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WRESTLING COLUMNS
The Master of the Mic is Gone
December 5, 2004 by Adam Sprague
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I would like to address something
that seems to be something that is no longer with us
anymore, and that is the so called, "master on the
mic". He was that one superstar that could work a
mic, and work a crowd almost effortlessly and have the
crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. Just
thinking about the loss of this makes me want to cry
on the inside. I can remember superstars such as Bret
Hart, Mick Foley, Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin,
The Rock, and of course Triple H when he was going on
his run that some refer to as the greatest heel run of
all time when he was first really being pushed
throughout the main events. Every week we knew going
in to the week's edition of RAW that we were in for a
treat once we hear "Do you smell what the Rock is
Cookin"" or that glass shatter.
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But now the pacing is slowed down in the WWE, and I
don't mean just inside the ring. However, it does
seem to me that about the same time that the WWE made
a stand to move away from the "attitude" era that we
saw less and less skills on the microphone to the
point where it doesn't even seem important to have the
microphone skill anymore like it was in the past.
Let's take a look at last week's edition of RAW for
instance, Triple H (arguably their best star on the
brand) was talking to Flair and Batista and the
dialogue went something along the lines of, "Can you
believe this crap"" "I've got your back man",
followed by maybe a dramatic stare down and then
Batista saying "Yeah I got your back". This folks is
the backstage mic work being done in RAW's main
storyline right now with Triple H being the focus week
in and week out if and when he's going to drop the
title or Batista's face turn, we would probably expect
the finest mic work to be in these segments to really
push the main events every week on RAW.
Now let's take a look at the ability of the WWE to
promote its Pay Per View's recently. It would be a
lie I think if anyone said the WWE had them on the
edge of their seat to buy a Pay Per View lately.
Hmmm, what's the best way to promote a feud" Oh yeah,
working a great promo on the mic! We have all seen
the sneak attacks, the beat downs and everyone's
gimmick as of late on both the Smackdown! And RAW
brands of "I deserve the title shot more than you now
I am going to turn red in the face, pull my hair out
and scream". Quite frankly, it's getting old. And
how do you mix up feuds" Well, by what the superstars
say, how they get under their skin making the final
collision in the ring a huge explosion of tension that
the crowd can feel. Hey, I can't even tell you why
Edge and Benoit hate each other...cuz' they both want
the title I guess...remember when superstars faced each
other at PPVs because they legitimately hated each
other" Me either...it was a while ago
However, this is all fine and good if the WWE wants to
focus on the wrestling. Focus on the wrestling. But
watching ladies strut around in their undies every
week, is not wrestling. What it makes the WWE look
like is a shell of what it once was by still trying to
promote the sex appeal, I mean there are naked ladies
on the internet, and most people are tuning in for the
wrestling. On another note, if the mic work does stay
the same, why are people who were previously held back
because of their lack of mic ability still not getting
main even shots on their pure wrestling skill" The
closest superstar that I can think of that this is
actually happening for is Chris Benoit. However, if
the shows are going to be more slow paced, technically
skilled why not reward some people that can entertain
a crowd without saying a word such as Billy Kidman,
Rey Mysterio, Rob Van Dam. How long is the WWE going
to sit on Rob Van Dam" This guy can work a match and
bring the crowd into it almost effortlessly. Is he
great on the mic" Sure isn't. Does it matter anymore"
Give the guy the World Title. A fresh face in the
ring, an ability to work with small men, large men,
hardcore and straight up singles matches makes RVD the
most versatile wrester in the locker room, but
somewhere the WWE is still lost with its slow paced
action and old name pushes.
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Sure there are a few
(mostly on the Smackdown! Brand) who are now in fact
getting pushes...but when push comes to shove I would
much rather see a wordless RVD in the ring then a
wordless Schnitzky or even a Benoit whose screaming
week in and week out is getting quite boring any day
of the week. I will however give the WWE some credit
on their recent push of Shelton Benjamin, however the
whole lets get to know who Shelton Benjamin was when
he grew up videos seem to have caused the crowd to
lose interest as there was a noticeable smaller pop
for him when he came out after they rolled it. Dear
WWE, if you're going to go for straight wrestling, do
it. If your going to go for babies dying and
Undertaker coming out of the grave storylines, do it.
