ECW Region, Mex Subregion, Round 1: (7) Roddy Piper vs. (26) James Storm

[klunderbunker]

This is a first round match in the ECW Region, Mexico City Subregion. It is a standard one on one match held under ECW Rules. It will be held at the Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

#7. Roddy Piper

Vs.

#26. Jame Storm

​

Polls will be open for three days following a one day period for discussion. Voting will be based on who you feel is the greater of the two competitors. Post your reasons for why your pick should win below. Remember that this is non-spam and the most votes in the poll win. Any ties will be broken by the amount of posts of support for each candidate, with one vote per poster.

Also remember that this is a non-spam forum. If you post a response without giving a reason for your selection, it will be penalized for spam and deleted.

 

[Tastycles]

I actually think there's an argument to be made for James Storm here, but maybe this match has come 6 months too early. The argument in a nutshell is this - Piper comes from an era where the best heels, no matter how good they were, would ultimately lose to anyone who wasn't a jobber, and he was undoubtedly at his best in this role. Does losing to Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Snuka mean you are going to lose to James Storm? No, but Piper has consistently lost to many people at or around Storm's level - Chavo Classic, Paul Orndorff etc. which could bear relevance. The location is important. In Mexican wrestling, there's generally 3 falls, and that rarely bodes well for wrestlers who rely on sneaky wins. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

On the other hand, Storm is vastly less popular than Piper ever was and has never come close to headlining events even fractions of the size of WrestleMania. I guess this is one where I could be swayed. The obvious result is that Piper's should win, because he's the better wrestler, but when you take a step back it can be seen that a guy who lost as often as he did, often in the process of putting young people on the brink over, then there's an argument for Storm.

 

[shattered dreams]

In a kayfabe match in either of their eras you would think James Storm would be more likely to win. That is why I would lean towards him even though Piper certainly was more popular. Piper gets plenty of credit for being a little ahead of his time in a tough era. However, I think Storm probably doesn't get enough credit as a guy who could have made it in past eras. Piper did a lot in spite of the top guys dominating while Storm has done a lot in spite of pretty much only being in TNA. It is an interesting match that I could possibly be swayed on if I heard the right argument either way but I think I'll be voting Storm since it is about a match and not mic work.

 

[The Brain]

My natural instinct is to go with Piper here. It could be because of both an old school and a WWF bias on my part. To be perfectly honest I don't know much about Storm. I think of him as a tag team guy. I know he's received a strong singles push recently but I think that only began about six months ago. Piper was one of the biggest names in wrestling for about a twenty year period. Maybe if this match comes through again in a few years I'll vote Storm but for now I have to go with the experience of Hot Rod.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Wow.

I really like this match-up here. My heart is with Rowdy. Has been ever since I dug up his old stuff, but I agree with Tasty, Storm's case at the moment is very strong. But Storm's recent break into the top fray is what decides it for me. I see Piper doing a classic dastardly heel finish here, and rolling up Storm.

 

[PsychoBlack]

I have to go with Piper here. I just dont buy into all the James Storm hype, he's good and all but i don't think he will ever reach the same wavelength as Piper did in his prime.

 

[Johnny Scumm]

Bye Storm! Seriously, I love this match-up. The brawler nature of Roddy Piper & this "never say die" nature of Storm are both great ways for your guys to be. Then again, who has Storm beaten recently that would make him seem superior? He just lost to Bobby Roode in a match that had HUGE buildup looking towards a win for Storm, but Piper, even though he's never held a World Title, is a 34-time champion in other areas. It's a shame (I think) to lose Storm at this stage, but it's gotta happen.

JS votes Roddy Piper

 

[thatotherguy]

Piper wins dirty.

So far James Storm hasn't been able to beat Bobby Roode, because Roode keeps playing it dirty. If Storm can't beat Roode when Roode plays it dirty, how in the blue hell is he going to beat Piper at Piper's game?

I like Storm, but he hasn't gotten far enough in his career for me to vote for him here.

 

[NSL]

Tasty makes a very valid argument, that everyone is leaving out, it seems. This would most likely be a 2-out-of-3 falls match, and you can only fight dirty for so long. And who says Storm can't? Did everyone suddenly forget his time in AMW, or the feud with Rhyno? If he can go after Rhyno's alcoholism, he can do wonders with Piper.

Even if both men get a DQ, giving the other a pinfall, the 3rd comes down to simply who's better. Piper has main-evented huge shows (WrestleMania and Strarrcade), while Storm has largely been a tag-team wrestler. It'll be an exciting match, but my vote goes to Piper.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I'm torn on this match really. My heart says to vote for Piper, my mind says to vote for Storm.

Piper was a big star in multiple territories & companies during his day. Storm has only been a force in TNA, and most of that has been as a tag team wrestler. Storm did do somethng that Piper never did in his life, win a World Championship. At the same time, Storm's reign ultimately lasted about a week so it's hard to be impressed. Piper could brawl with the best of them and he had good technical ability while Storm also comes off as a brawler but not as strong technically.

For me, I usually preferred to listen to Roddy Piper talk rather than watching him wrestle. In my eyes, that's where Piper really shined. In terms of mic work, Storm is one of the strongest on the TNA roster and I also tend to enjoy watching him wrestle more than Piper.

I'm not going to bust anyone's chops on who they vote for here as I do think a solid argument can be built for either man. I'm voting for Storm here, even though I expect him to lose. There are going to be soooooo many "he's a legend" arguments in this tourney and Piper's ring ability, to me, never really measured up to his promo skills.

 

[IHW]

Piper.

Storm is still early in his career, as Piper has the experience advantage. Piper knows his way around the ropes, and he is one of the greatest entertainers of all times.

 

[dakikko049]

I'm going with Piper. This guy was a revolutionary heel and is one of the most well known in the history of wrestling. I agree with what others have been saying about how Storm is on his way up but Piper is just so good. I say he wins using some sneaky dastardly tactics.

 

[ShreddedWheat]

I feel like a traitor to my generation, having grown up watching Roddy Piper in the ring, and despite his longevity and success across the board (back then, lacking a championship on one's resume wasn't a glaring deficiency the way it would be in today's hot potato WWE), I like James Storm for the upset. He clearly doesn't have Piper's pedigree, and possibly (hopefully) hasn't reached his prime yet, but based on their move sets and body types, I think this would be a less lopsided affair than some would think. Heck, in a "real life" scenario, I could even see Piper taking the green-by-comparison Storm lightly, underestimating his opponent. And in the end, that would cost the Hot Rod this match. James Storm advances.

 

[ABMorales787]

James Storm. Roddy may have been a big heel, but how different is he in character to a Bully Ray? Hell, did Roddy ever go over a major face? Roddy Piper's career is built around how controversial he was and his Pit. James Storm may be on a smaller company, but that would not change the perspective if his current character were on WCW or WWF face to face with Piper. The results would be the same. Piper would mock him, Storm would Superkick him.

 

[Jaffa]

Piper due to the fact that he was a main guy for a very long time unlike James Storm who has only really been a tag team guy until 6 months ago that hardly makes him a match for Piper at all

 

[Bernkastel]

I'm reeeeaaaaly tempted to vote Storm over Piper because it'll be an easy win for Kane next round.

That being said, I'm leaning towards Piper. Even though the man was never a world champion, he was a capable heel; never as good as someone like Flair mind you, but remarkable none the less. I'm sure if given the opprotunity Piper could easily out smart, out manuver, and out exploit James Storm to a [most likely] controversial victory.

 

[pipebomber]

Piper is in my mind the greatest wrestler of all time never to win a world championship... but thats just it... piper was never the guy for any company... James storm is a former TNA champion has been in the title picture for several months in TNA. Storm has impressed me lately so Im gunna go with the Tennesee cowboy

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

The obvious pick here is Piper, he is one of the greatest legends in WWE history.

BUT, when I think of The Rowdy One, it's his mic work and charisma that springs to mind, not his ring work...as good as it was.

I much prefer seeing Storm in the ring, and if this is in Mexico and its a 2-out-of-3 falls match which is common in that country, I can't see Storm getting tricked into a pinfall twice.

