Al Snow: Overrated or Underrated

[TheOneBigWill]

Okay, so everyone keeps going on about Al Snow this, and Al Snow that.. so why not discuss it in an actual thread dedicated to the matter. (I'm banking on it not going beyond 2 pages, tops )

He's a former European and Tag Team Champion. And he was a former 6 time Hardcore Champion. (If you can truly count the 24/7 thing as legit, since some wrestlers were capable of winning the title 3-4 times in one night, in the same match)

He became most notably famous for becoming good friends with a mannequin head, that apparently only he could hear. His greatest success came in E.C.W., which carried him back to the World Wrestling Federation. (at the time) He became the leader of the self-proclaimed "J.O.B. Squad" which did end up producing Hardcore Holly, for what thats worth.

He also had a nice stint as a Tag Team with Steve Blackman, better known as "Head Cheese."

Now, what some people may not know. He was actually suppose to be crowned the E.C.W. Heavyweight Champion. (thats the old E.C.W., when the Heavyweight Championship meant something more than just a tool for mid-carders)

So, I ask the question. Over, or Under.. Rated? Discuss..

 

[underdog217]

i think al snow has contributed nothing to the sport of wrestling and i have never seen a match of his that has made me feel any emotional attatchment to the match (ie. any khali, henry, snitsky match). i think hes a fine jobber because he knows how to work and was fine doing tough enough but thats the extent of it

 

[TheOneBigWill]

i think al snow has contributed nothing to the sport of wrestling and i have never seen a match of his that has made me feel any emotional attatchment to the match (ie. any khali, henry, snitsky match). i think hes a fine jobber because he knows how to work and was fine doing tough enough but thats the extent of it

Look, I'm not exactly an Al Snow mark.. but how on earth can you compare a guy who actually has talent, to several people who quite possibly can't even spell the word. (Khali, I'm looking at you)

Snow was underrated, simply because a lot of people never got into his gimmick. And several more just couldn't look into the fact that he was just an average down to earth wrestler, without any out-standing moves. (Such as your typical Jeff Hardy mark, who flys off thier couch when he leaps off something high, and they consider it a 'move.')

Why do you feel he hasn't done anything? Because the typical fan jumps on him due to Mick Foley joking about how horrible his matches are? You realize, Foley was joking.. and everyone who jumped on that band-wagon is more or less a moron. Do me a favor, look down and let me know if you're riding it.

 

[X]

i think al snow has contributed nothing to the sport of wrestling and i have never seen a match of his that has made me feel any emotional attatchment to the match (ie. any khali, henry, snitsky match). i think hes a fine jobber because he knows how to work and was fine doing tough enough but thats the extent of it

Obviously you've never seen Al Snow wrestle anywhere but in the WWE. Because if you had, you wouldn't say something so stupid.

Al Snow is a fantastic wrestler. His indy work is freakin ridiculiously good, and if you need proof of that just look up some of the matches he had in his short stint at ECW. (His matches with Sabu are the stuff of legends in some circles they were so good).

Al Snow was very underrated in the sense that he could've been an excellent midcarder for the WWE instead of a running joke. Granted, he got a short push with Foley in 99, but then that was killed after about 2 weeks and Al Snow was sent to tag with Steve Blackman and his career died from there. He has more talent than Carlito does, thats for sure. He could easily take that spot on RAW and be more entertaining.

So I went with underrated. It's hard to call someone like Al Snow overrated when he never excelled past the midcard to begin with.

 

[HBK-aholic]

Underrated definately.

I aren't a huge Al Snow fan, but I'm a fan. And I don't think he gets the respect he deserves as a wrestler. A lot of people seem to base what they think of him in the WWE, but those people are just missing out on what makes Al Snow good. I agree with xfear about his matches with Sabu; they were very good to watch and showcased what talent Al Snow did have.

He isn't the type of wrestler to be really pushed by the WWE, and I think he knew this. His talent was often overshadowed by matches and other events on the cards. But if you look beyond that, at ECW for instance, he had some good matches.

His gimmick with 'head' to a lot of people is what they remember him by. However this isn't something he should be remembered solely for. Personally I enjoyed everything with head, but I can't say the things in WWE like this were the best of him.

As Will said, he has won a lot, and seems to be constantly overlooked. I aren't generally one to look at the amount of titles someone's held to think about how good they are, but with Al Snow I think it's necessary for some people. His tag reign with Blackman wasn't the best but the tag team division was so much in these days, compared to now where I can hardly name 3 good teams. I think them having this title, even for a while shows something.

The Hardcore championship was something I used to love. And I think the 24/7 rule shouldn't matter when determining how many times the person has held the title. We don't look at the length of time for any other title reigns so I don't agree with doing it for the Hardcore. And these maches were ALWAYS entertaining, and when you watched Raw the following week you never knew who would have it due to the 24/7 rule. It really was a good time.

