Are John L. and Brodus Clay taking away from Jericho?

[punchline]

I didn't want to post this in the Brodus Clay debut thread because my question is looking at it is different, but of course i'll leave that up to the Mods.

So we all know what Brodus Clays debut was. WWE hyped him up in the promos as this unstoppable monster who had snapped, And then John L. (I'm not nearly in the mood to attempt his last name) kept putting off his debut week after week, teasing us with this awesome force that was supposedly about to debut (re-debut). And after all that waiting, we get the Funkasaurus (Stupid gimmick, but i have to admit Clay really sold it and made it fun to watch). Just like Jericho's vignettes had all this amazing hype and cryptic messages, only for him to come out and do nothing just to get under the audiences skin.

To me, this seems like they were just trying to troll the audience for more heat on John L. The problem with that is that's exactly what Jericho did a week before and is still doing.

I get that Trolling the audience for heat works, but if the WWE keeps doing it, it's going to lose it's effect, especially when done so rapidly between two superstars. I know my first thoughts when Brodus came was "Oh great, They just did this with Jericho and now they're gonna milk it to death.."

It's essentially just "Get the audience thinking one way with Vignettes and promos, and then swerve them with the Debut". It works, but shouldn't be done often, especially back-to-back.

So my question is do you think that the WWE taking Jerichos ball and running with it hurts what Jericho was trying to do?

 

[hatehabsforever]

Personally, I don't think that "Big Johnny" or Brodus Clay are taking away from Chris Jericho whatsoever. For one thing, the gimmick that Laurenitis is running has been ongoing for a while now. It would seem off to change him now on the fly. I think he will continue as the heel magnet that he is for the forseeable future. As well, I am of the belief that ultimately, if Jericho ever regains use of his larynx, it is going to play out that Jericho and Laurenitis are somehow associated with each other. Their paths are going to cross, just give things time to develop. So no, I don't think Big Johnny is negatively impacting Chris Jericho.

Regarding Clay, I think his character was reinvented on the fly. WWE has an overabundance of unstoppable monsters. Mark Henry (albeit currently injured). Big Show (if they want him too, simply based upon his impressive size). Now the masked Kane. At the moment, they don't need yet another unstoppable monster, so they reinvented Brodus Clay, at least in the short term. And if they decide to change it, he can quickly drop this current gimmick and go full heel at any time.

No, I don't think either of these guys are detracting from Jericho. I will say one thing though, this Y2J thing better start going somewhere fast. It's one thing to slow build a storyline, but wrestling fans are typically impatient and if something doesn't start to develop and soon, this in and of itself will detract from the impact that Chris Jericho will have.

 

[ITALIAN NYC]

I think Chris Jericho is taking away from Chris Jericho. This return is just lackluster to me. This week he came out and did the same as last week. I know what hes trying to do with the audience, but that doesnt mean that I enjoy it or find it entertaining at all

 

[WJDwjdWJDwjd]

If Big Johnny and Brodus are taking away from Jericho, then why aren't you asking the same about every other person on Raw? Is John Cena/Kane/Zack Ryder taking away from Jericho? Is Punk/Ziggler taking away from Jericho? The fact of the matter is that at the end of the day, Jericho is Jericho. He draws. Brodus got mentioned for like, 30 seconds (if that) on a 2 hour broadcast each week. Jericho got these 2 minute videos and stands and runs around the ring trolling the audience for 10 minutes each time he has been on screen so far. So, to answer your question, no, Brodus and Big Johnny are not taking away from Jericho. Jericho is doing his thing and he has garnered so much hype and intrigue. Much more Brodus Clay ever has. I'm sure the average fan didn't give two shits about Brodus until he actually showed up last night and was most definitely the one of the highlights of the show (at least in my eyes). He has a gimmick that we totally did not expect to see and whether you loved it or not, it was a "wow" moment for all of us. But still, Jericho is Jericho. He will continue to do bigger things REGARDLESS if he speaks or not and will be a huge player in the coming months. This is just the start of Brodus' run.

