Why The Love For Santino? (The Underdog Curse)

[d_henderson1810]

I don't get everyone's love for that jobber, Santino Marella. I mean, precious PPV time was wasted on Santino trying to emulate Rocky Balboa (Vince McMahon's "Rocky" training leading up to RR '99 was much funnier). I knew when they put Santino in the match, and then did endless "Rocky" hype for him, he would be in the last two or three.

Anyway, he lasted until the last two, and buried Wade Barrett on the way. I now declare that Barrett will never be a main-eventer now, since a pint-sized jobber pinned him to three (let's not forget, Barrett destroyed Orton and storyline injured him the last few months, only to piss his build down the toilet by a joke like Santino pinning him.

They also had Santino be the last man eliminated from a 40-Man Royal Rumble a year ago. So, in two matches now, I know the winner before the end, because I know Santino will not win. These spots could be used for a credible threat to get over (such as Wade Barrett was), but no, it is wasted on some comedy jobber, just to appease some easily-amused fans.

I used to like Santino's shtick. When he mangled names and dressed as Santina, he was hilarious. But back, then, he was a heel, and got his arse handed to him over it. I thought that Santino and William Regal would make a good tag-team, and would have enjoyed their segments together.

Instead of Santino being a deluded, cowardly heel, he now plays to the crowd, and it is sickening. That stupid trumpet gesture, for example. But what I hate the most is the "cobra". He hits them in the head with his fingers, and the opponent goes down to it. How would that hurt. Even if the cobra was a poke to the eye, it would be better, but ramming your fingers into someone's forehead would sting, but not knock them off their feet. But because stupid nuff-nuffs think it is funny, he constantly does it.

What I don't get is, people here bag Hornswoggle and other people who do backstage comedy, yet they applaud this clown. What am I missing?

The only thing I can think is that it is this stupid underdog mentality moronic wrestling fans have. They get behind jokes like Santino and Zack Ryder (I would say Dolph Ziggler too, but he has some talent). They want to see them win the title and main-event Wrestlemania. Yet , if they did this, the same moronic fans would turn on them. Proof? C.M. Punk and Daniel Bryan were much-loved by the IWC before they main-evented. You people complained that they should be pushed, week after week. Now, they are champions, and I start seeing some negative posts about them.

Why would you want someone to succeed, and then, when they do, you turn on them? Are you really that stupid and fickle?

IMO, Santino made the Elimination Chamber Match a joke, which buried Wade Barrett and made the match predictable, when it was only he and Bryan left. All just to appease some people who have a weird sense of humour.

 

[SacredMesa]

I feel much the same way about him, and hornswaggle, and brodus clay, and I could go on a rather large list but I'll save time. Now this is not to say that comedy doesn't have a place in wrestling, I'm fine with things that can make me laugh but it needs to be appropriate.

The Rock telling Billy guy that "if I hit you I'll kill and if I miss you the wind behind the punch will give you pnumonia and you'll die anyway" was funny and appropriate.

Shawn Michaels and Triple H using that dumb letter the USA network sent them in their mock presidential address was appropriate humor.

Santino running around playing a fake trombone and poking people with his fingers is just stupid and doesn't belong in wrestling.

Hornswaggle beating people like Sheamus and making wishes to Santa to speak, and of all damn thing retiring the damn cruiser weight title, doesn't belong.

Brodus Clay shacking his butt while some guy humps his leg acting like he is trying to lift him is just ******ed and doesn't belong, not saying his character can't be semi-decent the delivery of it right now though is just silly.

Comedy in wrestling can be good and respectable in wrestling but it has to be appropriate to the context of wrestling and right now the only person who seems to know how to be funny and appropriate in the context of wrestling has been CM Punk and Jericho with their jabs at each other.

 

[Nate DaMac]

I don't get everyone's love for that jobber, Santino Marella. I mean, precious PPV time was wasted on Santino trying to emulate Rocky Balboa (Vince McMahon's "Rocky" training leading up to RR '99 was much funnier). I knew when they put Santino in the match, and then did endless "Rocky" hype for him, he would be in the last two or three.

Anyway, he lasted until the last two, and buried Wade Barrett on the way. I now declare that Barrett will never be a main-eventer now, since a pint-sized jobber pinned him to three (let's not forget, Barrett destroyed Orton and storyline injured him the last few months, only to piss his build down the toilet by a joke like Santino pinning him.

