Thread: What made DDP great? (DDP appreciation thread)
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Old 04-28-2012, 12:05 AM   #20
Tom Guycott
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet View Post
He could play heel or face, there wasn't any one thing he was spectacular at but he was versatile and good at everything. His ring work was good, mic work was good, etc. The guy just knew how to work and had great energy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicky Fives View Post
the "it factor" for sure...... he didn't have the best body, nor was he the best talker, nor was he the best in the ring, but he had "it"......
Three other things he had going for him:

1) His age. As much as everyone talks about it being "a young man's game", DDP got a VERY late start to his wrestling career. Aided in both his "underdog" and his "everyman" status.

2) His gimmick in and of itself was more or less just "a guy living the dream". Even his ring attire looked like something he'd just be hanging out at the bar in. He had a persona that was easy to work with as a face or a heel. While face, he personified the "everyman" without it being a played up idea of the "everyman" like Austin was. When heel, he wasn't over the top, just some douchebag that's relatable to anyone who knows a douchebag, which is everyone.. Hell, the whole Jersey Triad thing was just "We're three guys from New Jersey & that makes us cool... so fuck you!" years before anything resembling Jersey Shore was on TV. In a business that's pretty much about being a god among men, he was more of a demi-god. He was attainable. If DDP walked into your job, it would be less "OMFG!! IT'S DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE!! OH SHIT!! WHAT SHOULD I SAY?!?!" and more "Oh, hey, it's DDP! What's up, bro? Wanna grab a beer?" That was the kind of appeal he had across the board. Pure magic.

3) The perpetual taped ribs. I'm serious, he not only made that a thing like other people tape their wrists, but it also played into the "underdog" deal his age did. Taped abs = injury, and he was always "in danger of severe, career threatening injury" just by rocking the taped ribs.


And also, yes, the muthafuckin' Diamond Cutter.
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