Seems kind of petty on WWE's part, frankly. The chop is such a staple move in pro wrestling that there are bound to be a couple of guys who slip up in the next few weeks. Also, it's a blow to guys who can't throw realistic punches --- they just lost a fallback move for fake striking.
Seems kind of petty on WWE's part, frankly. The chop is such a staple move in pro wrestling that there are bound to be a couple of guys who slip up in the next few weeks. Also, it's a blow to guys who can't throw realistic punches --- they just lost a fallback move for fake striking.
This being the Internet, the story that sticks is far more interesting than the truth... (C&P'ed from another board, dunno the exact source offhand, but I'm sure someone'll figure it out. The aforementioned podcast can be heard here (hardcoresportsradio.com).)
Originally posted by Dave SchererTHE TRUTH ON WWE BANNING PEOPLE FROM DOING THE RIC FLAIR CHOP by Dave Scherer @ 9:49 AM on 7/6/2010
Arda Ocal sent the following to clear up an internet rumor that has been making the rounds over the past few days. This will clear it up.
On the "Right After Wrestling" program, Arda Ocal and Jimmy Korderas cleared up the news circulating about the WWE banning the knife edge chop. Korderas explained that the move has actually been banned for years, back to when Ric Flair was still with the company. Only Flair and Shawn Michaels were allowed to use a knife edged chop - in fact at many events they would post "no chops!" signs at the gorilla position.
You wanted the best, you got... the Out of Context Quote of the Week.
"...you are not a Meat Loaf mark; you're a member of the Meat Loaf Universe. (CRZ)
Yeah, I've actually gotten used to not seeing guys from the E perform knife-edge chops. It used to be a major staple in Chris Jericho's arsenal before he had to drop it. It honestly hasn't hindered too many of the workers and I'd argue that the knife-edge chop ban actually kills the women's division more than the men.
MD: You have to win, no matter what. SC: Why didn't you try that this year?
I thought that the chops were dramactially decreased in the wake of the Benoits murders/suicide. At least I remember the WWE wrestlers cutting down on them at that point. It seemed to have a similar rule to the crossface where only certain people were allowed to use on certain occasions.
The issue isn't over the knife-edge chops, it's with the "WOOOO!" the fans will make when they see the chops, which WWE doesn't want on TV since Flair's in TNA.
Trish Stratus also had/has permission to use Flair's chops. There was a photo essay on wwe.com leading to her retirement match where they showed texts she and Flair sent each other where she asked Flair if she could use the chops and Flair texted back "Please!" And her knife-edge chops have her licking her hand before the last chop.
In general, this story sounds like a lot of hulabaloo over nothing.
I would like to see a "future endeavored" brief for the departing chops.
I'm kinda glad to see it shelved for now. So long as the Big Show and Khali can still use a chest slap in the corner. It's a move that skirts the line of credibility -- the guy getting hit sees the windup and the swing -- but I will miss the psychology of two guys trading chops before one withers. In a PG WWE, the chop would seem to be the better option over guys trading punches.
Wait, I don't know which side I'm on now. Do I like it as a relic of the old-school wrestling when vertical suplexes were death moves? Do I really approve of them banning the move so no one gives a shout out to Ric Flair?
No. I can't agree with that. Boo to the ban. Boos and woos.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Originally posted by John OrquiolaThe issue isn't over the knife-edge chops, it's with the "WOOOO!" the fans will make when they see the chops, which WWE doesn't want on TV since Flair's in TNA.
That would explain why the ban was put in place while Flair was still with the company.
Originally posted by John OrquiolaThe issue isn't over the knife-edge chops, it's with the "WOOOO!" the fans will make when they see the chops, which WWE doesn't want on TV since Flair's in TNA.
That would explain why the ban was put in place while Flair was still with the company.
So why IS it banned? Is it more dangerous somehow? The connection with "knife"? Are they worried about breaking skin on the chest? I have no idea what the motivation for such a ban might be.
I can't for the life of me imagine that it's the Benoit association. Jesus, if it is, that's got to be the most retarded thing I've ever heard. What are they gonna do next? Ban being from Edmonton? Ban being short? Shawn Michaels the Christian and Triple H the...uh...whatever he is both used the Crippler Crossface on a handful of occasions over the past couple years which is much more associated with Benoit. I don't think of him when I see a chop; I sure thought of him when I saw that.