They also had Santino be the last man eliminated from a 40-Man Royal Rumble a year ago. So, in two matches now, I know the winner before the end, because I know Santino will not win. These spots could be used for a credible threat to get over (such as Wade Barrett was), but no, it is wasted on some comedy jobber, just to appease some easily-amused fans.

I used to like Santino's shtick. When he mangled names and dressed as Santina, he was hilarious. But back, then, he was a heel, and got his arse handed to him over it. I thought that Santino and William Regal would make a good tag-team, and would have enjoyed their segments together.

Instead of Santino being a deluded, cowardly heel, he now plays to the crowd, and it is sickening. That stupid trumpet gesture, for example. But what I hate the most is the "cobra". He hits them in the head with his fingers, and the opponent goes down to it. How would that hurt. Even if the cobra was a poke to the eye, it would be better, but ramming your fingers into someone's forehead would sting, but not knock them off their feet. But because stupid nuff-nuffs think it is funny, he constantly does it.

What I don't get is, people here bag Hornswoggle and other people who do backstage comedy, yet they applaud this clown. What am I missing?

The only thing I can think is that it is this stupid underdog mentality moronic wrestling fans have. They get behind jokes like Santino and Zack Ryder (I would say Dolph Ziggler too, but he has some talent). They want to see them win the title and main-event Wrestlemania. Yet , if they did this, the same moronic fans would turn on them. Proof? C.M. Punk and Daniel Bryan were much-loved by the IWC before they main-evented. You people complained that they should be pushed, week after week. Now, they are champions, and I start seeing some negative posts about them.

Why would you want someone to succeed, and then, when they do, you turn on them? Are you really that stupid and fickle?

IMO, Santino made the Elimination Chamber Match a joke, which buried Wade Barrett and made the match predictable, when it was only he and Bryan left. All just to appease some people who have a weird sense of humour.

Translation: I'm a fucking crybaby who didn't get his way.

I could go through all of this and single out every dumbass thing you've said(Wade Barrett didn't get buried, idiot) but I'll just cut to the chase.

You have an opinion. An extremely uninformed opinion that doesn't sync up with the majority of WWE fans. 99% of the crowd fucking loves Santino, he was far and away the most popular competitor of the night.

He was the most valuable asset in his match other than maybe Show and Khali. Rhodes, DB, and Barrett aren't selling merch or putting asses in seats, but I guarantee you that if that little Cobre sock thing goes on sale, Santino will be outselling everyone on Smackdown save for maybe Orton.

He worked more than anybody in that match. He had that crowd eating out of the fucking palm of his hand.

Santino is fucking fantastic.

 

[Daniel]

I don't get everyone's love for that jobber, Santino Marella. I mean, precious PPV time was wasted on Santino trying to emulate Rocky Balboa (Vince McMahon's "Rocky" training leading up to RR '99 was much funnier). I knew when they put Santino in the match, and then did endless "Rocky" hype for him, he would be in the last two or three.

On a PPV that had a Jack Swagger vs. Justin Gabriel match and still came in under three hours, three minutes is not "precious PPV time".

Anyway, he lasted until the last two, and buried Wade Barrett on the way. I now declare that Barrett will never be a main-eventer now, since a pint-sized jobber pinned him to three (let's not forget, Barrett destroyed Orton and storyline injured him the last few months, only to piss his build down the toilet by a joke like Santino pinning him.

So not only have you used the "B" word, you've used it wrong. You cannot be "buried" by one pinfall. It is an impossibility. Anyone with a shred of intelligence will tell you that.

They also had Santino be the last man eliminated from a 40-Man Royal Rumble a year ago. So, in two matches now, I know the winner before the end, because I know Santino will not win.

I agree that having Santino make it to the final two was the wrong way to go. But in last year's Royal Rumble, everyone I know said they thought Santino was going to WrestleMania for at least a second. That incredible shock makes it worthwhile. The Chamber and Rumble are two different animals, and should be treated as such.

These spots could be used for a credible threat to get over (such as Wade Barrett was), but no, it is wasted on some comedy jobber, just to appease some easily-amused fans.

"Easily-amused fans"? Get the fuck off your high horse. Wrestling is all about the fans, dummy. Whether they're easily amused or not.

Instead of Santino being a deluded, cowardly heel, he now plays to the crowd, and it is sickening. That stupid trumpet gesture, for example. But what I hate the most is the "cobra". He hits them in the head with his fingers, and the opponent goes down to it. How would that hurt. Even if the cobra was a poke to the eye, it would be better, but ramming your fingers into someone's forehead would sting, but not knock them off their feet. But because stupid nuff-nuffs think it is funny, he constantly does it.

