Vickie Guerrero's Heat

[kokoBawesome]

A few days ago I came across an article by Bill Simmons where he made a big deal about Vickie Guerrero and the reaction the crowd gives her. Mr. Simmons kept referring to her as having X-Pac heat, or a general dislike of the character that causes the fans to boo regardless of whether they are a heel or face.

-Wikipedia quote "Go-away heat" refers to heat drawn by performers in whom the fans are not interested in any capacity and do not want to watch.-

It seems to me that after reading a lot of forums and reactions that the wrestling fans on this site think that she's doing and excellent job as a heel manager. It's undeniable that the fans boo her more than almost any other heel on Raw or Smackdown. As someone that isn't a fan of hers I'd like to know other people's opinions.

Is Vickie Guerrero being booed these days because she's a great heel manager, or do the fans really just want her to go away? Did you originally hate the character and now she's grown on you, or were you more amused with the character during her time with Edge and are sick of her now?

 

[The Brain]

There are some people that the fans just love to boo. Vickie is one of those people. I don't think she has "go away heat" at all. I think the fans really enjoy booing her and have a lot of fun when she perfroms. I like her better now than when she was with Edge. I think the role she has as a manager is a better fit than having the show revolve around her. I know a lot of people thought she only had a job because Eddie died, and while that's probably true you have to admit she has come a long way and fits in nicely with WWE now.

 

[Da Solo]

Vickie gets booed because she does her job extremely well. Remember, there are still some people who actually BOO the heels and CHEER the faces these days (shocking, I know).

I wouldn't say Vickie gets that XPac or Cena heat in that they want her gone, but just the memory of her run with Edge and La Familia is enough to get the crowd to boo her. After all the great heel work she's done since becoming an on-screen character, she's become one of those characters that it'd be a sin NOT to boo.

 

[JWGunslinger]

There are some people that the fans just love to boo. Vickie is one of those people. I don't think she has "go away heat" at all. I think the fans really enjoy booing her and have a lot of fun when she perfroms. I like her better now than when she was with Edge. I think the role she has as a manager is a better fit than having the show revolve around her. I know a lot of people thought she only had a job because Eddie died, and while that's probably true you have to admit she has come a long way and fits in nicely with WWE now.

Couldn't agree more, I don't think that the people genuinely want her gone but she's a figure that's fun to hate and bad mouth, and ofcourse boo. I remember seeing her at Elimination Chamber plea for the WWE to bring Dolph Ziggler back when he was in trouble eariler this year, the boos were so loud that I couldn't hear what she was saying at all. But while this was going on I noticed myself(if you have EC 2011 on dvd you can see me in the crowd during her speech, in an RKO shirt laughing) and the crowd laughing while booing, she's someone that you pity but you just give alot of shit to for fun. I definitely prefer her manager role now to when she was with Edge, it's good to have her around and not be the center of attention. I also agree that alot of people including me thought that she was kept around because of Eddie dying but in my opinion she has done a great job as Dolph's manager and she deserves her spot in the WWE.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

I think the article you are referring to was written by David Shoemaker for Bill Simmons' Grantland website.

I was kind of thrown off by the X-Pac Heat label put on Vickie as well. I always thought X-Pac heat was reserved for talent that people genuinely hated as a human being (as opposed to a character) or just did not find entertaining. I don't see Vickie that way at all. She is certainly not worth hating in real life and I think most people are entertained by her. I do however think some of Cena's negative heat is coming from his inability to entertain a segment of the crowd. The only question is whether or not people will start calling C-Pac?

 

[kokoBawesome]

I think the article you are referring to was written by David Shoemaker for Bill Simmons' Grantland website.

Thank you for the correction, I honestly was having trouble finding the article. I think its in a review of the Survivor Series. Either way, I found it odd that someone that reviews wrestling on a somewhat professional level not only didn't understand X-Pac heat but went on about it for a WHILE. I was pretty confused by the whole thing.

 

[TimAH]

She certainly doesn't entertain me. Her biggest way to get heat is to just have a really annoying voice. I dont think she has xpac heat with most people, but I do think she did at first and now most people enjoy her because its a good chance to rip her apart. It doesnt really mean shes any better at her job, but it is different, imo.

 

[MikeyBobby]

Vicki isn't good at anything. She doesn't draw one dime. Is anybody in the arena to see Vicki? No. Is anyone paying to see Vicki somehow "get hers"? No.

A manager's job is to help get the wrestlers they're paired with over. I don't think I even need to mention Jack Swagger in this discussion as that situation speaks for itself. Is Vicki doing anything whatsoever to help Dolph? No. Does Dolph need her to speak for him? Hell no. Dolph needs her out of his spotlight so he can shine on the mic.

Vicki is sure as hell not a great manager like Bobby Heenan, Jimmy Hart, ect.. Vicki is nothing. Why is she even on the payroll?

 

[Punkses]

I boo the hell out of vickie coz i want her off my screen as soon as i hear that shrill voice of hers say a single word i mute it but then just looking at her i can't stand her

 

[nwh]

Vicky gets a ton of heat but she isn't a good manager. She doesn't cut any good promos for Ziggler or Swagger. She doesn't need to for Ziggler but she should for Swagger because he's really bad on the mic. Vicky's heat is solely based on her hyper annoying voice. She doesn't do anything for Ziggler and less than nothing for Swagger. She hardly ever interferes and when she does it usually is right in front of the ref and causes Swagger or Ziggler to get disqualified.