Now if they're banning the move 'cause it's stupid, I'm all for it. I'd like to see punches follow, or at least see guys cover up (or end that "you punch me, I punch you" shit that makes most people groan at the fakeness and change the channel).
Chops are almost a staple nowadays. Also, there are few people that can throw a good punch and not look fake in that company. I doubt its Benoit association since they have been doing even after the incident. I think it has more to do with Flair and the Wooos. Once again, Vince tries to recreate wrestling history in his own image or at least to mesh with the current product. I am not sure why HBK or HHH use the crossface since they know what the reaction will be to it. Maybe Shawn is exorcising the demon of Benoit by using the move or they both get off on it since its a fuck you to all the Benoit fans who cheered from him at WM XX instead of them, who knows or who cares. Either way, it makes me very uncomfortable when its done considering the circumstances by which Daniel died.
Originally posted by Hogan's My DadNow if they're banning the move 'cause it's stupid, I'm all for it. I'd like to see punches follow, or at least see guys cover up (or end that "you punch me, I punch you" shit that makes most people groan at the fakeness and change the channel).
I don't think punches are the line in the sand for those people. Chops are good moves for wrestling because they make a cool noise. Ban Irish whips?
Originally posted by lotjxMaybe Shawn is exorcising the demon of Benoit by using the move or they both get off on it since its a fuck you to all the Benoit fans who cheered from him at WM XX instead of them, who knows or who cares.
IIRC the story was they thought it was a good move and thought they could help get rid of the weird connotations if someone as over and established as they were started working it in. Not so much.
The "Crippler" Crossface is even more associated with Benoit than the superkick is with HBK, even with the footstomp. It'll take a younger generation of fans to be the majority audience for those connotations to go away. Those connotations are merely incidental, meaningless, morally neutral and inconsequential in any context other than a worked double murder/suicide angle, so they don't really matter in the first place.
It seems like the chops have always been banned as a rule for some reason (that is if you want to trust Jimmy Korderas, i have no data as to his level of trustworthiness) but no one paid any attention to it. Now the WWE are probably just trying to take it more seriously with the most likely reason being the Flair connotations, which are more consequential since he's working for the competition and it's a sore point not only not to have Flair in the ring when you're advertising Ricky Steamboat's DVD even though everyone is wooing the roof off, but also to hear it in every match with more than one chop.
Call me optimistic, but i don't think it will last forever.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroChops are good moves for wrestling because they make a cool noise.
I've always thought chops are used too much offensively, and that such use is antithetical to the idea of protecting your opponent in the ring. As Justin said, they do make a cool noise and that's the selling point; however, there is a way to get the same reaction without excessively harming a person. I recall one story about an indy wrestler here in Minneapolis who developed a serious lesion on his chest because he took so many hard chops.
I believe Flair in an interview said he integrated them into his set after watching Terry Funk, who used them in defensive situations to get opponents (Wahoo McDaniel?) to back away.
I never said it was a good reason, just something that popped into my head. As posted by drjayphd the 'chop ban' has been in place while Flair was still employed by the WWE. So I doubt it's Flair 'disassociation', I also truly doubt it is 'Benoit-disassociation' as Flair and Jericho and Michaels were also used the chop. And mostly with Flair (with the 'Wooo's and all) WWE may have a good reason for it and they just fell like not explaining every single decsion to us.
The Benoit 'disassocation' really only came about because I've been watching old PPV's and am currently in 2004. So alot of that stuff is fresh right now.
You beat me too it. I was going to point out that they also banned all piledrivers and that's why you haven't seen The Undertaker or Kane use the tombstone since. Except for the 500 times that they did.
You beat me too it. I was going to point out that they also banned all piledrivers and that's why you haven't seen The Undertaker or Kane use the tombstone since. Except for the 500 times that they did.
At this point, it's been banned long enough where it could go back to being a devastating finisher instead of the transition move it fell into in the late 90's. At the very least, Lawler should be allowed to use it. And, he should be allowed to play a quality game of hide the chain as well.
It isn't a huge deal in itself, but it is indicative of the whole culture of control in WWE.
-You can't do chops because of Flair. -You cant use the Crossface or choke anyone because of Benoit. -You can't spit on someone if their name is Cena. -You can't use the piledriver because of Austin (even though HE used it on Angle multiple times during their feud). -You can't have long blonde hair because of HHH. -You can't call yourself "Shane" or "Steve". -You can't use a Tombstone unless your name is Undertaker, and only then occasionally. -You can't bleed.
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