 

[punchline]

If Big Johnny and Brodus are taking away from Jericho, then why aren't you asking the same about every other person on Raw? Is John Cena/Kane/Zack Ryder taking away from Jericho? Is Punk/Ziggler taking away from Jericho? The fact of the matter is that at the end of the day, Jericho is Jericho. He draws. Brodus got mentioned for like, 30 seconds (if that) on a 2 hour broadcast each week. Jericho got these 2 minute videos and stands and runs around the ring trolling the audience for 10 minutes each time he has been on screen so far. So, to answer your question, no, Brodus and Big Johnny are not taking away from Jericho. Jericho is doing his thing and he has garnered so much hype and intrigue. Much more Brodus Clay ever has. I'm sure the average fan didn't give two shits about Brodus until he actually showed up last night and was most definitely the one of the highlights of the show (at least in my eyes). He has a gimmick that we totally did not expect to see and whether you loved it or not, it was a "wow" moment for all of us. But still, Jericho is Jericho. He will continue to do bigger things REGARDLESS if he speaks or not and will be a huge player in the coming months. This is just the start of Brodus' run.

I don't mean to sound like an ass, but i think you missed the entire point of my post. Cena, Kane, Ziggler, etc, aren't doing the same thing as Jerichos. I'm talking about clay's debut doing essentially the exact same thing as Jericho. Using the vignettes and promos to get the audience thinking one way, and then using a sudden swerve with the debut for instant heat. which again, i think works. just not back-to-back two weeks in a row.

 

[Tyler44]

Punchline, I need to absolutely commemorate you right away. I just read your signature, and I give you props for quoting Box Car Racer.

Anyways, Chris Jericho's returns promos were the most interesting. Brodus Clay was somewhat exciting, but I can only compare his to the likes of Carlito, Sin Cara, etc. I didn't expect much from him.

But to be honest, I enjoy the fact Jericho's 2nd week is being overshadowed by Brodus Clay. Jericho is amazingly over-rated, and I'm glad his 2 weeks of nothing is leading to a "funkasaurus" with a more talk. Jericho has done nothing to provide a discussion other than why he's done nothing. I am already losing interest.

But yes, I hate the return promos idea. It kills the return. I've never liked the idea, and doing 2 at once will hurt it. It's the equivalent of 2 elimination chambers in 1 night.

 

[thebromm]

I really don't think John Laurinaitis or Brodus Clay are detracting from Chris Jericho. Someone already said but I will reiterate that Jericho is detracting from Jericho. In all fairness you can say its WWE creative. Brodus was, I'll admit, at least entertaining. He's like The Cat, The Godfather and Disco Inferno rolled into one. Jericho is flat out boring me. His 'best in the world' crap bored me to death and so far so is this. I wanted to see No Country for Old Men or whatever the hell its called until Jericho said in an interview he was portraying a character based off one on that movie. Nope. Sorry. Never see it now.

I'd like to see Brodus destroy him, just for fun.

 

[Xumer]

I agree with that these last 2 weeks were a HUGE waste of time with Jericho and I also understand OP's point that they are both sort of bait and switch in the fact that Clay was going to be a monster and now he's a joke and Jericho was supposed to be well anything but is actually nothing. But from reading the comments on WZ most people seem to LOVE both of them. I don't like either one and feel a little insulted by both.

One last thing though, I don't know who jericho was referring to in "No Country for Old Men" as basing his character on because none of the characters in the movie were overrated arrogant bores. I'd urge everyone to watch the movie though because it was really good.

 

[RicSpade]

Personally what is bugging me is they don't really have you on either side of the fence on where they are going with Jericho and that is what makes you sort of drawn in as long as its not drawn out, think about it he was excited to come back and then was "too excited for words" only to leave the crowd hanging as a man he was happy to be back on one side, and seriously we got all hyped up for nothing on the other, the next week while Funkie Brodus may have trended #1 on twitter think of what Jericho did really carefully.... Jericho came out and did the same thing, and after an atleast 2-4 ovation he pulled a Hulk Hogan started getting choked up said I'm sorry and left, now does that mean theres more to him coming back and he can't say anything about it yet? or he was actually emotional and couldn't talk? Or is he trying to do ala Cena and get so over he's hated? and that is why the fans will be drawn to watching next week, was Brodus entertaining? yes, Does Johnny play his role too well? not really most of the time I feel like I'm watching Mike Adamle all over again, but the case is everyone has their reason to be watching Raw whether its Funky Brodus, Johnny and Punk, Cena and Kane, Ryders revolution or what way is Jericho going to go from here but I think this goes to show people will wait and see...