Team this with him having a lot of good matches, and winning other titles, I think it's very safe to say Al Snow is under rated. I don't think it's possible for him to be over rated anyway as he gets very little credit for doing anything.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

All I have to say is this:

AL SNOW WAS THE MAN.


Seriously, Head? The J.O.B. Squad? Classic stuff right there. He goes down as one of the most underutilized forces in WWE history. Just think if they would have pushed Al and Hardcore Holly. Ratings would have been off the charts. In fact, I think that any arena that held a match between the two of them would definitely explode.

Vince, do us all a favor and get Al Snow back. Then, push him and Hardcore Holly to the moon. Then, the IWC will stop whining about Cena because guys that deserve world titles for 3 years will be in position to win them.

 

[evdogg311]

I went for underrated... I remember when ECW was in it's peak in the late 90s. I had never seen anything, just read a few [never bad] things here and there on the internet, so I had to check it out for myself. The first ECW pay per view I saw, was Wrestlepalooza '98. And personally, there was no better way to spend $20. The main event was Al Snow and Shane Douglas. Those two put on a classic battle, and Shane Douglas with [i think] a broken arm, and a broken pallet. And if memory serves, I think Douglas barely walked away with the ECW title. Plus, his theme music was "Breathe" by Prodigy, which was so fitting. He was the master of the moonsault, and the snow plow was so cool at the time. Plus his run on Tough Enough really earned my respect. I'd love to train with him if I ever had the chance.

 

[Derrville]

underrated definitly, the guy was one of the most hard working guys int he business and he also understood how the business worked, He should have at least gotten a intercontenental Title run at least once.

 

[bambam]

Snow is Underrated.

Not so much for what title he has held, or times he has main evented, but for his in ring work as a whole.

This guy is the head trainer for WWE. All of the OVW/FCW guys have to get his ok. Plus, he doesn't mind jobbing to build up younger talent.

I remember one of the best angles was when he threw Mick Foleys book, that was supposed to go to the Rock, in the trash. He was great in that story line. I think for what he does for the business as a whole (working with and giving his knowledge to the younger talent and putting over the new talent) he is Greatly Underrated.

 

[butsecks]

Al Snow is definetly underrated....

I didn't find this out until actually watching him wrestle live in the indie in San francisco,CA of last october. Prior to this i forgot how good Snow was because i haven't seen the man wrestle in ages. But after watching him wrestle at his age, and perform that moonsault at his age i was moved. And it made me realize how underrated dude was. I've came accross some of his work outside of the WWE and boy he's a great worker. his matches in ECW w/ Sabu, Douglas & Benoit were classics. This man does not get the respect that he deserves! hes an amazing all around wrestler who should've atleast main evented once on WWE PPV.

 

[Trance Metaphor]

Al Snow is underrated.

Way before his brief run in ECW, he was in the WWF as Avatar and I may be one of the few people that enjoyed that gimmick. He seriously looked like Hayabusa with that mask on. His matches in ECW were golden and it paved the way for him to redeem himself in the WWF. He wasn't only talented with a unique moveset and a signature (Snow Plow) that was once my favourite, he was also comical and entertaining. Who else can you name that came out to ringside representing and celebrating Europe to his extent while he was European Champion? Who else can you name that has been able to adapt to different stylistic/flamboyant appearances and gimmicks like him in such short notices? Not many. He also has extensive in-ring knowledge and experience, which made him perfect for the Tough Enough trainer role. It's too bad that veterans like him are the ones on the receiving end.

 

[boozinjedi]

Al Snow
Totally Underrated

Despite all the gimmicks they used to try to get him over,His true worth got meaused in what he did on Tough Enough and what he does now behind the scenes as a trainer

 

[klunderbunker]

Have to say underrated. I voted just right but after reading the thread i changed my mind. Factoring in what he did for tough enough and ovw, not counting that he was a very good wrestler in his own right, he never got the push he should've. Not sure if this is accurate or not, but I remember reading that he was booked to win the ecw title and the day before he got called back to wwe. To have all of the god awful gimmicks he's had, he was damn good in the ring. Definately underrated.

 

[X]

Not sure if this is accurate or not, but I remember reading that he was booked to win the ecw title and the day before he got called back to wwe.

Indeed you are correct sir. Vince didn't think it was a good idea for one of his talents to be getting so put over in another promotion. Plus the ECW-WWF partnership was pretty much done at that point.

Al Snow is a legend in his own right IMO. He'll never have that one great feud or program you can talk about, but he's one of those tough veterans whom without we'd have nothing but green-as-hell kids running around in the WWE now.

Plus, I don't get how people could possibly say he's overrated. Considering he isn't "rated" higher then a midcarder in his career, it's hard to say he's overrated.

Watch Al Snow's matches in ECW with Sabu and Shane Douglas among others. Classic stuff.