A Little Can Go A Long Way

[FunKay the Inevitable]

Before I fully get into this, this is my 1000th post, so happy days.

Anyway, since 1998, Mr. McMahon has been one of the most recognisable on screen characters in the WWF/WWE. He's been a mega-heel and a face. He's won two world titles, a royal rumble and had the feud of the Era. He's basically done it all. Anyway, Vince has attempted to have himself written out on more than one occasion. He's done it by introducing GM's, having a set collapse on top of him, getting punted in the skull and even getting killed. All of these things however, ultimately fail and Vince always seems to wind up on our television screens in one form or another. However, since WrestleMania 26, Vince McMahon hasn't been seen that often. He made a few appearances in June and July 2010, before being taken out by Nexus. He showed up in a comedy skit and announced there would be a guest host for WrestleMania. Oh, and he praised the Rock to the high heavens, but that's it.

Now, with the lack of Vince McMahon on TV, an appearance by the Chairman seems all the more important, to me at least. This last year, we haven't seen that much of the “Genetic Jackhammer”, and by writing him off TV for longer, his appearances have felt more impactful. I personally think that's something that's added to the much praised Punk/Cena feud currently taking place. Vince's appearance has added another dimension to this rivalry, one that makes this even more serious than it already is. To me, this is the most useful Vince's character has been in a long time. I hated his feud with DX, thought his ECW title reign was idiotic and don't even get me started on the Hornswoggle McMahon storyline. Vince as a player kept more behind the scenes with occasional appearances works far better these days as it brings a sense of importance to whatever he's involved with.

At least that's my thoughts.

 

[The Future Rises]

First of all congrats on 1,000 posts you're a WZ hall of famer in the making.

Vinny Mac's appearances have been very impactful for the last couple of years now, I noticed that when he came out to adress the Bret Hart rumors a little over a year ago and all the old hardcore fans in the crowd started to do that bow pose, Vinny Mac's a legend and I think all of the fans respect him for making the WWE what it is today.

Now you're right about Vince McMahon playing a huge roll on the Punk/Cena feud that has been very historic to say the least, and I'm almost sure he'll have a roll in their match at Money in the Bank, whether it's a screw job or anything else, expect to see Vinny Mac pull out something this sunday, and I myself can't wait for it.

 

[Mustang Sally]

To me, this is the most useful Vince's character has been in a long time.

You're right, less is better. An example extends back to the days when Linda McMahon made occasional announcements; she rarely made an appearance, but when she did, we knew something big was coming. Now, when Vince shows up, we're listening more closely than when he was a featured character on his own show.

I also believe McMahon realized that making himself a central character was taking away from the people working for him. This is something that TNA still needs to learn as they keep featuring Sting, Hulk Hogan and a bunch of old WWE guys over their young talent. Well, if there's anyone who could have himself featured over everyone else, it's Vince McMahon, yet he's realized the folly of that and made adjustments.

Because of all this, his input in the Punk-Cena program is dynamic. Talk about putting the storyline ahead of himself; we're seeing him lose a war of words to CM Punk.....and who ever would have thought the Boss would choreograph himself as a tongue-tied fool, begging a wrestler to sign a new contract and allowing a third party (John Cena) to come out and speak for him after Punk has shut him up?

There's never been anyone like Vince McMahon...... and his realization that he shouldn't be the star of the show has only enhanced his impact.


***********

Congratulations on your 1000th post, Funkay C. Cobblepot......and don't think we haven't noticed that the initials of your chosen name (FCC) also stand for Federal Communications Commission....and that you're secretly looking to control all areas of communication on this forum.

We're onto you, Mr. Cobblepot.

Ha !

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Now, when Vince shows up, we're listening more closely than when he was a featured character on his own show.

I also believe McMahon realized that making himself a central character was taking away from the people working for him.

There's never been anyone like Vince McMahon...... and his realization that he shouldn't be the star of the show has only enhanced his impact.

As much as I love seeing Vince on TV, I think its probably right that he is takin a backseat to the talent these days, as how many times have we seen whole shows, and sometimes whole PPV's with the main focus on a McMahon family feud. With Shane and Stephane no longer on screen, and Vince's advancing years, he doesnt need to be a regular character.

He has already stated that the match with Bret Hart at WM was the last time he was going to wrestle, and I think he will stick to that. Because of that decision, there is little reason for him to be on TV all the time, as in the past his feuds usually ended up with him in a street fight with the wrestler he was feuding with. Now, as he wont wrestle again, how can he really have a feud with anyone? It wouldn't have as much impact if you knew the wrestler was not going to go one-on-one with Vinny Mac.

