Personally, I feel that monster-heel Brodus Clay is the BEST Brodus Clay available. He's got a unique look and giving him this funky gimmick is rather dated. But the crowd seems to love him. WWE really dropped the ball with this by teasing and then not giving it enough time to grow.
**MERGED** Brodus Clay Discussion- KEEP IT ALL IN HERE!
- Thread starter jtolliver23
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Paralyzer Z
Fuck honor
Like seen many time prior to this, most of these reasons for "Brodus Clay's failure" is simply your preferences not anyone else's .
Regardless if he has been underexposed on TV for the past 2 or so weeks, he has been a major success so far in my opinion. People claim that "he should be a monster heel". The point of his Funkausarus gimmick is to make Brodus stand out instead of being a monster heel. The monster heel gimmick in itself is an established cliche of of wrestling, there is always one around so at this point in time wee don't an overabundance of them. I also noticed (albeit it was hard not to) that Clay is very over with the crowd which is something that can't even be said about the likes of Alberto Del Rio (Raw run).
The only flaw of his character I can see right now is that it can't last too long if he wants to move up in the card. Clay is going to have to job at one point or another which for some strange reason contradicts one of the main bases of his persona right now. One of the main staples of the Funkausarus at the moment is that he never looses (it'd be interesting to see his reaction to a loss). That however is a bridge that WWE will most likely cross when they come to it. Regardless of that, Clay has had a much more striking and relevant early runs than most WWE superstars. The point is right know that he gets a response from the audience and in the early stages that is all that matters.
Regardless if he has been underexposed on TV for the past 2 or so weeks, he has been a major success so far in my opinion. People claim that "he should be a monster heel". The point of his Funkausarus gimmick is to make Brodus stand out instead of being a monster heel. The monster heel gimmick in itself is an established cliche of of wrestling, there is always one around so at this point in time wee don't an overabundance of them. I also noticed (albeit it was hard not to) that Clay is very over with the crowd which is something that can't even be said about the likes of Alberto Del Rio (Raw run).
The only flaw of his character I can see right now is that it can't last too long if he wants to move up in the card. Clay is going to have to job at one point or another which for some strange reason contradicts one of the main bases of his persona right now. One of the main staples of the Funkausarus at the moment is that he never looses (it'd be interesting to see his reaction to a loss). That however is a bridge that WWE will most likely cross when they come to it. Regardless of that, Clay has had a much more striking and relevant early runs than most WWE superstars. The point is right know that he gets a response from the audience and in the early stages that is all that matters.
greginator5000
Dark Match Jobber
I think Brodus Clay has not failed. Though he is making a C-. But WWE needs to get his big booty in the ring soon or he will get a big F on his report Card.
Standing out isent always a good thing, a wrestler can easily stand out if they do something totally stupid. Like Natalia farting around, Brodus jiggle dancing etc.
You want to stand out, but you want the reason you are standing out to have long legs and not be a flash in the pan. I bet if the least charismatic, worst wrestler (Lets say Otunga) came down to the ring and took a crap, he would be the talk of the wrestling world. He would "stand out" but that has no longevity, its just a stupid "hey LOOK AT THIS GUY!!"
Its why Vince Russo was exposed as a fraud, just doing things out of left field for no reason. All Brodus is, is a fat guy dancing and the crowd has shown less and less interest at live events.
Its "different is good" type of talking that has landed the wrestling bussiness where it is now to begin with, hotshotting titles, putting them on people who had no bussiness wearing them, people retiring who then came back has all done major damage.
Dave Meltzer once said that a insider at WWE basically said "we have let the cat out of the bag...how do we put it back in?". Brodus Clay is just another Vince Russo type freakshow.
I still stand by what i said, the guy himself has done aswell as anyone could with it, they wanted to humiliate him because it gives Vince the jollies, if they were forced to stop making fun of Bryan and him being a geek, humiliating JR, then damnit lets make fun of that fatty over there. For a company so against bullying they seem to be excell at doing just that (and that is the only thing they excell at)
No, he isn't. He's getting a good reaction from the crowd as the Funkasaurus, and that's all the WWE cares about.
Who cares, as long as 1)people don't remember the Cat dancing to that tune, and 2) people are entertained?
But you won't be satisfied and say that that shit ain't original... and then I point to Ric Fair ripping off Buddy Rogers by taking on the Nature Boy moniker.
And then what?
But you won't be satisfied and say that that shit ain't original... and then I point to Ric Fair ripping off Buddy Rogers by taking on the Nature Boy moniker.