He plays to the fans? What? You mean like a face? What he fuck is up with that guy, huh? I'm sure a perfect world for you is one where everyone is a heel, or a face "with an edge" at the very least. Fortunately, it doesn't work like that.

What I don't get is, people here bag Hornswoggle and other people who do backstage comedy, yet they applaud this clown. What am I missing?

I happen to think Hornswoggle is very talented for what he does. He gets given shit by the writers, and turns it into comedy the WWE fans enjoy. But here, you're really just lumping in all IWC members to hastily make your point. Hardly intelligent, is it?

The only thing I can think is that it is this stupid underdog mentality moronic wrestling fans have. They get behind jokes like Santino and Zack Ryder (I would say Dolph Ziggler too, but he has some talent). They want to see them win the title and main-event Wrestlemania. Yet , if they did this, the same moronic fans would turn on them. Proof? C.M. Punk and Daniel Bryan were much-loved by the IWC before they main-evented. You people complained that they should be pushed, week after week. Now, they are champions, and I start seeing some negative posts about them.

The underdog mentality isn't exclusive to "moronic wrestling fans" (again, get the fuck off your high horse). Don't you realise that plenty of people like to get behind the underdog? Or are you just oblivious to, you know, society?

Why would you want someone to succeed, and then, when they do, you turn on them? Are you really that stupid and fickle?

Who? Me? I supported Daniel Bryan since he came to the WWE, and remains my favourite wrestler. Nah, can't be me. You must be speaking to the IWC you've created in your head.

IMO, Santino made the Elimination Chamber Match a joke, which buried Wade Barrett and made the match predictable, when it was only he and Bryan left.

I'll try to hit these points in order. Ready? No he didn't, no it didn't and for about a minute.

All just to appease some people who have a weird sense of humour.

I think it was to appease the paying fans, who were in to Santino perhaps more than anyone in that Chamber match. Wrestling is fan-led. The sooner you realise that, the sooner you'll have a better understanding of the business.

 

[d_henderson1810]

I feel much the same way about him, and hornswaggle, and brodus clay, and I could go on a rather large list but I'll save time. Now this is not to say that comedy doesn't have a place in wrestling, I'm fine with things that can make me laugh but it needs to be appropriate.

The Rock telling Billy guy that "if I hit you I'll kill and if I miss you the wind behind the punch will give you pnumonia and you'll die anyway" was funny and appropriate.

Shawn Michaels and Triple H using that dumb letter the USA network sent them in their mock presidential address was appropriate humor.

Santino running around playing a fake trombone and poking people with his fingers is just stupid and doesn't belong in wrestling.

Hornswaggle beating people like Sheamus and making wishes to Santa to speak, and of all damn thing retiring the damn cruiser weight title, doesn't belong.

Brodus Clay shacking his butt while some guy humps his leg acting like he is trying to lift him is just ******ed and doesn't belong, not saying his character can't be semi-decent the delivery of it right now though is just silly.

Comedy in wrestling can be good and respectable in wrestling but it has to be appropriate to the context of wrestling and right now the only person who seems to know how to be funny and appropriate in the context of wrestling has been CM Punk and Jericho with their jabs at each other.

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Totally agree. I wasn't just Santino-inspired comedy I had a problem with. Having Natalya fart while Hornswoggle eats cheese is not funny, either.


There are some who are great at comedy, and some who aren't. You list the Rock and DX. I would add Jericho, Kurt Angle and even "Stone Cold" (in his heel scenes with Angle, where he played the ukulele and they wore miniature cowboy hats). I even enjoy the stuff that Goldust, and especially William Regal do.

The difference between these guys I listed, and people like Santino and Hornswoggle is, they can also be serious when called for, and be credible , whether being funny or not. They can joke, but don't look like a joke. Santino's act is 100% joke all the time at the moment.

Even if they did a storyline where Santino always lost, and is frustrates him, so he hits the weights, (not "Rocky" style), and starts getting closer and closer to winning in matches, but falling short, until he finally beats a worthy opponent, you could get behind the guy a bit more. But his damn theatrics (and lame finisher, which wouldn't hurt me) has got to stop.

I used to consider Alberto Del Rio a joke, but he added intensity to his character, and his finisher is applied and sold like it would genuinely hurt, and he has become a much better superstar as a result. Santino needs to do something similar before I can taking him finishing second in a Rumble or Elimination Chamber, seriously.

