Gimmick Infringement?

[Stuntz]

I would like to know everyone's opinion on Gimmick infringemnet. We all know it happens, but we usually dont see it on the bigger stages. With TNA and Sting now being accused of stealing a gimmick i thought id get everyones opinion on the matter. Im not talking about taking a character seen from tv and adapting it for wrestling either. Im talking about blatantly taking another mans gimmick and using it to better your career. We all know that Sting has gone crazy Joker on us and I normally wouldnt have an issue, especially since its the most interesting thing ive ever seen on TNA, however an independant wrestler by the name of Krimson sent in a video package late last year to TNA. A few weeks later Crimson debuted inTNA. This version of Crimson I dont know much about but the character traits are different from the independant fellow. We advance to a few weeks ago up till now, and Sting is pulling off the crazy stint and it can be considered original, but he threw the joker face paint on and looks just like the Krimson character from the indies. To me thats just TNA using someone elses vision without permission.

My questions to you is does infringement matter to you int the wrestling world? and why?

Does knowing Sting is stealing a gimmick change the way you feel about him as a person or performer?

To me Gimmick Infringement is a no no and I it has more to do with being original and being yourself or coming up with something you can portray in and out of the ring.

Sting is to big of a legend in my opinion to really affect my opinion on him in this matter but I do think its a shitty thing to do to a guy who makes his living off of that character, because now when he promotes himself hes going to be accused of copying off of Sting.

In closing Sting I love what you have sone for the business but I have to look down on you a little for what you are doing, wether it intentional or not.

 

[Chardee Macdennis]

It's tough to draw a distinct line, but if it's a blatent rip-off of someone else's character, I don't like the idea. Some of these guys go through tons of gimmicks and character's to see if they can finally capitolize on one that will set them apart from the crowd and make them a major draw. If a guy is getting over on the Indy circut and a guy currently floundering in one of the national companies jack's his gimmick to put himself over, that's down right bull shit. Some guys may only have one chance to really make it, but if the oppurtunity is stolen from them, I think that is bogus.

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

From what I've seen of Krimson, he is a rip off somewhere between Vampiro and the 'Immortal' Jeff Hardy. The only similarity I see between him and Sting is their looks being influenced by the Heath Slater Joker. If I was actually to accuse Mr Borden of ripping someone's character off, it would actually be Jim Carrey's Riddler.

As far as complete character rip off, I think the current worst case has to be handed to Jack Swagger. All WWe's PPVs featuring the 'American American' should pay Kurt Angle for gimmick infringement.

I don't mind a degree of theft gimmick wise, Demolition were the WWF answer to the Road Warriors but were great in their own right. Even the much maligned Jeff Jarrett spent a good amount of his career being a rip off Nature Boy. I don't even mind young Mr Swagger; personally I feel he deserves better than his demotion since losing the BGB.

 

[fenfool]

There is nothing new under the sun (phrase ripped off from W. Shakespeare). I think pretty much every character can be traced to an influence, every move used by someone before. E.g. RKO > Stone Cold Stunner > Diamond Cutter. A random indy guy saying Sting ripped him off...that's a bit iffy. Everything is derived from something, but it's really what the person using the gimmick brings to the table that counts. Fake Diesel, Razor Ramon and Kane were all terrible, because they were someone trying to directly play someone else's character. But Adrian Adonis playing a Gorgeous George gimmick worked because it was bringing something very different to the basic gimmick.