Squash Matches

[enigmaticdude]

Hello everyone, this is my first topic so don't mind to criticize anything I have to say. Now, I have noticed something. Any time someone in the WWE gets squashed, you know that either they are jobbers who either have no chance of ever making it to the low tier of the WWE or very low tier in the WWE
for example, Funaki "the number one announcer for SmackDown". His career after the attitude era was claiming to be the #1 announcer for SmackDown and getting beaten in every match he was in the WWE. We now barely see him on TV and he gets a spot once in a while. His "Kung Fu Naki" push was a flop and it made no sense that a newcomer had to push him, even though R-Truth is a pretty great wrestler.
Now, what makes no sense with jobbing is when someone has talent and good wrestling skills but is squashed in one match by a big guy. An example of this would be when Elijah Burke came over to SmackDown only to get his ass handed to him by Batista as per this match
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CasxiDp4dpM
Elijah Burke was great in ECW and had great potential. I saw a WWE title run in his future but the WWE decides to let him get demolished by Batista.
Basically after that match, that was basically the point where creative stopped giving a crap about him and started to use him less and less and eventually releasing him. That really sucks when a wrestler is taken down like that.
Now, I just watched the match with Big Show VS Jessie and Festus (BISCUITS AND GRAVAY!!!!!! LOL). They haven't been used in a LONG time and they were squashed by Big Show. As I remember correctly, when Jessie and Festus were given their initial push, Festus was the one squashing jobbers and beating up on Deuce, Domino, Miz, and Morrison.

What I have noticed is that when a wrestler is jobbing to a bigger guy, it is pretty much the end of their career. But why do they keep jobbing Funaki? What is the point? He should have been released so long ago. Sure he does have a small fan base but it isn't enough anymore. He should be future endeavored so that he could wrestle where he would have a better chance of being respected because his career was basically dragged through the mud these past 5 years.
Then it come to Kane "The Big Red Machine" He is one of the least respected wrestlers in the WWE. His gimmick of Big Red Machine has been overused and it is stale. He hasn't been pushed so much and had a WWE title run of 24 hours where he beat SCSA in king of the ring only to lose it the next day on RAW back do SCSA. He has also been jobbed to Rey Mysterio quite a lot ever since Rey Mysterio got his push because of Eddie's death(RIP). If it wasn't for that he would have been released just like Ultimo Dragon.
So what do you guys think about all of this, do you agree with some of my points? Are squash matches basically the end of a WWE superstar's career?

 

[Shockwave]

I agree 100%, pretty much every guy who gets squashed ends up being released so i would say you've hit the nail on the head, their careers end with squash matches

 

[Big Daddy Fool]

They keep Funaki because hes good at what hes does, jobbing. He makes his opponent look dominant, thats what he is supposed to do and he is good at it. JEsse and Festus are jobbing because creative has nothing for them just like Elijah Burke. When creative runs out of options for a wrestler jobbing is usually the next stop for that wrestler.

Barry Horowitz made a career out of jobbing and that is what Funaki is doing as well.

 

[Taker123]

They dont nessessarily signal the end of ones career but they can eventually lead to a downward spiral to be "future endevaoured" as you put it. Most squashes are used to promote the main superstars, and to highlight a big upcoming match such as big shows squash on festus, and jesse tonight on SD, however sometimes they are a neccessary evil. However if one is squased every math for about a year or 2 then i would say their getting g sacked pretty soon. But for instance , yes kane is a glorified jobber in my eyes and many others he does receive good fan reaction, and can wreslte, gets mini-medium pushes every now and then therefore consider him a keeper in the WWE he puts over the main talent of the day while providing a realistic challenge and entertaining match (from time to time)!!!!!

 

[tnaistherevolution]

ok wait ppl. did anyone watch the match that guy posted? that was not what i call a squash. Elijah Burke (EB from now on in my post) had a shitload of offence. yah batista had a strong finish but he always does when he wins. that was the opposite of a squash match enigmaticdude. your nuts. a squash match is someone totaly dominating with his opponent getting little to no offence.

but your right about funaki who has been nothing but a jobber since he lost the cruiserweght title in 2005. you guys have a point that he should have been handed his waliking papers long ago to persue other things.

 

[2012isbs]

MVP was just recntly considered a jobber granted that is a very rare case, but it shows that jobbing can lead to better things. Anyway jobbers that are still in WWE, Jamie Noble, Tommy Dreamer (hopefully not much longer though) and Kung Fu Naki. This shows that if you are a good worker, or good making other people look good. You will most likely stay Jmaie Noble teaches the new wreslters some moves and other various ring work, Funaki is great at making other people look good, and Tommy is a company man in general, doesn't ask for much and he can put on a decent match and is good at making people look good. Since Those three are also the most over jobbers they will probably stay for a while longer.

 

[SavageTaker]

I think the reason that they keep Funaki because he is generally well liked backstage.He doesnt involve himself with drama and he doesnt play politics.

The point of a jobber is to get someone over by making them look dominant.After a while they might get realeased if creative cant come up with something for them.I think the reason that funaki isnt seen on tv because they want to give that spot on tv to someone else.I think he still works on the house shows.

To answer your question i think that squash matches are not always the end of someone's career.Sometimes they get squashed because they did something to piss someone off or they got some heat from management,ala mvp.

I think that each brands creative team needs 2 head of creative members,so that way one could maybe work like half the year as head of creative while the other just tries to contribute.Then the second half of the year the other becomes the head while the other one just contributes.this way they get 6 months to rest a little by not having to do the bulk of the writing,and they dont get burned out and can still keep trying to make good storylines.

 

[bulldog76]

There is usually one of two reasons for squash/jobber guys (they may have offense in one match but none in another).

1. Young guys need to get in the ring and work. Has anyone watched the matches of Shawn Michaels in WCCW? For guys who came up through the territories (Michaels, Taker, Austin, Jarrett to name a few), there are dues to be paid. Can you make someone look good? If you can take getting beat up for a while and make the other guy look good, at least there is use for you in the ring. Then a promoter finds out if there is any marketability for you and your character. I believe others have started this way as well like Raven, DDP and the Hardyz if Im not mistaken. Most of these guys get a good sense of the business. Guys who are brought in, put on a rocket ship and blasted to the top may not gain all the knowledge or appreciation for the business these guys have. Where are Goldberg, Lesnar, Rock now? Not knocking them for leaving, but there is something to say for making a guy come up the hard way.

2. The other reason is for people like Noble and Funaki. They are good in-ring workers who can help a guy shake off some ring rust, refine the skills of a guy that Vince may like, or just remind you of the legitimacy of a star by getting killed by them.

As for Kane, he is just someone that does too many jobs. It's great that a big star is willing to job. Austin, Michaels, Triple H, Hogan, were all very carefull of who they jobbed to; at times maybe too careful. Kane is Vince's way of making you at least pay attention to a star. But I agree that he has lost a lot of his credibility. Undertaker has jobbed to many stars who may not have deserved it but he regains what credibility that he might have lost. Kane has not regained his.

 

[RATED R CHAMPION]

Squash Matches Are Used Because Creative Sometimes Doesn't Have Ideas For A Wrestler Or Just Because That Wrestler Is Either Starting Or Ending His Career.......now. Squashes Are Not Too Bad, They Help Develop And Introduce A Strong New Comer Or A Star Who Will Be Heavily Pushed In The Future.........

 

[Smooth Sexual Chocolate]

The squash match is meant to show how strong or how dominate a wrestler is, sometimes its used because of lack of creativity, maybe even more times than not, and the wwe has probably gotten away from the point of the squash. but when used proper, it dose not matter who the opponent is, all that matters is that a big ass kicking takes place, and one wrestler looks like a god.

 

[JeffreyNeroHardy]

There was also that time where Batista was basically a jobber to Mark Henry, only to come back exactly the same way and beat the shit outta him....

 

[GNR8701]

Jobbing doesnt mean your career is over. Victoria lost about every match for the past year or two, and she never got fired - eventually she retired - in a match that she lost. Dreamer is a guy who had jobbed for a long time span and made it work, and look where he is now, on the road to the ECW title. those are two examples of long-term jobbing after you have been made a relevant superstar. Not to metion they both have had multiple championships at one point

 

[Sparky]

K A N E. He has been a jobber now for how long? And I can't see him going anywhere soon. Of course most Jobbers end up released. If they was better then average at wrestling they wouldn't be jobbers now would they?

There is two kinds of Jobbers though. Ones like Kane where he does it to make the other person look strong, and then the rest that flopped after the WWE hired them. The ones that flop Will not last long.

 

[slimymeteor]

I agree with the sentiment that Kane is a "glorified jobber" used mostly to put over the main eventers or up-and-coming stars. But this thread is about squash matches, and Kane does not fit into that category, he may always lose, but he makes his opponent look strong by doing so.

Getting squashed isn't always such a bad thing for rookies, such as Dolph Ziggler being brutalized by Batista and Jeff Hardy. They've gotta pay their dues, and being new to the company, it's a good way to get in the ring and see how good you are at making your opponent look good.

But with wrestlers who have already been established, but then are reduced to always getting squashed for other people, it's a bad sign. It can really hurt their career by making the audience see them as merely a "has-been", someone that used to stand a chance but is now incredibly weak. The obvious example here is someone like Val Venis, who was actually lucky to stay in the company as long as he did. Very rarely does a formerly established superstar make a comeback after being reduced to low card jobber status.

 

[Davey McBoy]

Remember that Kane has his spot by choice and is probably very happy with it. He had a great run from his debut onwards and made a lot of money but was also understandably road weary. The were building him as the new Phenom and he had the opportunity to run with it as long as it lasted but instead he made the smart move. Rather than take on the immense responsibility, schedule and risk to his body, he was selfless enough to use his stature to get young guys over. He makes a lot of money, is on TV, is over like a motherfucker still (depending on the town) and more importantly is NOT DEAD.