RoyalSkull
Dark Match Winner
Hahaha, WOW. Question, if he was a talented wrestler, then would it matter? Or are you just trying to get a rise out of people and not make any sense
Are WWE seriously changing Cesaro into a German?
- Thread starter NotoriousWWE
- Start date
Hahaha, WOW. Question, if he was a talented wrestler, then would it matter? Or are you just trying to get a rise out of people and not make any sense
Canadas Greatest
Dark Match Jobber
No girlfriend, he's just not great. Have you seen any of his matches? Although I do love that finish. The way he clasps the undercarriage before dropping his crotchweight down on their head is very impressive. That's it.
It's not wrestling skill that will keep him from the main event though, it's that hair. It's not main event.
Not disrespectful in the slightest. Many wrestlers are billed from places they are not.
Look at Santino, he's Canadian (from Mississauga,ON) and performs as an Italian. He was also billed as a Russian shoot-fighter in OVW (Boris Alexeiv).
Another example: Val Venis, from Toronto but billed from Vegas to fit his gimmick, Kofi being "Jamaican". I know there is many more...
Look at Santino, he's Canadian (from Mississauga,ON) and performs as an Italian. He was also billed as a Russian shoot-fighter in OVW (Boris Alexeiv).
Another example: Val Venis, from Toronto but billed from Vegas to fit his gimmick, Kofi being "Jamaican". I know there is many more...
berlinbrawler
Lovable Curmudgeon
Sigh. Being German myself I have been waiting for a (decent) German wrestler for a long time. (Well, forever.) I'd be proud to have Cesaro represent my country. Only one tiny problem: HE'S NOT GERMAN. 
I can see the WWE creative team reasoning in their infinite wisdom: "Eh, Switzerland, Germany, what's the difference? We Want a German, they gave us those techno-loving, yodeling, beer drinking mustached dorks in leather pants AND nazis. Plenty we can work with there. Whereas Switzerland is just neutral. Boring."
There is a reason why guys like Sheamus and Wade Barrett are successful. Their characters go deeper than just "Look at me, I'm a foreigner. WHEEEE." It's one of the lamest, most outdated gimmicks there are. And if that foreigner can't even get his own country right, whatever chance he previously had of getting over is doomed.
I can see the WWE creative team reasoning in their infinite wisdom: "Eh, Switzerland, Germany, what's the difference? We Want a German, they gave us those techno-loving, yodeling, beer drinking mustached dorks in leather pants AND nazis. Plenty we can work with there. Whereas Switzerland is just neutral. Boring."
There is a reason why guys like Sheamus and Wade Barrett are successful. Their characters go deeper than just "Look at me, I'm a foreigner. WHEEEE." It's one of the lamest, most outdated gimmicks there are. And if that foreigner can't even get his own country right, whatever chance he previously had of getting over is doomed.
flyinbukta
Dark Match Winner
Could it be a coincidence?
I mean, when there's going to be some mention of the country of origin (Wade, Sheamus, Santino), there's the relevant flag or some other reference in the entrance video.
The German flag isn't overtly shown in the video, it's just the colours. But what if they're just colours?
I mean, at about 32 seconds into that video, there's a clear view of a fan's sign that is the Swiss flag. I know the 'E can be daft sometimes, but they're not daft enough to leave that in if they're making an effort to make Antonio German.
Add into that the fact that his Superstar page still says Switzerland, it just comes off to me as an accident that the three colours are the colours of the German flag.
But, maybe it's just me.
I mean, when there's going to be some mention of the country of origin (Wade, Sheamus, Santino), there's the relevant flag or some other reference in the entrance video.
The German flag isn't overtly shown in the video, it's just the colours. But what if they're just colours?
I mean, at about 32 seconds into that video, there's a clear view of a fan's sign that is the Swiss flag. I know the 'E can be daft sometimes, but they're not daft enough to leave that in if they're making an effort to make Antonio German.
Add into that the fact that his Superstar page still says Switzerland, it just comes off to me as an accident that the three colours are the colours of the German flag.
But, maybe it's just me.
TheNew_ApexPredator
"The Apex Predator of the WWE"
i agree with you!
I dont see how Antonio Cesaro is boring? Brodus Clay is way more boring!
I dont see how Antonio Cesaro is boring? Brodus Clay is way more boring!
Just as long as they don't dress him in Nazi garb, I think I'm open to the explanation they have in store for Cesaro's nationality change. However, they've spent nearly a year exploiting his Swiss heritage, and to change it now doesn't really make any sense. I mean, his finisher is the Neutralizer. Switzerland is pretty much one of the only neutral countries in the world. But they can always change the name of it. That's the easiest part. They have a lot of things they need to wipe out of the head of the WWE audience for this whole change to really work. Good luck to them.
JoeyJoeJoe
Championship Contender
I get that his finisher is the "Neutralizer" and that's a reference to Switzerland being neutral during WWII.
But seriously, how many people in the audience either get that reference or even care?
But seriously, how many people in the audience either get that reference or even care?
Honkey_Kong
Championship Contender
Parts Unknown is a place. Didn't you ever watch the Ultimate Warrior's promo on how Hoak Cogain can get there?
But anyways, when you change a wrestler's point of origin, it's supposed to be subtle so that the fan doesn't notice. They really dropped the ball with Kofi where his home location was part of his gimmick. The same will happen with Cesaro. If they're going to start making him German, they have to lead in to it. First by calling him Germanic and then slowly ease in to it over the next year.
