This is so freaking weird. I just saw someone post today that "Sheamus vs Orton is a feud where the 2 guys compete to see who can get the most X-pad heat" and for some reason I thought for the first time "Why DID X-pac get X-pac heat? I don't remember this at all."

So yea, I'd love to know as well. I was between the ages of 10-14 during Xpac's 1998-2001 WWF run, I always thought he was really cool and I was a big Mark for the Kane/Xpac team. I mean BIG mark for it. I always remember how excited I would get when I'd hear Xpac's DX theme "LETS ROCKKKKKKKK. XPAC" (I think that's what the guy says anyway).

By the time 2001 rolled around and "The X-Factor" was formed, I wasn't really a big fan of him anymore as I'd become more enamoured with Eddie, Benoit, Austin, Taker, Jericho, etc. But by no means did I wish he would just go away or would I change the channel when he came on.

I do distinctly remember watching Summerslam 2001 live with my buddy and when Xpac made his entrance it sounded like WWE was piping in massive amounts of "Boo's" through the P.A. System. I'd love to know if that's what they were actually doing because it sure as heck sounds like it. Xpac proceeded to have a just phenomenal match with Tajiri to unify the Cruiserweight and Light-Heavyweight titles, culminating with Xpac winning and again the sound of piped in Boo's were almost deafening. Was this done because Xpac was getting complete crickets at the time or because he just wasn't getting heat as a heel and was still getting too many cheers? Or am I wrong about it being piped in crowd noise and Xpac was actually getting massive heat? I don't think that's it, because then no one would have coined the phrase "Xpac heat"

If someone knowledgeable like @Jupiter Jack Daniels can clarify I'd love to know when and why the term Xpac heat was coined.

Edit: just found this online. Take it for what it's worth, but it sounds sensible enough to me

StuUngar
A lot of the comments on this vid aren't telling the whole story. There were plenty of factors that led to the term "x-pac heat." Which is honestly an outdated term and I think is very unfair to Waltman because you can't find any shoot videos where he doesn't tell good stories and where you can't see his intelligence for wrestling. First off, x-pac was very stale. Of course everyone knows he was 1-2-3 Kid, and in WCW he became Syxx and started calling himself Syxx-Pac of 6-Pac (somewhat copying Tupac.) In 1997-98, 2pac Shakur was maybe the coolest thing on the planet. So Waltman got a bit of an urban, hip coolness rub from that. But by 2003-2005, Waltman was still crotch chopping, sticking his tongue out (which Miley Cyrus seems to be trying to bring back) and bronco busting people... Edge cut a scathing promo on x-pac around 2002 or 2003. It wasn't especially mean spirited, but you could tell it hit a sore spot and the crowd laughed because it was true. Edge said, "Hey X-Pac, 1998 called and they're sick and tired of you." After leaving the WWE full time, he started getting a reputation for being drunk or on drugs and difficult to work with at indie promotions. (He admits he was on meth around this time and he was messed up.) Then that disgusting porno came out between him and Chyna. As much as people bag on Chyna, almost every wrestling fan has seen that porn..if for nothing else, to satisfy their curiosity and to verify the rumor that Chyna's clit looked like a baby penis. Also, Chyna and X-pac were widely known to be a couple. Chyna was one of the celebrities on VH-1's "The Surreal Life" and x-pac was in one episode. But that series DEFINITELY leaned towards making Chyna out to be innocent and it was insinuated that Waltman was abusing her and that he was the reason for her drinking and drug downfall. All of these factors put together, and x-pac just came out as a trashy nasty person who no one wanted to see anymore. But as I said, that image was short lived. I think Waltman did finally move on from 1998 to a degree. People realized that x-pac wasn't the reason for Chyna's downfall and more people have come to realize that Waltman is an okay guy, who's cool, and he's got a good mind for wrestling and has a ton of cool stories.

 

I would get when I'd hear Xpac's DX theme "LETS ROCKKKKKKKK. XPAC" (I think that's what the guy says anyway).

Could've sworn it was "MAKE SOME NOISE!!!!"

 

Well I am a fan of X-Pac especially when he was the 123 Kid and was somewhat in control of his life, he was one of the most entertaining wrestlers to watch. I think the whole X-Factor gig was the catalyst to most of the fans losing interest in X-Pac and in addition to this, he was booked like a downgraded and sissier version of X-Pac from 98-00. Also, fans got tired of the character as he remained the same from 98 till 02 with not even minor tweaks to his character. I still liked to see his matches even though he was still a few notches beneath his 93-95 level.

