Can we talk about some early Diamond Dallas Paige?

[HipHopStan]

Yeap perfect example of how to make a star in wrasslin'. Its easy as fukk if you have someone at the top who isnt selfish.

I love the story behind the first time Dallas pinned Randy.

Arn: "How do you want to end the match tonight, Mach?"

Macho: "Weeeeell *looks up tying his boots* I think I'm gonna take the Diamond Cutter tonight."

That was a great feud. It was probably one of, if not the best feud of 1997. One thing I liked about it was after their brutal matches is that they would sell it with DDP having his ribs taped up and Macho on crutches.

Dallas's story in general is an amazing one. He started wrestling in his mid to late thirties, went through a lot of shyt gimmicks, worked hard, persevered, and became a fan favorite. You could make the diamond symbol anywhere it wasn't the ROC symbol...It was the Diamond Cutter symbol.

His work post-wrestling has been amazing. He helped save Jake and Scott, Tony Schiavone has lost 80lbs with DDP Yoga, and he's a Hall of Famer.

to DDP.

 

[NkrumahWasRight Is Wrong]

I was just a little kid but them early days were hot garbage

Taped Ribs DDP >>>>

Ribs were always taped. Classic

 

[itiswhatitis]

At different points this guy had like 47 gimmicks at once:
Tons of Jewelry on
A Female Manager Kimberly
Max Muscle Bodyguard (The same time as Kimberly)
Sunglasses
Ric Flair like Entrance Robes
A Cigar in his mouth while chewing gum to the ring
Backstory of him being rich worth 13 million
Open Arm Wrestling Challenges
Asking for Scorecards during his matches

Got through all of this garbage and came out great wrestler and a legend.

Side Note Great Letter by DDP to his younger self:
Letter to My Younger Self | By Diamond Dallas Page

Could've sworn Conrad Thompson has said the same thing...

 

[MushroomX]

Yeap perfect example of how to make a star in wrasslin'. Its easy as fukk if you have someone at the top who isnt selfish.

You don't need to go over to be the best. Macho made Hogan mad, as everyone went to him and Steamboat for upstaging Hogan.

 

[Wacky D]

it also helped that him and bischoff were friends and bout that swinger life.

but yea, I was talking about DDP last week. the mic work and character was already there before he prolly even stepped into a ring.

I stumbled on this old PWF stuff where he was an announcer, and I guess assistant to sir oliver humperdink. he always had IT outside of the ring.

 

[Jello Biafra]

Dude started off managing Bad Company to the AWA tag belts and had his stable of The Diamond Exchange with Curt Hennig, Col. DeBeers and Madusa.

Then he came to WCW still as a manager first and led the Freebirds to a world tag championship before managing Scott Hall (as The Diamond Stud).
Then Magnum TA suggested Paige try wrestling himself and that was all she wrote.

 

[stro]

DDP was SO bad in the early days and really much of the last 2 years of WCW he was just as corny and lame as he was at the start of his career, but those 2 years there he was

 

[Jimmy Two-Times™]

I always wished he'd make an impact in a WWF ring at his prime.

 

[Wacky D]

Why not bin the whole Shorty G thing, shave Gable's head, get him a mouthpiece and have Kurt down there working with him the way Shawn is working with Cole/Gargano?

adam cole was already made before he signed with the WWE.

 

[Novembruh]

adam cole was already made before he signed with the WWE.

I have no idea what that has to do with me noting that they have a bunch of legends that these younger guys patterned themselves after who are available and it's a waste to not have them working with those people. Cole is working with HBK in NXT, like... it's literally happening. I'm simply noting there's no reason not to have Angle working with Gable. Hell, Xia should be calling Asuka - not due to any racial thing, but because Asuka's whole style in NXT was predicated on submissions and strikes, usually kicks. Xia need to be on the phone with Kana figuring out how to make the strikes pop.

There's so many resources that seem untapped, all centering around NXT. Even people who have been pros for years can still 'develop' something. I'd love to see it used as more than just 'training new people to work this style', but also let it exist to train people in something; anything new. Shame that AEW has 2 of the top 3 in character reinvigoration... but man, once Bryan retires, I hope they throw the bag at him to just live in Florida and work as an on-site resource and primary trainer. Bryan's top-5 in that sense.

I'll say this though. If AEW ever gets big enough to construct it's own Power Plant of sorts... (The Safe Space?) I hope they tap DDP to be one of their head trainers. Between the yoga and the insight, dude could be invaluable to getting that next generation running.

 

[Mr. Negative]

Dude started off managing Bad Company to the AWA tag belts and had his stable of The Diamond Exchange with Curt Hennig, Col. DeBeers and Madusa.

Then he came to WCW still as a manager first and led the Freebirds to a world tag championship before managing Scott Hall (as The Diamond Stud).
Then Magnum TA suggested Paige try wrestling himself and that was all she wrote.

Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka underrated.


This pic don't help that cause, though

 

[DaylitoJames]

Yeah i can see where Joey Janela borrowed most of his style of wardrobe from

 

[Jello Biafra]

Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka underrated.


This pic don't help that cause, though

Their ring gear was suspect as hell but Diamond and Tanaka were a damn good tag team that never got the shine they deserved outside of AWA.

 

[Wacky D]

I have no idea what that has to do with me noting that they have a bunch of legends that these younger guys patterned themselves after who are available and it's a waste to not have them working with those people. Cole is working with HBK in NXT, like... it's literally happening. I'm simply noting there's no reason not to have Angle working with Gable. Hell, Xia should be calling Asuka - not due to any racial thing, but because Asuka's whole style in NXT was predicated on submissions and strikes, usually kicks. Xia need to be on the phone with Kana figuring out how to make the strikes pop.

There's so many resources that seem untapped, all centering around NXT. Even people who have been pros for years can still 'develop' something. I'd love to see it used as more than just 'training new people to work this style', but also let it exist to train people in something; anything new. Shame that AEW has 2 of the top 3 in character reinvigoration... but man, once Bryan retires, I hope they throw the bag at him to just live in Florida and work as an on-site resource and primary trainer. Bryan's top-5 in that sense.

I'll say this though. If AEW ever gets big enough to construct it's own Power Plant of sorts... (The Safe Space?) I hope they tap DDP to be one of their head trainers. Between the yoga and the insight, dude could be invaluable to getting that next generation running.

what is cole really getting from HBK tho? hes the same exact guy he was before he signed with the WWE.
I don't see any difference, so theres really no point in dragging gable & angle down to the performance center because HBK is "working" with cole.
they don't really teach you anything in NXT. hence, the reason why most of the wrestlers that come out of there are trash, unless they were already poppin beforehand - like a cole or gargano

im not saying that you have bad ideas or anything tho.

Their ring gear was suspect as hell but Diamond and Tanaka were a damn good tag team that never got the shine they deserved outside of AWA.

I always wondered, was diamond rockin the mask as Kato in the orient express??​

 

[The Great One]

Someone close this. Wacky D has invaded and writing long ass essays acting like this thread was his idea.