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The W - Pro Wrestling - Gimmick Names
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Juggalo101
Italian








Since: 27.4.04
From: Atlanta

Since last post: 4077 days
Last activity: 4076 days
#1 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.51
What the hell ever happened to gimmick names? Let's take a look at RAW last night:
-Shelton Benjamin
-Garrison Cade
-Rob Conway

Now that is some boooooring ass shit right there. What the hell is that? Where the hell would the Rock be with Dwayne Johnson? Benjamin and Cade have absolutely no gimmicks. During the "Attitude Era" no one used their real name. Maybe Angle and a couple other wrestlers. The writers really need to come up with gimmicks for more people. Regular Ol' Garrison Cade coming out in regular red trunks ain't working for me.
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Joe E. Nitro
Salami








Since: 4.2.04

Since last post: 7074 days
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#2 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.95
You don't get that until you get your push. They don't know where they are going with those guys yet. Enjoy The Hurricane, S.H.I.T., and Matt Hardy Version 1, they are going nowhere right now. A gimmick name is just a gimmick name the company has to push and the wrestler has to seize the push to make the gimmick name work.
Bullitt
Shot in the dark








Since: 11.1.02
From: Houston

Since last post: 2766 days
Last activity: 2766 days
#3 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.27
    Originally posted by Juggalo101
    Regular Ol' Garrison Cade coming out in regular red trunks ain't working for me.


So you'd rather go back to the days of evil clowns, garbage men, and voodoo priests?





Making it Happen Since 1971 (agentzero.blogspot.com)
Y2J 420
Italian
Banned








Since: 2.12.03
From: Illinois

Since last post: 6581 days
Last activity: 6514 days
#4 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.11
For some reason, Garrison Cade looks a hell of a lot like Flair (style wise and from a distance)...

(edited by Y2J 420 on 4.5.04 2058)


"Win if you can, lose if you must, but in the end, always cheat..." - Jesse "the Body" Ventura
Tribal Prophet
Andouille








Since: 9.1.02
From: Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Since last post: 2936 days
Last activity: 2196 days
#5 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.21
    Originally posted by Bullitt
      Originally posted by Juggalo101
      Regular Ol' Garrison Cade coming out in regular red trunks ain't working for me.


    So you'd rather go back to the days of evil clowns, garbage men, and voodoo priests?


You're right, guys like The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase, Ricky The Dragon Steamboat, The Nature Boy Ric Flair. What a bunch of wrestling jokes!

The fact is that the WWE went to real names as a conscience effort to make wrestling look more realistic. Although gimmick names like Razor Ramon, Hulk Hogan, and even stuff like Shawn Michaels worked great, they seem to think that people will "buy" wrestling more if it's more Shelton Benjamin and no more names like Ultimo Dragon. It works sometimes if a guy's got a great name like Brock Lesnar, but does anyone remember when they tried using "Dave Batista"?

I agree that the stupid gimmicks had to go, but that's not what he's talking about. A guy needs a good name to make it in wrestling. If he wasn't born with it, then it's up to the company to give him one.


Tribal Prophet



Bullitt
Shot in the dark








Since: 11.1.02
From: Houston

Since last post: 2766 days
Last activity: 2766 days
#6 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.27
    Originally posted by Tribal Prophet
    I agree that the stupid gimmicks had to go, but that's not what he's talking about.


Well, when he mentions "gimmicks" twice in his post, then, yes, he's talking about gimmicks.





Making it Happen Since 1971 (agentzero.blogspot.com)
BigVitoMark
Lap cheong








Since: 10.8.02
From: Queen's University, Canada

Since last post: 6821 days
Last activity: 6731 days
ICQ:  
#7 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.10
If you've got a guy with a name that sounds good for the wrestler you're presenting, why change it? If you try and gimmick everybody, like the WWF did in the mid 90s, you end up with some real stupid names and gimmicks out there, simply because there is a finite amount of good ideas you can expect from even the most creative writing staff. Some names work, some don't. I doubt you'll ever see a wrestler named Julian or Kelly, but Shelton Benjamin sounds like an athlete's name - and, in Benjamin's case, since they make frequent use of the non-WWE Shelton Benjamin's actual accomplishments, it would sound pretty stupid if they started calling him something else.