 

The reason that always comes up is that he was stale and doing the same DX act from 1998. I knew about X-Pac, Chyna, the drugs, the alcohol but I never knew the full details about their story as mentioned in the above post and I didn't know their relationship also played a part in the term "X-Pac heat" being coined.

I don't remember when it started, I read it started during the Kane/X-Pac storyline, which I hope isn't true because I liked that storyline, but I'll have to go back and rewatch it. I first started noticing the "X-PAC SUCKS" chants in 2000 and I used to think it started some time that year.

I always thought the heat was unfair and undeserving though. There were much worse talent on the roster at the time like Albert for example and he never got that level of hate. I would've taken X-Pac's stale DX act over "The Hip Hop Hippo" anyday. And I was a teenager at the time also and I thought he was still cool too.

The "Hey X-Pac, 1998 called and they're pretty sick and tired of ya, so feel free to join us in the year 2001." line by Edge was hilarious though :lol

 

I remember Chris Jericho obliterated him verbally in a similar way Edge did during their feud in 2000.

Basically he was still doing crotch chops while Triple H, Billy Gunn, Road Dogg, and even Chyna had all progressed their characters.

 

Badass theme song

 

As a kid I always thought X-Pac was this sad guy who just couldn't let go of DX and dreamed of getting the band back together. I still really liked him with Kane though

 

idk either i think he was only suited in a group hes kind of like the michelle williams role (he is a lot better than her lol) where hes only relevant in the group rather than on his own as opposed to shawn and hunter being like beyonce and kelly.

i like him but i think his biggest appeals were nWo, D-X mostly and his shoot interviews which is a shame because sean waltman has a great mind for the business and is a great workhorse with a personality. drugs didnt help his career either lol

 

The DX scumbag act simply got old, and there was an influx of new guys that people wanted to see over X-Pac.

X-Pac was always a great worker and a personality but this was simply a period of his career where he was going through the motions. The faction with Justin Credible and Albert had no direction yet X-Pac kept winning matches over guys like Jericho and Jeff Hardy which he probably should have lost on hindsight.

 

This baffles me too, I'm a big fan of Waltman to be honest, I think he's a great performer, very consistent and when he put on matches he always sold his size well, be it with the beat downs, the come backs etc.. he knew how to do it basically and he put on some of the greatest matches too, so it did baffle me really this whole X-Pac heat thing, my guess is just his character became stale to them but so have many other talents, Sheamus comes to mind for me also until his recent change as being really stale, solid talent, but stale gimmick and that's what I felt he had recently up until now, he possibly coming close to this kind of heat too as even as a face when he was mentioned, I forget when it was but the talent were on the ramp at the time and Sheamus was a face, I think they were talking about possible opponents for someone or something and going through each talent, which when it came to Sheamus he got booed, it may have been the Slammy's, I'm not sure but I felt he was getting close to this and it's not because he's not good (he is!), but it's more to do with people just getting bored of his character, I suppose Cena can be put into this category also but he's so huge in the business, it's kind of hard to compare as opposed to a regular mid card talent I guess.

But yeah, I do feel with Sean it's a little over reacted, I've always felt he's been under shadowed by people but to be fair, he did hold his ground and stand out while around the biggest names and aura's in the business too, where many probably would have drowned, though I do feel that Waltman gets nice praise from the fans in general now in hindsight so it's all good

 

Sheamus really is the best example of a guy with "Xpac Heat" on the main roster. It's so frustrating too because he's one bad ass wrestler, all his stuff looks great, he wrestles like he's actually trying to win a match instead of just looking like he's performing in a coordinated effort to put on a show.

Sheamus' main problem is his look/character. I'm sorry, but I don't see how anyone with any modicum of intelligence could think his baby face character and look was a good idea. The whole package was just obnoxious to the 10th degree. It didn't fit his wrestling style at all.

Sheamus should be a heel right now, so that is a step in the right direction, but he had a GREAT chance to come back as a heel and really establish himself as a legitimate force, and instead he makes himself look like a total buffoon. That's not good heat. You never saw Fit Finlay, the wrestler Sheamus should be looking up to the most, come out and have people laugh at his appearance. Even when he first debuted in WCW as "The Belfast Bruiser" with that ridiculous hair cut and shoulder padded jacket, he still looked so mean and tough that you'd never in a million years laugh at how he looked.

If I could do anything with Sheamus, it would be to revamp his heel character and look and then give him a big push so that he is legit when he cashes in. The braided beard and Mohawk are gone. The trunks are gone. The bright red hair is gone.