Piper was a great heel, but in the end would always put over the up-and-coming face, and for this reason I could see Storm getting the win.

I have no doubt that Roddy will come out on top, but I think I am going to show my support for Storm here. I think he has a huge future in the business.

 

[The_Sharpshooter]

So since its in Mexico, its automatically a 2/3 falls match? If certain countries have certain rules, shouldn't we be told about this instead of hearing it from a poster using it to his advantage? Anyway....

This is a match I imagine to have no wrestling moves besides a headlock. These two will throw right hooks until their arm fell off. With the brawl pace, I definitely see this being entertaining. 1 Fall or 2/3, I go Roddy. He'll put him to sleep in the 1st fall & use Storm's own bottle against him for the 2nd pinfall. Storm as a face has a lot of energy, but seemed to left his cunning side in the past. Rowdy would manipulate the ref & crowd to his liking, and will outsmart Storm anytime.

 

[Pyro180]

Sorry i cant put more into this but Piper wins.
James Storm is great. But I doubt he will ever be a Legand.
that, and Piper was the bomb

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

Strangely for someone who was seldom defeated clean, Roddy achieved very little title-wise. The Cowboy has consistently had a belt of some nature, so I'll give him my love this time on that basis.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

First off I want to say I think it's really sweet of the organizers of this tournament for including Storm. I believe charity is an important part of the human experience. John Cena is to those Make-A-Wish kids as the tournament organizers are to TNA marks.

There is no comparison between Piper's legacy and Storm's 6 months of not quite singles irrelevancy. Storm's best bet here is hitting Piper with a beer bottle over the head but let's face it Piper would laugh at the cliche and smash Storm in the nose with a coconut.

Storm hasn't accomplished anything in professional wrestling let alone outside of professional wrestling. Piper recently beat cancer. Piper competed against one of the the biggest celebrities of his time. No, not Hogan moron, Mr. T was enormous during the 80's. T's work may be woeful in the ring, but who is a promoter going to put over, the guy who worked with Hogan and T or the guy who has met three Jersey Shore cast members?

Did I mention Piper has done major motion pictures? Was in the greatest fight scene in movie history? Somehow got over in America as a pale brawler who wore a kilt as opposed to a guy who is just trying to be a combination of SCSA and HBK?

But this is in Mexico you say? Yeah, let's have the guy who calls himself a redneck go over. That's good business, Mexicans love rednecks and hate Tanya Roberts.

 

[Whopperle]

I don't think that Storm has reached his prime yet. I consider him to be one of the best tag team wrestlers of all time but his singles career has yet to come. By now Storm doesn't stand a chance against Piper, however in 2 or three years Storm might actually have a chance here.

 

[Uncle Sam]

What Would Beer Do?

I suppose Roddy Piper is similar in a sense to Mick Foley - very successful, very popular, very renowned wrestlers; wrestlers who main evented huge events and fought feuds against some of the greats; wrestlers who didn't necessarily win a whole bunch. Piper's renowned for reasons other than all those famous wins he got. I mean, he even did the job in They Live.

Basically, I've bought into Tasty's argument. James Storm is one of the best things about TNA right now, and I can see him going over Piper here.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

Strangely for someone who was seldom defeated clean, Roddy achieved very little title-wise. The Cowboy has consistently had a belt of some nature, so I'll give him my love this time on that basis.

Wait, what?

Roddy Piper ran through NWA territories before he ever signed with the WWE. He has held several singles belts, the most prominent being the NWA/WCW United States Championship which is now recognised as the WWE United States Championship. Piper had a good two reigns of that belt, and is a multiple time Tag Team Champion. Add his reign as IC Champion which was in the midst of an era where the IC Championship was considered a big honour to hold and I find your comment ignorant to some extent.

Taking nothing away from James Storm, but asides from his small one week reign as TNA World Heavyweight Champion, he has been solely a tag team wrestler. Take Piper when he was at his best as a singles competitor and Storm at his best whether it be as a tag or singles competitor and Piper still beats Storm on his very worst day. He is fuckin' "Hotrod", he'd make Storm quiver.