You guys also have to realise that WWE isn't marketing their product for you. They're marketing it for idiot 5 year olds who couldn't find Europe on a globe. It doesn't matter if they change details as a little kid isn't going to know they did.
This really gets my jimmies all riled up!
Why German? Because they're efficient? Look at the Swiss home of some of the best design the world has to offer (ie. swiss design), the intelligence and calculating mindset they are known for.. They invented the swiss army knife! There is such a rich culture out of Switzerland that can go many ways with Cesaro. He can be a creative or innovative in-ring grappler who specializes in brilliant simplicity, like, oh, I don't know.. The swiss flag!?
But German is easier because HURR DURR we rememberz teh nazis!
Even though Germany is about the same in terms of culture, Swiss was original by comparison. A similar instance is Vladimir Kozlov. Or should I say Oleg Prudius. He is from the Ukraine which has just as strong of a culture as any other. They starved and ate each other to live, they are stern and don't take crap from anyone. The name OLEG PRUDIUS is just as or more evil sounding than Vladimir Kozlov. There was no reason to change him to Russian other than, once again:
HURR DERR Remember the commiez!? They're bad! Let's hate this guy because we can't pay attention to himself as a person.
Why German? Because they're efficient? Look at the Swiss home of some of the best design the world has to offer (ie. swiss design), the intelligence and calculating mindset they are known for.. They invented the swiss army knife! There is such a rich culture out of Switzerland that can go many ways with Cesaro. He can be a creative or innovative in-ring grappler who specializes in brilliant simplicity, like, oh, I don't know.. The swiss flag!?
But German is easier because HURR DURR we rememberz teh nazis!
Even though Germany is about the same in terms of culture, Swiss was original by comparison. A similar instance is Vladimir Kozlov. Or should I say Oleg Prudius. He is from the Ukraine which has just as strong of a culture as any other. They starved and ate each other to live, they are stern and don't take crap from anyone. The name OLEG PRUDIUS is just as or more evil sounding than Vladimir Kozlov. There was no reason to change him to Russian other than, once again:
HURR DERR Remember the commiez!? They're bad! Let's hate this guy because we can't pay attention to himself as a person.
I don't really see the problem with it. The Antonio Cesaro you see on WWE television is a character. It is played by a real person, but he is still portraying a character. The real person can be from wherever, but its perfectly okay for the WWE to tweak his character to be from elsewhere.
As others have pointed out, there are many instances of this happening in the past as well. There is nothing really wrong with it as all WWE wrestlers portray a character.
As others have pointed out, there are many instances of this happening in the past as well. There is nothing really wrong with it as all WWE wrestlers portray a character.
justinsayne
Cody Rhodes is an excellant
On Superstars & Main Event this week they announced him from Switzerland, his profile on WWE.com has him from Lucerne, Switzerland. WWE is not changing him to German, somebody over on Youtube, or whoever upload the video to youtube probably just fucked up.
Did you ever think of the different possibilties with them changing this? Maybe trying to do a full European Gimmick? Or maybe German is his way of going face? Or maybe its a color change to his character because honestly the white and red swiss stuff looks more face than heel imo. Has he been billed from germany yet? no. Its sad really that we take something we see on the internet and spin on it before we know the truth...Well you take from it what you will
It's not that I disagree with you. But after seeing Tony Atlas suddenly hail from the jungles of Africa, The Iron Shiek switch from his beloved Iran to Iraq, Rikishi Fatu go from being a wild man from Samoa to cleaning up the streets and "Making a difference" in LA and all of these other left field backstory changes that leave the audience saying "Huh?", I just tend to accept this character tweeks. As odd as they may be.
Mustang Sally
Sells seashells by the seashore
Doesn't sound Swiss, either.
Hard to get too excited over this; I'm still trying to figure the Rougeau Brothers from Canada supposedly moving to Memphis and coming out to the "We're All American Boys" theme.
But someone said it best earlier in this topic: Germans have historically presented as more sinister in old movies and real history during the first half of the 20th century. If WWE thinks this can make Cesaro more jeer-worthy, let 'em go with it. I see nothing disrespectful about it.
I mean, the Swiss are just so damn......neutral. How can we blame them for anything?
You want disrespectful and politically incorrect? Let's take someone like Primo Colon, turn him Jewish, and have Cesaro start up with him. That's what I'm waiting for.
JoeyJoeJoe
Championship Contender
Two words: Kerwin. White.
They totally should've let Chavo Jr. roll with that one!
Brahma_Bull9
Pre-Show Stalwart
wow I'd go get on some meds.... seriously, I have to say with all the hurr durr and teh nazis crap.... one of the more remarkably unintelligent things, I have seen on here and that is saying a lot
And I have nothing against the Swiss, but they do nothing great. It is a country in the Alps making it hard to invade and has always been a tax haven. That's why they can remain neutrality because a country that would mess with them is messing with their own rich citizens as well as those from nearly every other developed and developing nation. I'd say stick to wrestling and leave cultures and other things out if it, but even that is out of your pay grade.
As long as he gets over and improves his career I don't see a problem. Kofi was billed as a Jamaican when he is from Ghana , IN AFRICA. At least Germany and Switzerland share a border and I think German is partly spoken in Switzerland. Germany are in a very healthy position right now. Maybe he can use that to brag about how Germany is becoming a global superpower and may overtake the US. There is something there as long as it can help supplement is talent in the ring there is nothing wrong making him German.
