Parts Unknown
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| #21 Posted on 22.3.02 1203.48 Reposted on: 22.3.09 1208.42 | D'Lo always bored the hell out of me, personally. I've never quite understood why he's so over with so many people (I have similar thoughts about Bob Holly...). He's just so plain, you know? I can't see him ever having a meaningful run, especially for the title. My favorite D'Lo moment: when Stone Cold put him through the windshield of his truck, back-first. Ouch. | Travis
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| #22 Posted on 22.3.02 1206.46 Reposted on: 22.3.09 1209.00 |
Originally posted by Parts Unknown D'Lo always bored the hell out of me, personally. I've never quite understood why he's so over with so many people (I have similar thoughts about Bob Holly...). He's just so plain, you know? I can't see him ever having a meaningful run, especially for the title. My favorite D'Lo moment: when Stone Cold put him through the windshield of his truck, back-first. Ouch.
My fave moment was when Terri made him go buy tampons for him...because he caused her to have a miscarriage. When D'Lo got to the cashier, the cruel gods of irony struck- the cashier "recognized" D'Lo.
Be careful what you wish for, huh? | EastCoastAvenger
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| #23 Posted on 22.3.02 1225.56 Reposted on: 22.3.09 1229.03 | "In the long term no amount of charisma can overcome the inability to suspend disbelief"
Cool, I'll tell that one to Stone Cold, HHH and The Rock! Seriously, it seems workrate is rarely a factor in the WWF choosing its top-card guys. It's all about who can pop the crowd loudest and get them to shell out the bucks. look at the guys in the Top now! nWo, Stone Cold, HHH, The Rock. All have charisma, refined gimmick/catchphrase, and in-ring skills that are so low that you rarely see anything done correctly by them except for punches, low kicks and their finisher. Notice I didn't include Y2J, Kurt Angle or any other guys of "arguable" status. They're not top carders, they are the workers the WWF puts into matches with the untalented (workrate-wise) top card to carry them to the occasional above-average match.
Also, notice the more memorable D-Lo moments for the two of you were either D-Lo stuck in a piss-poor program or making a top-carder look good. If they put half the effort into D-Lo that they put into HHH or even Billy Gunn... Then again, D-Lo's not a performance-enhanced blonde or a Texan so that's out of the question! | Travis
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| #24 Posted on 22.3.02 1235.18 Reposted on: 22.3.09 1250.34 | Austin is a world class worker. #2 on the last DVDVR 500. And the Rock is very good at selling and rather agile...he more than makes up for his apparent fear of bumping. He's such a better worker than D'Lo. Anyone who ever accuses Triple H of being a draw needs to learn to read figures.
And my favorite D'Lo moment was a horrendous part of a horrendous angle. I have fond memories of "Meat's too tired to wrestle because he was having sex" or Beetlejuice fisting Jeff Jarret, but that's not to say I thought it was GOOD. Unintentionally funny and good are two different things.
Oh, and Billy Gunn's recent tag-team work has been his best stuff in years. He's become a perfectly acceptable tag team wrestler.
I know, I can't believe I said it either.
Originally posted by EastCoastAvenger "In the long term no amount of charisma can overcome the inability to suspend disbelief"
Cool, I'll tell that one to Stone Cold, HHH and The Rock! Seriously, it seems workrate is rarely a factor in the WWF choosing its top-card guys. It's all about who can pop the crowd loudest and get them to shell out the bucks. look at the guys in the Top now! nWo, Stone Cold, HHH, The Rock. All have charisma, refined gimmick/catchphrase, and in-ring skills that are so low that you rarely see anything done correctly by them except for punches, low kicks and their finisher. Notice I didn't include Y2J, Kurt Angle or any other guys of "arguable" status. They're not top carders, they are the workers the WWF puts into matches with the untalented (workrate-wise) top card to carry them to the occasional above-average match.
Also, notice the more memorable D-Lo moments for the two of you were either D-Lo stuck in a piss-poor program or making a top-carder look good. If they put half the effort into D-Lo that they put into HHH or even Billy Gunn... Then again, D-Lo's not a performance-enhanced blonde or a Texan so that's out of the question!
| GumbyTom
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| #25 Posted on 22.3.02 1236.34 Reposted on: 22.3.09 1253.16 | I think D-Lo really advanced as a wrestler/sports entertainer with the european title push in summer '98.