 

[NINO990]

@hatehabsforever: I AGREE WITH YOU I THINK THE WHOLE THING WAS TO THROW YOU OFF CASUE WHAT YOU WAS THINKING WAS HE WAS GOING TO BE THIS HEEL MONSTER BUT LIKE YOU SAID THEY ALREADY HAVE MARK HENERY KANE FOR THAT I DONT THINK IT WOULD HAVE WORKED. BESIDES NOT LIKE BRODUS CLAY WAS EVEN OVER WITH THE FANS ANYWAY SINCE HE WAS KINNDA NEW IF IT WAS HHH OR A BIG TIME STAR THAN YEAH THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN STUPID BUT HEY THIS GUY IS NEW GET HIM OVER WITH A OVER THE TOP Gimmick MAKE THE FANS TALK DONT MATTER IF IT GOOD OR BAD AS LONG AS THERE TALKING ABOUT HIM THEN LATTER CHANGE HIM INTO A MONSTER HEEL.. ON THE TOPIC NO I DONT THINK IT HURTS WHAT Jericho IS DOING CAUSE WELL WHAT THE HELL IS JEricho trying to do? i guess someone needs to answer me that before i can say that the brodus clay thing is messing up what jericho is trying to do cause they gave brodus clay a over the top gimmick jericho is just fucking with people and may i add doing a good job of it lol

 

[Cats Pajamas]

I'd say it is waaayyyyy too early to tell...

Entirely from a drunk person's perspective, Brodus Clay has had but one, COUNT THEM ONE! short segment on Raw which every moment after which gets more & more hilarious!

The Road is actually kinda a dangerous time to be debuting isn't it? Don't expect the same super push of big guys get initially.

John L may even get involved in the whole Jericho charade. After all, what good are Jericho's antics if never recognized by authority? That's kinda Jericho's thing, ain't it?

Besides, people are clamoring about CM Punk/John L being Austin/McMahon II, so I'm sure Jericho will be wrapped up in that bullshit sooner rather than later.

Personally, the prospect of Y2J v. CM Punk overshadows the fact that Jericho got his brains punted out by Orton but wont acknowledge it, and CM Punk has plenty of full time contenders to consider.

Consider this: Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk would be awesome!

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

No dude. It's not even close to the same thing. Just because they are both 'returns' or whatever doesn't mean it's taking it away. Jericho is still very over, Brodus is just starting to try to make a name. this doesn't even make sense. It's not like Jericho, Kane, and Undertaker all made their returns, followed by a Rock surprise. Jericho made a return, Brodus is making a debut. Jericho is seen as a big deal, they're trying to make Brodus a big deal. Other than an "unveiling" they really aren't the same at all.

 

[Mustang Sally]

Chris Jericho has attained the type of legendary status in pro wrestling that makes him an island unto himself; nothing being done with anyone else is going to take away from him. If Rock, Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin decided to show up on the night of Jericho's return, people would still be compelled to focus on whatever Chris was doing. There aren't many performers you can say this about, but Chris Jericho is one.

Conversely,a performer like Brodus Clay needs a clear path to make his initial impact. Apparently, the company had to delay his debut for over a month because other things were happening that they felt would detract from introducing the ol' Funkasaurus.

No, nothing took away from Chris Jericho's return......because nothing could have.

 

[Trill Co$by]

If anything, I would say that Jericho and Kane both took away from Brodus Clay. Brodus was hyped to return on Raw as a monster long before Kane was, and then Kane comes out with his mask and as a monster, and that ruined Clay's monster return. Then, Jericho goes on his little "Oh I want to play wrestler again" moment and came back again using vignettes, which took away from Brodus... which, don't get me wrong, I love seeing Jericho in WWE but I wish he'd make up his mind.

So in a way, Brodus takes away from Jericho, but really it's nothing that wasn't taken from him in the first place.