Stooges or Stooges 2.0?

[chicagokmc]

Which version of the stooges do you like better – Briscoe/Patterson or Mercury/Noble? It’s too early to say who was most entertaining, but Briscoe/Patterson to me had more chances for comedic moments. Mercury/Noble seem funny because they’re small guys usually trying to get in the way of the big wrestlers, and knowing how Vince treasures size I’m sure the contrast in size is intended. The funniest moment they’ve had so far was when they were trying not to laugh when Rollins got slimed opening the briefcase.

I agree with a previous post that the announcers should do more to highlight the previous accomplishments of Mercury/Noble. They clearly don’t have the pedigree that Briscoe/Patterson had, but I think the last generation of fans were more knowledgeable about wrestling history and we knew who Briscoe/Patterson were. I don’t think the fans of today really get that Mercury/Noble were decent in their own right. And I’m guessing that when Ambrose made his inside comment “So you’re sending out the cruiserweight division” many of today’s fans didn’t realize at one point that these were 2 of the top cruiserweights in the federation.

The one thing I’m a little down on is the inclusion of Mercury/Noble in Authority matters. They originally started out as the Rollins security team helping him guard the briefcase and that I liked. Rollins is clearly being groomed for top heel status and having goons help get things done comes with that. As Authority stooges it will be hard to take them seriously because they’ll never do anything of consequence against someone like Cena, Big Show or Ryback in all-hell-breaks-lose scenarios. But in Rollins’ one-on-matches, its easy to see how they could distract the ref or hold a leg and help Rollins win. Just a small nit.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Patterson & Briscoe will always be thought of as the true stooges. While they had some fun moments back in the day, I think they ultimately got too much attention sometimes. In this day & age, I'm not really in the mood to see cornball comedy matches featuring Noble & Mercury, nor am I interested in them being given the spotlight. I generally prefer them to remain in the role they have now: to deliver cheap shots, provide momentary distraction and getting their asses handed to them all to sever the cause of The Authority.

 

[Navi]

I agree with a previous post that the announcers should do more to highlight the previous accomplishments of Mercury/Noble. They clearly don’t have the pedigree that Briscoe/Patterson had, but I think the last generation of fans were more knowledgeable about wrestling history and we knew who Briscoe/Patterson were. I don’t think the fans of today really get that Mercury/Noble were decent in their own right. And I’m guessing that when Ambrose made his inside comment “So you’re sending out the cruiserweight division” many of today’s fans didn’t realize at one point that these were 2 of the top cruiserweights in the federation.

The one thing I’m a little down on is the inclusion of Mercury/Noble in Authority matters. They originally started out as the Rollins security team helping him guard the briefcase and that I liked. Rollins is clearly being groomed for top heel status and having goons help get things done comes with that. As Authority stooges it will be hard to take them seriously because they’ll never do anything of consequence against someone like Cena, Big Show or Ryback in all-hell-breaks-lose scenarios. But in Rollins’ one-on-matches, its easy to see how they could distract the ref or hold a leg and help Rollins win. Just a small nit.

Briscoe and Patterson by a long shot. The stuff they got up too was hilarious. The problem with Noble and Mercury is, well it's a couple of things.

It was fine having them there when Ambrose was stalking Rollins. He's not doing that anymore. No one is stalking Rollins now, and so they are there for really no reason at all. Whenever you have a member of the Authority in a feud, you don't need Noble, Mercury, Kane, HHH and Stepanie at ringside to ensure a victory. Quite honestly if you need that many people to help your fighter win a match, yea I'd be looking for a better wrestler.

Also they are kind of on the smaller end of the scale, and aren't believable against some of the bigger guys. Can't wait for Reigns to come back, get into a feud with Rollins, and throw both Noble and Mercury into the cheap seats. They take away from the matches, as you know what is going to happen at times, and when a wrestler like Orton, Rusev and even Kane can get a clean win, you have to wonder why Rollins can't.

 

[TheICChampion]

Whenever you have a member of the Authority in a feud, you don't need Noble, Mercury, Kane, HHH and Stepanie at ringside to ensure a victory. Quite honestly if you need that many people to help your fighter win a match, yea I'd be looking for a better wrestler.

You seem to forget, that's Heel 101. Remember when Evolution was running around in 2002-2005? How many matches were there when one of them DIDN'T run interference? Still worked out pretty well, didn't it? Even a guy like HHH who was already established as a main-event level star who clearly didn't need help to win still used it. MaybeRollins doesn't need that many people out there, sure, but if you're not cheating or using help to win a lot of your matches, then you're not doing your job as a heel.

I'm fine with the interference for now, as it's part of what makes Rollins a heel. Besides, what's wrong with the Authority trying to protect their "investment"?

 

[Navi]

Yes I understand that, I've been a wrestling fan for almost 30 years and I understand how the heel persona works.

Cheating and a dirty finish is fine. But when you have 6-7 people coming out to ensure a victory, it's just a little over the top. Or don't you think that?

To tell you the truth the interference has gone on much too long now, a lot of it is unnecessary and not required. It's gotten to the point with Kane, if I never see him again, it will be okay. He spends more time in the ring lately just interfering and ending matches than anyone else.

There is nothing wrong with a heel losing once in awhile. Everyone acts like if the heel loses it's the end of them. It's not, they lose all the time and still come back for vengeance.

 

[shafe_41]

How could anybody even pick Mercury/Noble? They've been around for a grand total of what? Like a couple months? Comparing that to what Patterson and Briscoe got into back in the days of being Vince's true stooges isn't even a fair comparison. Half the time, I barely even notice Mercury and Noble exist. They don't actually do anything. I can't even call them stooges.

Patterson and Briscoe win in a ridiculous landslide.

 

[OYDK]

Noble/Mercury just can't play a crowd like Briscoe/Patterson could. To hear these two old farts talk about "taking out" people like The Undertaker and Stone Cold always had me cracking up. Plus, they just seemed more naturally comfortable in this role and around Vince than Noble/Mercury do around HHH... probably because Briscoe and Patterson were legitimately high up in the company.

I think Patterson and Briscoe had more of an opportunity for air time, but they certainly earned it imo.

 

[MartialHorror]

Briscoe and Patterson were the more memorable and entertaining stooges, but I don't think Noble and Mercury do a bad job. They don't get as many opportunities to stand out like their predecessors did. I also buy them more in that role.

Briscoe and Patterson always seemed to get in on the action, but they were too old. Noble and Mercury are younger and look tougher, so keeping them around as security makes more sense.