Think it works anymore? *Smackdown Spoilers*

[Kane Knight]

So, I mean, really, do you think the "big guy squashing the no-name guy or paid loser" thing works anymore?

I mean, you have Mark Henry beat Funaki on Smackdown in a squash match, right? But it is, after all, FUNAKI.

And I know this used to be fairly common practice and all, but times change. Do you think a "jobber squash match" has any impact anymore?

[Londoner]

No, it has never had any impact on me, well except maybe when i first started watching, but now it just seems like lazy booking to me.

[RVDmark]

Jobber Squash Match - Impact. Hmmmm

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by RVDmark Jobber Squash Match - Impact. Hmmmm

Actually, I have a theory that Scotty 2 Hotty was merely the first jobber fired, since WWE now has ECW to tap for useless talent.

[Dorkchop]

It can make somewhat of an impact if the squasher is new. Not so much if they're facing Funaki or Scotty Too Hotty. I'd rather see an actual jobber with a lame name like Martin Jones get squashed.

These days squash matches don't seem to have much impact anymore.

[thedamndest]

Tried to post on this earlier, but comp froze. I agree with Dorkchop that if they HAVE to do one, it should be with someone new just to introduce you to his look/moveset. There is no point in reminding me just how "awesome" Mark Henry is by watching him kill Scotty. I would rather see him say something backstage or something, and that's my general opinion that interview/vignette > squash match, and bad interview/bad vignette > squash match. Good squash match is an oxymoron.

[NeanderCarl]

Guys like Vader, Sid and even Umaga are testament to how effective a squash match can be, when utilised correctly.

It can showcase a big power guy obliterating an opponent without damaging the stock of one of your roster "superstars".

It can be even more effective when the person being squashed is a mid level player or above, but that's a rare occurance. (I'm thinking of Warrior/Honky, Vader/Ramon etc)

[PepperCarrotMan]

Yes it is very effective. This week I was all like "Bah, Mark Henry has been away from the ring so long I bet he forgot how to wrestle!" and then he squashes Funaki and I'm like "WHOA that man can still go, he just beat up Funaki so fast and easy!"

[NeanderCarl]

Well, it's like thedamndest said.... it's effective as an introduction, or even an occasional top-up to a monster aura... Henry is worthless, therefore it's just a waste of space. I guess they figure he's less likely to injure himself in a short squash, and even if he injures his opponent, who cares? it's just some nobody jobber.

[Outsider]

Against someone like Funaki, yes it works. Funaki isn't really a superstar anymore so no damage is done to his credibility. The problem is what they have been doing recently is letting Umaga destroy legitimate stars. Ok he looks scary, but this does so much damage to the credibility of other stars. Highladers anyone?

WWE needs to stop this practice unless they can find enough proper jobbers to use. Wrestlers who are actually used properly should not be crushed like that.

[dude extreme]

Nope. Not at all mayte. If Vince thinks he values his customer's money then he is dead wrong. Absolutely awful aka' time killer.

[DAMN iNATOR]

Doesn't do shit for me, but I still watched that awful match last night, just to see how quickly Funaki would get pinned. Didn't seem like more than 1:15 at most.

[NeanderCarl]

Originally Posted by Outsider Against someone like Funaki, yes it works. Funaki isn't really a superstar anymore so no damage is done to his credibility. The problem is what they have been doing recently is letting Umaga destroy legitimate stars. Ok he looks scary, but this does so much damage to the credibility of other stars. Highladers anyone? WWE needs to stop this practice unless they can find enough proper jobbers to use. Wrestlers who are actually used properly should not be crushed like that.

Guys like the Highlanders, Funaki, Scotty, Venis et al are just the new wave of jobbers. Rather than faceless guys, they have personalities, TitanTrons, entrance music etc. Mainly because a TV show full of squash matches doesn't work in the current climate, but you still need your jobbers to make guys like good. Hence the expression "glorified jobbers". That's all they are, modern day squash boys.

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by NeanderCarl Guys like the Highlanders, Funaki, Scotty, Venis et al are just the new wave of jobbers. Rather than faceless guys, they have personalities, TitanTrons, entrance music etc. Mainly because a TV show full of squash matches doesn't work in the current climate, but you still need your jobbers to make guys like good. Hence the expression "glorified jobbers". That's all they are, modern day squash boys.