And then what?
He's a big man with a gimmick that screams 'HIT ME, I'M HOT', or something of the sort. Of course his matches are going to get themselves on the card, unless of course it happens to be Wrestlemania season and there's a lot of angles floating around demanding the bookers' attention. And guess what? It's nearing Wrestlemania and many high-profile angles demand the full attention of the creative team.
As for him not entertaining, well, he is. That's all I have to say. Oh, and the crowds. The crowds love it. Enough.
As for him not entertaining, well, he is. That's all I have to say. Oh, and the crowds. The crowds love it. Enough.
I'm going to bet that if Brodus re-debuted as a monster heel you're going to watch it even if the rest of the audience gets bored by yet another monster heel smashing face. After all, it's predictable and it's a wrestling match. 
O.K. let me reword. Im not saying BRODUS has failed first of all, he has done everything he can do with what the WWE creative team is doing. Secondly, its not his gimmick that im mad about(i was backing it up when he came out) its how thee WWE is doing it. They pushed his debut of so far just to have him randomly debut on a RAW and now he isnt on TV again. What steam is there with Brodus Clay now? Thats the only reason I think he should return and say that the funky thing was a joke. I dont know but I do know that he now hasnt been on 3 straight tv shows AND after just reading the SMACKDOWN spoilers.. he wont be on Smackdown this friday either...
WHERE IS BRODUS? 
This would make sense if Brodus Clay's current gimmick really is terrible, something that deserves comparison with Natalya turning into a fart joke.
Now I'm not going to say his gimmick is the greatest or even original (we all know its origin already), but humiliating? He isn't literally crapping on a random jobber for all I know, he's throwing suplex after suplex at them while dropping a catchphrase or two and jiggling his fat after matches - what's so demeaning or humiliating or terrible about that? I genuinely want to know: I might be mistaken here, me with my predilection towards comedy jobbers.
Now I'm not going to say his gimmick is the greatest or even original (we all know its origin already), but humiliating? He isn't literally crapping on a random jobber for all I know, he's throwing suplex after suplex at them while dropping a catchphrase or two and jiggling his fat after matches - what's so demeaning or humiliating or terrible about that? I genuinely want to know: I might be mistaken here, me with my predilection towards comedy jobbers.
I love te Funkasaurus! His character is funny and loveable, and the dancing and theme song and al that stuff is awesome but I agree with you that he should've bin in the Rumble match, and there out maybe start a low-card (that's wat he is) feud. But that at the same time is why we don't see him on tv very often lately. It is Wrestlemania season, so now more than te rest of the year, the focus is on the main stories, and not about these characters.
I like your idea as far as having him something to do, but what you want him to do is not what he needs. His character is perfectly fine. Because let's be honest, do you really want ANOTHER big monster heel? While you have Mark Henry AND Kane already?
I like your idea as far as having him something to do, but what you want him to do is not what he needs. His character is perfectly fine. Because let's be honest, do you really want ANOTHER big monster heel? While you have Mark Henry AND Kane already?
Serious Mozzarella
Special Victims Unit
"Hurr durr it was all just a joke," is probably the worst thing they could do with the character. It's a pretty blatant ret-con. He's not Jericho. If there's anything ret-conning his character would do for him, it would kill off any steam he's gotten since the announcement of his debut.
jrichardson25
Pre-Show Stalwart
Failure is a bit harsh to be honest. I feel like they simply dropped the ball. He needed to be the wall of meat for someone for sometime (aka Del Rio). He needed the experience and to be pushed properly. That was the one thing about The Funkasaurus that was done wrong. This character should have been an evolution after he could prove that he could beat the living hell out of anyone in the ring. He could have turned and said that he was a fan of funk music and then this gimmick begins... I feel like that holding him off in his debut (read: return) was the worst idea that WWE Creative has pulled out of the woodwork in a long time. Those three or four weeks could have been crucial in his development...
Just a thought...
Just a thought...