 

[Twocenter]

I don't get everyone's love for that jobber, Santino Marella. I mean, precious PPV time was wasted on Santino trying to emulate Rocky Balboa (Vince McMahon's "Rocky" training leading up to RR '99 was much funnier). I knew when they put Santino in the match, and then did endless "Rocky" hype for him, he would be in the last two or three.

Anyway, he lasted until the last two, and buried Wade Barrett on the way. I now declare that Barrett will never be a main-eventer now, since a pint-sized jobber pinned him to three (let's not forget, Barrett destroyed Orton and storyline injured him the last few months, only to piss his build down the toilet by a joke like Santino pinning him.

They also had Santino be the last man eliminated from a 40-Man Royal Rumble a year ago. So, in two matches now, I know the winner before the end, because I know Santino will not win. These spots could be used for a credible threat to get over (such as Wade Barrett was), but no, it is wasted on some comedy jobber, just to appease some easily-amused fans.

I used to like Santino's shtick. When he mangled names and dressed as Santina, he was hilarious. But back, then, he was a heel, and got his arse handed to him over it. I thought that Santino and William Regal would make a good tag-team, and would have enjoyed their segments together.

Instead of Santino being a deluded, cowardly heel, he now plays to the crowd, and it is sickening. That stupid trumpet gesture, for example. But what I hate the most is the "cobra". He hits them in the head with his fingers, and the opponent goes down to it. How would that hurt. Even if the cobra was a poke to the eye, it would be better, but ramming your fingers into someone's forehead would sting, but not knock them off their feet. But because stupid nuff-nuffs think it is funny, he constantly does it.

What I don't get is, people here bag Hornswoggle and other people who do backstage comedy, yet they applaud this clown. What am I missing?

The only thing I can think is that it is this stupid underdog mentality moronic wrestling fans have. They get behind jokes like Santino and Zack Ryder (I would say Dolph Ziggler too, but he has some talent). They want to see them win the title and main-event Wrestlemania. Yet , if they did this, the same moronic fans would turn on them. Proof? C.M. Punk and Daniel Bryan were much-loved by the IWC before they main-evented. You people complained that they should be pushed, week after week. Now, they are champions, and I start seeing some negative posts about them.

Why would you want someone to succeed, and then, when they do, you turn on them? Are you really that stupid and fickle?

IMO, Santino made the Elimination Chamber Match a joke, which buried Wade Barrett and made the match predictable, when it was only he and Bryan left. All just to appease some people who have a weird sense of humour.

I am fed up with the same thing again and again. WWE is not just WRESTLING now. It's WORLD WRESTLING "ENTERTAINMENT" and Santino= Entertainment and you do know that, don't you? Like Nate said, 99% crowd loves Santino. He's a great asset. A unique wrestler. He can be hilarious, he can wrestle albeit he is not given chance but tonight he showed his glimpse. That comedy spot with Mick in the rumble was fantastic. He even took some bumps in the chamber. Santino is way over with the crowd.

Wade Barret buried? Why do you use a word which is not known to you? Do you know what buried means? Hell No! Don't make yourself a joke, fella. Buried is a very big word. John Morrison is an example of getting buried. Drew was and is somewhat getting buried. Santino rolled Cody for the win and covered Barret after that D-Bryan head butt. I don't see anyone get buried here. Cody and Barret beat Big Show like a champ. That spot alone puts them somewhat over. Please don't you ever use the word buried again...

Just my 2 cents.

 

[MasterHavik]

Santino is godlike. What makes him good is how he knows everyone can't be WWE champion, but finds other ways to be popular with the fans. He shows you don't need some spinner belt to be over with the fans. He is out of this world. Him and EY are one of a kind.

 

[SacredMesa]

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Totally agree. I wasn't just Santino-inspired comedy I had a problem with. Having Natalya fart while Hornswoggle eats cheese is not funny, either.


There are some who are great at comedy, and some who aren't. You list the Rock and DX. I would add Jericho, Kurt Angle and even "Stone Cold" (in his heel scenes with Angle, where he played the ukulele and they wore miniature cowboy hats). I even enjoy the stuff that Goldust, and especially William Regal do.

The difference between these guys I listed, and people like Santino and Hornswoggle is, they can also be serious when called for, and be credible , whether being funny or not. They can joke, but don't look like a joke. Santino's act is 100% joke all the time at the moment.

