What's the big deal about Bobby Roode?

[RoyalSkull]

This guy is one of the only TNA-bred talents that is constantly pushed or showcased, but what for? His in ring work is nothing special, I find his promos to be generic as hell and unconvincing. I haven't seen mediocrity look so good since Randy Orton. If anyone out there cares about Bobby Roode, please, convince me why I should do the same.

 

[Gelgarin]

In a comperny where the smarky crown force damn near every heel into tweener territory, Roode invariable managed to draw very stong heat from the crowd (To my ears, him and Brother Ray are the only two getting full blown heel reactions) so he's obviously got something going for him.

In terms of in ring skills, he's solid, but consistantly solid, which is quite alot better than being inconsistantly good (alla Eric Young or Kaz).

If I am going to ley a criticism at his door, his promos are inconsistant, frequently he'll toe one line one week, then say something contradictory the next, but I surspect that's more to do with the writing staff that with Roode himself.

 

[Father:_Polley]

Robert Roode has that mr perfect type gimmick going for him where he is completely self-obsessed. and that's one of the few things to draw solid heel heat, admitting that you don't give a crap about anyone else.
in the ring, he's good. he's never going to out-wrestle kurt angle but he can get it done in the ring. if anything, he'd be perfect just before the attitude era, where the focus was on less spots and big moves. besides, as a heel he's never going to have to do high risk moves. he's making the most of what he can do well.

yes, his promos at times are awful, but he's ok for a heel and can only get better over time

 

[Slim Pickns]

The only problem I see with Robert Roode is that his character really doesn't seem like it is going to go anywhere from here. TNA has been trying to get him over by putting him in the ring with big stars like Booker and Jarrett, but the TNA crowd is never going to go for that.

As Gelgarin mentioned, TNA has a very smarky crowd, which makes it harder for heels to work their character and get booed. Roode managed to do that, but unfortunately he has the style that goes stale fast. He needs something to change and not just a win over Booker T.

 

[Los666]

I've heard several people say that Robert Roode is alot like a young Triple H, in that this is not the character that he will be stuck with forever and it will ultimately change somewhere down the line and become better.He may not seem any good now, but whos to say what the future could be like. Did anybody ever expect Hunter Hearst Helmsley to ever become The Game and eventually an 11 time (as of writing) world champion?

TNA need one of their own heels to rise through the ranks and not have to rely on Kurt Angle. Besides, Angles not gonna be around forever and when he goes who the next one in line to become the big heel of TNA. They did something similar with Samoa Joe by giving him the world title because they know that Sting isn't gonna be around forever and it looks bad if they were to be seen to rely on former WWE wrestlers all the time.

Speaking of Sting, perhaps it would be a good idea if Roode entered into a feud with him. If Roode were to pick up at least one pinfall victory (through cheating of course) over Sting then maybe people would look at Roode more seriously.

 

[BradXXX]

You know, I'm a long time wrestling fan, and pretty much gave up the past few years. However I've been getting back into the game so to speak, and I've been watching TNA pretty solidly these last few months. And Robert Roode is a character I noticed that I think is one of the better things TNA has done.

I think he is a very solid heel, and I see a lot of potential in him. The way he does things he has a way of generating that hatred inside of you the way a real heel should.

In the midst of all the ridiculous characters, and the circus-like environment, I think Roode is somewhat of a breath of fresh air when he is on the tube.

What I think TNA really botched however was his match w/ Booker at Lockdown. Definitely could have done that a lot better, neither wrestler really got anything out of it.

 

[SpiralHands]

I think Robert Roode is pretty good heel to be honest. He can draw big time heat form a crowd one of the only people in TNA who can, his promos I dont have a problem with I think they are actually alright, and his in ring work is consitantly average which is good really, I dont know why some people say he has a JBL gimmick, becuase he really doesnt hes more Mr.Perfect than that! But anywhos, I think hes a great heel, I cant see him going to the top with his current gimmick but perhaps in the future if he can get that much heat as a different gimmick then by all means!

 

[africonda]

Roode is not mr perfect his gimmick is nothing like mr perfect, maybe he uses the perfect plex but that is it, with perfect ,he had those promos where he did everything perfect, the way he walked to the ring, the attitude he had, the confidence, the cockiness, roode doesnt have that at all. the only thing that says mr perfect about roode is the curly hair and the finisher. to me, roode reminds me of mr kennedy in that i dont get what people see in him, kennedy does have good mic skills but he is really boring to me for some reason. he doesnt even look like a wrestler. roode, i dunno just does not interest me at all, like if you had a match with him vs kurt angle, i wouldnt care and i am a believer that angle can make an awesome match with anyone

 

[abrighterabyss]

You know, I'm a long time wrestling fan, and pretty much gave up the past few years. However I've been getting back into the game so to speak, and I've been watching TNA pretty solidly these last few months. And Robert Roode is a character I noticed that I think is one of the better things TNA has done.

I think he is a very solid heel, and I see a lot of potential in him. The way he does things he has a way of generating that hatred inside of you the way a real heel should.

In the midst of all the ridiculous characters, and the circus-like environment, I think Roode is somewhat of a breath of fresh air when he is on the tube.

What I think TNA really botched however was his match w/ Booker at Lockdown. Definitely could have done that a lot better, neither wrestler really got anything out of it.

I agree, out of the Team Canada stable. He's one of the one's wrestlers that I was real surprised with. He comes across a full out bastard, which is great. I think the angle with Traci Brooks was great getting him over as a heel. They tip toed that line where it was harsh enough but never really crossed a that real uncomfortable line.

 

[FromTheSouth]

He needs a new gimmick.. The idea that he is filthy rich from stocks doesn't match the look. He's supposed to be a stock broker, but looks like a guy that dates high school girls when he's 26. I don't know what gimmick you give him, just take away the idea that he's an asshole millionaire. Just make him an asshole. Make him walk around trying to kiss all the women, just do something.

