Re: Matches Pitched On Table For 3
Jim Cornett... I guess because I'm old I remember him all too well... and as the manager for the Midnight Express he was such a good heel that I still can't stand him to this day. Or course most people I've read stuff from think he is a douche in real life, ask Santino. I did like his induction speech at the Hall of Fame this year though.
Cornette is amazing. I used to think the business has passed him by, but then I started actually listening to what he says. There's a myth that he's an old man yelling at clouds, because this makes it easy to dismiss his criticisms, but what he really is an advocate for is common sense and psychology in wrestling matches and booking. He just loves wrestling so much. His co-host showed him American Alpha vs. The Revival, and his break down of it was magical. He basically gave them a free coaching lesson. He loved their work, thinks Gable is a damn near prodigy and that The Revival are one of the best teams in wrestling (he also loves The Briscoes), but his critiques were things that just made you go "Oh...yeah..." like you wouldn't have picked them up, but they actually would have made the match better.
Dude just knows that shit. If you're someone trying to go out there and be a part of wrestling, and play your part well, and do the best job at creating the most captivating story you can -- he'll be your best friend. It's when kids go into business for themselves that he gets annoyed, because they just don't "get it."
Like, that Santino story is so much better when Jim Cornette tells it. His story makes fun of himself and Santino. But basically Santino was being a douche and yelling at the stupid gimmick WWE sent Corny to try and get over. Everyone else had the common sense to sell, but Santino just laughed. So Cornette got so mad and was in such a rush to cover up for this that he actually shat his pants a little. He got in the back and was livid at Santino, who used to brag about being a legit guy. Marty Wright wanted to kill Santino for basically making him look dumb, so Corny started slapping Santino to bring him back to reality. He also has a hilarious story about threatening to shoot Brock Lesnar. As in actually shoot him with a gun -- not shoot fight him, because that would be stupid.
One of the best orators in wrestling, and a voice for common sense in professional wrestling. I recommend giving him a go, and listening to some of the positive stuff he talks about -- The Revival is a good place. A lot of people, honestly, are just too dumb to get his criticisms, I find. The nerd heat really started bouncing back at Cornette when he went off Kevin Steen and El Generico. Ironically, he never said they were bad wrestlers. He said that Kevin Steen needed to train a bit harder to get himself into just well enough shape that it looked like he was an athlete and actually trying to be a fighter, even if he was never going to be thin. He also said he needed to get some personalized ring gear so he looked more professional and do something more with his hair. Just little things to separate himself more from the fans. With Generico, he said that he needed to lose the mask and start cutting promos so people can emotionally connect with him a bit more. And they both needed to stop being pains in the asses and do what they were asked to do.
"Cornette's old! He said they sucked! He doesn't get what makes wrestling great today!" A few years later, Owens looks like he's tightened up a bit, has gear plastered with his trademarked logos, gels his hair and does exactly what Vince or Triple H tells him to. El Generico no longer wears a masks, cuts some killer promos when given the chance, emotes well and, well, seems to still be enough of a pain in the ass that they rib him on air, but has generally been well-received. Yet all people can say was "Cornette was wrong! I bet it kills him to see the two guys he said had no talent go anywhere!" Well, actually, they did exactly what he said they needed to. He did an interview with that Sam Roberts guy they often get to do the Kickoffs, and Corny explained all this to him, and the first thing he said when Corny went off the air was "Interesting that Cornette has tried to turn his story into a positive one." Actually, no, that has been his line from the start. But he explains that people and it gets in the way of their narrative, so they literally just ignore the sense and try to latch onto some representation of him as an archaic no-nothing. It's fascinating.