Even if they did a storyline where Santino always lost, and is frustrates him, so he hits the weights, (not "Rocky" style), and starts getting closer and closer to winning in matches, but falling short, until he finally beats a worthy opponent, you could get behind the guy a bit more. But his damn theatrics (and lame finisher, which wouldn't hurt me) has got to stop.

I used to consider Alberto Del Rio a joke, but he added intensity to his character, and his finisher is applied and sold like it would genuinely hurt, and he has become a much better superstar as a result. Santino needs to do something similar before I can taking him finishing second in a Rumble or Elimination Chamber, seriously.

Sadly me and you seem to be the minority that hasn't been desensitized by this crap. Most are going to rush to his defense claiming "he's a good wrestler, he does work" blah blah not realizing we have said absolutely thing in regards to his ability to wrestle but are mearly commenting on the design of his character and how out of place his style of comedy is in a professional wrestling ring.

The funnier thing is these people are probobly the same ones who bashed greesy fat guy, DX midget segments, the Spirit Squad and the like and yet I would argue that Santino is more out of place than any of those. They where used normally to make fun of or humiliate someone, granted spirit squad actually wrestled and pose a legit threat while doing it, mean while Santino doesn't isn't someone you can give a title to without disgracing it, you can't put him on paper view and create a sense of suspense. They guy may be a good worker and wrestler, no one is arguing that, but his character simply has no place in the wrestling ring in any kind of serious match, and sure as hell not the Elimination Chamber with Wrestlemania implications.

 

[hobknobber]

You guys are slating Santino and Hornswoggle and other comedy skits as if its ad-libbed??!?!?!? I know that some wrestlers are allowed creative input but very few I know, you get given a gimmick you work that gimmick you get paid. I doubt flash funk, blue blazer, doink, repo man where that good of an idea but they where entertaining (final letter in the companies name no thanks to animal huggers) and the men given them did a damn good job more so because you remember them for being the idiot, or selling the gimmick. who really thought when they first started out the mean marc callus and Isaac yank'em DDS would become Undertaker and Kane????? Bad Bad gimmicks......worked well by great entertainers they know they can later repackage again and again. Dont get me wrong Santino can be annoying and child like but bless vinnie mac's pg-13 product, if anything last nights chamber match was ruined as always by the I have 4 moves giant khali plodding about the place and this was some what well covered by the rocky-esque Santino crowd roaring come back/eventual fail.

 

[sjdigitall]

geez some people need to get off their high horse and just enjoy the moment. At EC Santino had one of the best moments of his career, just because he has been a jobber for most of his career doesnt mean he has to be jobber for the rest of it. It was a fun underdog moment that i believe even rivalled Mick Foley's 1st win of the WWF championship. The crowd, every wrestling fan at the viewing party i went to was behind him.

 

[SacredMesa]

geez some people need to get off their high horse and just enjoy the moment. At EC Santino had one of the best moments of his career, just because he has been a jobber for most of his career doesnt mean he has to be jobber for the rest of it. It was a fun underdog moment that i believe even rivalled Mick Foley's 1st win of the WWF championship. The crowd, every wrestling fan at the viewing party i went to was behind him.

Again we don't have an issue with him, or his ability it is his CHARACTER. I feel like I'm talking to the 06 Cena fans again who couldn't wrap their brains around the "we don't have an issue with him personally just his character that sucks" arguments. We are not saying he has to be a jobber, in truth we don't want him to be this stupid comedy jobber. If he wants to be funny thats fine but the current way his character does it just doesn't belong in wrestling.

 

[Dmbfantomas]

Santino was so over last night it's ridiculous. When he hit the Cobra, I started marking out like it was 1999. The crowd went ape-shit for Santino. Everyone I talked to after the match was incredibly impressed with the unibrowed little freak. Frankly, he stole the show last night. In a night that had Chris Jericho, John Cena, Kane, CM Punk, Big Show, Cody Rhodes, etc wrestle, this little shit jobber stole the show. This comedy act (who might be the best comedy jobber ever) came out and stole the show in a legitimate way. Tonight was the night that Santino got credit for everything he's done for the E during his time there, and frankly, I'm a bit bummed that they didn't change the finish and have him win it. If only so he could have been WHC for just one night, or a couple nights. That moment would have been one for the ages.

 

[gwarren]

People just need to relax and stop being so analytical and critical. How about you just WATCH the show, loose yourself in the moment and enjoy yourself? Last night I had a great time, unlike some people who obviously were crying through the whole PPV.