Instead, I'm putting him in a "Bret Hart style" full length wrestling singlet. It's just gonna be all black and look like it's made of leather, with a simple silver Celtic Knot on the front. Black boots that look almost like combat boots, like what the IRA would wear while getting into fights and stomping people out. I'm dying his hair dark brown, not quite black but really dark brown. Fists are gonna be totally taped up like he's ready to brawl. Promos are all short, delivered with maximum intensity, and I'm instructing him to lash out at the crowd at every chance and let them know how easily Sheamus could kick their puny American asses if they ever said a bad word to my face.

His first 5-10 matches that he has are going to be total squashes. But they aren't ending in a pin fall. No, after about 4-5 minutes of a brutal, relentless, ungodly beat down, Sheamus will deliver a brogue kick knocking his opponents head clear off. But Sheamus refuses to pin the guy, he stands over him barking at him to stand up like a man and fight. When the guy finally rises, another Brogue Kick right to the face. Then he does it again, taunts his fallen opponent until he gets up and then another brogue kick. Finally the opponent is totally loopy and out cold and can't stand up to Sheamus taunts, so Sheamus bends down, hooks the guy under his arms, drags him up to his feet and over to the corner. He props the guy up standing against the turnbuckle, and proceeds to deliver ANOTHER Brogue Kick. He goes to do it again and the ref finally, mercifully, calls for the bell and ends it.

That's what I'm doing for his first 5-10 matches once I re debute his heel character. He's going to continue doing that until he finally cashes in, making him as credible as he's ever been.

That's how you avoid Xpac heat.

 

Because his character became stale as fuck & people were sick of seeing the same thing over & over.

 

it was a snowball effect:
1. People became tired of his schtick
2. People started realizing "hey, this guy isn't playing a douchebag, he really is one"
3. He wouldn't change his act accordingly.
4. behind the scenes things from the past resurfaced and added to the 'why did we cheer this dipshit" mania
5. He started being perceived as someone who would latch on to others coat tails and that's all he was good for.
6. He continued to do douchebag things behind the scenes.
7. People realized beating him meant nothing due to his size and X-Pac winning demeaned the other wrestler
8. It became obvious this was a guy stuck in a past made by other people.

 

Outside of HHH none of the DX guys did well once they split paths. Hell you could argue Chyna had a better single's career than the other 3. At least with X Pac they still cared enough to think he sucks. DX was composed of low card guys and they were able to garner quite the popularity in 1998 but it's just not something that carried forward over the years because the group consisted of mid card for life acts. HHH also turned them into lackeys during DX's heel run which didn't help as well. Waltman is an okay act but compared to Jericho, Angle, Benoit, Guerrero, etc, etc he's trash. Road Dogg is nothing more than an entrance and that knee thing he does, and Billy Gunn just seems to work best in a tag team.

The X Pac heat stuff is overblown. It's really not until 02 and X Factor where he gets booed as a face and that might be the worse stable of all time but he didn't have a bad career by any stretch of the imagination. He was a solid mid carder for NWO and DX but eventually people just get sick of his act.

 

From what I have heard was that it was mostly just over exposure of his character, I has often wondered the same thing but thats all I have ever actually heard for the reason, ie too much of the same character without any changes.

 

It was purely about his character. He had basically the same character even way past DX broke up. And then the X-Factor stable fiasco...that didn't help. I always enjoyed Pac in the ring and think he is excellent at making others look really good. It had nothing to do with his talent, but just the fact that Creative didn't do shit for him once DX broke up. So, really, it should be called "Creative heat," because it was their lazy asses fault that this happened to XPac. Not saying they had to make him a main eventer or anything close to that, but Jesus, they could have at least attended to his character at least somewhat after DX broke up. I mean, at least pretend to give a fuck about his character..

 

dx got back together when xpac was getting xpac heat
also surprised cena hasnt been getting xpac heat considering hes had the same gimmick for a very long time

 

It's Xbox heat!

 

In 2000 he had pretty much been doing the same character for 4 years.

 

Some have already said it, but he was still using the DX gimmick way after it was considered stale. It was ancient. That, and just seeing a greasy long haired red neck guy point at his crotch was no longer considered "cool" anyway. There was so little that was interesting about his character or even his matches, it just turned into this large collective thing where literally everyone hated Xpac, didn't matter if he was a face or a heel, they just wanted him off the TV screen.

 

After D-X broke up, zero fucks were given about him. Like the kid in high school who thought he was cool and still acted that way many years later.

- Vic