It just dawned on me that steve austin and dusty rhodes got over for the same reason

[stro]

"Working class" is looked down upon today. Particularly to the audience WWE likes to think it sells itself to. The closest thing to a "common man" for the modern audience is Xavier Woods. A big fukking nerd who loves anime and video games who happens to be a wrestler on the side.

 

[R=G]

why is there not a "Working class guy for the people" wrestler right now?

Dusty was the son of a plumber, fighting the arrogant ballers 4 horseman, and the russian threat nikita koloff, and he was one of the people, literally speaking to the coal miners and unemployed people in the carolinas and georgia.

Austin was a beer swigging swearing tough guy who was antagonized by his evil boss, who was also a rich a$$hole like flair (in different ways but still), and spoke to the 90s dudebros and frat boys who hated their boss and wanted to chug a beer. He also was more appealing to the crowd than a flashy hbk and corporate kiss asses rock and HHH.

There needs to be someone to fit this mold. The closest was CM Punk when he was fighting HHH but that was broken for their own internal reasons...its a role that in theory, could work for Dean Ambrose though he's trash, or maybe luke harper after the wyatts break...maybe even baron corbin a long time from now

Am i off base or does this make sense?

Punk? The fans saw the Bryan character as the flips idea to Austin in this era...a guy being attacked by the system because he's popular and works harder than anyone else. Punk was trying to walk away over ice cream bars.

 

[jadillac]

the audience is different now tho. Maybe not so much as not being the same fans, but the perception is different.

I think Daniel Bryan was close to the "average guy". Daniel Bryan could be from the North, Eastcoast, Westcoast or South. I think that's what they're looking for now

Austin/Dusty were Southern guys thru and thru.

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

"Working class" is looked down upon today. Particularly to the audience WWE likes to think it sells itself to. The closest thing to a "common man" for the modern audience is Xavier Woods. A big fukking nerd who loves anime and video games who happens to be a wrestler on the side.

I gotta disagree still. Thats the common man to the CORE fans yes, but the pool of potential fans, styles speaks to them way better


And working class tough guy is NOT the same as regular guy. Regular guy don't draw. Working class tough guy always does.

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

Regular guy = Sami Zayn, Daniel Bryan, Cody Rhodes...Just...A guy

Working class tough hero = dusty, Austin, ECW Taz, punk for like a minute, JYD, honestly FOLEY during his run for a minute

Big difference

 

[Bob-omb]

• Stephanie
• HHH
• The miz
• Bobby roode
• A heel Cena especially if you add Nikki to the mix and he shows his lifestyle

A lot can do it

Agree with that list. And you got to give Vince credit for allowing himself to be embarrassed and look like a fool on a weekly basis back in the day.


That is something that Stephanie, unfortunately, doesn't allow herself to do anymore because she's busy trying to play a strong, dominant woman in a company full of men.

 

[Heelish]

A big fukking nerd who loves anime and video games who happens to be a wrestler on the side.

"I just happen to grapp'."

 

[stro]

I gotta disagree still. Thats the common man to the CORE fans yes, but the pool of potential fans, styles speaks to them way better


And working class tough guy is NOT the same as regular guy. Regular guy don't draw. Working class tough guy always does.

Dusty wasn't a tough guy. Austin was a BAMF through and through. There is a world of difference in how the two approached their ring work. Dusty was resilient, but he wasn't the kind of guy to go beat the shyt out of someone unless they really pushed him over the edge like when he tried to break Arn's leg.

 

[Berniewood Hogan]

Nah, that face is mid american and southern, still. They voted FOR trump. And they would get behind someone rallying against a Miz for example.

They voted for Trump because they're out of work, hooked on painkillers, and hate hard-working Mexicans.

shyt, they're wrestlers!

 

[NYChase718]

"I just happen to grapp'."

I just wrestle cuz im nice B

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

Dusty wasn't a tough guy. Austin was a BAMF through and through. There is a world of difference in how the two approached their ring work. Dusty was resilient, but he wasn't the kind of guy to go beat the shyt out of someone unless they really pushed him over the edge like when he tried to break Arn's leg.

Agreed, but, with dusty he TALKED and carried himself as a tough guy and got to the crowd as one of their own who would fight for them.

 

[Cheercomp]

I been saying it for months....Jay Briscoe is that next middle america everyman

 

[Here Comes the Pain]

The charismatic common/working/everyday man will always get over, as the majority of audience are from a similar sort of working class background/environment.

& Punk got over for the same way. Both regular looking guys who majority of the audience can relate too, especially the plight they have had to fight against. It's why DDP got over as well.

DDP got over by having a tremendous amount of swag. No common man appeal besides wearing jeans for a while.

The miz has everyday common man credentials with million dollar man appeal.

 

[stro]

DDP's common man appeal came from his work ethic, not his jeans. The jeans shyt came from him wearing them to a no dq match with Macho and then he just kept wearing them. His whole thing was that he started late and worked harder than anyone to be taken seriously and get his shot. Not that he was a common man or anything. His gimmick for years was seedy strip club owner and then millionaire.

It wasn't even swag. It was the diamond cutter. If he had had a normal finisher like a powerbomb or pancake, he never would have made it past feuding with Evad Sullivan.

 

[richaveli83]

I feel you on that but I'm personally TIRED of the babyface going against authority figures like Vince, Stephanie, Triple H, Dixie, etc. We've been having this in some shape or form for nearly 20 years.