When Santino hit the Cobra that had to be the best moment so far in 2012. As Cole put it earlier in the night, I genuinely believed the "Cinderella" story might come true. Did you HEAR the crowd? They went nuts. I was marking out, it was damn epic and if you didn't enjoy it, maybe WWE isn't for you...

 

[LeviCook]

I don't find anything wrong with Santino. The general audience loves him. Yes he is there for the soul purpose of comedy but is there anything wrong with that? We see a lot of recycled gimmicks over and over again, Santino is one of the few that i find original. You might not get 5 star matches from him but you do get something entertaining rather you are tuning in to see him give it his all or see him get destroyed. They always find something new for him to do. The fact that he pinned Wade Barrett isn't going to end his career. So there is no need to cry. As you said he "injured" Randy Orton. He was in one of the biggest storylines in recent years with Nexus. One match isn't going to send him on a down hill spiral. And the comparison to Hornswoggle makes zero sense. Hornswoggle can't wrestle at all. Santino is capable of wrestling. Hornswoggle goes around doing little annoying things and doesn't contribute to the product. Santino finds ways to insert himself into certain situations using wit and humor. As you said he is this underdog, that's what he is there for. Would you have been happier if he won? Most likely not. So when a superstar plays their role perfectly i don't see any reason to complain. Santino wasn't my first choice to enter the Elimination Chamber but he didn't ruin it.

 

[sjdigitall]

Again we don't have an issue with him, or his ability it is his CHARACTER. I feel like I'm talking to the 06 Cena fans again who couldn't wrap their brains around the "we don't have an issue with him personally just his character that sucks" arguments. We are not saying he has to be a jobber, in truth we don't want him to be this stupid comedy jobber. If he wants to be funny thats fine but the current way his character does it just doesn't belong in wrestling.

Yeh because YOU know everything that works in pro wrestling right? Did you hear the crowd last night? It was freaking brilliant! Sure his jokes are cheesy sometimes but thats also the charm of Santino. He has paid his dues and i reckon its time that he started winning. As far as im concerned if you didnt enjoy what was going on in the Smackdown EC then seriously go watch something else. WWE isnt for you.

 

[Psyclone]

look i glanced over most of the replies on this thread and didnt read them through (sorry its late/early for me and I didn't feel like reading everything so if I repeat something I'm sorry..)


First off I didn't order the PPV but having read the spoilers posted online and reading some of the reactions from the threads here I know that Santino was one of the last 2 and put on a pretty damn good showing and needless to say members are "bitching" about this "comedic" character lasting so long when people like cody rhodes and wade barrett didn't last so long... Are you people idiots?!??!?!?!

Watch smackdown again and listen to all the canned boo's you hear when cody or wade go to the ring.... (or better yet when they appear on raw listen to the apathy that greets them...) Honestly I'm not belittling them as I do agree they have more raw talent and potential than a character like santino does. However what they don't have is crowd reaction... Also what would be the point of having cody or wade be there at the end against daniel bryan.... Why would you daniel bryan (heel, who is struggling to get a ton of boo's) against either wade barrett (who is floundering and not quite getting the boo's he deserves) or Cody Rhodes ( who gets boo's but not really a whole hell of a lot of them)... What you would get instead is a finish where the crowd wouldn't react.... Who would they boo if it was cody vs daniel bryan???? They wouldn't they'd just sit there and go well they both are good but they both are bad guys... we'll just sit on our asses and watch...

This was why I was surprised (but happily surprised/worriedly surprised) that the WWE put santino into the match on smackdown... I honestly thought they'd replace him with perhaps otunga or a returning christian or almost anyone else... I think that the WWE went with santino for A) continuing with this character even though its evident he'll never be a main eventer with it but also B) excelling at it to the point where he moves merchandise and has a larger crowd reaction than most of the roster (smackdown) that he's on.......

I mean look at it this way... the faces in the match were Khali (i guess) Big Show and santino.. Of those, the only one that could work at a decent rate, and would be relatively fresh in terms of matches with daniel bryan at the end was santino... Khali sucks, and big show vs daniel bryan has been overused so no need to do that for the 13th time...

Santino is good at what he does... He entertains the crowd, and I'd like to see him contend for a midcard title again (bring back the honkeperfectmountiemeter), but with his current gimmick I find it hard to believe he'd ever be WWE or world heavyweight champion.... However, I will not say he's bad in the ring.... He sells well, he does what he needs to to engage the audience, and he's over with the crowd...

 

[Defekt]

I'm not a huge Santino fan, but I believe your thoughts are off the mark.

