Recycled Gimmicks

[justinept]

I've seen a lot of posts in here that make the claim that Randy Orton as an Attitude Era wrestler stuck in a PG world. Personally, I have no idea what the hell that means.

But it got me thinking about who Orton - and the rest of the WWE roster - most resembles when compared to older wrestlers from the 80s and early 90s ... the last time that wrestling was PG.

I'll give me opinions, and then I'm curious to hear yours...

Randy Orton - Randy Savage
Both guys are/were the most intense wrestlers on the roster. Both guys have pushed the envelope of the PG rating. Orton RKO'ing Steph last year is comparable to Savage's raging jealous boyfriend bit from the 80s when he all but physically abused Miss Elizabeth.

John Cena - Hulk Hogan.
This doesn't mean Cena is better than Hogan, so I don't want to hear people say I'm crazy for writing that. Both wrestlers are/were the face of the WWE. They handled all the media spots. They both went into movies. Their message was geared toward inspiring kids.

John Morrison - Shawn Michaels (pre World Titles)
Both started in tag teams. Both went on to singles where they used their looks to drive their gimmicks.

And I'm sure there are tons more, but I'm too lazy right now --- What do you all got?

 

[smfiscus1]

Chris Masters always reminded me of Paul Orndorf. Dolph Ziggler is obviously a carbon copy attempt at Mr. Perfect...hell, even his music says it. Big Show and Andre the Giant are obviously very much alike except you can understand Big Show when he talks and he can move a little more in the ring. I think that John Morrison is more like Rick Rude, that is when Morrison was a heel. He's all about the abs and his body just like Rude and how he was better than the "sweathogs."

 

[Rammsteinerteen]

i agree on most of your opinions. except that randy savage and randy orton aren't similar or comparable, but everything else was what I was thinking. I always thought that sheamus' start in the career was similar to that of the Undertaker. Sheamus started off dominate, undefeated, and never fought a too strong of a wrestler, like The Undertaker, and also, he beat the face of the company, John Cena for a fast first World Title Win. Undertaker beat Hulk Hogan, the face of the company, for his first world title win. The gimmicks are both different, but their wrestling style seems the same. Its a good thought.

 

[RicSpade]

theres a difference between recycled gimmicks and being compared to someone in similarities and I think I posted on this once or twice before.

For example The Black Machismo gimmick is a complete rip from Macho mans gimmick. When they did fake Razor and Diesel that was a rip of the original as well. If you want knock offs of other gimmicks I will give you a list.

Black machismo - Macho man

AJ Styles (heel) - Ric Flair

New Abyss - Hulk Hogan

Mordecai - Undertaker

Reflexion of Perfection Mark Jindrak - The Narcissist Lex Luger

Gillberg - Goldberg

granted while Dolph Ziggler does act like Mr. Perfect and has a similar hair style it was what he did to get over. The Big Show in WCW was billed at one point as the son of the Giant. Right now the wwe may have guys who may have a style similar to a peticular 80's wrestler or 90's wrestler unless we start seeing clowns, and pig farmers, and some guy doing rap these aren't really recycled gimmicks otherwise.

 

[smfiscus1]

I agree with Spade. Other than a couple of people in TNA, the ones in WWE are just similar to other guys and honestly, copying someone or taking something that they did and making it your own is something that's always being done and has created legends. Triple H took Harley Race's high knee and made it his own. Shawn Michaels isn't the first guy to superkick someone, but he made it his own. Having a narcissistic attitude or flashing your guns or talking a certain way isn't new and it's constantly recycled, but it doesn't mean people are recycling gimmicks. Some guys in TNA though, are just complete ripoffs...

 

[justinept]

I'd disagree with Spade - but perhaps I didn't convey my thought well enough. So I'll try again.

Recycled and blatant rip-offs are different concepts all together. Recycled generally means taking something that has been used before and trying to make something new of it. A rip-off is just a blatant attempt at a carbon copy.

I agree with the concept that most of these wrestlers simply take things that have been done before, and they make it their own. However, that doesn't change the fact that the basis for their character has been done in the past. Now, I don't think "recycled" is necessarily a negative, though it can have a negative connotation. TV shows, movies and all forms of entertainment are generally just a different spin on something that has been done before.

I would say that the classic Randy Savage character - the original Macho Man, as opposed to the watered down version that existed after Wrestle Mania VII - is extremely similar to Orton ... in that both characters have serious trust issues, both characters were "mentored" by the top guy at the time, both characters broke away from the top guy and feuded with that person, and both guys are or will be remembered for their intensity.

