Professional wrestling used to be a land of giants and bodybuilders. The taller and more muscular you were, the better. And while it made way for superstars the likes of Andre the Giant, Paul Wight, Scott Steiner and Rick Rude, it also allowed El Gigante, Nathan Jones and even the Ultimate Warrior to achieve some type of success in the sport.
Aside from the sudden surge of Ryback, the muscular mess hasn’t been a hit with WWE fans over the past decade. Chris Masters’ rise to mediocrity is well-documented, as is Rob Terry’s in TNA. It seems after becoming a staple on every promotions roster, the muscle-bound freak is no longer a commodity.
Sorry Big E. Langston. Your pectorals aren’t enough to get you a real spot on RAW.
The same thing can be said for the seven footers. Aside from Wight, is there a giant currently thriving at a major promotion? Great Khali can barely walk. His skill on the microphone sadly, is worse; it’s a miracle the guy has work. Although Abyss, Kane, Undertaker are monsters, they are not in the Khali and Wight height range. If anything these guys all possess what seems like the winning wrestling formula today, impressiveness. Impressive height, weight, ability in the ring and on the microphone. If you’re missing any one of those, it’s harder to be a perennial top-billed star.
Take a big man like Matt Morgan for instance. The guy is solid on the mic and is in amazing shape. But has he had one “five-star match” in his career? Does he have Undertaker and Show’s presence? Will he work and sell like Kane and Abyss? No. In the ’80s and even early ’90s, Morgan could have been a star. Today, fans feel they deserve more. Until Morgan finds out what his “more” is to give, he’ll be a mid-carder.
The same thing goes for Ryback. Yeah, he’s been successful lately, but fans have seen his act before. It’s called Bill Goldberg. But unlike Ryback, Goldberg was much more talented in the ring. He used kicks and submission holds in addition to his bevy of power moves. He also had a ton more stamina. If Goldberg’s career was able to last for a decade, then give Ryback’s current persona five. Fans will ultimately get bored of his no-selling stiff exhibitions of power. Why? Because unlike 25 years ago, fans truly appreciate performers who can work. The age of the muscle bound freak and giant is over.
That doesn’t mean big men and physical specimens can’t be stars in the sport anymore. They just have to try harder. Their “look” may help get them in the door, but it won’t get them through it.
The CM Punks, Daniel Bryans, Dolph Zigglers and even Samoa Joes of the wrestling world now have any opportunity to turn up the volume even higher than before. If they can continue to succeed, the wave of Indy stars getting chances in the WWE will surely continue.
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