Precious PPV time was not wasted with the Santino training vignettes. They were each about a minute long, kinda funny, and all advertised matches still got appropriate time (plus we got a bonus match). They have to do something in between matches to let the crowd recover.

Santino getting a fluke pin on Barret doesn't bury him. Bryan hit Barrett with the headbutt, and Santino just happened to capitalize.

The WWE is short on talent right now, and shockingly, Santino was probably the best choice for Randy's replacement. Throwing the constant underdog jobber in there is more interesting than giving the spot to someone like Ezekiel Jackson, who isn't over and still has no chance.

 

[SacredMesa]

Yeh because YOU know everything that works in pro wrestling right? Did you hear the crowd last night? It was freaking brilliant! Sure his jokes are cheesy sometimes but thats also the charm of Santino. He has paid his dues and i reckon its time that he started winning. As far as im concerned if you didnt enjoy what was going on in the Smackdown EC then seriously go watch something else. WWE isnt for you.

Strange I remember people saying the same thing about Eugene. Tell me what is the difference between Santino and Eugene? Both are comedy gimiks, both play the loveable underdog, and yet I would dare say Eugenes character belonged in pro-wrestling far more than Santinos does. Why? Because it's believable that someone with a mental disability could find a love for prowrestling and dedicate themselves to it. Santino on the other hand doesn't have a believable story, hell he really doesn't have a story. He's just an out of place comedy act.

I find it funny people are talking about crowd reactions, especially in this day in age, as a means of judging a performer. You are talking about the same crowd that was dead silent when CM Punk kicked out of the SCF, hell they where dead silent the majority of the night. It was like saying "did you hear the pop Cena got when he returned at royal rumble people love him" except they don't. Santino's pop was a product of right time right place, even if it was the wrong guy. Take any lovable underdog and put them in his place last nigh, Zack Ryder, Ted Debiasi(sp?) etc etc and they would of gotten a pop.

When fans started cheering this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGDpTT2PEAo

their pops stopped meaning a damn thing. The only fans left with any credability are the ones in Chicago, Canada, and perhaps Philly and I can bet you if this would of been in any of those three cities Santino would of been booed out of the building just on the stupidity of him even being in such a situation, if not booed just for being a stupid character.

 

[JDtheDrunk]

In my view, Anthony Carelli has spent the last six years looking like a fool on camera and getting loved for it. He deserves at least one moment of glory. It is only the jaded wrestling fan that can't see his value and call him a "comedy jobber". He is damn good at what he does and as he showed tonight, can carry a match.

 

[mrfantastic111]

Anyway, he lasted until the last two, and buried Wade Barrett on the way. I now declare that Barrett will never be a main-eventer now, since a pint-sized jobber pinned him to three

Okay, you obviously don't know what buried means. Barrett put Santino over. Barrett hasn't lost any credibility, and he's still in line for the world title at some point. To suggest that he was buried would be saying that Santino is a bigger star and is taking away Barrett's momentum. Barrett was much more over going into the chamber. You can't bury a wrestler with more star power then yourself.

Instead of Santino being a deluded, cowardly heel, he now plays to the crowd, and it is sickening. That stupid trumpet gesture, for example. But what I hate the most is the "cobra". He hits them in the head with his fingers, and the opponent goes down to it.

All you're saying is that you don't like him. You don't have to like him. Whether he should or shouldn't be over or not has nothing to do with you putting him down just because he's a comedic character. He appeals to kids, casual fans and the IWC. He's getting praise so obviously he's good at his job.

How would that hurt.

It wouldn't... That's why it's funny and has entertainment value. If you don't find it funny then that's your prerogative. Use your imagination. You're honestly going to create a thread to bash a performer about the legitimacy of their finisher, even though the 'sport' itself is developed around smoke and mirrors? Sure, wrestling is an art form that is meant to look real, but he's a comedian. Giving him a generic finish would de-value his comedic character. Not every wrestler HAS to be build to appear championship credible.

The only thing I can think is that it is this stupid underdog mentality moronic wrestling fans have. They get behind jokes like Santino and Zack Ryder (I would say Dolph Ziggler too, but he has some talent). They want to see them win the title and main-event Wrestlemania. Yet , if they did this, the same moronic fans would turn on them.

You are a prime example of one of these people that turns on a face just for being over. Suddenly he gets over and he's not cool for you to cheer for anymore. The reason why WWE finds it so hard to please fans is because people like you only get behind 'fad' wrestlers and then boo them the second they start to go over. The whole point of wrestling storylines is that we're MEANT to cheer faces and boo the heels... You're arguing that we shouldn't boo Santino because he's a typical underdog face?

Why would you want someone to succeed, and then, when they do, you turn on them? Are you really that stupid and fickle?

You're doing it right now! Honestly, this isn't a thread for a 'well thought-out' discussion, you just want a stage to bash him.

Do I want Santino to win the world title? At this point - probably not. Did he put on a good chamber performance? Absolutely. I will continue to pay to watch him. There's nothing wrong with being a comedic wrestler. Not every wrestler HAS to win the world title - Santino plays a comedic character. Basically you're dissing him because he's too generic. He's entertaining the masses, and is getting a good audience response each week, so I don't see why he shouldn't get a push every now and then.

 

[Alastor]

All these nonsense just because somebody got butt hurt because their favourite wrestler got pinned by a comedic wrestler who got the loudest pop of the night. Look at the final three contestant of the chamber match. 2 NXT wrestlers and 1 comedy jobber. And they managed to make the finish exciting and FUN. Rhodes got pinned too, so he is being buried too right?

 

[Workrate]

I remember just before Santino first debuted, everyone praised him for his wrestling skills. Those skills haven't evaporated just because he's been sacked with a comedy gimmick.

I think what Santino's done is pretty remarkable and I think the crowd's reaction last night proves it. He's the funniest guy they've got on the roster and last night he received about the biggest reaction of anyone on the card. I, for one, hope he ends up picking up the US strap sometime here soon.

 

[VencomHardcore]

The Original Poster is so off with his opinion he should be watching another sport.

Santino plays a vital role in wrestling and on the card. Unlike Eugene, Santino is legit comedy. His timing in impeccable , he is always fresh and his character has grown over the years. Eugene was a one trick pony. No Growth Whatever.

Santino is the best at what he does. You always need a wrestler to bring the crowd down after most big matches. Hence the role of the comedy spot to bring people down, give them a laugh, make the kids feel good before you take them back up again. That's booking 101. Some companies use Women's matches for that. Others use legends matches or rookie matches. Now on to last night.

Sanitno STOLE THE WHOLE DAMN SHOW. He was believeable and had the biggest crowd reaction in that chamber. Barret and Bryan were doing well but It wasn't getting my hyped at all. Santino made that match.

BTW, In the elimination chamber NO ONE is buried. Everyone will get pinned but one man. Obviously the poster didn't understand how the match works or even watched the older matches. Booker T , Triple H and countless stars have been pinned in that structure. Wade Barret is lucky to be in it.

Santino is a bigger star than Barret, Cody and Bryan put together. He sells merchandise and get a legit crowd reaction. WWE was wise in putting in last in the match because there was no MEGA FACE for the heel champ to go against. And Santino fit the bill and showed those younger stars you love how to make it happen.

 

[whitezeo]

one simple reason why santino is doing what he is doing, as i saw in myself last night i actually wanted to see santino win just for the shock value and same thing last year with royal rumble and same thing with battle royal which yes shockingly amazed me, santino is funny and has decent ring skills even though he does them in a ridiculous way. it gets people talking such as you complaining about it, just boosts them even more to keep doing it. If it gets people talking, that is what needs to be done to keep the talk walking. now i know he wouldn't go into mania being champion but would be kool jsut for shock value especially at a non huge ppv event to do it then maybe have him lose nex tnight on raw..or sometime before the mania ppv.

 

[WhatAboutRaven]

The OP gives a good discussion, yet you have to use that type of language towards him and abuse him. Great staff member, the staff here suck. Fucking gay cunt.

You have a loose definition of "good discussion" I see. Because all I read was "wah wah wah, Santino beat two people who have almost zero fucking crowd reaction so I'll bitch about it to draw attention to myself"

Santino wouldn't be my first choice either, but really, who else was there to put in? (I swear to god, if someone says Christian I'm going to punch someone in the crotch) Randy Orton got "injured". Who do you get to replace him. Off the top of your head, who's arguably one of the most over FACE stars(Besides Sheamus, as obviously he couldn't be in) on Smackdown? Think of someone, I'll wait...Nobody? Didn't think so.We all knew Santino had about as fair a chance of winning the EC as Ron Paul has of saying something intelligent. But by putting him in the EC, he accomplished no little feat, and made people actually care about the smackdown chamber. Honestly, who saw that coming?

Wade Barrett will still have his day. Cody Rhodes...I could honestly give less of a fuck. But for now, let's settle with my calling you a moron and everyone getting on with their lives