Does Gimmick Really Effect Your Chances of Success?

[MOExecution]

Last night I was talking to my good friend about Cody Rhodes right after WWE NXT concluded. I don't know about anybody else, but about a month or two ago I was saying that Cody Rhodes needed to go back to FCW, but now I am absolutely loving the guy and his new "Dashing" Gimmick. I can respect just about anybody who changes my mind; Sheamus and Jack Swagger (Not so much Jack Swagger now) has done the same thing, but here is where things get interesting. My friend said he did not like the direction Cody Rhodes was going in... Matter fact he said he had a "filler gimmick" which in his words was a gimmick given to a superstar just to keep him relevant until they find something for that superstar to do. Because my friend believes that if you change your gimmick it should improve your chances of getting that much closer to being the World Champion. He also went on to explain that with the "Dashing" Gimmick Cody Rhodes would never Main Event and said quote on quote, "If he did that in the 80s it would've been acceptable, but now people are expecting much more." He even said that Zack Ryder and Dolph Ziggler had "filler gimmicks".

Now here is my opinion on the situation... Why can't Cody Rhodes Main Event with that "Dashing" Gimmick? What's stopping him? He improving when it comes to talking on the microphone. He is getting better each time he steps into the ring and a month or two ago he was stale and as boring as Ted Dibiase Jr is. I am a sole believer that Gimmick does have a small portion of your success, but not all of it. I just don't understand why somebody needs to be a BIG strong guy like Triple H or John Cena or a demented and scary guy like Randy Orton or Undertaker to be successful in the business. If you sell then that is the only thing that matters and Cody Rhodes is handling this "Dashing" Gimmick very well in my opinion and I believe if he continues to go with this he could POSSIBLY Main Event by Mid - End of 2011.

So now that you know the situation and understand both sides of the stories which side do you agree on? Does gimmick really effect your chances of success in the WWE or Main Eventing? Let me know what you think. And I'm sorry if this thread has been done before.

 

[Remix]

Last night I was talking to my good friend about Cody Rhodes right after WWE NXT concluded. I don't know about anybody else, but about a month or two ago I was saying that Cody Rhodes needed to go back to FCW, but now I am absolutely loving the guy and his new "Dashing" Gimmick. I can respect just about anybody who changes my mind; Sheamus and Jack Swagger (Not so much Jack Swagger now) has done the same thing, but here is where things get interesting. My friend said he did not like the direction Cody Rhodes was going in... Matter fact he said he had a "filler gimmick" which in his words was a gimmick given to a superstar just to keep him relevant until they find something for that superstar to do. Because my friend believes that if you change your gimmick it should improve your chances of getting that much closer to being the World Champion. He also went on to explain that with the "Dashing" Gimmick Cody Rhodes would never Main Event and said quote on quote, "If he did that in the 80s it would've been acceptable, but now people are expecting much more." He even said that Zack Ryder and Dolph Ziggler had "filler gimmicks".

He's right in that gimmicks can and do affect your chances or reaching the top of the card. Could you imagine Drew McIntyre wrestling at Wrestlemania with this gimmick?

[YOUTUBE]40X25mICaIE[/YOUTUBE]

Also, all of Kane's pre-Kane gimmicks weren't going far.

As for "Dashing" Cody Rhodes being a filler gimmick I ton't think it is. Mostly because filler gimmicks don't exist. Filler programmes, sure but gimmicks, not so much. The gimmick in itself will be altered as time passes, but that's character development, not changing gimmicks.

Now here is my opinion on the situation... Why can't Cody Rhodes Main Event with that "Dashing" Gimmick? What's stopping him? He improving when it comes to talking on the microphone. He is getting better each time he steps into the ring and a month or two ago he was stale and as boring as Ted Dibiase Jr is. I am a sole believer that Gimmick does have a small portion of your success, but not all of it. I just don't understand why somebody needs to be a BIG strong guy like Triple H or John Cena or a demented and scary guy like Randy Orton or Undertaker to be successful in the business. If you sell then that is the only thing that matters and Cody Rhodes is handling this "Dashing" Gimmick very well in my opinion and I believe if he continues to go with this he could POSSIBLY Main Event by Mid - End of 2011.

Cody will eventually main event. He's too young and good not to I don't think it'll be soon, but it's going to happen (unless something goes wrong).

