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Originally Posted by jindrak
I want to discuss your first point, about fans not wanting to be like him. That doesn't mean fans can't sympathize with him. In all seriousness, the majority of wrestling marks aren't cool, which is why they want to be like Rock, Austin, Hogan. In addition, while wrestling fans try to live vicariously through their favorite wrestlers, they are doing so to hide form their own faults. Not all of us have the charisma of a Rock, which is why fans cheer him, only because he represents what fans want to be.
In actuality, many of us are the Eugene's of the world. We are easily manipulated, fooled, and picked on by everyone else. This is why fans sympathize, or even empathize with Eugene's character. He has faults, and the major fault he has is something some of us take for granted. Its not easy seeing a person with that 'condition' because people assume those with that 'condition' can never be integrated into society, which is why people feel sorry for them. This creates the ultimate underdog aura, because while we don't expect much from Eugene because we feel sorry for him, we hope he exceeds our expectations.
People want to see Eugene succeed. It make them feel good about themselves knowing that if he can do it, then I can do it. It’s a story about overcoming adversity, and living in a world that has labeled you different. This is the appeal of Eugene's character.
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I know what you are saying, and I agree that people do feel sorry for him to a point. But the problem with wrestling is that its not like the movies or regular TV where the acting and writing is such that they will make people get behind him in an underdog story.
Instead what you get from most wrestling fans is what I called "laughing at him, not with him". Look at a lot of the signs in the crowd, many of them are basically making fun of "special" people. I recall one sign with a big handicap sign and Eugene on top. Its that kinda thing that shows wrestling fans just want to laugh at the guy. Sure they will cheer for him (for now), but they will not get behind him like they would a Stone Cold, Rock or Hogan.
Thats where I see the big problem with him as a babyface, I just dont see him drawing any money because fans dont take him seriously.
Like I said I think people may get behind him, but where he lacks is that desire for the fanbase to want to be like him. When you dont have that aspect, I dont think you can have a strong babyface on top. Look to the past, sure guys like George Steel, Hacksaw Duggan and the Bushwackers were over in their heyday but they were over as comedy acts and nobody ever took them seriously as anything other than that. People connected with Hulk Hogan as the top guy or Ric Flair because in some way they wanted to be like those guys. Nobody I know ever wanted to be like George Steel. Yeah you felt sorry for him, and maybe even cheered for him against randy Savage, but he was never going to be World Champ.