THTRobtaylor
Once & Future Wrestlezone Columnist
This angle seems odd, because they are seemingly desperate to shoehorn Roman into the Austin position... where he and Vince will now have beef going forward when the logical thing is to be playing this to make Roman a heel champion after Mania.
More people will be "boo hoo Roman" than behind him, however "worked shoot" they go. The most laughable part of his promo was when he said "after all these years". He's been there 6 years at best... someone like Cena, Orton, Show, Jericho, even Goldust it would be believable and a KILLER moment to use that line but Roman? no... it just makes him seem the one who is whiny and entitled.
To be fair, he does seem to be doing FAR better than expected in carrying this angle on his own... but I think fundamentally people just DO NOT WANT Roman in that position outside of the WWE board. Even Angle's face betrayed a bit of "who is this jerk demanding shit?" rather than "I hear you..."
As to the lifestyle, at the end of the day you are joining a touring circus if you join WWE. You know that going in... the schedule is x days per year and you have to get from A-B-C back to A and then to D and perform/gym/sleep/have family time AND get to the next shot on time, all in those 7 days.
It's a lifestyle choice to take that on. Where some may have issue with Brock is he chose EARLY in his career to fight that norm, he demanded a bigger money deal than any rookie in history for fewer travel dates and got it because the potential he had meant it was worth it to Vince to offer him that. When he returned he got an even BETTER deal, but by then he was a former UFC World Champion, so of course he could demand a better deal.
At the end of the day Brock may be "entitled" or have been when he started but as with anyone in any walk of life, if you're that good or seen as the future of a business, you can ask for more/better than your peers and get it. It might not be THEIR norm, but it's yours... and why should you (or Brock) feel remotely bad about it? I had a similar situation in a job once, where I was on much more money than the rest of the team AND didn't do as many/had better hours... Did they hate me for it, probably, but ultimately I was worth that when I was hired and had the negotiation skills they didn't.
If Roman's gripe was remotely a shoot, then it'd be the equivalent of "If Brock could get this then and now, and Cena can, why can't I after 4 years headlining Mania?..." and Vince would laugh, along with the fans. It this is remotely real, then he is the next Warrior rather than the next Hogan... there are already signs of it.
Those who get the sweetheart deals are the ones with proven long term drawing ability and who have put themselves out for Vince over the years... someone like Jericho has put over endless talent over the years and does longer runs rather than odd appearances. Part of the reason he'd get the leeway he does is cos he would show up and put over Fandango in his debut, even when logic screams...don't do it... he is a team player who just isn't always there. Someone like Goldberg was worth the part time deal as he was an attraction. Ronda is worth it in terms of mainstream ability, her "full time deal" is in effect more dates than Brock, not every week on RAW/SD but it's likely she WANTED them.
Brock got a deal other's couldn't get in 2002 and he got one when he returned and re-signed... that's not entitled, that's good business... knowing your worth and value, having the balls to walk away from the table if you need to and having a wife who once sued Vince and settled for sexual is also going to help...as that will have given a big insight into how Vince does business. Is Brock a "team player" no... but he NEVER was, even as far back as 2002... he's not changed in any way, if that rankles with people or Roman? Boo hoo... It's no different to how Andre had the run of the place, occasionally someone will but heads like Jericho did...and Brock just smiles... not cos Jericho couldn't take him or "I'd destroy you" but because he knows he is untouchable...and always has been in that company, even from his first match.
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More people will be "boo hoo Roman" than behind him, however "worked shoot" they go. The most laughable part of his promo was when he said "after all these years". He's been there 6 years at best... someone like Cena, Orton, Show, Jericho, even Goldust it would be believable and a KILLER moment to use that line but Roman? no... it just makes him seem the one who is whiny and entitled.
To be fair, he does seem to be doing FAR better than expected in carrying this angle on his own... but I think fundamentally people just DO NOT WANT Roman in that position outside of the WWE board. Even Angle's face betrayed a bit of "who is this jerk demanding shit?" rather than "I hear you..."
As to the lifestyle, at the end of the day you are joining a touring circus if you join WWE. You know that going in... the schedule is x days per year and you have to get from A-B-C back to A and then to D and perform/gym/sleep/have family time AND get to the next shot on time, all in those 7 days.
It's a lifestyle choice to take that on. Where some may have issue with Brock is he chose EARLY in his career to fight that norm, he demanded a bigger money deal than any rookie in history for fewer travel dates and got it because the potential he had meant it was worth it to Vince to offer him that. When he returned he got an even BETTER deal, but by then he was a former UFC World Champion, so of course he could demand a better deal.
At the end of the day Brock may be "entitled" or have been when he started but as with anyone in any walk of life, if you're that good or seen as the future of a business, you can ask for more/better than your peers and get it. It might not be THEIR norm, but it's yours... and why should you (or Brock) feel remotely bad about it? I had a similar situation in a job once, where I was on much more money than the rest of the team AND didn't do as many/had better hours... Did they hate me for it, probably, but ultimately I was worth that when I was hired and had the negotiation skills they didn't.
If Roman's gripe was remotely a shoot, then it'd be the equivalent of "If Brock could get this then and now, and Cena can, why can't I after 4 years headlining Mania?..." and Vince would laugh, along with the fans. It this is remotely real, then he is the next Warrior rather than the next Hogan... there are already signs of it.
Those who get the sweetheart deals are the ones with proven long term drawing ability and who have put themselves out for Vince over the years... someone like Jericho has put over endless talent over the years and does longer runs rather than odd appearances. Part of the reason he'd get the leeway he does is cos he would show up and put over Fandango in his debut, even when logic screams...don't do it... he is a team player who just isn't always there. Someone like Goldberg was worth the part time deal as he was an attraction. Ronda is worth it in terms of mainstream ability, her "full time deal" is in effect more dates than Brock, not every week on RAW/SD but it's likely she WANTED them.
Brock got a deal other's couldn't get in 2002 and he got one when he returned and re-signed... that's not entitled, that's good business... knowing your worth and value, having the balls to walk away from the table if you need to and having a wife who once sued Vince and settled for sexual is also going to help...as that will have given a big insight into how Vince does business. Is Brock a "team player" no... but he NEVER was, even as far back as 2002... he's not changed in any way, if that rankles with people or Roman? Boo hoo... It's no different to how Andre had the run of the place, occasionally someone will but heads like Jericho did...and Brock just smiles... not cos Jericho couldn't take him or "I'd destroy you" but because he knows he is untouchable...and always has been in that company, even from his first match.
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