As an aside, a guy could get over using the name Garrison Cade. Getting over when you're as bland as white paint is a tad more difficult.



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Omar Padilla
Goetta








Since: 3.1.02

Since last post: 1161 days
Last activity: 1157 days
#8 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.00
If you're talking about names like 'Hitman' or 'Heartbreak Kid' or even 'Rabid Wolverine' then maybe.

But if you're talking about names like 'The Model', 'El Matador' or 'The Dumpster', where the wrestlers have to LIVE the gimmick....then no, bad idea.
Stilton
Frankfurter








Since: 7.2.04
From: Canada

Since last post: 6627 days
Last activity: 6627 days
#9 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.90
    Originally posted by Juggalo101
    Where the hell would the Rock be with Dwayne Johnson?


The Rock was never known as Dwayne Johnson in the WWE. He debuted as Rocky Mavia. The name was tribute to his father Rocky Johnson and his grandfather Peter Mavia.

While I think a good name is a must for any worker who really wants to get over in a big way, I don't think its the name that gets him over. It's charisma and exciting ring work.

You want gimmick names? Welcome to the era of Tyson "The Problem Solver" Tomko, Hirohito, and Mordecai.

And look around.. the gimmick names never really left us. There's plenty still around: The Undertaker, Rikishi, A-Train, The Hurricane, Scotty Too Hotty, Grand Master Sexay (is he still back?), Edge, Booker T (really? that's not his real name?), the list goes on and on.....



"Have you seen my baseball?"
ShotGunShep
Frankfurter








Since: 20.2.03

Since last post: 5981 days
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#10 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.74
Actually the Rock debuted as Flex Kavana :)
Whitebacon
Banger








Since: 12.1.02
From: Fresno, CA

Since last post: 119 days
Last activity: 8 days
ICQ:  
#11 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.41
    Originally posted by ShotGunShep
    Actually the Rock debuted as Flex Kavana :)


When? In the USWA? Some houseshow? I have the 1997 Survivor Series on tape where he debuted as the mystery partner, and I'm pretty sure he debuted as Rocky Maivia, the blue chipper.




(Not Bob Kohm)


In the context of baseball, the use of drugs hurts only the player. In the context of baseball, the use of alcohol hurts only the player. In the context of baseball, womanizing hurts whom? Maybe the wife of the player? In the context of baseball, felonies are crimes against society, not against baseball. In the context of baseball, gambling is the only crime against baseball.

Gambling, in the context of baseball, is a capital offense and Rose has richly earned-- hell, he agreed to-- his death sentence. Let him hang.

Bob Kohm, co-owner of Rotojunkies.com (rotojunkies.com) , and a large market kind of guy.
Freeway
Scrapple








Since: 3.1.02
From: Calgary

Since last post: 3749 days
Last activity: 3436 days
#12 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.45
    Originally posted by Whitebacon
      Originally posted by ShotGunShep
      Actually the Rock debuted as Flex Kavana :)


    When? In the USWA? Some houseshow? I have the 1997 Survivor Series on tape where he debuted as the mystery partner, and I'm pretty sure he debuted as Rocky Maivia, the blue chipper.


Wasn't that the 1996 Survivor Series, or am I mistaken?



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akatora
Weisswurst








Since: 12.4.04
From: Finland

Since last post: 7241 days
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#13 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.00
I agree with Omar Padilla. It's kinda artificial if somebody, for example Garrison Cade, had he's name chanced to something else suddenly without any meaning. If you have come to WWE with the name you go on with the name.. But again, agreeing with Omar Padilla, I gotta say that nicknames like The Game and The Next Big Thing and so on are making the wrestlers somehow more "interesting". Those names cannot be made, they just come out with time.



