Holyshit, I was just marking out for Bradshaw. I don't think I've ever done that for him before. What a great gimmick for him. I think the general audience would much rather boo his ass anyway. I never knew that he was a regular on the worst news network around. I knew he was a stock stud, but not a semi-main stream stock stud.
So this new pompus Texan/IRS/I'm better than you gimmick is just working for me on so many different levels at this point. This seems like a Vince McMahon brain child to me and if they play it right he could be a great upper-mid card heel for a good year or two.
I'll echo that. Some friends were visiting last night and we laughed during his promo, wondering f he's going to wrestle in his suit now. Sure enough, he did the beatdown in his suit! I was quite impressed that in the process, not a thread was out of place.
The "Dallas"-esque theme really works with the gimmick, too. I can really dig this incarnation of Bradshaw.
Cavaliers: 31-38. Currently the 8th seed in the playoffs. The East is pathetic. Indians: 0-0 Browns: 0-0
I never thought that I would be anything but bored by Bradshaw, but his JR Ewing ripoff was entertaining me last night. The promo ran a little long, but I dug it overall, and it seemed so natural coming from him. Good move by whoever thought of this direction for him. Maybe for next week, the roduction team could have a glimpse of the vast Layfield estate a la SouthFork in his entrance video; I dug the music, too. The 80's are back, baby!
"Naughty by Nature, Evil by Choice!" Evil Buddha... Wrestling Fan, Bud Man
Yeah this is a really smart move ... the Stone Cold-esque Bradshaw would have never gotten over again. I, too, am hoping he wrestles in the suspenders and tie just like IRS. Maybe he can change the name of the Clothesline from Hell to something like "the Market Crash" of the "The Impact(er)" (after all he did use the word "impact" about 63 times last night).
Man, and here I thought I would be the only one digging Bradshaw's new gimmick. I was amused by his reference to "Prince Machiavella". Sorry, Mr. Layfield, that's Machiavelli, and he wrote a book called _The Prince_, he was not actually a prince himself.
It also gave me a chuckle that he's going the "John 'Cougar' Mellencamp" route with his name--John "Bradshaw" Layfield, eh?
Like many of you, the first thing that he reminded me of last night was JR Ewing, what with the new music and the suit and cowboy-hat look. But when he said "People like me run governments," I was suddenly struck by his resemblance to our current president in that outfit.
Arch-conservative that he is, he couldn't be lampooning W intentionally. Could he?
sergei
"A true champion knows how to deal with adversity."-- Kurt Angle
They should add the stock market opening bells to the beginning of his theme song. Change 'The Clothesline from Hell' to 'The Clothesline from Market floor'
I was always been entertained by Bradshaw and APA, and this heel turn, self made man gimmick works for me. Here's a beer to bringing Mr. Layfield to the main eventer status he can and deserves be.
May all your stock tips be payoffs.
Side note...Ron Simmons I heard has/had an alcohol problem and refused help for treatment. That's reason he was given his walking papers.
(edited by LanceJr on 26.3.04 0931) I'm am LanceJr hear me...I mean see me post
Originally posted by sergeial But when he said "People like me run governments," I was suddenly struck by his resemblance to our current president in that outfit.
Arch-conservative that he is, he couldn't be lampooning W intentionally. Could he?
sergei
I was really wondering about that. I know that Bradshaw is a huge Texas Republican / Bush supporter. I cringed when he announced that he was starting a political radio show, but I thought it was odd that he would indirectly compare himself to Bush when he's trying to heel.
Last night, I kept thinking about Stone Cold's idea that characters work best when they are just slight derivations of the wrestler's true personalities. I was definitely getting that vibe from Bradshaw last night.
My turntables might wobble but they don't fall down.
Originally posted by sergeial But when he said "People like me run governments," I was suddenly struck by his resemblance to our current president in that outfit.
Arch-conservative that he is, he couldn't be lampooning W intentionally. Could he?
sergei
I was really wondering about that. I know that Bradshaw is a huge Texas Republican / Bush supporter. I cringed when he announced that he was starting a political radio show, but I thought it was odd that he would indirectly compare himself to Bush when he's trying to heel.
Last night, I kept thinking about Stone Cold's idea that characters work best when they are just slight derivations of the wrestler's true personalities. I was definitely getting that vibe from Bradshaw last night.
Although really, with that suit and the haircut, I was waiting for him to be told that he'd only have one shot versus Yokozuna to win the title.
All he's missing is the Tex Express...and with his gimmick, I'd bet the bus would look like what Tim Robbins had for a bus in "Bob Roberts"
I mentioned this briefly in another thread, but since this topic has its own legs, I'll reiterate it here and see what you guys think.