[youtube]So now that you know the situation and understand both sides of the stories which side do you agree on? Does gimmick really effect your chances of success in the WWE or Main Eventing? Let me know what you think. And I'm sorry if this thread has been done before.[/QUOTE]

Yes it does. See: Eugene, Festus, Isaac Yankem, "The Real Man's Man" Steven Regal and "Thee" Drew Galloway.

 

[Chill]

I think gimmick does affect a wrestler's chance of success, particularly in WWE. Let me start off by saying, I'm a big fan of Cody Rhodes, always have been, and I'm also a fan of his new 'Dashing' gimmick but I do have my reservations as to whether or not it will take him any further than the mid card, and in that sense and as much as I like the gimmick, I can understand why your friend would describe it as filler.

In fact, just the other day, I read a headline in a wrestling magazine which read, 'Dashing Cody Rhodes: is this the persona which will place Cody Rhodes on the fast track to the top of the WWE? No!' Even the critics recognize this gimmick as something that will ultimately not be taken seriously enough to promote Rhodes to the main event level.

As much as I would like to say it doesn't matter what gimmick a guy like Rhodes has as he will make it to the top based on talent alone, I don't think I can because gimmick matters unfortunately. That's also why people like Dolph Ziggler and John Morrison will probably struggle getting to the top as well because they have those gimmicks that just scream 'midcard', it's certainly not that they're bad gimmcks, but they sadly aren't the type of personna that WWE looks to promote as the top star.

Believe me, I would like to see guys like 'Dashing' Cody Rhodes main event but I fear he will have to be repackaged again before he can be taken seriously enough as a main eventer, time will tell I guess and I would like to be proven wrong.

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

Does the 'Dashing' Cody Rhodes gimmick have mileage? Has anyone heard of 'Ravishing' Rick Rude?

Every wrestler has a gimmick, they just vary on how full on they are and how fans respond. Popular belief is the closer a gimmick is to the wrestlers personality the more over they'll be... SCSA, The Rock, Randy Orton, Kurt Angle, Hulk Hogan, Biker 'taker, Ric Flair - all these guys play(ed) hyper real versions of themselves.

Basically, in this day and age wrestlers are at the mercy of creative and their own personalities - if you don't have a strong personality you'll have to learn to pull off what you're given (Kane, Steven Regal, Sting).

BTW - I'd love to see this version of Drew on a bigger stage, cause this had me in kinks - especially 'The One and Only' playin in the background

 

[CyDeez]

I think gimmicks absolutely effect things. Pushes are based on how a guy's gimmick is getting them over. Without a gimmick, they are basically regular guys. Gimmick gives personality, good or bad, and reason to watch them. Gimmick puts them in story lines.

Gimmick for a lot of guys even determines how they wrestle. Most guys wrestle differently as a Heel, then they do as a Face.

I don't believe Cody's gimmick is a "filler" gimmick, which isn't a true term, really. Because it is improper. But I think he just means Cody is going through the motions and using this gimmick until he, or creative, finds something better for him.

I actually think he can get over in The Main Event with this. It separates him from his brother, father AND ex-partners. It is believable and I personally like his attitude.

Anything can change, that is for sure. Maybe what completely gets him over in the end, is a play off this gimmick, something similar but not exactly as it is now.

Truly with a gimmick, it could just take ONE storyline to get it over!

 

[Jack-Hammer]

A gimmick can be essential to a wrestler becoming a success. Playing a character effectively or drawing upon certain elements of your own personality to create said character can potentially be the difference between being a main eventer and being a curtain jerker.

This past Thursday on Smackdown saw the debut of Alberto Del Rio. I didn't really expect much out of the guy to be honest but I think it's fair to say that the guy wound up impressing a lot of people. He seems very comfortable in playing the arrogant, suave rich guy, he's got a lot of charisma and the guy can also actually wrestle pretty well. If last Thursday wasn't a fluke, then I think it's likely to see big things ahead for him. Would he have made as much of an impact if he'd used essentially the same Luchadore gimmick that Rey Mysterio has? Probably not.