But the wishy washy product that the WWE has become by
playing the middle road is not working.
Before you through these young guys in the ring train
them on the mic, make sure they know their gimmick in
and out. And on a side note, do we still need to be
doing tough enough" Is Maven not proof enough that
reality shows should not determine who is being pushed
into the ring" Take some time on their character, give
them a solid gimmick so when that music hits the crowd
is standing up getting ready to boo or cheer hanging
on every word he says, otherwise like I said give the
pure wrestlers their chance, I don't know a soul who
wouldn't want the strap around RVD or Eddie G right
now.
by Adam Sprague ..
Jay D Johnson wrote:
Dude you are soooooo correct on this subject. I recall waiting for the Rock to say something knowing all the words to his saying. Drinking cans of cokes like Stone Cold drinks beer. Really being afraid of Kane and the Undertaker. What happen to that" I recall coming home on Mondays and Thursdays and getting all set up to watch wrestling waiting for the Next hardcore match. What happen to that. What happen to the great angles like angle's gold medals getting stolen and he being frantic about it. That felt real. Or there is some one getting kidnapped by an unknown person and getting saved by a unlikely person. that felt real. Or clans of people good or bad competing with other groups to become the best. That felt real. Nowadays this isn't nothing one group being dominate for a full year. The heavy weight champion only has OK matches on PPV's. That is just ridiculous. And don't even get me started on the ladies of WWE there are only 4 of them that really wrestle the rest are eye candy, EYE CANDY!" If I wanted eye candy I will get the swimsuit addition of SI I don't want candy I WANT WRESTLERS!!!!! Do you remember the girls who at any given time could powerbomb the dudes" Or the have a good match with a STORYLINE"""""" Now just the every now and then a fatal 4 way match for the title. Oh oh this is a good one remember when the weekend shows had the same stuff as the weekly shows like the storylines and stuff instead of being a place for the non pushed wrestlers or the place to give a little push for the new dudes"
In all I just want to thank you for putting this article out for everyone this is a true statement from a true fan.
Ben Chapman wrote:
In respones to the Article "the master of the mic is gone" i must say this is ture. As JR always says there will never be another one like him. The Rock had all the mic skills in the world.
Although i have to suggest the the WWE isn't completely lost for mic skills.
There are still a few who can get a rise out of the crowd week in week out. The likes of Chris Jericho and Eddie Guererro can still get the crowd going. Although Jericho's words have always been cheap shots they are usually thrown against the heels so the crowd responds. He must be doing something right or the highlight reel would have died long ago.
While Eddie says everything with passion and really gets into his mic work. But surely if your talking about mic skills you can't overlook John Cena"
He has the lines, he has the rhymes and the crowds is always into it. Whether cheering at his cheap shots or questioning his controverial material about STD's. He is the next best thing the WWE has to the Rock and should be given the mic at every oppurtunity because somebody out there has to get on the mic and it sure as hell isn't Eugene..
Axel Hawk wrote:
All of you need to shut up with the mic skills, so what, who cares if the guy has mic skills it seems like evrybody is waiting to see who's going to be the next rock, what ever happenes to wrestling, it seems like nobody cares about wrestling anymore, the viewers are more intersted in what the guy is going to say instead of what the guy is going to do in the ring. that's why wrestling is in the shape its in today because nobody cares about wrestling, they just want to see guys run there mouth for an entire hour. so what if the suposed master of the mic is no longer around, that being the consided big moutn poser the rock, who does nothing but talk and give a bunch of dumn catch phrases, i belive that he has found his match in movies, cuz as far as the show goes, the viewers would much rather have him run his mouth off for the entire show than to see him wrestle. If you want to see mic skills watch BET, comedy central and dave chappelle, you'll find plenty of mic skills there. like chris jericho said will you please SHUT THE HEEEELLL UP! and my answer is wrestle!
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