I was thinking about comparing Morrison and Rude as well - similar look, similar cocky attitude based on having a perfect physique. Good call there.

 

[Savion83]

I hear you on this thread.

I wish that all of any of these wrestling promotions would please stop recycling wrestler gimmicks. It's a crook and plain out disrespectful to those wrestler who had the gimmick before. It go's like this from the beginng when the WWE started doing this...

Billy & Chuck-The Hearthorbs

Lex Lugar's "first gimmick"-Mark Jindrax and then Chris Masters

Billy Gunn-Dolph Ziggler

Shawn Michaels-John Morrison

Razor Ramon-Carlito

Diesel-Test (R.I.P.)

But I don't consider Hulk Hogan & John Cena as having the same gimmick! Sure John Cena is a boy scout. And he tells the kids similar stuff like Hulk Hogan would say, like work hard (hustle), show respect to the ones that came before (loyalty), and "respect" the business. But their gimmicks are not really the same.

But I hear what you saying though! Real talk!

 

[jellmoo]

In regards to Randy Orton, I don't see Randy Savage at all. I see an early WWF Jake Roberts. Both men are slow and methodical. Both have a very deliberate attack system. Both use an intricate system of out psyching their opponent. Both have a slow, deliberate and monotone way of delivering a promo. And both have a strongly hyped, high impact, pulled out of nowhere finisher.

Both men are/were very high strung and tightly coiled. Orton seems to have a Jake Roberts crazy streak. He's clearly deranged an dangerous, but he's quiet about it. Randy Savage was deranged and dangerous, but was flamboyant and loud about it.

 

[#hamler]

uh, if that was a joke, that's funny! but if not, NO NO NO!

just cause styles is with fliar doesn't mean he's anything like him. they are very different. Jay Lethal is not like macho man... TNA tried but failed. Jay lethal isn't popular like Randy S. Next, Mordecai??? NO! he may have a gimmick like takers' but he will never have success that he does. Next, Abyss-hogan, another NO! abyss is more like Mic Foley. Next, gillberg-goldberg, not even gonna say anything but very funny.

-John Cena and Hogan, Face of wrestling, movies commercials, magazines, take your vitamins=hustle loyalty respect, enough said...
-Andre the giant and big show... somewhat. both big popular guys.
-King (HEEL) and Bobby Hennan-Great announcers very funny too
-Dean Malinko and Stu Hart. Haven't really seen hart wrestle but i know he's got to be technical.
-Batista and Ultimate worrior. again, somewhat. Worrior very agile but powerful like batista. batista might be more popular but the thing do when they power up against the ropes, the same thing...
-Victoria or Tara and lita. I find them very very alike. more tara and lita than victoria and lita b/c tna lets their women go ALL OUT!

 

[smfiscus1]

I like Jellmoo's comparison of Orton to Jake Roberts. One's the Viper and one's the Snake. They are very similar indeed! I would have to though that he's a mix between all the things you mentioned with Jake the Snake but throw in a little Psycho Sid attitude too.

 

[#hamler]

I like Jellmoo's comparison of Orton to Jake Roberts. One's the Viper and one's the Snake. They are very similar indeed! I would have to though that he's a mix between all the things you mentioned with Jake the Snake but throw in a little Psycho Sid attitude too.

to me, orton is a new breed of personality and wrestler. there's been no one like him in the past and every wrestling organization wants a heel just like him. so he's a new breed, never been done before, maybe that's why everybody like him...

 

[Spaceman Spif]

The WWE recycles gimmicks all of the time. It's nothing new, they've been doing it for decades and will continue to do it. Yeah every once in a while we get a pretty decent gimmick that comes along that is different, but by and by, then are modeled after someone else. It's easy to list people with 'recycled' gimmicks, but try to list those who don't have a recycled gimmick. I mean look at it, most of the gimmicks from the attitude era are being repeated now, just with a few changes.

Edge's ultimate opputunist gimmick is along the lines of HHH's heel gimmick back in the day, just a few updates. Morrison and Michaels the list can go on and on. As long as there are gimmicks, there will be recycling of gimmicks.

 

[smfiscus1]

hamler...people have given several ways orton is like other people. and they gave evidence that the wrestlers you said aren't like other wrestlers ARE but you've given no useful feedback as to why you think otherwise other than you just think so. so i have to ask where does this insight come from? the purpose of the forums is to move the conversation but if your argument is just simply "nu-uh!" then it doesn't work too well...lol. just saying... but i agree with one thing. orton does have his own personality too but he's not an idiot. he took things from other people because it made them successful. you'd be a moron NOT to.