Kevolution
(former) Mod with the bod of a God
The issue with Clay is that if he was brought it in as a monster it wouldnt be logical right now, this is because he would have to tear through the card right? And afte he was teared through it with a monster gimick without it losing momentem and interest he would have to be pushed up the card. However at the moment a major story is Kane and any monster on raw is going to negative for both stars and the show overal. And on Smackdown there is Henry and Show where there isn't a place for him either as a monster heel. This was a good gimick to place him in the mid card and less interest on him moving up to a level he finds competition but a fun gimick people just enjoy and can squash the lower card/jobbers being entertaining because as a monster heel or face it wouldnt have been half as interesting without his gimick. This was a great way to bring him in, besides he could have a good 20 years left in wrestling, plenty of time to find whats best for the guy. Wrestlemania time is meaning less time and he has ran out of jobbers to beat withouit stepping it up, but Wrestlemania has the monsters, 4 in fact and maybe Shaq if you count him so makes sence to keep him low key at the moment in the dark matches where he can face the same guys again without it geting boring for the viewers (unless they go to every wwe event which i doubt) and after Mania i think Clay will step it up and move further up the card.
http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/249719-brodus-clay-put-on-hold-miz-on-cartoon-network
^^^^THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT.... ARE YOU KIDDING ME? HIS IN-RING WORK IS BAD????? HE GETS TWO MINUTES A MATCH HOW CAN YOU TELL. THIS IS WHAT I MEAN BY THE FAILURE OF BRODUS CLAY. WWE IS FAILING WITH HIM!
^^^^THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT.... ARE YOU KIDDING ME? HIS IN-RING WORK IS BAD????? HE GETS TWO MINUTES A MATCH HOW CAN YOU TELL. THIS IS WHAT I MEAN BY THE FAILURE OF BRODUS CLAY. WWE IS FAILING WITH HIM!
Kevolution
(former) Mod with the bod of a God
But that's not the only matches he has and the only progress the appropiate people backstage sees.... Maybe thats why he has been kept to squashes using just three moves on TV, at first it was fine but now its been done a lot they need him to step it up to the next level
MrMojoRisin
Championship Contender
http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/249719-brodus-clay-put-on-hold-miz-on-cartoon-network
^^^^THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT.... ARE YOU KIDDING ME? HIS IN-RING WORK IS BAD????? HE GETS TWO MINUTES A MATCH HOW CAN YOU TELL. THIS IS WHAT I MEAN BY THE FAILURE OF BRODUS CLAY. WWE IS FAILING WITH HIM!
Yeah I don't buy that for a second.
From what I've seen of him, his ring work has been exactly what it should be for his character. If he does need to improve his ring work, that can easily be done behind the scenes while keeping him on tv in short squashes like they'd been doing... or by pairing him up with a stronger worker that can cover for him. They'd started something with him and Regal... and Regal would be the perfect guy to put a green rookie like Clay over in the ring.
I'm sticking with my original theory. He pissed someone off, was given the Funkasaurus gimmick as a punishment, and is in more trouble now because he embarrassed people by getting it over.
Honkey_Kong
Championship Contender
I agree with this totally. Even if he didn't need help with the ring work, a good short feud with Regal or even Finlay (they shouldn't have let him go) would definitely make Brodus shine. They should at the very least consider a feud with Goldust.
MrMojoRisin
Championship Contender
Exactly. Not only that, but he can learn anything he needs to learn while in the ring with a Regal or Goldust, while still having both of those guys cover up his mistakes so that all the fans see is the fun monster Brodus squashing more competitors.
This is one of the main reasons you keep older guys like Regal, Goldust or Finlay on the roster, and for this reason, I absolutely do not buy that he's being kept off TV because he needs to work on his ring work.
If I'm Brodus right now, I'm looking to see how long it will take to get out of my contract, and I'm contacting NJPW before Vince has the chance to kill me off completely. He's the type of guy that can make a very good living in Japan.
BaconBits
WZ Czar of Steaks
I think people are reading too much into him being de-pushed right now. He didn't do enough to declare if he's good in the ring or not. From what they had him doing, he's quite limited. He's the man to the IWC, but to the masses he's a big fat dancing guy with an extremely dated gimmick who did three moves every match. He wasn't particularly over, and it was quite evident.
Not to mention, they have to flesh out the WM storylines in the next couple months. He almost assuredly would have been left off the card, even if he was mad over. It's no time to debut a hyped prospect, because he'd almost assuredly get even more lost in the shuffle behind the HHH/Undertaker shitfest, Cena vs. The Rock, Punk vs. Jericho, Shaq vs. Show, and whoever Seamus is going after (in that order, actually).
Not to mention, they have to flesh out the WM storylines in the next couple months. He almost assuredly would have been left off the card, even if he was mad over. It's no time to debut a hyped prospect, because he'd almost assuredly get even more lost in the shuffle behind the HHH/Undertaker shitfest, Cena vs. The Rock, Punk vs. Jericho, Shaq vs. Show, and whoever Seamus is going after (in that order, actually).
enviousdominous
Behold my diction
Here's the thing. The gimmick "worked" because of a few factors. Number one it was silly stupidity and for a few episodes that is a fun alternative to the serious stupidity that's forced on us, number two he had Naomi and the gal whose name I can't remember in skin tight outfits dancing around him.
Rikishi could cut a rug, Brodus could only shuffle and move his hands around. When he squashes a wrestler every week, it gets old. We want to see him face some adversity in the ring and maybe show a little heart for once.
Rikishi could cut a rug, Brodus could only shuffle and move his hands around. When he squashes a wrestler every week, it gets old. We want to see him face some adversity in the ring and maybe show a little heart for once.
I like everyone else was a little stunned when Brodus first came out as the Funkasaraus, but as time went on found it fresh and enjoyable.
It was obvious as well that the Brodus Clay was getting over with the crowd, AND FAST!
So like some of the other posters on here I agree that as it stands Clay is not yet a failure and the Company can and probably will still capitalise on that.
My estimation is that as a result of the set ups going on currently for the number of BIG matches happening at WrestleMania has caused a log jam of talent of guys like Rhodes, Ziggler, Henry, Orton, Barrett and so on who still have no solid feuds leading into the home run stretch to WrestleMania. This i think will begin to change after Elimination Chamber this Sunday.
Just like the guys i listed above I think Clay will be given more exposure and a clearer direction after Elimination Chamber and leading into WrestleMania.
After Elimination Chamber there is a full month of weekly programming with nothing but time for the WrestleMania build and no other PPV in between and it will be during these weeks that the likes of Rhodes, Ziggler, Barrett, Bryan and more then likely Brodus will get there newest long term feuds.
___________________
Just my humble opinion
It was obvious as well that the Brodus Clay was getting over with the crowd, AND FAST!
So like some of the other posters on here I agree that as it stands Clay is not yet a failure and the Company can and probably will still capitalise on that.
My estimation is that as a result of the set ups going on currently for the number of BIG matches happening at WrestleMania has caused a log jam of talent of guys like Rhodes, Ziggler, Henry, Orton, Barrett and so on who still have no solid feuds leading into the home run stretch to WrestleMania. This i think will begin to change after Elimination Chamber this Sunday.
Just like the guys i listed above I think Clay will be given more exposure and a clearer direction after Elimination Chamber and leading into WrestleMania.
After Elimination Chamber there is a full month of weekly programming with nothing but time for the WrestleMania build and no other PPV in between and it will be during these weeks that the likes of Rhodes, Ziggler, Barrett, Bryan and more then likely Brodus will get there newest long term feuds.
___________________
Just my humble opinion
sjdigitall
Pre-Show Stalwart
a feud with Swagger would be cool or even a feud with Del Rio when he gets back. He definitely needs to start a feud somewhere, i think we've all gotten the point that he is above the low-card and is a mid-card star at the moment.
Vinco Menz
Dark Match Winner
I really dont think Brodus is a failure. Is he something none of us expected? Yes. Does he have tons of people talking about him? Yes. He was even starting to get over with the live crowd. There were tons of Brodus Clay signs. I just think its funny Clay was taken off tv so he can work on his ring work, but the Great Khali is main-eventing Elimination Chamber.
Has Brodus Clay been future endeavoured yet? No. Ok, then he is not a failure due to him still having a place on the roster. People need to be more patient. They held off the guy's debut for so many weeks and then let him have a very random gimmick that truly stands out. This helped him receive more attention. Brodus is going to be just fine. It's not the end of the world if he misses a couple of shows. This is the busiest time of the year for WWE. They are getting things ready for Wrestlemania, so they will not be able to fit everyone onto every show each week. Heck, they barely ever manage to feature everyone as it is. He'll come back, and probably when you least expect it.
We will eventually see him onscreen again. I highly doubt that his entire push would be derailed and for him to just flat out vanish completely would happen unless he REALLY made the wrong people angry. I'd like to think someone like Clay is smart enough to not do that. As for the character itself, it is hardly a failure. It's something different and the fans are supporting it more with each appearance. Bring him back onscreen, do a couple of filler feuds for the guy, and he'll be on his way to winning a title or two.
