What exactly is the "look"

[anthonymclaughlin]

Reading through the threads, time and time again I read about the "look" that a wrestler must have, i.e he has the mic skills, the wrestling ability and the "look". Now many people seem to think this means having a muscular build or being just a freakishly large person, i disagree, while i think that the build of a person helps , it's something far more intangible than just his that. For instance many people think Dolph Ziggler has the look and i couldn't disagree more, yes he is one of the most talented athletes in the business and i love watching his matches, but he's just not intimidating. Could you really see him having a stare down with Stone Cold? I mean SCSA is a scary guy, he just has such an intensity about him. CM punk and Edge are examples of guys that aren't overly built, but you see them and think, holy crap those guys would actually beat the life out of me if i crossed them.
What do you think?

 

[Jdulemba1001]

"The look" means something different to each wrestler. I understand your point about Ziggler, he couldnt intimidate a fly. To me, "the look" just means that you stand out. Zigglers hair and sense of style are different than anyone elses. Not a cookie cutter looking guy. Ryder has this as well with his spiked hair. The look is what makes you stand out physically.

 

[ITrippedTheShockmaster]

This is a pretty interesting thread. Kudos.

"The Look," as you put it, is a pretty abstract thing. The definition differs from person to person.

For the sake of this discussion, "The Look" seems to be a mixture of physical appearance, mic skills, wrestling skills and personality wrapped up all into one nice, neat little package for mass distribution. The talent that can take all of those attributes and turn them into something that garners massive fan reaction either way can be rare. Some are good on the mic, but can't wrestle. Some can wrestle, but don't have the physical appearance. Some have the physical look, but no personality. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Any combination of the aforementioned qualities. Someone that embodies all of those is pretty rare. Many have to work on one or more aspects over time, while some just sort of have it built into their DNA.

"The Look" can also be used to reference what made wrestling popular in the first place - strong, athletic men and women who portray larger-than-life characters that can perform feats of athletic skill that many of us can only dream of doing. In short, there's a level of basing current performers' attributes against those of performers from the past that are considered measuring sticks.

Ultimately, it falls upon the bookers and upper management as to what fits their respective definitions of "The Look." Does this talent "look" like someone they can brand and put out there to represent the company?

 

[Danger Burger]

To a point "the Look" is exactly like what ProWrestling FAn said, what we consider the look to be is the muscles, the hogan, HHH, even Cena and Brock appeal! I would say Davey Boy Smith is the ultimate epitome of this! If there was ever a look, that guy had it! Maybe Psycho Sid (Vicious, if youre WCW) and goldberg could fit the bill too (bill goldberg, get it?)! Right now, sheamus is the guy!

But to the WWE, thats probly not really it, it was for a long time, but lately its not! Thats probly for two reasons, one being steroids are out, unless you want the whole roster dead at 35, and therefore making "the look" alot rarer to come across and two, simply regular changes in what people want! Wheter its vince, or because he's stepping down and trips is paying more attention to style and ability! But people like CM punk or D-bry (especially D-bry) wouldnt have gotten the push back in the day!

The guy behind me Jdulemba1001 is probly closer to the truth of the insider aspect! Its much like tha rap industry, where you need a unique voice or way of talking or nobodys going to want to listen, theres got to be something that sets you apart! Ziggler has the look, in the sense that he looks good, and he looks like ziggler and noone else (excluding, mr perfect of course) Does zack ryder... Only a bit, but he made up for it in having A LOOK (different from THE look) a look is the clothes, the merch, and Ryder owns that! Punk has the tattoes and D-bry kind of gets by on NOT having the look! Thats his defining feature! It doesnt matter if youre ridiculously handsome like the rock, or the oposite like Austin, you just need something that sets you apart!

 

[Mustang Sally]

It depends on the type of character the wrestler is playing. One of the good things about pro wrestling is that everyone who gets in the ring doesn't look alike. There are different body types, different attitudes and varying degrees of wrestling skill; a brawler isn't supposed to wrestle like a technical performer......and vice-versa.

For instance; Evan Bourne. By the definition above, he doesn't look like a wrestler, doesn't look threatening.....does that mean there's no place for him in a WWE ring? Of course not. If you occasionally like a match with flying maneuvers, you're not going to see it from Brock Lesnar or Triple H, right? On the other hand, I enjoy watching Brock or Trips brawl, while it wouldn't be a pleasing sight coming from Evan Bourne or Kofi Kingston.

How about the girls? The only ones who look threatening are Beth Phoenix and Kharma. Does that make them the only ones with the "look?" No, because women's wrestling is different than men's, to say the least. You have to make your own decision about whether you'd want to see the lovely-to-look-at, technically inept divas of today as opposed to the doughy but capable wrestlers of Fabulous Moolah's era.

The "look" of a wrestler? It depends who's in the ring and what kind of exhibition WWE has decided to put before us. Many of the "tough guys" were hard on the eyes. I remember seeing a clip of a guy named Bulldog Brower from the 60's. He looked tough and menacing, to be sure.....he also looked as if he did his training in Burger King. He appeared to be a guy who could legitimately clear out a bar fight, but if every wrestler were a clone of Brower's, watching wrestling wouldn't be very interesting. That there is such diversity in whom we're seeing is part of what keeps me watching. If everyone looked and wrestled like Bulldog Brower, I would have changed the channel long ago.

