First off allow me to say this. As a WRESTLING PURIST, i never have thought in all of my lifetime that the concept of crowd reactions should be such a standout point in regards as to how great a wrestler was when it relates to how a TV VIEWER perceives the wrestler. I understand the need for any wrestler to get over with the crowd, but why should that sway MY PERSONAL OPINION on a particular talent? Why should the opinion of some 60 year old fat guy sitting 20 rows back oat ringside have ANY barring on how i should feel about a talent? Why should the cheering of a particular talent by some dorky 15 year old tell me some talent is either good or bad?
I believe that how that talent appeals to you is the only thing that should matter. You and you only.
The only time i even cared about a fan deal was during an episode of RAW either in 2005, 2006, or 2007 when Val Venis brought in to female fans from the crowd to the ring. One of the fans look liked she was about at least 5'10", long black hair, very athletically built, and was wearing a strapped red corset looking thing and light blue stone washed tight fitting jeans and heels. That was the only time i cared about a fan, and the ONLY time i should ever care.
Anyway back on topic. I wanted to re watch that match from last night before i gave my assessment on this deal. i just re watched it. She, in my mind, got a great response from the crowd. Not perfect by any stretch, but great nonetheless. Throughout the entire match, there were indeed more Paige chants than for anyone else. In fact, on can say that with the exception of Naomi, and Alicia Fox's finisher, NO ONE ELSE GOT A REACTION BUT PAIGE. I believe that she is getting over more and more with the crowd every passing day.
She is going to have her haters out there. That is just par for the course. I used to get extremely angry when i see comments of hate on her. Whether it is from this forum, Facebook, Youtube, you name it. I used to get mad at it. Now it is more of an irritation than anger. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but i have seen on other social media sites people giving her death threats because they do not like her. That to me is way beyond bush league in my mind.
I think that the crux of the matter in regards to Paige is this. I think that the reason why their is such a divide amongst the wrestling fan community is due to this reason. The reason is whether your align yourself as a casual or diehard/purist. What i am trying to say is that are you someone that is more of a casual that only likes the Broadway/Hollywood presentation of wrestling or do you fall into the purist camp and want to see more of a gritty, grimy, meat and potatoes type of presentation.
This is just my opinion, but the casual fan wants to see more people like Ric Flair, Nick Bockwinkel, Austin Idol, Shane Douglas as "The Franchise", Ricky Steamboat, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Shawn Michaels, Sting type of wrestler. They want to see more pomp and circumstance. Style points and fluff type of presentation.
Die Hards and Purists wants to see people like: Demolition, The Powers Of Pain, Bruiser Brody, THE ROAD WARRIORS, Kronik, Undertaker, Kane, HHH, Minnesota Wrecking Crew, The One Man Gang, Nikita Koloff, Lex Luger type of wrestler. They want to see more of a ground and pound type of style. No nonsense, straight forward attack. Take no prisoners and kind of gruffy in a sense. They want to see a type of wrestler that can be made for a bar room brawl type of atmosphere while still showing wrestling acumen.
To me, Paige is in that Purist camp. You can look at her, and she how she wrestles that she is a THROWBACK TYPE OF WRESTLER. She belongs in the camp with The Road Warriors, Demolition, Kronik, Nikita Koloff, The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, and Bruiser Brody. The only thing pretty about her is her looks, but nothing else is. And that is a great thing. To me, it is an awesome thing that she has more of that Purist style to her. I like that fact that she gets gritty. I enjoy the fact that she gets grimy. I love that they somewhat do not showcase her as a cookie cutter Diva like they did in the past (even though they can still do a much better job in separating her from that mold she was in when they called her up). To me, i take great pleasure in seeing that she is the type of Diva that would much rather put her fist through your skull than invite you over to her house for coffee and cake.
She is NOT MEANT to be your Hollywood type of wrestler. She is meant to be your nose to the grindstone type of wrestler that enjoys hurting you. I think that is the reason why the casual fan may not like her as much as the purists do because of the reason. She is more of the Purists choice.
And believe it or not, that is ok. Not everyone has to be the casual fan's choice. Not everyone needs to be Hollywood/Broadway to be successful in wrestling. The casuals can have their favorites, and the purists can theirs. What the WWE should do a better job of is promoting and pushing both types equally and evenly. Maybe that could put an end to the fan wars over who is better. Maybe, one can only hope.
I think that it is the reason Paige is not accepted by the casuals because she is not HOLLYWOOD enough for them. But once again, she does not need to be all Hollywood to be someone in wrestling. The Road Warriors, Demolition, Bruiser Brody, And The Minnesota Wrecking Crew were not Hollywood, but NO ONE can ever take away their greatness, and their place in the Pantheon Of All Time Great Legends In The Wrestling Business.
Paige, to me, is a part of that crew. And she is working hard each and every day to further prove that point. Will she need to continue to develop more and more in her craft?
ABSOLUTELY!
Will she need to do more to further cementing that fact in the hearts of fans, wrestling analysts, pundits, and historians?
YES SHE DOES!
I am not going to lie to you. I completely do not believe one second that she is the greatest women's wrestler of all time. That goes to The Fabulous Moolah(God bless her soul) I would not put Paige in the same category as the greatest women's wrestler i have ever seen Akira Hokuto. I will say however that there is a lot of Akira Hokuto in Paige as far as Viciousness and in ring style is concerned, but Paige is NOT at that level yet.
AND IF YALL DO NOT KNOW WHO AKIRA HOKUTO IS, I SUGGEST YOU YOUTUBE AND ENJOY WATCHING HER WORK!
I also think that there are probably ten other women other women out there that are better than she is. If you want me to present a list, i will gladly come up with one. But i do think that she has it within her to become the best women's wrestler ever maybe if three things fall into place:
1. She continues to improve every day
2. WWE allows her the main show time to make sed improvements
3. WWE does not be SCATTERBRAINED in her presentation, and book her in accordance to her appearance, wrestling style, and old school vicious mentality.
I have always stated that the best booking for her going to the three things i mentioned in statement three: Appearance, Wrestling Style, and Old School Vicious Mentality, is that of The 1980s Road Warriors. And i mean The Road Warriors from NWA, CWA in Memphis, AWA, and Japan. At some point, WWE for them to truly capitalize on what they have with Paige, is going to have to make her into a Merciless Killer just like Hawk And Animal. They are just going to have to let her loose, and just go full blown assault mode on The Divas Division. I will say that right now would NOT be the best time to do it because the division is not booked as a strong division. The Road Warriors had the luxury of having a time where they could be the Merciless Killers WITHOUT destroying the credibility of The Midnight Express, The Rock And Rock Express, The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, The High Flyers from The AWA, and others like them. They maintained their relevancy while still being dominated, and smashed in the ground by The Legion Of Doom.
So i agree with Reigns Train/BBR that the division NEEDS TO BE BUILT UP BETTER FIRST. Relevancy and credibility needs to be given to the division first. Then once everyone in the division is at a point to where The Divas can maintain their cred, then allow Paige to lower the hammer on everyone. I am thinking that if things go right, maybe in the next 2 to 3 years, they can finally unleash the true ANTI DIVA on the division. That would be the best time in my mind.
So yeah, i think that she is getting better and better reactions now then ever. And they will get better and better every passing day.
But i have this to say to RT/BBR
You said that there is nothing left for her to do right? You said there is nothing left for her to accomplish? two things pertaining to The Divas Division:
1. Win the most championships in WWE Women's Wrestling History. That means become an 8 Time WWE World Divas Wrestling Champion
2. Go into The Hall Of Fame.
Just sayin my friend, JUST SAYING:wink2: