KYR
12-20-2009, 11:32 PM
I recently took a nostalgia trip and was captivated by the 'original' Gorgeous George.
This guy was one of the first true great wrestling heels. I couldn't believe the amount of heat this guy generated.
From Wiki: "...his persona was created in part by growing his hair long, dyeing it platinum blonde, and putting gold-plated bobby pins in it (which he deemed “Georgie Pins” while distributing them to the audience). Furthermore, he transformed his ring entrance into a bona-fide spectacle that would often take up more time than his actual matches. He was the first wrestler to really use entrance music, as he strolled nobly to the ring to the sounds of "Pomp and Circumstance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomp_and_Circumstance)", followed by his valet and a purple spotlight. Wearing an elegant robe sporting an array of sequins, Gorgeous George was always escorted down a personal red carpet by his ring valet “Jeffries,” who would carry a silver mirror while spreading rose petals at his feet. While George removed his robe, Jeffries would spray the ring with disinfectant (which reportedly consisted of Chanel No. 5 perfume), which George referred to as "Chanel #10" ("Why be half-safe?" he was famous for saying) before he would start wrestling. Moreover, George required that his valets spray the referee’s hands before the official was allowed to check him for any illegal objects, which thus prompted his now-famous outcry “Get your filthy hands off me!” Once the match finally began, he would cheat in every way he could. Gorgeous George was the industry’s first true cowardly villain, and he would cheat at every opportunity, which infuriated the crowd. His credo was "Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat!"
He was the 'original' Greatest. Both Muhammad Ali and James Brown have stated that they were heavily influenced by George's persona.
There have been many incarnations since - some not so subtle such as Adrian Adonis and some who have 'borrowed' bits from George such as Randy Savage, but this type of character has always drawn enormous heat from the crowds whether matched up against a face or another heel.
But would this type of character work today? Would you like to see it?
This guy was one of the first true great wrestling heels. I couldn't believe the amount of heat this guy generated.
From Wiki: "...his persona was created in part by growing his hair long, dyeing it platinum blonde, and putting gold-plated bobby pins in it (which he deemed “Georgie Pins” while distributing them to the audience). Furthermore, he transformed his ring entrance into a bona-fide spectacle that would often take up more time than his actual matches. He was the first wrestler to really use entrance music, as he strolled nobly to the ring to the sounds of "Pomp and Circumstance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomp_and_Circumstance)", followed by his valet and a purple spotlight. Wearing an elegant robe sporting an array of sequins, Gorgeous George was always escorted down a personal red carpet by his ring valet “Jeffries,” who would carry a silver mirror while spreading rose petals at his feet. While George removed his robe, Jeffries would spray the ring with disinfectant (which reportedly consisted of Chanel No. 5 perfume), which George referred to as "Chanel #10" ("Why be half-safe?" he was famous for saying) before he would start wrestling. Moreover, George required that his valets spray the referee’s hands before the official was allowed to check him for any illegal objects, which thus prompted his now-famous outcry “Get your filthy hands off me!” Once the match finally began, he would cheat in every way he could. Gorgeous George was the industry’s first true cowardly villain, and he would cheat at every opportunity, which infuriated the crowd. His credo was "Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat!"
He was the 'original' Greatest. Both Muhammad Ali and James Brown have stated that they were heavily influenced by George's persona.
There have been many incarnations since - some not so subtle such as Adrian Adonis and some who have 'borrowed' bits from George such as Randy Savage, but this type of character has always drawn enormous heat from the crowds whether matched up against a face or another heel.
But would this type of character work today? Would you like to see it?