What defines today's top Superstars?
 

Vince McMahon: It's everything that people don't see. It's easy to say from a visual standpoint that bigger is better in reference to past eras of WWF. But take The Warlord, for example. He was enormous — one of the most visually impressive Superstars we've had — but he couldn't sell five tickets. He had no charisma, no "gift of gab," which is what really sets apart today's Superstars, even if they may not be as physically intimidating. Someone like CM Punk, even though he's a good-looking guy, isn't built like that. He probably weighs less than I do. But today's fans are drawn to his confidence and charisma. Those are the things a Superstar exudes, and they translate though the television set.

Where'd you get this?

But yeap, that's what has defined superstars in the last decade.

Crass act to talk about The Warlord like that.

I got it from one of the dirtsheets, but the quote is from WWE Magazine

McMahon givin a rub to Punk!? O god Vince dont fuck up wht he has goin by tryin to take over his character!

This is 100% true. I believe that was one of the reasons that The Rock and Austin first got over. Yeah they were great wrestlers, but their mic skills were great.

Sooooooo it's pretty much saying what we already know. To get over you need mic skills and charisma to get over.

Clearly wrestling itself doesn't matter too much.

not always, if you cast your mind back to no mercy 1999 you may remember 2 tag teams that were lower mid carders at the time put on an absolutely fantastic match, and that match got those teams over greatly especially jeff hardy

Agreed. Perfect examples=Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas.

Does this mean Punk is in the dog house?




But seriously, being the top guy is a combination of everything. You need to be a "solid" ring worker (even if you only know 5 moves of doom), a good look, a connection with the fans, and a connection with the people backstage. You can be the most talented wrestler in the industry in the ring who can make Hulk Hogan look like Nick Bockwinkel, but if you're missing one attribute then you're stuck in the mid card (See: Shelton Benjamin).

But all four people had charisma, which is why they lasted so long.

Like Ermaximus said, people like Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas are both great wrestlers, but without the right mic skills they're going nowhere.

For the record, both Benjamin and Haas COULD have the skills if they were given the chance to work on them. Haas has done some funny stuff in the past and Benjamin as a heel had some potential.

:y:

Like I said above, Benjamin could have good mic skills if he was given a chance to improve them, but the general impression I get is that he's given a storyline, cuts two or three promos, the powers-that-be decide he doesn't have mic skills and that's his career over with.

Instead of helping him improve and develop they cut him off completely and look for the next star.

Sadly enough, Shelton's best claim to fame anymore is being the guy that's always in the MITB and pulls off sick spots, but never wins. As for Haas, he's just there anymore.

HA, Warload

He was a given. He was doomed from the start. Reminds me of a few others that were too. Nathan Jones is a prime example.