Should the "boot to the skull" stay or go?

[martymcfly]

I'll be honest, I've never been a fan of randy orton's "boot to the skull." Probably because it's not actually wrestling, and it seems pretty lame and cowardly. I think, although I could be wrong, that it was used primarily in the beginning to take someone out who was actually hurt, in order to explain their disappearance for a while.

But he still has this move in his arsenal, and while he doesn't use it much now that he's turned face, he still references it in promos and last Monday he threatened sheamus with it. And I guess I'm curious as to what people think about it. Like I said before, I don't like it because it really has nothing to do with wrestling.

Also (and I'm not trying to spark a debate about kids copying wrestlers) but it seems to me that a possible danger of that move is that it would be easy for someone to duplicate and it could cause some serious damage.

Finally (and I'm also not looking to spark a debate about the pros and cons of a PG rating) but if wrestling really is supposed to be PG, shouldn't WWE be consistent and take out a move that could--if actually done in real life--potentially kill someone? It doesn't seem to me to fit in with a PG rating.

In the end, I'm not saying the move should be banned. Personally, I'm not a fan of it, but I wonder if all things considered, if maybe it is a move that doesn't really fit in with the WWE product.

 

[Max Headroom]

Well, you make quite the good point budd. But I must disagree. I am a HUGE fan of his punt, or "boot to the skull". I freak out whenever he is about to at least try to hit it on someone, it's a move that leaves you wondering "is he out for a few weeks now or what?" I love it.

It may not exactly be technical wrestling at it's finest, but your allowed to kick someone in the face with PG ratings, i mean people get stomped in the face alot in wrestling, I'm sure that could do some damage too if copyed in real life, along with every other possible wrestling move except the chop. Not starting a PG/kids copying debate, just backing up my point.

It's Randy's thing now, sure he might not do it often, but if he indicates he's going to do it, he gets quite the pop. It's also, in my opinion, a good way to end a fued ending match that Randy comes out on top of, as it dignifies his dominance over his opponent.

So to answer your question, the "boot to the skull" should by all means stay a part of Randy's arsenal.

 

[kissfan85]

I'm a huge fan of the punt...I LUV When Ortan does it
I'm not going to say take something out just cause some kids may wanna copy it.

It's not tv's fault. It's the parents fault for having kids that would do that in the first place.
The parents should tell them not to do what they see on tv.
Parents don't wanna do there jobs so television should take a hit? That's not fair.

My dad told me he would kick my ass if I ever did or say what I saw on tv and I took him seriously and I never did. Now if I did it would be my fault, not wretling's fault or any other program.

Parents dont' wanna be parents, and kids don't want to listen.

Don't punish good shows and events like wrestling just cause there's brat kids who don't listen and parents that don't do there jobs.

 

[Showtime]

William Regal does fricking knee to the head. Randy is definitely allowed to do a punt to the head. I'm neither here nor there about the move. It suited him well as a heel and now that he's a face he doesn't use it as often. It's more about the RKO out of no where for him now. The move will stay in his arsenal because it's a good way to end a feud and turn him heel again years down the road. I hope he doesn't do a lot of fake outs with it like what happened to Sheamus. I think the crowd boo'd Randy more for stopping than they cheered him. If he does do it, we need the cowardly roll out. He don't want Randy to start looking like a pussy cause now that he's cheered, he doesn't want to crush skulls like he used to.

 

[Ferbian]

I agree with NewfieMasterY2J. The move should definitely stay in Randy's array of moves.

The move is a part of his gimmick, sure it might not be used that much anymore, but it doesn't make it any less of what Randy is about. It was never really used that much in the first place, except for putting down seriously tough opponents it seems (Randy and Triple H).

The part about it doing damage, and serious amounts of it isn't really true. Triple H talked in an interview about taking the punt to the head, and he said it's definitely legit, but it stung in his neck for 10 minutes at best. And obviously Triple H is just fine, so obviously Randy knows how to execute it in a none lethal way.

And the PG thing, yeah we got a lot of moves that kids could potentially perform in real life, and do serious damage with. Doesn't mean we ban the use of it. We would need to ban Triple H's finisher, John Cena's finisher, and quite a lot of moves. Because some really doesn't take much efforts to perform.

 

[JohnOldSnake4]

I like the finality of the punt. The last time he actually used it that I recall was WrestleMania 26 on Cody Rhodes, before RKO-ing Ted Dibiase and putting Legacy away. I think the kick should stay but only as a sort of puncuation mark on a large program.

Triple H pre-PG still used a sledgehammer as a face, and this was as the same kind of exclamation point (a la when he broke one over the back of Vince's head at Unforgiven in 06) and I think randy's punt should stay in that capacity, and frankly, a punt to the head looks far less brutal to me than a sledgehammer to the back of the head.

So in short, I see the punt as the PG-ear's sledgehammer and think it ought to stay.

 

[CraigThe13th]

This is a good post, I defo think he should keep it as although it's not really a wrestling move it is still a killer move,regarded as more deadly than the RKO.

It's Orton's most punishing attack which near always results in a lay off for the recipient. Now he's a face he's using it more sparingly, which is right. It should be used as a feud ender like he did at Wrestlemania to Cody Rhodes rather than when he was a heel and he used it to start them.

It's as much a part of Orton now as the RKO so it would take something away from him if he stopped using it. I know now he isn't going to do it that often but everytime he looks like he might be lining one up, I'm screaming at the screen for him to kick him in the head!

It was also a powerful statement when he stopped dead in his tracks and shit Sheamus up this week on Raw, kinda telling him 'I could have fucked you up right then, but I'm gonna wait'

HBK's superkick isn't wrestling either not is Big Show's punch, Regal's knee trembler or anyone who uses a Big Boot etc. Strikes have been big part of pro wrestling for decades

 

[legendkiller1979]

I have a couple problems with the punt. First, half the time it isn't executed well. Poorly executed moves like that get pro wrestling made fun of for being fake. The second problem I have with it is it's devastation factor. The first few times we saw it Randy put people on the shelf with it. People have been using the boot to the face for years and it didn't even result in a pinfall. To the people that will argue that the kick is delivered to the temple or snaps the neck over I have another example If we are taking kayfabe then the piledriver (no matter how it's delivered) should kill someone each time it's used. So bottom line, it looks fake half the way...I mean really bad. And for a move that is so devastating, there are other moves that should be considered much worse but are not because they have been around for so many years

 

[The Best At What I Do]

There are plenty of non-"wrestling" related finishers out there that are potentially life-threatening if done with enough force behind it. Like buddy above me stated there's Shows KO Punch, Regals Knee Trembler, HBKs Sweet Chin Music, add in Kofis Trouble In Paradise and Tatsus roundhouse kick to the skull and you have quite the array of deadly strikes.

The fact of the matter is that no one should even be trying anything they see on wrestling. Those lame little ads WWE puts on tell us every couple weeks. Also, I gave The Pedigree to one of my friends when we were kids... poor guy.

 

[oldschool123]

I'll be honest, I've never been a fan of randy orton's "boot to the skull." Probably because it's not actually wrestling, and it seems pretty lame and cowardly. I think, although I could be wrong, that it was used primarily in the beginning to take someone out who was actually hurt, in order to explain their disappearance for a while.

But he still has this move in his arsenal, and while he doesn't use it much now that he's turned face, he still references it in promos and last Monday he threatened sheamus with it. And I guess I'm curious as to what people think about it. Like I said before, I don't like it because it really has nothing to do with wrestling.

Also (and I'm not trying to spark a debate about kids copying wrestlers) but it seems to me that a possible danger of that move is that it would be easy for someone to duplicate and it could cause some serious damage.

Finally (and I'm also not looking to spark a debate about the pros and cons of a PG rating) but if wrestling really is supposed to be PG, shouldn't WWE be consistent and take out a move that could--if actually done in real life--potentially kill someone? It doesn't seem to me to fit in with a PG rating.

In the end, I'm not saying the move should be banned. Personally, I'm not a fan of it, but I wonder if all things considered, if maybe it is a move that doesn't really fit in with the WWE product.

If you're going to use that as a standard then Big Show should stop punching people in the face, Cena needs to stop using the attitude adjustment, Kane and the Undertaker should stop using the tombstone, Miz should stop doing the skull crushing finale. Any number of moves could potentially kill someone if someone tries to do them in real life.

 

[martymcfly]

I think it's cool that this post has generated many well thought out and interesting replies.

I just wanted to address the following:

If you're going to use that as a standard then Big Show should stop punching people in the face, Cena needs to stop using the attitude adjustment, Kane and the Undertaker should stop using the tombstone, Miz should stop doing the skull crushing finale. Any number of moves could potentially kill someone if someone tries to do them in real life.

I didn't mean to imply that moves that could really hurt someone should be banned. Instead I meant to discuss that it is not really a wrestling move, unlike skull crushing finale (stupid name by the way), tombstone, attitude adjustment, etc. are moves. Boot to the skull is not a wrestling move, just attacks someone while they are down and to me is a lame way to finish a match. When you combine that with its devastation and the PG rating, it made me wonder if perhaps it'd be better off being taken out of randy's arsenal.

 

[barclayteo]

you know man i partly agree with what you say but im 90 percent for him keeping it. because for one he isnt a full face yet he is a tweener if he wasnt a face he wouldnt be rkoing people like evan bourne. second if your saying it isnt a wrestling move then in your terms you would only be seeing suplexs, submissions, and off the top rope moves because a slap in the face, a low blow, and a bunch of other strikes arent wrestling moves but they keep them in there. also i agree if a move is dangerous enough they shouldnt use it but he has been using that move for a couple of years if it was dangerous he would have been told to stop using that move not that long after he started using it. and the punt kick is a good move i agree he is using it less because they are testing him becoming a face but we probably wont see him become a full face until john cena goes bad because both of them being faces on 1 show is to much randy is more of a anti hero

 

[It's Damn Real!]

I'll be honest, I've never been a fan of randy orton's "boot to the skull." Probably because it's not actually wrestling, and it seems pretty lame and cowardly. I think, although I could be wrong, that it was used primarily in the beginning to take someone out who was actually hurt, in order to explain their disappearance for a while.

But he still has this move in his arsenal, and while he doesn't use it much now that he's turned face, he still references it in promos and last Monday he threatened sheamus with it. And I guess I'm curious as to what people think about it. Like I said before, I don't like it because it really has nothing to do with wrestling.

Also (and I'm not trying to spark a debate about kids copying wrestlers) but it seems to me that a possible danger of that move is that it would be easy for someone to duplicate and it could cause some serious damage.

Finally (and I'm also not looking to spark a debate about the pros and cons of a PG rating) but if wrestling really is supposed to be PG, shouldn't WWE be consistent and take out a move that could--if actually done in real life--potentially kill someone? It doesn't seem to me to fit in with a PG rating.

In the end, I'm not saying the move should be banned. Personally, I'm not a fan of it, but I wonder if all things considered, if maybe it is a move that doesn't really fit in with the WWE product.

As if a piledriver, DDT, powerbomb, arm bar, etc. aren't all equally as dangerous or lethal when performed by ignorant amateurs?

Sorry pal, but this is exactly the type of PC bullshit I loathe in this country when some gets upset over some stupid small little aspect of a wrestling program, in this example, but fails to comprehend that the entirety of the show shouldn't be seen by ignorant children if that's the case.

If the boot to the skull is something you don't want the ignorant and uneducated repeating, and you're willing to remove it from the program because of it, when do the rest of the arsenal of physical strikes and submissions get repealed too? Sooner or later wrestling will just be two guys talking about doing things to one another without ever actually doing it, and hell, if you wanna go far enough, the speech would eventually be condemned too, so where do you draw the line?

The boot to the skull stays, man. Sorry. Go watch shuffleboard if you don't want to witness violence.

 

[XgringolocoX]

"Not actually wrestling" Have you ever seen an actual REAL wrestling match? Guess how many moves would not qualify?
ProWrestling is pretty much anything goes provided the ref doesn't see it. Try that in a real match.
This is a dumbass thread.

 

[Jacarr]

it is a good point.. but he executes it very carefully, noticable or not, anything you do even a punch in wrestling could potentially cause alot of harm, i uderstand the PG but like ive said many time, we watched when we were that young and it wasnt PG, the kids arent clueless, and if we ban that move then soon everything will be banned, the AIRBOURNE is dangerous for crying out loud, u think they are going to take out that move cause some kid is going to try it and break their neck? dont think so

 

[Captain Jive]

I think that it should stay, the argument thats its not a wrestling move is bogus. It may not be a wrestling move, but it is a PRO wrestling move. With that argument, they should ban the Irish whip, clothesline, powerbomb, dropkick, any and all top rope moves, punches, knees, chops, splashes, elbows, 99% of all finishers, and anything else that isnt technical grappling.

The punt stays, its entertaining, and they're the ones that keep shoving the fact that its just entertainment down our throats, so if its just entertainment, let them entertain us.

 

[enterkey]

I have been a big fan of Orton's punt since he first performed it, it has always looked extremely devastating and believable as a finishing move. If a man Orton's size were to run up to you and kick you full force in the head it would not only keep you down for a 3 count but it could also greatly injure you like they kayfabe built up when he took out countless people with it a few years ago. There isn't much sicker than seeing the slow motion replay of Orton punting someone in the head and seeing their heads just bounce, it looks almost as beautiful as the RKO itself. Simply taking it out of Orton's moveset would be a horrible idea as he is now a tweener and it goes well with his "I do whatever the fuck I want to whoever the fuck I want" attitude.

 

[Da Prophet]

I think it should stay for sure, because it's a move that can win Randy a match so quickly.It gives us something to wait for and when he sets up for it you think "Oh shit, are the going to move".It keeps you on the edge of your seat and even when it doesn't connect it is still exciting.

 

[airvar]

I'll be honest, I've never been a fan of randy orton's "boot to the skull." Probably because it's not actually wrestling, and it seems pretty lame and cowardly. I think, although I could be wrong, that it was used primarily in the beginning to take someone out who was actually hurt, in order to explain their disappearance for a while.

But he still has this move in his arsenal, and while he doesn't use it much now that he's turned face, he still references it in promos and last Monday he threatened sheamus with it. And I guess I'm curious as to what people think about it. Like I said before, I don't like it because it really has nothing to do with wrestling.

Also (and I'm not trying to spark a debate about kids copying wrestlers) but it seems to me that a possible danger of that move is that it would be easy for someone to duplicate and it could cause some serious damage.

Finally (and I'm also not looking to spark a debate about the pros and cons of a PG rating) but if wrestling really is supposed to be PG, shouldn't WWE be consistent and take out a move that could--if actually done in real life--potentially kill someone? It doesn't seem to me to fit in with a PG rating.

In the end, I'm not saying the move should be banned. Personally, I'm not a fan of it, but I wonder if all things considered, if maybe it is a move that doesn't really fit in with the WWE product.

Well honestly if you want to be a stickler on actually "wrestling" here's a great vid of "actual wrestling"

[youtube]j8Si6OmAWeQ[/youtube]

Thats "real " wrestling, that is the sport that has been around since ancient Greece, and is featured in the olympics, and it's alot more like an MMA match then an actual Pro Wrestling match.

This is Pro Wrestling, and kicking someone in the Skull qualifies as a pretty great move. Honestly, they are fake fighting.. Sure kicking someone in the face may not be the most techincal looking pro wrestling move, or "high flying", but you can't beat the realism of pretending to punt somebody in the face with your boot.. No matter which way you spin it getting punted in the face would hurt like hell.

As for kids imitating, kids imitate everything on TV, a punt to the face isn't much more dangerous then a Swanton Bomb, Powerbomb, or attitude Adjustment, when it comes to copy-cating.. Plus the Punt is realstic enough people know it's something you just don't do.. my brother is in first grade and he know's not to try that shit, its pretty obvious kicking somebody as hard as you can in the face is a bad idea to try at home. (obvious enough even small children know not to try it)

I'd say your more at risk they try a powerbomb, or Attitude adjustment then a Randy Orton punt to the face

 

[scsafanboy]

I believe that the "punt" should stay mainly because it was what made Orton dangerous and devastating. He shelved a lot of wrestlers with it and removing it will be as lame as the time when Kane removed his mask.