Not really new. I mean, Val Venis has spent a good chunk of his career as a jobber in the same pervie\w. Stevie Richards, as well. and he had personalities up the Wazoo. They had Mosh and Thrasher, who were perennial jobbers, if not truly full-time.

I'm not disagreeing, just clarifying.

But at some point, their usefulness runs out. I mean, sure, he squashes Funaki, but who hasn't? I'd be disappointed if Zack Gowen didn't beat him in under 2 minutes--With his good leg cuffed to the ropes.

Venis doesn't usually end up in total squash matdches. His usefulness comes from the back that he receives pops (albeit not Austin-esque) and puts on a believable match in which he loses. He's kind of a midcard version of Mick Foley. Those guys, who are jobbers for life, aren't really quite the same as the fuckers who get squashed. Well, Funaki is. Stevie is, conistently. Even the Highlanders, though, are believable. Part of it is just that they shelled out money for produced videos and such. The rest os mostly that they don't usually just kinda lie down or get crushed. once in a while, they might get utterly destroyed, but with folks like Funaki, that seems like...His only function.

[NeanderCarl]

Originally Posted by Kane Knight Not really new. I mean, Val Venis has spent a good chunk of his career as a jobber in the same pervie\w. Stevie Richards, as well. and he had personalities up the Wazoo. They had Mosh and Thrasher, who were perennial jobbers, if not truly full-time. I'm not disagreeing, just clarifying. But at some point, their usefulness runs out. I mean, sure, he squashes Funaki, but who hasn't? I'd be disappointed if Zack Gowen didn't beat him in under 2 minutes--With his good leg cuffed to the ropes. Venis doesn't usually end up in total squash matdches. His usefulness comes from the back that he receives pops (albeit not Austin-esque) and puts on a believable match in which he loses. He's kind of a midcard version of Mick Foley. Those guys, who are jobbers for life, aren't really quite the same as the fuckers who get squashed. Well, Funaki is. Stevie is, conistently. Even the Highlanders, though, are believable. Part of it is just that they shelled out money for produced videos and such. The rest os mostly that they don't usually just kinda lie down or get crushed. once in a while, they might get utterly destroyed, but with folks like Funaki, that seems like...His only function.

Well not "new" new, but you know what I mean. As in the "current generation" of job boys. Guys who at one time actually meant something, but now are only lucky to ever pick up a win if they are facing a REAL jobber or a guy at the same level. Or a big fluke, but that rarely happens.

[aaaaa]

No, it doesn't work, especially if they are just going to build them up as a "monster" for the almighty John Cena to "miraculously overcome the odds" against.....again.

Think about it:
Every WWE show has it's own big guy(s) who squash(es) everyone he goes up against. RAW has Umaga, ECW has Lashley, and SmackDown! has Mark Henry. Not to mention Snitsky and The Great Khali. One is enough, but when you have anymore than that...it's overkill, and thus less effective.

[NeanderCarl]

You know, purists tend to hate the "big guy" wrestlers, but the marks love it, and so does Vince. He loves his "superstars" to be larger than life, to turn heads on the street and in the airports, and it has drawn in the past. I can't think of many smaller guys who have ever been huge draws in post 1983 New York, no matter how great in the ring they have been (although you could well argue that they are victims of their circumstances). The "bigger is better" mentality has been rewarding for Vinnie Mac, and the best way to push these bigger guys is to disguise their limitations in squash matches.

[Fox]

It works when it's done effectively, usually in the case of introducing a superstar to the fans. Great examples include Goldberg's long, long list of squashes early in his career, Brock Lesnar's destruction of many WWE stars (including the Hardys) during his first few months, and I must say Paul Heyman did a great job of making Sid (Vicious) a dominant monster heel during the late days of ECW.

But squash matches simply to have a squash match? Pointless. I'd rather see Helms vs. Funaki in a decent 6-7 minute cruiserweight match than see Henry squash either of them. Especially since Mark Henry has NEVER won a big match in his life.

[Impeccable]

I suppose these squash matches do still work, if only to introduce newer viewers to Mark Henry ie. someone who only started watching around christmas or something like that.