Why All The Generic Names For Wrestlers?

[XXJJ]

I agree, it definately hurts the guys trying to get over. It makes them all feel the same. They need to be given names or characters that can stand out more.

 

[Defekt]

I guess people feel different ways about this.

My two cents is this:

When I started watching wrestling in 1995, most wrestlers had gimmicks. This made everyone pretty memorable and identifiable. Even if he's terrible, you don't forget the wrestling plumber.

After a long absence, I started watching wrestling again in 2005. By this time, most guys used their real name, or something similar to a real name. This made it much harder for me to keep track of guys when I was still new to the shows.

Honestly, to this day I have a hard time remembering the names of former NEXUS members, and other jobbers. I wouldn't mind a little more flair in the ring names.

 

[Nada]

In the 80s, larger than life, comic book characters were in, in music, movies and wrestling. Arnold, Stallone, Van Damme, Norris were all characters taken out of a comic book, the same happened in wrestling, strong individuality and presence was all over our society.

Today things are different, we live in a reality world now where majority of people want to see reality, real people doing real things. You cant bring characters like Earthquake, Barbarian, Hercules today, it just would not work.

Dont blame WWE, they are actually following the times when it comes to this which is a rare thing from them. Look how long it took them to take internet seriously and accept it as part of our everyday lives.

Austin and Rock were over because they were real, themselves. Its one of the reasons why Cena has trouble breaking the mainstream barrier and making most fans cheer for him, he feels manufactored, he feels like a wrestler who belongs in 1990 in a feud with Rick Martel rather than in the year 2011 where people want reality. That is entirely different topic but somewhat related to names, even tough his name is "normal" compared to others.

 

[Arsenal]

In the 80s, larger than life, comic book characters were in, in music, movies and wrestling. Arnold, Stallone, Van Damme, Norris were all characters taken out of a comic book, the same happened in wrestling, strong individuality and presence was all over our society.

Today things are different, we live in a reality world now where majority of people want to see reality, real people doing real things. You cant bring characters like Earthquake, Barbarian, Hercules today, it just would not work.

Dont blame WWE, they are actually following the times when it comes to this which is a rare thing from them. Look how long it took them to take internet seriously and accept it as part of our everyday lives.

Austin and Rock were over because they were real, themselves. Its one of the reasons why Cena has trouble breaking the mainstream barrier and making most fans cheer for him, he feels manufactored, he feels like a wrestler who belongs in 1990 in a feud with Rick Martel rather than in the year 2011 where people want reality. That is entirely different topic but somewhat related to names, even tough his name is "normal" compared to others.

Who are these "people" you speak of? I've watched wrestling for over 25 years, and I think the current product is bland, boring, and worse than it's ever been. There is a lack of powerful, impactful, and interesting characters and storylines. Everyone I know my age who grew up watching wrestling feels the same way, and no longer watches. I'll join them soon in not watching if the WWE doesn't become more interesting soon. Losing lifelong fans by pandering to the current trend of reality shows doesn't seem to be helping the ratings and buyrates any.