Smark Era..... Good or Bad?

[Tom Guycott]

Originally Posted by Ruien Agreed with Stickman. I fully expect the main event wrestlers to be in better shape than me or be like Braun/Kane type of big. I should never feel I can take on the world champ. I should feel like the guy would destroy me.

The problem I see with this point of view is that it becomes an arms race of believability, for lack of a better term. Who's going to beat this monster? A bigger monster. And bigger. And bigger. And so it goes until you get to an area where you've cut the nuts off of finding any sort of actual, viable threat, because you need your "championship material" to be nearly 7 feet tall, 350lbs of "look the shit" muscles, and hope to the old gods and the new they can actually perform and talk.

There was too much stock into the "larger than life actual superhero" to where it turned into a pigeonhole.

Meanwhile, over the years, they have gotten farther away from actually making people give a shit about people UNLESS the company thinks you should give a shit. Reigns is a great example of what is now wasted opportunity. They were so dead set on crowning him "The New Cena", that they missed the opportunity to have a monster heel that could possibly hage been poised for that face turn by now. They were so focused on him heading to Mania a couple of years back, but didn't really make a case, build a lore, or otherwise give fans any reason why they should want to have this guy be the headliner they pay to see.

The industry has made a weird "full circle". Nearly everyone watching wrestling as a fan at this point *knows* it is fake, but are willing to suspend the disbelief to accept things that only make sense in the realm of pro wrestling. One of those things is going back to appreciation for people who can put on great matches with psychology and all that shit, and having "a good look" is icing on the cake.

AJ Styles is an amazimg talent, and it is archaic and stupid to assume he should job or be relegated to spot monkey cruiserweight status simply because he isn't built like Scott Steiner. I'm not the hugest Steen fan in the world, but what is the difference between him and an in-his-prime Vader? Vader was barrel-tummied and chicken legged, but he just had wrestling world acceptable ring attire and not dressed like someone who bought a ticket.

If the guy is billed and represented to be someone who can hurt you, and can sell the fact he can hurt you, it shouldn't matter if he looks like a roid freak or is just taller than most people.

I'd still buy Harley Race could kick my ass. I never saw such fear from the akwardly lanky Khali.

[Ruien]

Originally Posted by Tom Guycott The problem I see with this point of view is that it becomes an arms race of believability, for lack of a better term. Who's going to beat this monster? A bigger monster. And bigger. And bigger. And so it goes until you get to an area where you've cut the nuts off of finding any sort of actual, viable threat, because you need your "championship material" to be nearly 7 feet tall, 350lbs of "look the shit" muscles, and hope to the old gods and the new they can actually perform and talk. There was too much stock into the "larger than life actual superhero" to where it turned into a pigeonhole. Meanwhile, over the years, they have gotten farther away from actually making people give a shit about people UNLESS the company thinks you should give a shit. Reigns is a great example of what is now wasted opportunity. They were so dead set on crowning him "The New Cena", that they missed the opportunity to have a monster heel that could possibly hage been poised for that face turn by now. They were so focused on him heading to Mania a couple of years back, but didn't really make a case, build a lore, or otherwise give fans any reason why they should want to have this guy be the headliner they pay to see. The industry has made a weird "full circle". Nearly everyone watching wrestling as a fan at this point *knows* it is fake, but are willing to suspend the disbelief to accept things that only make sense in the realm of pro wrestling. One of those things is going back to appreciation for people who can put on great matches with psychology and all that shit, and having "a good look" is icing on the cake. AJ Styles is an amazimg talent, and it is archaic and stupid to assume he should job or be relegated to spot monkey cruiserweight status simply because he isn't built like Scott Steiner. I'm not the hugest Steen fan in the world, but what is the difference between him and an in-his-prime Vader? Vader was barrel-tummied and chicken legged, but he just had wrestling world acceptable ring attire and not dressed like someone who bought a ticket. If the guy is billed and represented to be someone who can hurt you, and can sell the fact he can hurt you, it shouldn't matter if he looks like a roid freak or is just taller than most people. I'd still buy Harley Race could kick my ass. I never saw such fear from the akwardly lanky Khali.

You missed the whole point of AJ being the Y2J of this era. You missed the point of wanting a variety. Your missed the point of having different expectations.

Is Steen the person as Owens? I think so but want to make sure. I don't remember anything about Vader so no idea. Just remember he sat on people.