I'm sure it was done before, but I thought the 'and hailing from [insert european city here]' bit was hilarious. After that 'push' was shelved, it seemed his personality was shelved too, but his in-ring skills got better.
I'd like to see him back, with a decent angle. I don't think he'd be a top draw, but he would definitely entertain, both in the ring and out of it.
'bobbin head as i end this post'
you betta recognize! | EastCoastAvenger
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| #26 Posted on 22.3.02 1320.15 Reposted on: 22.3.09 1321.12 | Austin WAS a great worker. Now he's a charismatic borderline cripple with a good catchphrase. WHAT? You heard me. Neither the Rock or Austin are better workers than D-Lo. In fact, I would venture to say that if it wasn't for their above-average charisma, neither one would have ever made it past the lower mid-card. Before you respond to that, remember their beginning gimmicks, before personality and Charisma improved them. The Ringmaster and the Blue Chipper. Austin best days (ring work wise) were left behind in the WCW years. Maivia's best work was... Actually, he's less versatile as a worker now than back then!
I still say that if he was given the same push these guys, HHH and Mr. Ass got, he'd be a top guy right now. In fact, he'd be the one top guy who didn't us a PUNCH as his main offense. | lmo911
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| #27 Posted on 22.3.02 1328.21 Reposted on: 22.3.09 1329.01 | Billy's always been a competent tag team wrestler....it's when he goes singles that pain and suffering ensues.
As for D'Lo I think he has the abilities to be a good upper mid carder, he had a nice moveset (mix of power and high flying, which were lacking in the WWF at that time), decent character and some of that charisma.
Of course now that we're talkin' about D'lo the inevitable question arises. They reintroduce Mark Henry and then bam! He's gone! Whatsupwidat?
Not that I want a Henry singles run or anything, but him and D'Lo were always a good pair, in my opinion. | Travis
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| #28 Posted on 22.3.02 1336.49 Reposted on: 22.3.09 1342.07 |
Originally posted by EastCoastAvenger Austin WAS a great worker. Now he's a charismatic borderline cripple with a good catchphrase. WHAT? You heard me. Neither the Rock or Austin are better workers than D-Lo. In fact, I would venture to say that if it wasn't for their above-average charisma, neither one would have ever made it past the lower mid-card. Before you respond to that, remember their beginning gimmicks, before personality and Charisma improved them. The Ringmaster and the Blue Chipper. Austin best days (ring work wise) were left behind in the WCW years. Maivia's best work was... Actually, he's less versatile as a worker now than back then!
I still say that if he was given the same push these guys, HHH and Mr. Ass got, he'd be a top guy right now. In fact, he'd be the one top guy who didn't us a PUNCH as his main offense.
That's a good thing, too- D'Lo couldn't throw a worked punch to save his life.
If you think Austin and Rocky have gotten *worse* as workers...well I'm out. That transcends ridiculous. | EastCoastAvenger
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| #29 Posted on 22.3.02 1627.10 Reposted on: 22.3.09 1628.55 | What's so ridiculous? That I don't buy that The Rock and Stone Cold have the in-ring capability to back up their amazing charisma? Ridiculous, hell! Look at Austin's WCW matches (Hollywood Blondes period is a great place to start), then take a look at the "Flex Kavana" and "Blue Chip" matches". In both cases, they were great workers. THen, the catchphrases became more important, now they are amazing on the mic, but in the ring, they are shadows of their former selves.
Would the same thing happen to D-Lo if he made it to the top of the card? Possibly, but he'd still be better (in the ring) than Hogan, nWo, The Rock, or Stone Cold.