I think Vince is an absolute legend. What other boss of a company like his would willingly get bust open, take bumps and get beaten up at his age. Vince has done so much for the business over the years, and his Mr McMahon character is one of the greatest heels the wrestling business has ever seen.

I just bet Vince wishes he had become an onscreen character sooner, as spent many years doing other jobs in the WWF before introducing himself as the heel owner to feud with Austin.

Seeing him rarely know emphasises that something big is going to go down, and always gets the crowd pumped. I hope we keep seeing Vince every now and again for a long time to come

 

[legendkiller1979]

If I may, allow me to tweek the title to your thread. "Less is more". This is true with the product as a whole. So far everybody has agreed that seeing Vince only once in awhile makes it much more special and I completely agree. This could be said for everything else. Remember back in the day when there were only four pay per views and all we had were jobber matches every week? You damn sure looked forward to the pay per views or even Saturday Night's Main Event. Now the WWE can't put together a pay per view that we have not already seen a dozen times. This is why I believe a lot of people complain. We were spoiled and now that something that should have been a treat has become the norm, we want more. There really is no satisfying today's fan because there isn't anything that can be put out there that we haven't already seen.

 

[The Rich]

Congrats on the 1000 posts.

The undeniable fact is Mr. McMahon is one of the most controversial, entertaining and important on-screen characters in WWE histroy. His role as the boss has let him have successful storylines with Stone Cold, The Rock, DX, Undertaker, The WCW/ECW Alliance (the list goes on and on). I always enjoyed seeing Vince as a weekly character on Raw.

But yes, I do agree that with him appearing sparingly on Raw these days, his appearances are much more impactful, his segment last night with CM Punk & John Cena was one of the great segments of 2011, along with The Rocks returns, Edge's retirement and Rock-Cena-Miz in ring confrontation.

 

[S.J. Maximus]

I'm going to start by saying that I too agree that less is more, but that's true with everything. When there were only 4 ppv's, each one meant so much more than they do now with 13 ppv's a year. Every Undertaker appearance now is special because he only comes around near WM season. Vince is no different, he too seems more important as we see him less and less.

My issue, however, is all this talk about McMahon being 'the great boss' who 'allows his employees to bust him up' and 'saved his star power' to give room to other stars!? What in the blue hell are you people talking about!? Vince's dream has always been to be a wrestler, if he had a choice, he would've been feuding with Superstar Billy Graham in the 70's and forcing Bob Backlund to tap out. The 'Mr. McMahon' character was the product of two things: 1. Vince's lifelong dream to be a wrestler 2. Real-life heat for screwing Bret Hart. Without either one of those reasons, he would've never been an onscreen character (other than being the commentator) and although his 0-6 record at WrestleMania would imply that he puts people over, just step back and ask yourself "why would Vince McMahon ever win a singles match against a wrestler?" Wrestlers are some of the best athletes in the world in prime shape, how could a 50-60 year old man who has never had significant training or been in prime shape (before steroids) defeat them in a realistic situation? I know Sports Entertainment is about suspending belief but come on that's even more ridiculous than Hornswoggle defeating Chavo 8 weeks in a row.

I'm not trying to discredit Vince or his many, many accomplishments for this business but please don't act as if he's just this talent-oozing savior who sacrifices for the greater good of the business, because that couldn't be anything further from the truth. He's been killing the business for years now, and now that CM Punk is proving that he can save it Vince may (or may not) have let him go into free agency so that he can make money somewhere else.

 

[therockiswwf]

I'm going to start by saying that I too agree that less is more, but that's true with everything. When there were only 4 ppv's, each one meant so much more than they do now with 13 ppv's a year. Every Undertaker appearance now is special because he only comes around near WM season. Vince is no different, he too seems more important as we see him less and less.

My issue, however, is all this talk about McMahon being 'the great boss' who 'allows his employees to bust him up' and 'saved his star power' to give room to other stars!? What in the blue hell are you people talking about!? Vince's dream has always been to be a wrestler, if he had a choice, he would've been feuding with Superstar Billy Graham in the 70's and forcing Bob Backlund to tap out. The 'Mr. McMahon' character was the product of two things: 1. Vince's lifelong dream to be a wrestler 2. Real-life heat for screwing Bret Hart. Without either one of those reasons, he would've never been an onscreen character (other than being the commentator) and although his 0-6 record at WrestleMania would imply that he puts people over, just step back and ask yourself "why would Vince McMahon ever win a singles match against a wrestler?" Wrestlers are some of the best athletes in the world in prime shape, how could a 50-60 year old man who has never had significant training or been in prime shape (before steroids) defeat them in a realistic situation? I know Sports Entertainment is about suspending belief but come on that's even more ridiculous than Hornswoggle defeating Chavo 8 weeks in a row.

