It's not 1998 anymore I really don't think this will work. Raw has their resident comedy wrestler. Santino will be a million times more over, and amusing than him. Unless that is, this is a serious gimmick. Then he's fucked. It didn't work with Val Venia. And Mick Foley tried to get him over.
WWE Debut TNA Style Gimmick?
- Thread starter Y 2 Jake
- Start date
It's not 1998 anymore I really don't think this will work. Raw has their resident comedy wrestler. Santino will be a million times more over, and amusing than him. Unless that is, this is a serious gimmick. Then he's fucked. It didn't work with Val Venia. And Mick Foley tried to get him over.
AnthonyMango/NoFate007
A Post Is Worth A Thousand Words
According to Wikipedia (trustworthy source, I know, haha) its actually Dolph Ziggler, not Diggler. Not much of a difference, but hopefully that means that it WON'T be an attempt at copying the Dirk Diggler character.
Personally, I don't see the point in it. As I said in the live discussion, it almost seems like the WWE are purposely using weird names for these new stars just to mock them. Richard Young/Ricky Ortiz isn't too bad.....Jake Hager/Jack Swagger...its not horrible, but why even bother changing it if its that similar in the first place? Matt Korklan/Evan Bourne...meh, at least we've heard reports that he chose the name himself....Ronnie Arneill/Gavin Spears....no clue how they got that.....but at least those names don't sound ridiculous. Dolph Ziggler sounds like they're purposely going for "quirky for the sake of quirky". Its not catchy, its just weird. It doesn't sound impressive. It doesn't sound worthwhile at all.
Hopefully, he's worth more at face value than the pseudonym is.
Personally, I don't see the point in it. As I said in the live discussion, it almost seems like the WWE are purposely using weird names for these new stars just to mock them. Richard Young/Ricky Ortiz isn't too bad.....Jake Hager/Jack Swagger...its not horrible, but why even bother changing it if its that similar in the first place? Matt Korklan/Evan Bourne...meh, at least we've heard reports that he chose the name himself....Ronnie Arneill/Gavin Spears....no clue how they got that.....but at least those names don't sound ridiculous. Dolph Ziggler sounds like they're purposely going for "quirky for the sake of quirky". Its not catchy, its just weird. It doesn't sound impressive. It doesn't sound worthwhile at all.
Hopefully, he's worth more at face value than the pseudonym is.
TheOneBigWill
[This Space for Rent]
I guess I should've checked to see if anything was posted before I commented on him. I had NO idea he was a former Spirit Squad member, but it is kinda odd that both Kenny Dykstra and now "Dolph" are getting something of a push. Must be because of Football season. 
I'm in 100% agreement with Jake, Santino is the current comic on Raw and Nick would be better served to just drop the porno gimmick back to Val, and go find his green jumpsuit again. I can't see him going anywhere but I will say this much..
When I FIRST seen him (when he interrupted Kelly Squared and Adamle) I thought he could've been something nice to join Jericho. Then I heard his name and instantly thought "Boogie Nights" and the seriousness of whatever he could've been seen as went right out the window.
I'll reserve complete judgment until I see him wrestle, but I doubt it'll change much. He's going to have to be pretty "off the charts" for me to suddenly like him.
I'm in 100% agreement with Jake, Santino is the current comic on Raw and Nick would be better served to just drop the porno gimmick back to Val, and go find his green jumpsuit again. I can't see him going anywhere but I will say this much..
When I FIRST seen him (when he interrupted Kelly Squared and Adamle) I thought he could've been something nice to join Jericho. Then I heard his name and instantly thought "Boogie Nights" and the seriousness of whatever he could've been seen as went right out the window.
I'll reserve complete judgment until I see him wrestle, but I doubt it'll change much. He's going to have to be pretty "off the charts" for me to suddenly like him.
Like what was mentioned before, I think it's Ziggler, but that still makes me think of the Boogie Nights character. Maybe the name will grow on me, but it's sounds bad. Whenever someone debuts with a name change, I always try to imagine their name used after reaching success. Can you hear 'Intercontinental Champion, Dolph Ziggler'? I can't. I bet Hunter Hearst Helmsley sounded awful when he debuted too though (which is why he goes by HHH).
He did introduce himself to Jericho right before the final segment, considering what Will said about them working together. Also, on wwe.com a few months ago, they had a bunch of pictures from a Florida Championship Wrestling show and one was Nic Nemeth (then) with Chris Jericho in the ring, http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/7675830. Maybe they will pair them up. Personally, I would worry about actually having Lance Cade do something...anything, but maybe 'Dolph' will be his protege as well.
He did introduce himself to Jericho right before the final segment, considering what Will said about them working together. Also, on wwe.com a few months ago, they had a bunch of pictures from a Florida Championship Wrestling show and one was Nic Nemeth (then) with Chris Jericho in the ring, http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/7675830. Maybe they will pair them up. Personally, I would worry about actually having Lance Cade do something...anything, but maybe 'Dolph' will be his protege as well.
Quirky doesn't cut it anymore, and should be left in TNA.
If anything, Ziggler will most likely be repackaged in a couple of months later on down the line as something else since, as everyone here agrees, Diggler doesn't catch, nor will it draw.
I can hear Santino now... "Heya you! Dig 'Em! Did you geta your name from the Smacks cereal box? Hahaha! You looka like a frog!"
I also didn't like how they changed Jake Hager's name to Swagger. I loved how he called his finished the Hager-Bomb (wow, can you call me an alcoholic), but then again, WWE has gone, or tried to go, toward the kid-friendly motives, and having concerned non-alcoholic parents hearing "Hager-Bomb" would be calling the corporate offices about such a name. Once again, a repackage would be in order. :/
If anything, Ziggler will most likely be repackaged in a couple of months later on down the line as something else since, as everyone here agrees, Diggler doesn't catch, nor will it draw.
I can hear Santino now... "Heya you! Dig 'Em! Did you geta your name from the Smacks cereal box? Hahaha! You looka like a frog!"
I also didn't like how they changed Jake Hager's name to Swagger. I loved how he called his finished the Hager-Bomb (wow, can you call me an alcoholic), but then again, WWE has gone, or tried to go, toward the kid-friendly motives, and having concerned non-alcoholic parents hearing "Hager-Bomb" would be calling the corporate offices about such a name. Once again, a repackage would be in order. :/
Dead Kennedy
Forever Holly
Err, yeah. I couldn't help but feel, "what the hell are they trying to do here? Emulating TNA is NOT gonna help their Raw ratings!" and a bit WTF-ish at the same time. A random guy saying hello to guys in backstage segments? Wasn't this EXACTLY how Braden Walker did most of his work? Having a guy with an unrecognizable gimmick randomly introducing himself as "Dolph Ziggler" is not gonna get him over, it's gonna make people think "Oh yeah, it's that guy who introduces himself. Can't take him seriously..."
I haven't seen him wrestle yet, but Nicky was pretty generic in the Spirit Squad, so I can't expect much. If his wrestling isn't good, the gimmick can only do one thing and that is TANK. This is a very bad way to introduce a new guy WWE. Learn from your mistakes.
I haven't seen him wrestle yet, but Nicky was pretty generic in the Spirit Squad, so I can't expect much. If his wrestling isn't good, the gimmick can only do one thing and that is TANK. This is a very bad way to introduce a new guy WWE. Learn from your mistakes.
The reason Vince changes their names is so that he can "own" them, as in copyright. Obviously, you can't copyright their real name, but you can with a fake name. Of course, unless your name is Ultimate Warrior, in which no rules apply to you.