By the way, his worked punch was better than most. Most of these guys don't even bother to fake trying to make contact.
| Freeway
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| #30 Posted on 22.3.02 1751.21 Reposted on: 22.3.09 1754.01 | D'Lo Brown is the Best Kept Secret in Wrestling
Go back to the Summer of '99, before the Droz Incident. Look at his matches. Look at the riveting feud with Jeff Jarrett over not one, but TWO titles at once. Look at the way D'Lo became the FIRST EVER Euro-Continental Champion. Look at the crowd reactions... Look at the ratings... Back then, were we bitching about D'Lo getting too much too soon? HELL NO. And why not? The guy's money. He's got "the look". Vince McMahon continually puts guys like Kane & the Big Show on TV. They can't work, but they have "the look". D'Lo can work. He's got charisma. He's got mic skills ("D'Lo doesn't suck! You suck", "You better recognize!" and more)...and most of all, he's got a bunch of us bitching about him. WE CARE ABOUT D'LO BROWN. If Crash Holly had crippled Droz and disappeared, probably none of us would care. WE CARE ABOUT D'LO, and that's all that matters. | TheBucsFan
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| #31 Posted on 22.3.02 1801.58 Reposted on: 22.3.09 1818.16 | Originally posted by Parts Unknown D'Lo always bored the hell out of me, personally. I've never quite understood why he's so over with so many people (I have similar thoughts about Bob Holly...). He's just so plain, you know? I can't see him ever having a meaningful run, especially for the title. My favorite D'Lo moment: when Stone Cold put him through the windshield of his truck, back-first. Ouch.
D'Lo benefits from the "underground" followers of wrestling. They always are looking for that one guy who hasn't hit it big, because they don't want to root for the "mainstream" guys. This desire to cheer for an unknown (relatively speaking...) closes the eyes when it comes to recognizing talent.
It is very very similar to the following fans of "underground" music devote to the bands they want to be their favorite.
Originally posted by Freeway420 If Crash Holly had crippled Droz and disappeared, probably none of us would care.
I garuntee you there would be a sudden emergence of Crash Holly fans.
(edited by TheBucsFan on 22.3.02 1904) | Debaser
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| #32 Posted on 22.3.02 1816.20 Reposted on: 22.3.09 1823.07 | Originally posted by Freeway420 If Crash Holly had crippled Droz and disappeared, probably none of us would care.
I guarantee you there would be a sudden emergence of Crash Holly fans.
(edited by TheBucsFan on 22.3.02 1904)
D'Lo had a pretty big net following before the injury, if I remember correctly. No one's ever really been that into Crash Holly. So either you're pulling this statement out of your ass, or you think people really hate Droz for some reason.
I do agree that D'Lo was probably overrated a bit by people who were desperate to not be mainstream. But he was pretty good in all aspects and probably would have amounted to something if he hadn't crippled a guy who could puke on command.
(edited by Debaser on 22.3.02 1617) | Tragic1
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| #33 Posted on 22.3.02 2306.40 Reposted on: 22.3.09 2309.36 | First of all, in regards to Shane's original post, I believe Kurt's "D'Lo doesn't count promo" was in regards to Kurt holding the European and Intercontinental Titles simultaneously. Kurt wanted credit as the first one to do that, but the truth was that D'Lo beat him to it. "D'Lo doesn't count" was Kurt's way of saying he was the first Euro-Continental Champion.
I always heard that the reason D'Lo was de-pushed was because shortly after the Droz incicdent, he complained about dropping the European Title to Val Venis. That rubbed some people the wrong way, especially considering what had just happened. Anyone else hear that?
Either way, if D'Lo is to remain employed by the WWF, then I think it's time to say his punishment period is up and he can return to TV. I always liked D'Lo, he could work, he was pretty good on the mic, and being that he hailed from Chicago (when he wasn't European Champion) got on my good side real quick.
I also liked Droz, especially his hardcore evening tgown match against Al Snow. His pre-match promo about experimenting with cross dressing had me laughing. Especially Albert's "I am not hearing this" look. | Rudy
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| #34 Posted on 22.3.02 2346.06 Reposted on: 22.3.09 2355.38 | Wasn't there a story going around a couple of years ago that D'Lo had vistited a WCW show backstage and told everyone that he'd be coming over as soon as his contract ran out---only he didn't realize that the WWF had an option to pick him up for another year?
I think that, and a series of injuries, lead to his de-push, not the Droz injury.
The reports (from "un-named sources", I know) were that he was a high-maintainance wrestler who whined a lot and was very vocal. The WWF still sees potential there--that's why they didn't cut him when they cut Chaz, but it seems that he was sent down for an attitude adjustment.
It also seems, from recent reports, that it worked. The guy put on some good matches, and some not-so-good matches, but Austin thought enough of him to use him in that long-distance commercial a few years back, so he has to have some potential, or friends in high places.