 

[ProudFlairMark]

Instead of referring to "it" as "the look," I think the more appropriate terminology would be simply the "it" factor. Wrestling fans often speak of "it" as a particular characteristic or ability. "It" is all encompassing. When you have "it," you can hone your craft, develop your skills and refine your weak points and accentuate those and downplay any negative features to compensate. If I had to pick one attribute that I most directly associate with "it," it's charisma. If you're not charismatic, it doesn't matter if you have muscles in places most people don't have places (credit: Bobby "The Brain" Heenen), you will not be successful. Just ask Mason Ryan, Big Zeke, Chris Masters, etc. Charisma will get you over, muscles will not.

To me, the absolute epitome of this is one of my all time favorites, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes looked like, well, like a "common man." Big Dust was never in the greatest physical shape (although incredibly gifted for a man his size in the way of endurance and stamina), but he has a presence that was undeniable. His ability to connect with the audience is probably unparalleled, and he did it all while having a lisp, a lazy eye, a tummy splotch and not having what some might deem a "desirable" figure. Dusty mirrored society, which is something absent from today's product.

 

[Ithil]

Hulk Hogan, Triple-H, Sting, Edge etc are examples of what a "Wrestler" should look like.

Those people all look completely different from each other.

Let me tell you a secret, folks, the "look", the ideal "look", in pro wrestling, is that of _____ (wrestler I like).

 

[President Evil]

I have thought of this before. And honestly, not because he's back, but I have to say Brock Lesnar does have the most perfect "look". Specially during his first run of 2002-2004 he looked awesome. I quote "look' because we all know the mic is not his strength.

Other 2 wrestlers I can associate with this is Mr. Perfect Curt Henning and Kurt Angle. These 2 always had that cool olympian/athlete look and feel to them.

 

[2Sweet_4Life]

Idc if Ziggler isnt intimidating he makes me laugh when he does the show-off gimmick in the ring and his in ring skills are brilliant it so much more entertaining than watching a hulk hogan match who is supposedly intimidating. Also in terms of the look that goes to GOLDBERG. He is the definition of intimidating. His theme, the body, the beard, the bald head you just thought someone was going to get broke in half.

 

[dtroppe]

The look is one of the most important factors in getting over. You have to be tall muscular handsome and confident. The look can be best explained by the most famous wrestlers of all time. Hogan, rock, stone cold, cena, Goldberg, warrior, sting, hhh, and undertaker. Hbk has the look even though he is shorter. He carries himself with confidence and looks great. The look is the reason cm punk will never be able to cross over to the level of cena or rock. The look is marketability and main stream attention.

 

[PowerHouse]

I don't think there is a single "Look" but more along the lines of certain attributes that are looked for. Guys like Hogan,Hall,HHH,Cena,Lesnar,Goldberg,Davey Boy Smith,Sting,Ultimate Warrior and others all have very much different looks. But what they all share is they all are or were very muscular and at one time could move or can move around the ring with either very good athletic ability or decent athletic ability. Goldberg although i thought he was horrible in the ring all around he brought ALOT of athletic ability for a guy his size which for the way he looked and height and being close to 300 pounds was very rare. I think he kind of set a new standard for what guys at that Height,weight and muscularity should be athletic wise. Lesnar was the next guy with that same kind of athletic ability at that same size range. I think Ryback also has that athletic ability at that size to be a force. Thats my take I don't really think its a look but a combo of attributes that defines the "Look"

 

[Defekt]

I've always thought of "the look" as a wrestler looking cool, intimidating, or just overall interesting.

For example, Heath Slater is a guy I would say does not have "the look." He's a bit pale, wears very generic ring gear, and his hair is kinda odd looking. Nothing about his appearance is particularly memorable, and my first impression of him would be that he is not overly important.

A guy like Edge, for example, I would say had "the look." He was tall, good looking, had elaborate, custom ring gear, and a giant mane of blonde hair.

Edge looked like a villian out of a comic book, while Heath Slater looks like just another wrestler.

My opinion at least.

 

[drugfreeford]

The "Look" is something that makes you look credible, yet, it sets you aside from everyone else.

Off-Topic, does CM Punk and the S.E.S remind anyone else of Undertaker and the Ministry Of Darkness?

 

[PowerHouse]

Ummm I dont see any comparison between CM Punk and the Straight Edge Society and the Undertaker and his Ministry that is a really far reach IMO. Not even close to being remotley similar.

 

[drugfreeford]

I believe so because the big beard. Converting everyone into living a certain lifestyle and/or making all his followers have a certain personality trait. The monstrous evil looks. The claims of being a god. The take over angle. The evil things they do and the outrageous things they did. They had no respect for anybody. There was even a rumor that CM Punk was supposed to recruit more members such as Vance Archer, Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, Curt Hawkins, and Tyler Reks. He was also gonna try and scare McMahon and do things that would get him locked up. He would invade McMahon's home, win the world title, and also simotaneously feud with the biggest face of that time.

Even in New Nexus, CM Punk was having sacrifices made by his followers, where as in the Ministry Of Darkness, Undertaker made his followers make sacrifices.