Could a "crazy" gimmick work again?

[Rollermacka]

I was thinkin about this when watchin the terrible Black Reign match on Impact but, if it was somebody else or better yet someone in good shape, can a "crazy" gimmick come back in the WWE? I loved the Al Snow original gimmick where he heard voices in his head with "EM PLEH" written on his fore head. He had one of my favorite entances with music and crowd partiation. I also liked when Victoria first came out with the TATU music and her eyes really worked for me. Do you think a "crazy" person can work nowadays?




PS They cant read poetry or ask me to be there friend either. :shifty:

[BigDaddyCool]

Is Black Reign supposed to be crazy?

But you have to have someone that can pull it off as unhinged, not just claiming to be. Mickie was doing well as the psycho Trish fan.

[Loose Cannon]

"I'm not really crazy you know...it's all just a work"

[Afterlife]

Just depends on how you bill "crazy". Not every mentally unstable person has to be a volitile maniac.

I would love for a guy to claim to be a werewolf. Totally clean shaven, body-wax, tights-wearin' normal guy, like everybody else. Even a regular name, like Trent Lockhardt or something completely ambiguous. But one of the guys is like "Hey, after the show, we're gonna hit the town -- you in?" and he says, "Oh, I can't; full moon tonight, and I'm a werewolf." Just constantly play it up, like he's serious, but it's not a big deal. His first feud would be someone trying to get him fired for being nuts; his second would be trying to prove that he's NOT a werewolf. After that, it'd be like Taker or Kane, where everyone is very much aware of their abnormal mentality, but it's not the only reason they're in town.

As long as the "craziness" introduces the character well, causes a little intrigue and isn't used to hold someone down, it'd be fine.

[Stickman]

Depends on the performer...aka Brian Pillman.

[Loose Cannon]

Just depends on how you bill "crazy". Not every mentally unstable person has to be a volitile maniac.

I would love for a guy to claim to be a werewolf. Totally clean shaven, body-wax, tights-wearin' normal guy, like everybody else. Even a regular name, like Trent Lockhardt or something completely ambiguous. But one of the guys is like "Hey, after the show, we're gonna hit the town -- you in?" and he says, "Oh, I can't; full moon tonight, and I'm a werewolf." Just constantly play it up, like he's serious, but it's not a big deal. His first feud would be someone trying to get him fired for being nuts; his second would be trying to prove that he's NOT a werewolf. After that, it'd be like Taker or Kane, where everyone is very much aware of their abnormal mentality, but it's not the only reason they're in town.

As long as the "craziness" introduces the character well, causes a little intrigue and isn't used to hold someone down, it'd be fine.




lol what. that even makes Russo look like a genius

[The Optimist]

Black Reign is supposed to be Dustin Rhodes alternate personality. They have shown scenes where people beat up Dustin Rhodes and he doesn't understand why or what's going on. Apparently Dustin has no knowledge or memory of his actions as Black Reign, despite putting on that ugly ass suit and going through fairly extensive make-up each night to do it.

It really depends on what you mean by "crazy". If you mean crazy like a mental patient, then . . . I don't know maybe, I mean look at the Freakin' Deacon's gimmick on Smackdown in the Biscuits and Gravy tagteam. If you mean crazy like literally batshit insane heel who can't stand to be around people without bashing on them, sure.

[Rollermacka]

Depends on the performer...aka Brian Pillman.

OMG how can I forget Pillman 9mm :mad: That man was awsome.


RIP Brian Pillman




PS Black Reign is supose to be the crazy alter ego of Dustin right? I thought that was his whole thing was that it was his evil, crazy, dark side taken over. :-\

[Afterlife]

lol what. that even makes Russo look like a genius

lol, Gimme a break, I'm spit-ballin', here. My point, is that if every "crazy" guy on the show is a repeat of the DBZ "stare like a wide-eyed luney while you breathe hard and grunt", then what's the point? It gets boring really fast. You have one guy like that, you should be fine.

All I'm saying, is that you can make some weird-ass characters that aren't fucking cartoons. Granted, you'd need to start a lot of that type off as face and/or comic characters, but that's kinda the point. Give something for the heel to hate, and let the crowd get behind the weirdness.

[The Optimist]

Black Reign is supose to be the crazy alter ego of Dustin right? I thought that was his whole thing was that it was his evil, crazy, dark side taken over.
It's all the same.

[Loose Cannon]

a guy that believes himself to be a warewolf is not cartoon? That's right out of WCW 1995.

plus that will never be taken seriously if that's what your aiming for. He'll just end up being like a Perry Saturn type character

[Afterlife]

You're forcing a cartoonish aura around it. Take all of your cliches and establishments of Lon Chaney and Hanna-Barbera and throw them out. The character I was proposing looks and acts entirely normal. He just happens to think he's a werewolf. That's all. If WCW did that in 1995, then my apologies; I never watched their program, and didn't even start WWF until '98/'99. I'm just saying, there is always a good way to do something and a hackneyed way to do something.

[Afterlife]

Besides, the gimmick doesn't HAVE to be taken seriously. Other characters mock his belief, and he whips their asses for it. The crowd gets behind the man, not the gimmick. That's all that really matters.

[Xero]

No, as proven by Vince himself.

Though that's more living the gimmick than anything else.

[Afterlife]

...What?

[Xero]

Do or daah!

[Kane Knight]

If it was done right.

Which means not for another ten years.

[Hanso Amore]

I think a comedy team between a guy that thinks he is a werewolf and a guy that is trying to prove he is crazy would be funny as shit.

I am all for the over the top shit, as long as it is not taken serious. I loved the Boogeyman, they never pretended he really was the BM, but they played it as he thought he was.



I am still waiting for the Eastern European that is like 15 years behind.

[Indifferent Clox]

I am still waiting for the Eastern European that is like 15 years behind.

and a tranny wrestler....and another guy who's trying to prove he's not a tranny.

[Hanso Amore]

and a tranny wrestler....and another guy who's trying to prove he's not a tranny.

They can feud with the guy who tells a message board he is going to kill himself

[Rollermacka]

and a tranny wrestler....and another guy who's trying to prove he's not a tranny.

*cough* vito *cough* and nunzio :shifty:

[Dorkchop]

Black Reign is supposed to be Dustin Rhodes alternate personality. They have shown scenes where people beat up Dustin Rhodes and he doesn't understand why or what's going on. Apparently Dustin has no knowledge or memory of his actions as Black Reign, despite putting on that ugly ass suit and going through fairly extensive make-up each night to do it.

Except that is a really shitty example because Black Reign is a shit character with shit execution. Even Kaz selling it was shit. God, TNA can be suck shit.

[Zen v.W.o.]

OMG how can I forget Pillman 9mm :mad: That man was awsome.


RIP Brian Pillman




PS Black Reign is supose to be the crazy alter ego of Dustin right? I thought that was his whole thing was that it was his evil, crazy, dark side taken over. :-\

Pillman was awesome because of the fact he was a very intelligent psycho. Those are the most dangerous kinds.

[Kane Knight]

*cough* vito *cough* and nunzio :shifty:

You spelled Chyna wrong.

Also, remember when JBL was trying to prove Shaniqua was Shelton Benjamin?

[Dorkchop]

You spelled Chyna wrong.

Also, remember when JBL was trying to prove Shaniqua was Shelton Benjamin?

AHAHAHAHAHAHHA! NO! Did that really happen? I never missed a show when Shaniqua was around. How do i not remember that?

[Kane Knight]

I think it was Bradshaw. And he had a theory that Shelton was Shaniqua.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Just depends on how you bill "crazy". Not every mentally unstable person has to be a volitile maniac.

I would love for a guy to claim to be a werewolf. Totally clean shaven, body-wax, tights-wearin' normal guy, like everybody else. Even a regular name, like Trent Lockhardt or something completely ambiguous. But one of the guys is like "Hey, after the show, we're gonna hit the town -- you in?" and he says, "Oh, I can't; full moon tonight, and I'm a werewolf." Just constantly play it up, like he's serious, but it's not a big deal. His first feud would be someone trying to get him fired for being nuts; his second would be trying to prove that he's NOT a werewolf. After that, it'd be like Taker or Kane, where everyone is very much aware of their abnormal mentality, but it's not the only reason they're in town.

As long as the "craziness" introduces the character well, causes a little intrigue and isn't used to hold someone down, it'd be fine.



That would be a hilarious direction to take Colin Delaney. I mean, he can't just get his ass kicked forever.

*Tommy Dreamer and Colin Delaney have just won the WWE Tag Team Championship*

Tommy Dreamer: Do you want to come celebrate with me and a few of the guys tonight? You've earned it, kid.

Colin Delaney: I'd love to, Tommy, but I'm not like other guys...

Tommy Dreamer: :|

Colin Delaney: ...I'm a werewolf!

Tommy Dreamer: :|

They could even play it up that Colin might have taken a few hard shots during his Extreme Rules Match against John Morrison & The Miz, and his other matches against giants. Tommy could go visit Colin's family back home, and he can discover that Colin Delaney is obsessed with werewolves and professional wrestling. This could even feature a guest appearance from the other Olsen Twin playing Colin's brother.

[Mr. Nerfect]

That APA vs. WGTT feud is completely underrated for some of the moments it created. Shelton Benjamin/Shaniqua never being in the same place at the same time and "APA is Crap" come to mind.

And yes, I think a crazy gimmick would really work. I like my crazy characters to have depth, though. I think Burchill would make a great crazy character, and be able to insert some intelligence into it.

[Kane Knight]

On a side note, I miss the post-unamsking Kane who was like a serial killer. It's not quite Brian Pillman, but he was ruthless, methodical, and a clear cut sociopath. The guy who still thought he was burned, would destroy anyone who got in his way, and sneezed when his pyro hit.

[Mr. JL]

Man... Kane was a fucking crazy monster when he un-masked in 2003. He could have been a great fucking World Champ then, but the WWE insisted on feeding him to Shane McMahon.

Brian Pillman is probably the best crazy wrestler ever. That guy didn't need a long drawn out backstory like Kane had. The guy just looked and acted like he was off his fucking rocker.

[Kane Knight]

Pillman was the fucking man when it came to psychotic motherfuckers. I remember back when my friends and I would debate whether or not it was legit or not (We didn't use words like work or shoot, but same idea). A lot of the people I know were completely convinced.

[Hanso Amore]

Pillman wasnt crazy like your typical wrestler. He wasnt Norman the Lunatic or Evad Sullivan. THey usually make over the top characters.

Pillman was the type of Crazy fuck you would see Stirring a toilet with his dick at a local Shit Kicker Bar. He pulled it off nicely.

[Hanso Amore]

I liked how Bubba was crazy in ECW. Not like in the WWE where he was catatonic after a table bomb, but in ECW where he was so obsessed with hurting his opponents he used to rub their blood on his face. Texas Chainsaw Massacre Crazy.

[Loose Cannon]

yea, like Matt mentioned, there are two types that I throw into the "crazy gimmick"

The first is the crazy intended to make people laugh. Your Al Snow, Saturn, Norman, guy that thinks he's a warewolf.

Then there's guys like Pillman, Savage, Jake Roberts, Waylon Mercy, Mad Dog Vachon, Abdullah, Brody, Kane, Kevin Sullivan and the list goes on for a while.

I think in the modern age, nobody pulled it off better then Pillman on the big stage. I loved how he did it because you thought you knew it was all just a work, but somewhere deep in the back in your mind, you also thought he was legit. He even came out and said it was "all just a work you know." Genius character. He and one of his good friends came up witht the whole thing. The best part though was that he carried the gimmick into three companies over 2 years.

But I got to throw credit at some of the other guys as well because they struck a nerve of fear in me when they performed. Jake a lunatic in 1991. He had to be on crack everytime he performed though. Savage played it great in 97, although I'm sure 90% of that was just him being himself. Vachon was a fucking pyscho and he had that voice that made you cringe when he spoke.

Do I think it could work today? Sure, but I doubt anybody would do it or book it right.

[Hanso Amore]

The WWE just honestly lacks anyone with the ability to play characters. The only ones they have are the Well established guys, and they arent going to go for a revamp. I doubt we ever see HHH Repackaged.

Kennedy seems to have some skill, but he actually has a unique persona. Other than that, who could real pull off any character? Maybe Burchill, but he is on Persona 3 in less than 6 months combined TV time.

Maybe if they have Bats turn heel.

Bats wins the Battle of the Brands, and Wants a title shot, loses clean, and just fucking snaps. Have him fued with Taker (who beats Edge) in a program where he is just a lunatic, trying to kill the taker. actually Book Taker as the underdog against someone other than Khali. Bats has the look of a Heel, time he starts actuing like it. The guys has lost like 15 straight PPV main events, I think he might snap in real life.

[Afterlife]

Except Batista is a terrible actor and has the personality of a wet stump. If you're going to play a chcaracter, you must first HAVE character in you.

[Mr. JL]

Yoooo.... I totally forgot about WCW's Crowbar (Devon Storm) the one who hung around Flair's kid and Daffney. He played the crazy role real well in my opinion. He could never be much more than midcarder, but I think he was an asset where he was (WCW's Hardcore Division).

[NYDon]

I think of all of the "crazy" gimmicks/personalities of the past 10-12 years and they all have a common denominator: The guys were drug users. Honestly, if guys were THAT good and not shootup/snort/swallow/binge they'd be Oscar winning actors.

And Pillman wasn't really on the big stage. He kinda died before he got anywhere close.

The shoot craziest wreslters I can think of are Savage, Foley, Kevin Sullivan, and HBK

[Loose Cannon]

HBK? what

I don't know how you can say Pillman wasn't on the big stage. I don't even know what that means. like he was never a world champion or something??

[Rollermacka]

yea, like Matt mentioned, there are two types that I throw into the "crazy gimmick"

The first is the crazy intended to make people laugh. Your Al Snow, Saturn, Norman, guy that thinks he's a warewolf.

Then there's guys like Pillman, Savage, Jake Roberts, Waylon Mercy, Mad Dog Vachon, Abdullah, Brody, Kane, Kevin Sullivan and the list goes on for a while.


Yea I personally think that if Spivey was alittle younger and hadnt had all the injuries I think that Waylon Mercy coulda been a big thing for the WWE. The way that man's eyes and the sadistic smile made him a character that coulda been big. Another one that most people might forget about is the character that Edge and Shamrock played when they first joined WWE. They both had that "inner rage" thing goin where they would "snap" in the ring and desimate there opponent.

[Porcupine]

That would be a hilarious direction to take Colin Delaney. I mean, he can't just get his ass kicked forever.

*Tommy Dreamer and Colin Delaney have just won the WWE Tag Team Championship*

Tommy Dreamer: Do you want to come celebrate with me and a few of the guys tonight? You've earned it, kid.

Colin Delaney: I'd love to, Tommy, but I'm not like other guys...

Tommy Dreamer: :|

Colin Delaney: ...I'm a werewolf!

Tommy Dreamer: :|

They could even play it up that Colin might have taken a few hard shots during his Extreme Rules Match against John Morrison & The Miz, and his other matches against giants. Tommy could go visit Colin's family back home, and he can discover that Colin Delaney is obsessed with werewolves and professional wrestling. This could even feature a guest appearance from the other Olsen Twin playing Colin's brother.

This is the best idea for a wrestler Ive heard in recent times. I love it!

props. :y: