Was Vince McMahon right all along? Big guys are better for the industry.

[Mouthy Idiot]

This is a debate I know alot of people have had over the years. Vince used to be heavily criticised for being "in love" with the big massive bulky wrestlers from the 80's and early 90's. This is probably the one biggest whine I have ever heard from fans and even pro wrestling journalists is how Vince would hold down smaller guys who supposedly had more "talent". But I mean lets be honest here , I think Vince was right all along. If you honestly look at how powerful the WWF/WWE used to be compared to pop culture now. I feel the product was more believeable and kind of more alluring when the big guys were the top guys. Back in the day there used to be so many big guys who just looked huge and it really added to the kind of atmosphere of what a pro wrestler should be.

When guys like Andre and Hulk and Warrior and Sid and Yoko and Taker and sooo many others would walk out it really was something to see. These big giant like men in colorful costumes and large personalities. It just had a certain feel to it. I understand times change and the product some feel is better now but the lack of big monster legendary characters is so gone now. These days most of the stars are lean and ripped and just look more like athletes. And yeah I understand its a more 2012 look and feel but pro wrestling always was based on these large strong men who didnt look like the rest of the population. It was a freak show on a grand scale.

It just seems to me that Vince was on to something and all of these years of small guys being held back was more or less based on the tradition of wrestling. I do agree that smaller guys can make matches more flashy and high spots are always looked at in amazment. But I just cant picture guys like Daniel Bryan , Dolph , Cody Rhodes , Orton , Christian so many of these guys . they have good bodies but they are lean and skinny looking compared to traditional wrestler standards , CM Punk and Miz dont even have good bodies in general. Guys like Steve Austin and Rock and Cena and Batista and HHH were all big enough to look realistic. They had decent size , Austin wasnt as ripped and built as guys like HHH but he had enough bulk to look big. But to sum it up , the big massive guys "steroids or not" were the ones you were in awe of.

 

[stephenjpunk317]

I'm pretty mixed about the big guy thing. I mean you still have to have the talent. Look at Great Khali, are we in awes of him because of his size? Maybe at first, but then you start watching him move, and you think this guy can't do anything. Half the time he's not even coming close with that club of his.

And I've watched a lot of the older WWE stuff, so big guys were all around back then. But the appeal of Hogan was his charisma. I never thought oh I want to be that big. I felt like he was just speaking to me. Or someone like Stone Cold who didn't have a good body, but could do the job when needed. Sure Triple H and Batista were huge, but they could back it up with actually wrestling and their mic skills.

So maybe the bigger isn't always better as you look at CM Punk and how far he's come along. Or the guys like Dolph Ziggler and Cody Rhodes. They're not big by any means, but definitely have something that works.

 

[Dream]

Well, bigger guys just seem more badass IMO. Being the size of Big Show is too big and limits you in the ring severely, IMO. My ideal wrestler is built, but in an athletic way. I think Randy Orton has one of the better bodies in WWE. (no homo)

 

[masonwade313]

dude..u wouldn't believe this but i said the same thing just last week to a facebook wrestling group i was in and people literately ripped into me bad about what i said..i totally agree with everything u said and i'll take it even a step future...THIS IS THE MAIN REASON THE WWE BUY RATES ARE DOWN... Yes they were just mainly punch and kick then clothesline and Body slam guys..but they were larger then life characters...they made u want to buy and see them live because u just couldnt believe they were so damn BIGGGGGGG!! i remember when i first saw Yokozuna live I couldnt believe how big he was and how well he moved...HIS DAMN LEG WAS BIGGER THAN MY WHOLE BODY and I weighed 200 pounds back then....I was like OMFG!!! Now we see Daniel Bryant/CM PUNK as champion.....and yes they may be better wrestlers...yes they may be more high spots and more entertainment...but are they better champions...do they make you wanna buy a payper view..ARE THEY BELIEVABLE... do i believe in a real fight that Bryant can defeat a Big Show or a Mark Henry...HELLLLSSSS NO!! people got so heated at me that it began to get heated and started with threats and curse words...had to leave the group..but I agree with you 100%

 

[Punkftw]

Big guys have always seemed more bad-ass and dominant in the WWE. Its sad that in today's roster, we only have a few. I mean, its fun watching superstars like Punk, Ziggler, Miz etc but guys like Rock, Austin, Triple H, Batista gave more of a wrestling atmosphere. I hope in today's WWE, Wade Barrett is really given a huge push

 

[PlayTheGame]

I think having varied talent is the best, and the WWE seems to have quite a variation. If anything, they should add/push a few more big guys, as it seems they have quite a few "smaller" guys already in place. Just look at the two world champs- Punk & Bryan. By contrast to someone like Big Show or Khali, they're small. And right now, they're on top. The WWE even has some a decent amount of superheavyweights in place- Show, Khali, Henry, Kane, Undertaker. IMO, they need a few more "Batista's", big-bodied heavyweights. If only Mason Ryan had worked out.

In the end, I think variation is the answer, and that's obviously the route WWE is going. But you can never have too many heavyweights like a "Batista". They're big, but not too big where it limits what they can do in the ring. They still have great stamina and agility while also having monster-like stopping power and strength. I wish they could build a few more up like this. It's why Cena's a belivable champ- he physically has it all. Add a few more of these guys in my opinion. But I think overall, variation is key, and that's what the WWE is currently going with.

 

[The Scarred One]

I think having varied talent is the best, and the WWE seems to have quite a variation. If anything, they should add/push a few more big guys, as it seems they have quite a few "smaller" guys already in place. Just look at the two world champs- Punk & Bryan. By contrast to someone like Big Show or Khali, they're small. And right now, they're on top. The WWE even has some a decent amount of superheavyweights in place- Show, Khali, Henry, Kane, Undertaker. IMO, they need a few more "Batista's", big-bodied heavyweights. If only Mason Ryan had worked out.

In the end, I think variation is the answer, and that's obviously the route WWE is going. But you can never have too many heavyweights like a "Batista". They're big, but not too big where it limits what they can do in the ring. They still have great stamina and agility while also having monster-like stopping power and strength. I wish they could build a few more up like this. It's why Cena's a belivable champ- he physically has it all. Add a few more of these guys in my opinion. But I think overall, variation is key, and that's what the WWE is currently going with.

I totally agree. There should a good mix of body types when it comes to making an enjoyable product that appeals to both kids and adults.

It can be said that kids don't really care if someone is a good wrestler or not. Look at John Cena. He's not the most gifted when it comes to wrestling, but he puts on a good show, he's very charismatic and he looks like a real-life superhero. The same could be said for Jeff Hardy when he was in the WWE. He was no Kurt Angle or Chris Benoit, but he had that aura and look about him that just made kids look upon him in awe. So having guys like the Big Show, the Great Khali and Mark Henry is essential because their size along is really a sight to behold for a young fan.

At the same time, as kids mature and realize that having just a good and imposing look isn't enough, that's when guys like CM Punk and Daniel Bryan come in. Adults would rather watch them put on a good match than watch the likes of the Great Khali lumber around as if he was the Frankenstein Monster. As one grows up, the novelty of being a giant in wrestling eventually wears off on them. That's when you have the wrestlers come in to entertain those fans.

So a good mixture of bodies is needed to appeal to all fans.