Because Bradshaw isn't necessarily the best in-ring worker in the history of the business, and since this new character seems to have some legs, I've thought of one way they could use to really flush it out and make it a classic heel.
I think J.B. Layfield needs a trademark foreign object that he carries to the ring with him. The Funks had the branding iron, Adonis had the perfume spritzer, Honky and Jarret had their guitars, Haystacks had his horseshoe, etc.
Bradshaw needs something that is symbolic of his wealthy, wall-street Texan heel character. It could be stock related, or it could fit with his new Texan wardrobe. An adding machine? A set of steer horns? Something he can use to attck his opponents when the ref isn't looking. Something the 'face' announcer can bemoan everytime he comes to the ring, and the 'heel' announcer can pretend he didn't see. Classic! No?
So sayeth Randy Stilton, the real Stinky Cheese Man!
(I'm told that, in the UK, my name is actually hilarious.)
The obvious choice is a briefcase, but then I tihnk the idea may just be a little too cartoonish to fly. He's a wrestler who happens to play the stock market-why the Hell would he carry a case/adding machine/whatever to the ring with him?
Ooh, how's about a gold Rolex? He could take it off and leave it with MC and Tazz, telling them to look after it or he'll get GM Angle to dock their pay to its value. Then he could just slip it over his knuckles whilst outside and swing away.
Cell Phone has been done, laptop's been done, haliburton's been done (even though if he's playing a Bushie, that would be the most appropos, hyuk hyuk), palm pilot doesn't have that special feel of KILLS BABYFACES DEAD.
And then in the middle of writing this post, it occurred to me...you could always amalgomate the two gimmicks and give him a bullrope with a gold-plated cowbell. They always liked putting him and Hansen in the same sentence anyway.
Besides, having a gold cowbell will fall right in line with the WWE traditionally being 12-24 months behind on any trend or pop culture catchphrase.
I agree the gold Rolex would fit, but how about a simple gold-topped cane. One of those ones with a ball on top instead of a hook-ish thing, like you see rich moneybags cartoon characters prance around with. He could even hold it up and shake it menacingly to scare away young hooligans and whippersnappers.
David Spade teaches us an Important Lesson:
Joe Dirt: So you're gonna tell me that you don't have no black cats, no roman candles, or screaming mimis? Kicking Wing: No. Joe Dirt: Oh come on man. You got no lady fingers, fuzz buttles, snicker bombs, church burners, finger blasters, gut busters, zippity do das, or crap flappers? Kicking Wing: No, I don't. Joe Dirt: Yer gonna stand there, owning a fireworks stand, and tell me you don't have no whistling bungholes, no spleen spliters, whisker biscuits, honkey lighters, hoosker doos, hoosker don'ts, cherry bombs, nipsy daisers, with or without the scooter stick, or one single whistling kitty chaser? Kicking Wing: No... because snakes and sparklers are the only ones I like. Joe Dirt: Well that might be your problem, it's not what you like, it's the consumer.
I'm torn. Bradshaw has always been up there with Billy Gunn in the "Vince keeps shoving him down our throats" department, but I can't help but think that this gimmick has potential. I just hope he changes his in-ring manner to fit the gimmick, or else it'll seem like window dressing.
And Bradshaw vs. Eddie at a PPV? WTF? Shouldn't a guy at least, y'know, GET OVER before he's given a main event on a pay-per-view?
Originally posted by Blanket JacksonCell Phone has been done, laptop's been done, haliburton's been done (even though if he's playing a Bushie, that would be the most appropos, hyuk hyuk), palm pilot doesn't have that special feel of KILLS BABYFACES DEAD.
And then in the middle of writing this post, it occurred to me...you could always amalgomate the two gimmicks and give him a bullrope with a gold-plated cowbell. They always liked putting him and Hansen in the same sentence anyway.
Besides, having a gold cowbell will fall right in line with the WWE traditionally being 12-24 months behind on any trend or pop culture catchphrase.
(edited by Blanket Jackson on 26.3.04 1334)
How about a hardback copy of his financial advice book?
"Also, don't incur the wrath of P.U. It can only lead to trouble." - Torchslasher
Originally posted by Parts UnknownHow about a hardback copy of his financial advice book?
Actually, I can see the brass going for that. He was holding it in his hand when he cut his promo the other night. It fits. And it will get the book on TV more often, increasing awareness of the book among potential consumers, which would no doubt increase sales which would equal merch dollars for WWE and Bradshaw (and Simon and Schuster).
So sayeth Randy Stilton, the real Stinky Cheese Man!
(I'm told that, in the UK, my name is actually hilarious.)