 

[CobraVenom]

Jay Lethal is not like macho man... TNA tried but failed. Jay lethal isn't popular like Randy S.

He isn't? What TNA are you watching? It certainly isn't Impact on Spike. Also, Jay doesn't have to be as popular as Savage to have the same gimmick.

Next, Mordecai??? NO! he may have a gimmick like takers' but he will never have success that he does.

Your argument fails because first you say no, and then you pull a 180 and say Mordecai does indeed have a similar gimmick to Taker.

Next, gillberg-goldberg, not even gonna say anything but very funny.

Again, what wrestling are you watching to not be able to see that Gillberg WAS/IS a Goldberg clone?

Dean Malinko and Stu Hart. Haven't really seen hart wrestle but i know he's got to be technical.

Here is where your ignorance really shines. If you have never seen Stu wrestle, how can you compare him to Dean? lol

Victoria or Tara and lita. I find them very very alike. more tara and lita than victoria and lita b/c tna lets their women go ALL OUT!

Tara is nothing like Lita. Tara uses power and Lita was a flier.

 

[Lee]

Moderator note

Please keep on topic and give reasons why you think they are recyvled gimmicks, if not it is classed as spam and will be infracted as such.​

 

[smfiscus1]

The Pope is kind of mixing his own flavor into the Million Dollar Man gimmick. I think I even saw him shove a $20 in someone's mouth recently...I like how he's recycling the gimmick though as opposed to JBL practically copying it up and down by buying people off like he did HBK and he had the Cabinet just like DiBiase always had someone doing his work for him.

 

[hacksawrowdyhogan]

I never understood recycled gimmick. Their isn't just one million dollar man, or police man, or flamboyant man, or tough sob in the world. Billions of people have lived on this planet gimmicks won't be unique, people will be unique like Hulk Hogan or Babe Ruth.

or Randy orton...lol
what about buddy rogers and ric flair...that might have been one of the first recycled gimmicks in wrestling

It's easy in the first years of branching out into gimmicks that you can come up with something new, lol. 70 years and 1000s of wrestlers later it's not as easy. I mean all the best ones have been used, why not use what has gotten over in the past. I think my favorite new gimmick would be a Nazi Hitler clone(mad heat) but I'm not really sure how that would fly or a white robed KKK. Something that strikes deep and hard. That's the only places it really hasn't been.

 

[ccotreau1]

Sheamus as an Irishman reminds of what how they did Ivan Putski with him being Polish and how they made that the important factor in their character.

 

[matman8540]

I was just about to compare CM Punk's character to Raven's character from ECW , and Kevin Sullivan's in Florida from back in the 80s. Then I just had a brainstorm, combine those two characters (from the way they have recruited members along the way) along with Steven Richards from RTC. After all, Richards character as the head of that group abhorred the sexuality that was rampant in the WWE at the time. Punk is against booze, drugs, and other substances (and if this wasn't WWE-PG, they might be railing against sexuality as well, and having Serena go after the Women's title). The best way to really get the comparison even stronger, would be to have someone come to Punk's group during a match in order to destroy one of the faces on Smackdown. For example as a new member, after Morrison & R-Truth lose to Showmiz, have either Morrison or R-Truth turn on the other, and become a member of the Straight Edge Society.

 

[spinningtorturerack]

I was just about to compare CM Punk's character to Raven's character from ECW , and Kevin Sullivan's in Florida from back in the 80s. Then I just had a brainstorm, combine those two characters (from the way they have recruited members along the way) along with Steven Richards from RTC. After all, Richards character as the head of that group abhorred the sexuality that was rampant in the WWE at the time. Punk is against booze, drugs, and other substances (and if this wasn't WWE-PG, they might be railing against sexuality as well, and having Serena go after the Women's title). The best way to really get the comparison even stronger, would be to have someone come to Punk's group during a match in order to destroy one of the faces on Smackdown. For example as a new member, after Morrison & R-Truth lose to Showmiz, have either Morrison or R-Truth turn on the other, and become a member of the Straight Edge Society.

I think C M Punk is a great example of how to successfully recycle a gimmick or collection of gimmicks. The combination of Raven and RTC works (even if it was coincidental and not straight ripped from them) but it is how you put your own twist on it. Where as RTC were ripping the FCC more and being the straight collar and tie, Punk is working more on his own image (like that of Raven) and a modern day saviour, his own twist.

The same with Cena, sure he doesn't tell kids to say their prayers and eat their vitamins, because that isn't relevant anymore so much, its a much more diverse and atheist society, even only twenty years later. Being gangsta is relevant, a very modern image, but a good gangster who stands for good things, promoting the same do-gooder image like Hogan.