Sure, Del Rio's type of heel has been done by others in the past but the key to being a success is not necessarily the gimmick but how he performs the gimmick. The guy already has a lot of heat, meaning that fans give a damn about seeing the guy one way or the other. It doesn't matter if you were an undefeated amateur wrestler in high school that went on to become a multiple time All American in multiple sports in college. Doesn't matter if you can perform standing double backflips that you incorporate into performing dropkicks. You can have all the athletic ability and credentials in the world, but they don't mean squat if you don't have people interested in seeing you.

 

[Miss Flawless]

DX and SCSA = two of the best gimmicks ever.

I was watching a HBK dvd, and he said that DX was totally not planned, the writers didn't really plan this. They did their promo's on their own without any help from the writers. HBK was acting as...himself. That's how he was back then.

SCSA was again, acting as himself. The I-don't-give-a-cows-shit-about-anything was pure gold, and you know why? Cause, his gimmick, isn't a gimmick.

The best gimmicks are not gimmicks, however, guys like The Rock, actually do have a gimmick, and his gimmick is pure genius. It really depends on your personality.

So, yes and no to your question. It depends on how you look at things.

And now your other question:

Cody Rhodes is doing fine where he is right now, it's a good gimmick and he plays it well. WWE can't randomly put him up in the main event right now, he's still on his push. I think he will wrestle as "Dashing" Cody Rhodes in the main event, though.

The word "gimmick" was used 9 times in my post, including the one I just said in this sentance. Sorry about that.

 

[Nada]

Not really, examples like:

Dusty Rhodes, not only was Dusty a "fattie" his gimmick was also tame in comparison to others, the Common man, the blue collar worker pales in comparison to Barbarians, Soldiers, Murderes etc

And yet Dusty made it work because he is so good at what he does.

Stone Cold's gimmick is basically a redneck (no offense to anyone just describing), with a bald head and a bad attitude. Basically every truck driver in the country (i kid!) and he made it work.

Goldust is a prime example of a gimmick meant not to last, and yet Goldust is a staple WWE character, Dustin made that role work, he was creepy, scary, bizaree and even funny with Booker T.


There is nobody in WWE today who has a gimmick that cant work on some levels, people say Zack Ryders gimmick is holding him back? Really now? He is basically a surfer dude, a sorta HBK from Cali type thing.

Kurt Angle played a american patriot dork/nerd in a era where that just wasent going to work (Attitude) yet he totally ran with it.


If you flip the coin, will good gimmicks always get over? Again no way, look at Glacier, who is basically Sub Zero from MK, a cool entrance and a cool idea, yet he never got over despite having that all going for him.

Of all the horror type characters, only Taker, Kane and Mankind really matered, becuase those guys were talented and made something quite silly work.

 

[Captain Jive]

Gimmicks, in my opinion, play a very important role. Take Undertaker for example, Mean Mark Callous wouldnt have lasted 20 years, but the Deadman gimmick did. Do you think the long haired Hollywood Blonde Stunning Steve Austin wouldve went down as one of the most popular people to ever step foot in a ring? Highly doubtful. Would Isaac Yankem be the current WHC? No.

Gimmicks are vital to someone getting over. Rocky Miavia was a giant turd, but The Rock was at the top of the industry. I think it all depends on what the performer can do with it. Do you think if they shaved Savio Vega's head, gave him some beer and told him to raise hell, he wouldve been a household name? No.

Its not just gimmicks that get people over, its the perfect combination of wrestler and character. That goes with anything though, how would it have came off if Tom Cruise played Ace Ventura? Shitty.

 

[Davi323]

Yes, gimmicks are important. Where would Triple H have been if he was still "Hunter Hearst Helmsley, the Connecticut Blue Blood" and still doing that rich snob schtick? I will tell you where...he would be NOWHERE. He would have spent a short career in the WWF at the midcard level, never rising to main event status...not because Paul Levesque wasn't working his ass off, but because the gimmick sucked ass. Once he joined DX, and dropped that lame ass gimmick, his career took off into the stratosphere.

Nobody would have ever accepted Isaac Yankem or Fake Diesel as a main eventer...but Kane? Absolutely.

Rocky Miavia? He sucked. The fans DESPISED him. Dwayne Johnson becomes the Rock? Golden.

Even at midcard level...Papa Shango? Yeah. How long did he last? Anyone even remember him? How about the Godfather/Goodfather? You remember him though, don't you? Pimpin' aint easy, after all...especially if you are stuck in a horrible voodoo medicine man gimmick.

