I've been thinking lately about who WWE could possibly bring in that could cause a stir anymore. I don't think there are too many left (at least among those who've never been in a WWE/F ring) but what about Bob Sapp?
My knowledge of him is limited to the mounds of praise he often gets in the Observer, so it could be a tad misleading. However, the guy does look like a star, and if he could get even a fraction of the following here he gets in Japan, he could end up being a great foil for Angle, Goldberg, Lesnar, HHH, etc.
I suppose the few intangibles in this are:
-Can he work `WWE style'? And if so, would that limit his ability? -Can the guy work a mic? -Would Vince McMahon be willing to acknowledge this guy's past (Japan, that is, not his ill-fated WCW stint)? -Would his look, etc. be considered anything special compared to the some of the monsters currently in WWE?
Anyways, just wanted to know what you folks thought....
Kain Interview: the first since he's been unmasked!!! Major changes to SummerShow main event!!! All this plus an interview with Kain in the latest Inside The Ropes!!!
I don't know about his style or anything of that ilk, but I guarantee you he would LOOK like the scariest man on earth in WWE. Also, from what I've seen he has developed a very solid mic charisma and promo skills, I guess which comes from being a near-deity in Japan right now.
The only problem is Vince would have to pay him more than anyone on the roster is earning to even talk to him about signing.
I don't know that there's really anyone who *can't* work WWE style, per se, just those that don't want to do so or would be hindered by doing so. (See Ultimo Dragon, for instance, if he were to truly work WWE style, 3/4ths of whats made him so successful would be gone.)
From the interviews I saw (which were all from Tough Man/PRIDE fights) Sapp has the natural charisma and general command of the language necessary to be good on the mic. I haven't seen his wrestling promos, but even if he isn't good, he has all the tools necessary to be good if someone were to work with him.
As for Vince acknowledging his past, I don't know if he'd acknowledge his professional wrestling status in Japan, but I'm sure he'd hype up the PRIDE & Tough Man fights. (I can just hear JR blathering about how Sapp is the only WWE superstar to defeat a Superbowl champion in a fight.)
As for Sapp's look, I think he easily beats any of the current monsters in the WWE. Kane, Nathan Jones (yes, he's still alive) & Brock all have a little too much goofiness to them. Sapp looks like he could rip you limb from limb, eat you and not bother spitting out the bones.
The biggest question would be whether they would book Sapp properly, which should be extremely easy, or if they would completely convolute him in an attempt to bring out some character that he's not.
Again, my lack of knowledge about anything other than American wrestling bites me in the ass. I thought this was about Warren Sapp. And yes, I think Warren would make an impact in the ratings. Bring him in after the Bucs get eliminated from the playoffs and build to an LT-esque showdown with somebody at WrestleMania. If WWE can put on shows that the masses like during this stage (note how I didn't say good shows; if the public likes it, don't change it), they can definitely get some help in the ratings department.
Sometimes I ask myself why I watch WWE after all the crap it's given me. HLA, necro, HHH, and so on. And then it hits me. That one simple phrase that can be modified and used for anything that gets you down, yet makes you keep coming back.
Every episode has the potential to be the best one ever, and I'll be damned if I'm going to miss it after sitting through this shit.
I don't think he'd have that much impact. I don't think he's mainstream enough to get new fans hooked. Sure he looks scary, but so did Nathan Jones. And where did he end up?
Originally posted by InVerseI don't know that there's really anyone who *can't* work WWE style, per se, just those that don't want to do so or would be hindered by doing so.
Yeah, that's exactly what I meant.... would his style and uniqueness be completely ruined by changing to a `WWE style'?
Perhaps the reason Ultimo's moves don't look all that impressive is because no one else on the roster is doing the same thing, so whenever he hooks up with say Jamie Noble, Dragon looks so-so at best.
Kain Interview: the first since he's been unmasked!!! Major changes to SummerShow main event!!! All this plus an interview with Kain in the latest Inside The Ropes!!!
Originally posted by CANADIAN BULLDOGYeah, that's exactly what I meant.... would his style and uniqueness be completely ruined by changing to a `WWE style'?
I haven't seen his pro wrestling style, but watching his PRIDE fights, I'd say he'd do just fine with the WWE style. Unlike someone like Ultimo Dragon who needs to do all the flashy moves and high calibur chain wrestling to look legit in the ring, Sapp could do nothing but punch and kick and still be believable.
Kain Interview: the first since he's been unmasked!!! Major changes to SummerShow main event!!! All this plus an interview with Kain in the latest Inside The Ropes!!!
I don't know how he would adapt to the "WWE Style." Personally, I hope Sapp signs with the WWE one day. The only problem is whether he would be a face or a heel.
If you want to learn more about Sapp, he's on Leno, tonight.
"Oh my God, Brian, there's a message in my Alphabits! It says, 'Oooooo!'" Peter Griffin "Peter, those are Cheerios." Brian
(edited by tomvejada on 11.8.03 1042) "Oh my God, Brian, there's a message in my Alphabits! It says, 'Oooooo!'" Peter Griffin "Peter, those are Cheerios." Brian
Sapp is still under contract to K-1 for a few more fights, and I'm sure that he's making more money in Japan than he would if he signed with the WWE. He is an unknown in America, so he's not gonna' be worth millions to McMahon.
"Sapp could do nothing but punch and kick and still be believable."
kicking would be a drastic change in Sapp's style.
I really don't think he'd make much of an impact in the pro wrestling world right now.
They're trying to expand the Pride/MMA popularity here... and well, Sapp has already agreed... but, they want his opponent to be Mike Tyson... and have the fight in Vegas...
Maybe, after Sapp garners some mainstream media attention there... and perhaps takes down Tyson, then... I think he'd make in impact.
I'm actually watching Bob Sapp on the Tonight Show right now and this man is HUGE! He's definitely got the look and if he can work the shoot-style, he can't be any worse than Ken Shamrock.
Based on the guy's look and background alone, I'd say Vince McMahon can see dollar signs with Sapp/Goldberg or Sapp/Brock.
LS: Can you make me exciting? GD: I don't know. Can you get me back on TV?
Originally posted by gugsAgain, my lack of knowledge about anything other than American wrestling bites me in the ass. I thought this was about Warren Sapp.
I thought the real issue was how long will it take before some wrestler loses it with GM Adamle and breaks his jaw on live TV. Seriously, didn't CRZ call us retards the last time we talked about this?