 

[berlinbrawler]

People have said such things about Vickie in the past. Leading up to Wrestlemania those voices even were pretty loud.
Or even before that - remember last year when for a while they teased that Vickie Guerrero might permanently become the RAW GM because she got such intense heat when she did it for one night? This forum got swarmed with outrage over how much she sucked and always caused people to change the channel (which, by the way, I never believe. I'd bet you anything that 9 times out of 10 those who claim they change the channel are the ones who never ever miss a second of WWE programming, even if it was a three hour special on Big Show having indigestion).

So, yea, I guess there are true haters (as well as people who think they are true haters) of Vickie out there. I, for one, think she will eventually join Eddie in the Hall of Fame and be recognized and respected for being one of the most hated characters of all time.

 

[Mustang Sally]

She's cut more of a niche for herself than I ever thought she would. Essentially, she has no sports entertainment talent to speak of, so Vince McMahon and the Creative team, in addition to doing a mercy hiring, developed a character for her to play that accents her "strengths": an obnoxious manner and an "anti-diva" appearance.

I don't think fans care one way or the other whether she stays around, as witnessed by her resigning from the company a couple of years ago. It amounted to taking a Summer vacation because it coincided with her daughters being off from school. When she left, I figured Vince was probably relieved he had fulfilled his obligation to Eddie Guerrero's widow, and was just as happy she was gone.

To my surprise, she came back and resumed the exact same persona. Pairing her with a star like Edge is what solidified her character.....and she's managed to stay employed ever since. Bully for her.

It goes to show that a performer goes only as far as the character written for him/her, at least if we're talking about making a real splash in the business. Just being effective in the ring isn't enough; you have to be given the right formula to get you over.......and I can't think of a better example of that than Vickie Guerrero.

 

[Martin Gabriel]

I agree with The Brain completely. Originally I didn't care for her as the SmackDown Manager/Assistant Manager/Edge's fuck buddy, but in a managerial role she's grown on me and like The Brain said, fans seem to have fun with her promos (drowning her out when she says "Excuse Me") rather than just not wanting her to be there. If anyone has go-away heat right now, it's John Laurinaitis.

 

[Dagger Dias]

It's going to be different from one person to the next. For some Vickie is someone they love to hate while for others she is someone they legit hate. During her time with Edge and La Familia, she got "go away" heat from me. On of my old roomies muted the screen if she as much as opend her mouth. I still find her annoying. I wouldn't say it's "go away" heat with me anymore because I recognize that she is a good heel manager who can help guys like Swagger. Her EXCUSE ME still annoys me quite a bit though.

 

[Cracka Jack]

Is Vickie Guerrero being booed these days because she's a great heel manager, or do the fans really just want her to go away?

Because she's a great heel manager. Not just her shrill voice, but the things she says, how and when she pauses to wait for heat, everything to be a great heel, she has down. I'm sure some people seriously dislike her, but as long as it's not overdone, then I enjoy her appearances.

Did you originally hate the character and now she's grown on you, or were you more amused with the character during her time with Edge and are sick of her now?

I disliked her at first, but I was still quite a mark back then. In fact, it was from noticing how good a "bad guy" Edge was that I started to become the fan I am now. That led me to pay attention to the subtleties of many characters and appreciate them for what they are. It's strange to think that Vickie is such a great heel now, looking back to her early appearances with Eddie. I can't say I've seen someone pick up on being a heel as quickly and naturally as she has. I think Vickie still has it; she typically gets the biggest heat of the night whenever she appears, and as long as she isn't overused, then it's all good.

 

[Hulk Hogan's Brother]

Vickie has some 'attributes' that can contribute to a performer being subject to 'X-Pac ' heat. She has an extremely annoying voice, isn't very attractive and plays a woman who uses her clout to have relationships with men about half her age. And she is the widow of a superstar who was adored by tons of fans and whose death was very tragic. She should be rather easy to hate. But that is the thing with 'X-Pac' heat. If you use it correctly, it can be a boon for you but if you do not use it correctly, it can be a curse. And Vickie uses all her hateable qualities rather well. The 'Excuse Me' chant attracts heat that any heel would love to attract. She plays off the crowd well and her reactions, while a bit over the top, are perfect for a person performing in front of a large crowd.

X-Pac's case is rather funny. He was a small guy but he was a heel even when he was facing off against giants like Kane. Let that sink in for a second. Everyone loves an underdog story. The easiest way for a little guy to get cheered is if he tries to take down a giant. But that did not happen with X-Pac. That is how much people disliked him and his antics.

Till something similar happens with Vickie, ie she gets booed even as a face, I do not think that anyone can make the distinction whether she is getting booed for her performance or her personality. It is said that a person should be considered innocent till proven guilty and therefore I guess you have to credit her performance for the heat she generates.

 

[XXJJ]

I like Vickie, I think she is doing a great job in her manager role. I think its the perfect role for her. I hated her when she was more of a focal point on Smackdown. The whole Vickie/Edge and La Familia made Smackdown really tough to watch. I dont think she is getting "go away heat".. I think the fans just love to boo her.

John Laurinities might be someone that is getting "go away heat". He is just too dull and boring at playing a corporate stooge type of role.