We will eventually see him onscreen again. I highly doubt that his entire push would be derailed and for him to just flat out vanish completely would happen unless he REALLY made the wrong people angry. I'd like to think someone like Clay is smart enough to not do that. As for the character itself, it is hardly a failure. It's something different and the fans are supporting it more with each appearance. Bring him back onscreen, do a couple of filler feuds for the guy, and he'll be on his way to winning a title or two.
nothing on hindsight bias, but from the beginning one could tell it was going to be a failure.
his entrance debut was fresh initially. but after appearing on every raw and smackdown for a couple of weeks it got really tiring to watch...
he was like a rehashed rikishi. his entrance is way too long and whenever he wins he spends a good couple of minutes doing same old dance routine.
and it didnt help that he was squashing no-names which nobody honestly give a damn about his wins.
vince made the right move in removing him from television, for that "funkasaurus" gimmick.
his entrance debut was fresh initially. but after appearing on every raw and smackdown for a couple of weeks it got really tiring to watch...
he was like a rehashed rikishi. his entrance is way too long and whenever he wins he spends a good couple of minutes doing same old dance routine.
and it didnt help that he was squashing no-names which nobody honestly give a damn about his wins.
vince made the right move in removing him from television, for that "funkasaurus" gimmick.
TWJC: The Beginning
Royal Rumble Winner
God some people just don't get it.
GRR I'M A MONSTA!!!! GRRR JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER FUCKING GUY!!!!!
or....or....
I'm a totally unique and MEMORABLE character that is ALREADY OVER?
Hmmm, I wonder which is the better idea. Golddust seemed like a pretty bad idea too didn't it? It got over and he had a pretty damn fine career. The whole DOMINANT MONSTER this is incredibly over played and because no one thinks it's real anymore, it doesn't really do much when you have like 8 of them on your show.
To me, Clay as the funkasaurus is scarier than if he were a monster. I mean, he's a fun loving guy who kinda has a sick side and enjoys hurting people and is indestructible. It's sort of scary in a clown kind of way. If they keep going down that path, he will be taken more seriously, but for now they're just getting the gimmick and the idea over.
Plus, how impressive is it that he pulls this gimmick off as well as he does? Like Scott Hall claims he once said "if you want me to be GI Joe, I'll be the best GI Joe". That's the mindset it seems that Brodus has and I don't think it'll go unappreciated. I think he was probably taken off TV for a while because they need every minute of time they can get to build for Mania.
As for the whole "He was taken off to work on his in ring work but Khali is in EC". First off, you likely haven't been trained by anyone, so you have no idea who is actually technically sound and who isn't. Second, Khali is a name and is a good choice to fill the void left by Mark because he's a big, recognizeable dude. Third, how do you know that's actually why Brodus isn't on TV? Don't give me a link to some shit dirtsheet either because they're about as reliable as Fox News when it comes to legit reports.
GRR I'M A MONSTA!!!! GRRR JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER FUCKING GUY!!!!!
or....or....
I'm a totally unique and MEMORABLE character that is ALREADY OVER?
Hmmm, I wonder which is the better idea. Golddust seemed like a pretty bad idea too didn't it? It got over and he had a pretty damn fine career. The whole DOMINANT MONSTER this is incredibly over played and because no one thinks it's real anymore, it doesn't really do much when you have like 8 of them on your show.
To me, Clay as the funkasaurus is scarier than if he were a monster. I mean, he's a fun loving guy who kinda has a sick side and enjoys hurting people and is indestructible. It's sort of scary in a clown kind of way. If they keep going down that path, he will be taken more seriously, but for now they're just getting the gimmick and the idea over.
Plus, how impressive is it that he pulls this gimmick off as well as he does? Like Scott Hall claims he once said "if you want me to be GI Joe, I'll be the best GI Joe". That's the mindset it seems that Brodus has and I don't think it'll go unappreciated. I think he was probably taken off TV for a while because they need every minute of time they can get to build for Mania.
As for the whole "He was taken off to work on his in ring work but Khali is in EC". First off, you likely haven't been trained by anyone, so you have no idea who is actually technically sound and who isn't. Second, Khali is a name and is a good choice to fill the void left by Mark because he's a big, recognizeable dude. Third, how do you know that's actually why Brodus isn't on TV? Don't give me a link to some shit dirtsheet either because they're about as reliable as Fox News when it comes to legit reports.
SacredMesa
Pre-Show Stalwart
I'm in the hate it side of this guy and his gimik. It strikes me as a bad version of Rakishi when he grouped with 2 cool but no 2 cool for this guy to actually run with. The whole thing comes off rather stupid and while I an appreciate that at times between Super Cena, Santino, Hornswaggle, The Spirit Squad, etc etc I've gotten completely burnt out and fed up with these kiddy, comedy, PBS bullshit on a live wrestling show.