 

[Marcesto Del Santos Vega]

Dashing cody rhodes is in someways a good wrestler but having a father like his he should be much more of a natural speaker. i think cody can get far I enjoy wrastling down another man making him scream and yelp then leaving his lifeless defensles sweaty body down. i would be all on top of that!


Now cody can throw down in the ring last night he proved he can go toe to toe with a guy of much bigger size and still win. cody is going places while ted diabetes is slowly deteriorating in his fathers ashes hahaahehehe

 

[The Encore]

A Gimmick certainly has a lot to do in terms of where you will be in the future in the wrestling business. As for "Dashing" Cody Rhodes I think it's one of those gimmicks that will allow Cody to get more of an on screen personality and give him that certain taste to the fans. But when the times comes will he be "Dashing" Cody Rhodes... In my opinion NO. He will drop the ''Dashing'' part but he will act the exact same.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Is this a serious fucking question? Of course it does, always has. A shit gimmick, maybe at times workable, but little to no character or gimmick completely fucks someone, and their ability to play a role and connect with the crowd. That is why you hear so many people speak of "being given something to work with" or "thrown a bone" so to speak. Its what pro wrestling is all about. Capturing the essence of a character, and playing it to the max.

 

[ForThePeeps]

I personally think that it is pretty obvious that your gimmick can effect how high on the WWE ladder or how popular you are in the WWE.

The way I see it right now basically if your heel for you to do very well you either have to have this very ruthless/or a person that looks for cheap escapes kind of like Shaemus is doing.

As for faces I think that they usually are popular when they are the ones that usually have the big shift in momentum and are able to take a lot of punishment or what not and still be able to make kick outs.

 

[Poop Master Flex]

A good gimmick always helps and can get a wrestler off to a good start, but its up to the wrestler to ultimately make the gimmick, a lot of good gimmicks never got off the ground because the certain wrestler just didn't have the skill to make it work, just look at how many wrestlers have completely dropped the ball with the American army gimmick like corporal kirshener, and there are also wrestlers like Sgt. Slaughter that took the gimmick and ran with it.

Most gimmicks that are really successful are the ones where the wrestler is a talented guy. Of course not every case is like that (Ultimate Warrior) but more often than not the gimmick will only work if the wrestler makes it work, even in Warriors case it was like that. For example, not anyone could have been the Real American it HAD to be Hulk Hogan probably, no one else in the world could have pulled off that gimmick.

Not only that a talented wrestler can make a bad gimmick good and the most recent example of that is John Cena, his gimmick was originally a Mark E Mark wannabe but look what he did with that gimmick, it was THAT gimmick that gave him a strong following, the US title and his first World Title and Cena wasn't the first person to have that gimmick he was just the one that made it work.

A good gimmick can get the ball rolling quicker, but if the wrestler can't make it work the ball won't roll forever.

 

[mrbrownstone]

Hell yes it does, just think where Taker or Hunter , two of the WWE's biggest stars would be if they hadnt been given the gimmicks they currently use? Do you think Mean Mark Callous and "Connecticut Blue Blood" Hunter Hearst Helmsley would have been multi time world champions and future hall of famers. Well they should be right they have the same ring and mic skills, but that isnt the case as Mean Mark Callous no one gave a shit what he had to say but as Taker people hang off of his every word. So yes a gimmick can make all of the difference in whether or not a person succeeds.

 

[ablestwin]

I feel that, while there are many good points being made in this thread, there is a thought missing. The important thing about gimmicks is that they give an novice or emerging presence an image and identity when, for all intents and purposes, they are just another buff dude in tights to the greater wrestling community.

For a large part of the Raw brand especially, newer faces who have somewhere between a handful and two handfuls of televised matches, gimmick is vital. It gives the audience a reason to watch you, and if done correctly, they already feel they know exactly who you are no matter how little time you've been given.

That said, arrogant Cody Rhodes is perfect because all we've known up until now is he was HHH's toady and Ted DiBiasie's partner. He'll grow from this and do better, I think, but as a jumping off point until he gets a good program with someone who works with him, this is the best way to keep him alive as an entity in the world's mind.

 

[I_Am_Electro_Boy]

A gimmick can make or break a superstar. Look at Cody before he had the dashing gimmick he was appearing on tele maybe every other week at the most, but now with his dashing gimmick he's on tele every week.