I'm not trying to discredit Vince or his many, many accomplishments for this business but please don't act as if he's just this talent-oozing savior who sacrifices for the greater good of the business, because that couldn't be anything further from the truth. He's been killing the business for years now, and now that CM Punk is proving that he can save it Vince may (or may not) have let him go into free agency so that he can make money somewhere else.

Every wrestler's (or anyone that wants to be one) dream would be to beat (or be) the top guy, so who cares if Vince wanted to do that stuff? I don't get how that makes him a bad guy. When Vince wrestles, he does exactly what he is supposed to, get the living hell beat out of him. Not only does that put over whoever his opponent is, but is also awesome (what other boss lets his employees beat the shit out of him/her?). When WM got over 1 million buys this year and the company is still making a huge profit, I would say Vince is doing a good job. CM Punk can't save the WWE because the WWE doesn't need to be saved. Remember there is a difference between what you like and what the masses like. Vince appearing always adds a certain feeling (except for the few really bad storylines he has been in), like it just makes the show more special. With him appearing less, just makes his stuff more special.


PS - Hogan vs Vince at WM 19 and Vince vs Hart at WM 26, Vince could of realistically won those.

 

[H33LTurn]

I have to agree and disagree at the same time. His recent rare appearances have been more impactful, but its all had to do with the storyline hes involved in. Over the past years what have we seen him do? Reunite HBK and Bret Hart, feud with Bret Hart, and finally the Cena/Punk thing. Those situations have all been high caliber moments and therefore I dont think its a matter of Vince's appearances being spaced out. I remember before he decided to write himself off of TV his appearances were still impactful.

 

[Dude_Love87]

I actually mentioned this in another post earlier. Vince is becoming a legend in the fans eyes, as the above poster said. It's going to be hard to give him that heel role that they are trying to do, kind of live Austin vs Vince M. except i'ts Vince vs CM Punk. Gonna be hard to make that work in the long run. Hopefully, the monday after MITB, they will end the contract story-line and let Vince get out of the picture for awhile, till around wrestlemania.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I'm kind of mixed in some ways.

The Mr. McMahon character was extremely successful. Let's be honest, it'll go down as one of the greatest heel personas of all time and it should. However, I have to admit that I've gotten burned out on the character to some degree. We've seen him so many times and in so many huge storylines over the years that I think a little burnout is to be expected.

However, for the past few years, Vince's appearances on television have been few and far between and I think that's the best way of doing it. Even though some people didn't care much for his feud with Bret Hart for the first several months of 2010, I thought it had a big, important feel to it. His appearances during the current situation with CM Punk has generated some definite must see WWE tv in my opinion. The've toned down the "Mr. McMahon" character a lot the past few years and I think that's the best way to do things. Over the past few years, they've sort of blurred the lines between kayfabe & reality with "Mr. McMahon" and they've done away with portraying him as some sort of badass that can hang with anyone. Vince is in his mid-60s and I'm glad they moved from that direction.

If they wanna have Vince pop up every so often, that's great. It can make a storyline feel more important but it really helps the most if the storyline is great with or without his presence.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

If I may, allow me to tweek the title to your thread. "Less is more". This is true with the product as a whole. So far everybody has agreed that seeing Vince only once in awhile makes it much more special and I completely agree. This could be said for everything else. Remember back in the day when there were only four pay per views and all we had were jobber matches every week? You damn sure looked forward to the pay per views or even Saturday Night's Main Event. Now the WWE can't put together a pay per view that we have not already seen a dozen times. This is why I believe a lot of people complain. We were spoiled and now that something that should have been a treat has become the norm, we want more. There really is no satisfying today's fan because there isn't anything that can be put out there that we haven't already seen.

I agree with you regarding the fact that the fans have been spoiled over the years, leaving little to put out there that we havent seen before.

In the past, a 1st time match between two main event level wrestlers would have been saved for a PPV in the future, but now we expect to see good quality matches on weekly TV, so by the time those 2 wrestlers come to feud over a major storyline, we will already have seen them lock up many times before-hand.

I do hope, however, that you werent suggesting going back to the days of squash match after squash match on TV, as I can't see that working in the modern day. Fans want to be entertained, with good back-and-forth exciting matches. Cena squashing a jobber week after week, Sheamus winning in 30 seconds each SD and knowing the winner before every match would not get over in todays WWE. It would just bore the fans.