But none of that seems to be related to the Droz thing, unless that also affected his attitude.
Later, Rudy | BigDaddyLoco
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| #35 Posted on 23.3.02 0006.11 Reposted on: 23.3.09 0007.39 | The "D'Lo is blacklisted" theory doesn't hold up because: 1) Droz wasn't a political player 2) Droz wasn't ever any kind of draw 3) Droz wasn't a very good wrestler
The fact is he paralyzed another worker, that's all that really matters. Not only is the man's life forever changed, but who is gonna risk themselves to someone who was involved in such a major accident. Do you think the WWF would ever trust him in the ring with Austin, Jericho or even Edge?
As far as where he would be now, I'm going to go with nowhere. Probably in the stale gimmick pile with Val Venis and Goldust. D'Lo was a great Euro Champion, but he never really seemed like IC title material. | TheBucsFan
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| #36 Posted on 23.3.02 0039.56 Reposted on: 23.3.09 0039.59 | The "D'Lo is blacklisted" theory doesn't hold up because: 1) Droz wasn't a political player 2) Droz wasn't ever any kind of draw 3) Droz wasn't a very good wrestler
So, if you were murdered (or, if you prefer, paralyzed for life and banished to a wheel chair), the killer shouldn't be prosecuted because, in the big picture, you are about as important and influential as a mule. Right? | Spaceman Spiff
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| #37 Posted on 23.3.02 2022.46 Reposted on: 23.3.09 2027.59 | As for Austin's in-ring ability, he was putting on great performances as a heel this past summer (McMahon-hugging up through the Invasion), particularly his matches w/ Benoit & Angle. His offense was more varied, and he sold for his opponents, even taking the "multiple German Suplexes spot". Once he went back to super-face, though, he settled back into the punch-kick mode.
As for D'Lo, I was never a big fan. If he never showed up back in the WWF, I wouldn't be perturbed. | MoeGates
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| #38 Posted on 23.3.02 2117.33 Reposted on: 23.3.09 2119.59 | The fact is he paralyzed another worker, that's all that really matters. Not only is the man's life forever changed, but who is gonna risk themselves to someone who was involved in such a major accident.
There have been a lot of people who have been involved in serious accidents in the ring and haven't been essentialy blacklisted for it. Remember how Chris Benoit got his nickname? Remember how Owen worked with everyone after the Austin incident?
The fact is that none of us are wrestlers, and none of us have any idea who's "fault" that accident was. It was never even on TV, so none of us even saw it. All we can go by is that Droz has publicaly said he holds D'Lo blameless. Maybe that's true and maybe not, but other theories are complete speculation at best.
I somewhat agree with BucsFan's theory, but would like to add it's not a "Net guys like Chris Danials or even Steve Blackman" thing, it was more of a "Net guys love The Rock in 1998 or Benoit in 1999 or Jericho in 2000 or Booker T today" thing. The net often hops on an upper-midcarder's bandwagon so they can say "I liked this guy back when." Of course, they turn on him as soon as main-event status is reached (see Rock, the or Jericho, Chris). D'Lo was really positioned kind of where RVD or maybe edge is positioned now, and it wasn't that much of a stretch of the imagination to think he would be a main-event player in a year or two.
Moe | BigDaddyLoco
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| #39 Posted on 24.3.02 0042.12 Reposted on: 24.3.09 0042.12 | D'Lo was really positioned kind of where RVD or maybe edge is positioned now, and it wasn't that much of a stretch of the imagination to think he would be a main-event player in a year or two.
D'Lo was nowhere near RVD status, and I don't think he was even near Edge's status. If anything I'd compare his following to that of Tazz. More of a cult following of people that *think* he should be somewhere he really shouldn't. | MoeGates
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| #40 Posted on 24.3.02 1743.04 Reposted on: 24.3.09 1743.17 | Maybe he wasn't that far along, but there are a couple of other things to consider:
1) the WWF roster was a lot thinner then. So imagining D'Lo as an eventual main event player wasn't that much of a stretch.
2) D'Lo had gone from complete jobber to niche wrestler to entertaining lower-midcarder to promising up-and-coming midcarder in less than a year. That level of progress maybe made people think he was going places faster than he was. | ALL ORIGINAL POSTS IN THIS THREAD ARE NOW AVAILABLE |
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