Does the Rock need to revamp his character?

[SCP88]

The Rock's character seems weird in an elder statesman kind of role. He reminds me of a dad that everyone thought was cool growing up because he was in his early 20's, but now that he's older and still doing the same things it comes off a little corny and awkward. Obviously he can't go with the same dialogue he had in the attitude era, but he does seem to get more leniency with the edginess than just about everyone else, other than Punk and Cena. I think I'd rather see the Rock as a more straight forward ass kicker now.

[ManureTheBear]

The thing about Rocky is his unique way of being damn intimidating while being hilarious at the same time.

Yes, he has notes on his arm and he does have his many catchphrases, but he's still absolute gold on the stick. Also, he's a real actor, you know.

If the Rock only stuck around longer, he'd be able to help build the next generation much better.

[Da Solo]

This is quite possibly the stupidest argument I've heard on these boards. Why change the Rock's character? He's the one people tune in to see, the one who draws buys, the one who gets the crowd on their feet and he should change his character just because he doesn't drop pipe bombs like Punk.

This goes back to even last Monday. The only reason people give him the edge is because:
Everyone on the internet is jocking him way too hard.
He made shooting cool again, so now everyone who mentions something happening backstage just cut a God promo.
IWC loves indy wrestlers (Punk) and hates the ones who made it (Rock)

Personally I called it as a battle no one could really win, but come on, to call the rock stale when he had the whole crowd chanting something as juvenile as "Cookiepuss" multiple times is just being in denial. Rock only had one character change in his career, and that was from Rocky Maivia to The Rock (Hollywood Rock I just count as an extension of the latter). Why? Because it WORKED. Just because Rock isn't calling out anyone backstage doesn't make him stale, it makes him a character.

[TWJC: The Beginning]

No, this is the iconic Rock. Just like it'd be fucking stupid to change Cena despite all the bitching, Cena is over with his audience. No matter how sick of Rock's 8th grade humor and dick jokes and sticking things up people's asses I am, it's over with Tude era nostalgia fans.

People didn't go see The Dark Knight Rises to see a "revamped" Batman. They came for the Nolan version of Batman.

[Brahma_Bull9]

I'm sorry, but so many people have brainwashed themselves to thinking CM Punk is great on the mic when he is extremely average. He's better in the ring than the Rock but as far as on the mic, it's not even close...

[Brahma_Bull9]

Originally Posted by SCP88

The Rock's character seems weird in an elder statesman kind of role. He reminds me of a dad that everyone thought was cool growing up because he was in his early 20's, but now that he's older and still doing the same things it comes off a little corny and awkward. Obviously he can't go with the same dialogue he had in the attitude era, but he does seem to get more leniency with the edginess than just about everyone else, other than Punk and Cena. I think I'd rather see the Rock as a more straight forward ass kicker now.

This argument is retarded you can apply it to every wrestler...

CM Punk bitches like a 12 year old everytime he gets on the mic or cuts some watered down Jericho type of promo even though he's 34.

Zack Ryder acts like a 16 yr old kid, I don't even know how old he is but it's way older than that.

Stone Cold was rebelling against authority, drinking beer, disrespecting women when he was 35 36.

Hulk Hogan, don't even get me started on that one.

Lil Jimmy and R-Truth?

Daniel Bryan screaming no all the time?

If you rationalize everything like that nothing works and all these gimmicks suck.

[boywithbluehanger]

Originally Posted by Brahma_Bull9

I'm sorry, but so many people have brainwashed themselves to thinking CM Punk is great on the mic when he is extremely average. He's better in the ring than the Rock but as far as on the mic, it's not even close...

I agree. I equate CM Punk's ability on the mic to a comedian who sucks at punchlines. Sure he's comfortable and fluent on the mic but it's rare that anything he says actually stings. His style is almost partially from the new-age Cena book of How to Deliver a Promo. Sure he and Cena have different styles of speaking but one thing they share in common is that annoying method of speaking fast so people don't have time to respond to you. It works slightly better for a face who gets booed a lot (aka Cena) than a heel who is supposed to be booed.

He speaks in a fast manner when ballpark ad-libbing and people think it makes him the best on the mic. And while impressive, it's all a step down from a guy who is fluent with a script and has has good timing/delivery on the mic (aka The Rock). I feel if we're going to be describing anyone who needs a change in character, it should be CM Punk. His current one doesn't help any of the feuds he's in, in my opinion. He doesn't act like even he believes that he's a legitimate threat. He spends more time focused on giving pissed-off tirade-like ranting promos for no real reason than actually developing a character that makes sense.

I don't see a reason why a guy who gets the loudest pops, is already a legend, has revamped his character 3 times before while he was working full-time, should have to even consider revamping his character when the whole intrigue of his comeback is to give him the suitable end to his career that he didn't get when he left the first time! When you become the most relevant success to come from your line of work, the majority doesn't crave to see something new from you. They want to see what worked.