I do agree that he's consistent, never awe-inspiring in the ring, but never bad either. He does need a new finisher, but I wouldn't know what to give him.


And now......

Robert Roode hits a guy with his car. He can't decide whether or not to take him to the hospital, because of the, you know questions about the crown on his breath. So, he takes him to his friend, who harvests his kidneys and sells them to Guatemalan villagers. With bloody hands and a smile on his face, he accepts his $5,000 commission, saying, "It pays to be Roode."



Robert Roode attends a strip club in Orlando. During a lap dance he gets a little "grabby" and the stripper complains, but as she leaves, $100 falls from her g-string. Roode grabs the money, and he's being escorted out of the building says, "It pays to be Roode."


Robert Roode puts on a skirt, shaves his beard, and does his ramen-like hair all nice. He goes to the corner of main street, and waits for a man to pick him up. At the hotel room, the john puts $100 on the dresser and turns around to be hit with a steel chair that he didn't notice upon coming into the room. Roode grabs the hundred, and the guy's wallet, which contains $400 more. As he leaves the room, he turns and smiles, "It pays to be a dude."


Sorry, I love those jokes.

 

[crymetyme]

TNA is just trying way too hard to match it's gimmicks with the WWE's. Roode's the Orton or JBL of TNA. But, he is one of the few TNA wrestlers that I am a huge fan of, along with LAX and Kaz. Roode has what it takes to be a big heel, and I could see him as being champ by the end of the year, but they need to kick it up a notch and make him more ruthless, more full of himself, more backstabbing and make him the baddest heel that any wrestling promotion has ever seen.

 

[FromTheSouth]

Cryme, I get where you are going here. The only problem, is that there are only so many roles that wrestlers fit into. There are your all-American clean cut faces (Cena, Hogan), your tweeners (Stone Cold, DX), your overcome all odds faces (HBK, Mysterio), your cruisers and technicians, your smarmy cheat to win heels (Orton, Roode), brawlers (HHH), stunt men (Foley), and monsters (Abyss, Kane).

Both companies piggyback each other. True, TNA uses the standard character templates WWE uses, but WWE ripped and adapted those from AWA, NWA, etc. Even the angles mimic each other. TNA pulled Matt Morgan from management and is pushing him. The Raw GM is King of the Ring. Both companies ran retirement angles within a month of each other.

I would argue that TNA has had more original angles of late. The ockdown PPV is a great idea. That PPV serves as an end-all to many feuds. Cage matches signify the final end all be all of a feud. I like this deuces wild tournament. Both companies are intent on throwing random wrestlers together until they find a tag team that works (Rated RKO, Rhodes Holly, Shark and Curry, Miz and Morrison). The WWE's original storylines of late include a midget custody dispute and incest. I would argue advantage TNA personally.

 

[TheOneBigWill]

This guy is one of the only TNA-bred talents that is constantly pushed or showcased, but what for? His in ring work is nothing special, I find his promos to be generic as hell and unconvincing. I haven't seen mediocrity look so good since Randy Orton. If anyone out there cares about Bobby Roode, please, convince me why I should do the same.

Okay, so first I just wanna throw out one small correction before I get started.

Bobby Roode: Was nothing more than a thug enforcer that barely got to speak two words and hit people with a hockey stick from behind a lot. The guy was a random body in a group, lead by a fat guy and a cruiserweight/x-division star.

Robert Roode: IS MONEY! Understand that. The guy is solid on the microphone, and in order to truly appreciate that, you have to understand where his promos are coming from. You see, this guy's biggest claim to fame was busting a Woman in the mouth. But thats okay, because it got him as much T.N.A. fan heat, as Edge got from W.W.E. fans regarding Lita.

You see, when they originally packaged him, they stuck him with a "money" type gimmick, and it fizzled in a ways because he didn't have the "attitude" to go with the gimmick. He didn't have the cockiness or the arrogance that was needed for the spot. All he did was boss around Ms. Brooks.

Well, that all changed when fans saw him knock the shit out of Sharmell. Then fans were suddenly like "Holy shit, dude just knocked out a woman. Thats f*cking bullshit, I hate him." And there you have it.. his gimmick is money.. because he instantly became just that.

I like this guy because he sells the gimmick hes given, and thats a pompous ass. A prick that would stump to any level to get ahead, including drilling a Woman in the face. Sure, its a bad way to get your name in the paper (so to speak) but thats why Robert Roode is finally getting noticed. And its better to be remembered for something, that'll make you infamous, than not being remembered at all.

 

[HellBoundPower]

I think the reason TNA pushes Roode is because he's a solid talent that's reliable. I've never seen him have a bad match, and I've never seen him cut a horrible promo. He might not be the best on the stick, but he's better than 75% of the TNA Roster. His gimmick didn't seem to fit him at first, but over time he's gotten into the role, and I think he's finally found his niche. When older people like Sting, Nash, Jarrett, and Booker retire, Roode is going to be a Main Event player, and a reliable part of the TNA Roster. He has a bright future ahead of him.

 

[Instant Classic]

The hitting Sharmell stryline was an example of good creative by TNA it really put him over as a heel. TNA should try more creative along these lines with lengthier more well constructed feuds. But I can't help feel its dying off. They aren't giving Roode enough airtime, and mic time to cement himself as a truely hated heel, like say Edge is on Smackdown. It's a pity because he is not only a great mic worker, but a great wrestler too. In many ways Roode is an old fasioned heel, fans just plain hate him he's doesnt get mixed reactions because he's kind of cool or funny he is just plain hated, a bit like Jarrett but more talented IMO.