs One Man Rock Band" matches you could have on the indies? :drool:

[James Steele]

Heath Slater vs New Jack

[Keith]

Ryback would be huge if he were to enter the Indy scene right now.

[James Steele]

I am surprised at how over Ryback is. I still think the name "Ryback" is stupid, but big bastards fucking shit up almost always gets over if the guy has some natural charisma. The big thing is what they do with him once he starts having real matches and storylines and even *gasp* loses. I am interested to see where the whole Jinder Mahal thing goes (other than the PPV squash).

[Wishbone]

Ryback would be huge if he were to enter the Indy scene right now.

If he did that there wouldn't be an indy scene anymore.

[CSL]

The big thing is what they do with him once he starts having real matches and storylines and even *gasp* loses.

http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/superstar_bio/public/talent/bio/2012/04/ryback_bio.png vs. http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/pictures/nash.jpg

http://www.wrestlingvalley.org/wv/02/34497/344971.jpg


Finish:

http://i37.tinypic.com/2zjbcdv.gif

I can already smell the buyrates

[Tom Guycott]

I am surprised at how over Ryback is. I still think the name "Ryback" is stupid, but big bastards fucking shit up almost always gets over if the guy has some natural charisma. The big thing is what they do with him once he starts having real matches and storylines and even *gasp* loses. I am interested to see where the whole Jinder Mahal thing goes (other than the PPV squash).

Which Jinder Mahal thing? His feud with Ryback, or his feud with Seth Rollins?

No matter what your opinion on NXT is, the fact that he is actually involved with 2 feuds right now pretty much says his job is fairly safe.

With his example of Drew not being done yet gives a little insight to how long they need to bury you for. Drew has done nothing for a year but randomly appear on Raw or Smackdown to be squashed. Even with this happening Davari says he still has drawing power.

I don't think he means leave right away but leave after a long period of time of not doing anything. Not saying I agree with it but it is how I took it in.

A better example would have been someone like JTG.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I see what he's saying, but as someone mentioned earlier, why would anyone want to buy tickets to see Daivari? I enjoyed his character and all, but he did absolutely nothing of note.

[Theo Dious]

I would buy a ticket to see Daivari long before I'd buy one to see Lance Storm's useless ass.