There are no polarbears in Finland. There aren't that much reindeers than you may think. The temperature isn't always 30 degrees below zero. But we have the Santa Claus, though.
The Thrill
Banger








Since: 16.4.02
From: Green Bay, WI

Since last post: 3633 days
Last activity: 232 days
#14 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.25

Rocky broke into the biz as "Flex Kavana" down in the USWA in Memphis in the mid-90's. He captured tag gold with Bart Sawyer. (courtesy Dwayne Johnson Online)


(Picture courtesy The Wild Samoan)

His WWF debut came at Survivor Series 1996, under the name "Rocky Maivia." You all know the rest.



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MonteCarl
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Since: 21.1.02
From: Saginaw, MI

Since last post: 3254 days
Last activity: 2283 days
#15 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.72
    Originally posted by Stilton
    Booker T (really? that's not his real name?), the list goes on and on.....


Isn't Booker's name really Booker T. Huffman, therefore going by his real first name and middle initial and not a gimmick name? Or is that his "kayfabed" name to explain where his gimmick name came from?

--Monte N
Whitebacon
Banger








Since: 12.1.02
From: Fresno, CA

Since last post: 119 days
Last activity: 8 days
ICQ:  
#16 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.41
Thrill, you're right, I was a year off. He was already in the NOD by '97. But, Stilton was still right. Rocky was never known as Flex Kavana in the WWF, as was originally asserted.


Monte: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/ mugshots/bookertmug1.html

His full name is Booker Tio Huffman.





(Not Bob Kohm)


In the context of baseball, the use of drugs hurts only the player. In the context of baseball, the use of alcohol hurts only the player. In the context of baseball, womanizing hurts whom? Maybe the wife of the player? In the context of baseball, felonies are crimes against society, not against baseball. In the context of baseball, gambling is the only crime against baseball.

Gambling, in the context of baseball, is a capital offense and Rose has richly earned-- hell, he agreed to-- his death sentence. Let him hang.

Bob Kohm, co-owner of Rotojunkies.com (rotojunkies.com) , and a large market kind of guy.
samoflange
Lap cheong








Since: 22.2.04
From: Cambridge, MA

Since last post: 3815 days
Last activity: 3808 days
#17 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.46


Booker robbing Wendy's? Learn something new everyday



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Harry: That's a special feeling.
Curlymessyfringe
Cotto








Since: 17.3.04
From: Bradford, England

Since last post: 6709 days
Last activity: 6666 days
#18 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.15
Well, Jerry "The King" Lawler used to say about The Book's criminal past in every match Book was in, so it's no surprise. (This led to a great moment at Survivor Series 2003, where after doing another Booker/Robber joke, JR said made light of King's S Series team with the Clowns (I think) which made him reprimand JR to just call the match).
Stilton
Frankfurter








Since: 7.2.04
From: Canada

Since last post: 6627 days
Last activity: 6627 days
#19 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.90
    Originally posted by MonteCarl
      Originally posted by Stilton
      Booker T (really? that's not his real name?), the list goes on and on.....


    Isn't Booker's name really Booker T. Huffman, therefore going by his real first name and middle initial and not a gimmick name? Or is that his "kayfabed" name to explain where his gimmick name came from?

    --Monte N


Oh my! Deduct 10 smark points from me for not even bothering to look into it. I just always assumed it was a tribute to Booker T. Washington, but I guess it's more than a tribute. Didn't realize it was his true namesake. Huffman, eh? I doubt there's any realtion to Maven Huffman, though. There isn't, is there? :)



"Have you seen my baseball?"
ScreamingHeadGuy
Frankfurter








Since: 1.2.02
From: Appleton, WI

Since last post: 4192 days
Last activity: 4192 days
#20 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.54
Okay, perhaps Jugalo101 means they need nicknames. I mean, in the past there were Bret "The Hitman" Hart, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, "The British Bulldog" Daveyboy Smith, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, etc. It's not necessarily a gimmick name, but it's a cool nickname to call people.

Recent examples would be "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, "Y2J" Chris Jericho, and "Mr. (whatever)day Night" Rob Van Dam. Any number of appelations may make them seem "cooler" whilst avoiding the "cartoony" feel.



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I've heard JR use "malfunction at the junction" more than twice. I find it odd that he doesn't give credit. Ross is usually on top of things like that. Maybe he is stealing it.
- Heinz Muleman, two Raw thoughts (2002)
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