Chazz
04-06-2004, 04:21 PM
Well hello kids. The chazzyone has invaded Wrestlepower. Seeing as how my column over at IOW is a huge, breakout hit, I decided to come over here and work on honing my superior writing skills. :D Okay, I'm just kidding. Seriously, I had a new idea for a column and when Wrestlepower came into existence, it seemed like a great place to start a new column. At IOW, I write the column entitled "In Defense of...", where I pick a topic that concerns wrestling at defend it. (Shameless plug) Please, go to IOW and read my column. I promise you will find it entertaining (End shameless plug). Now, for my new column, I have decided to call it " Chazz's Focal Point". Basically, I'll pick a subject that has to do with wrestling and give my thoughts and views. Being as I am just a fan, what I write will strictly convey what and how I feel from a fans point of view. You may agree with me, you may think I'm full of crap. Either way, I just want you to hear my thoughts and that what I write is how I feel. Feedback, comments and whatever else are encouraged. Now, let's get to it shall we? For my first column, Chazz's Focal Point presents: Wrestler's make bad GM's.
Wrestler's Make Bad GM's.
Call me crazy! Call me critical. Call me whatever you want. But, if you think I am crazy then maybe you should take a look at what the WWE decided to. Of particular interest is the decision that happened on Smackdown two weeks ago. That decision was regarding Vince McMahon's choice of Kurt Angle as the new Smackdown GM. That, my friends, is crazy! It's madness! When will Vince learn that wrestlers just don't make good GM's?
First of all, let me make one thing clear. I am not saying this because I have a hatred or dislike for Kurt. I actually like the guy. But that is as a wrestler. Being a GM is another whole ballgame.
Look back to when Austin was co-general manager of Raw. He never seemed comfortable with the role. The one thing that helped Austin was Bischoff. Eric is a great personality when it comes to playing the role of GM. He know how to do it. Austin was..... well he was Austin who possessed the mentality of a wrestler trapped in a body that was now trapped into being a GM. Austin never came off as a business man, which I feel is a quality you must possess in order to succeed as a GM. What I mean is, this characteristic must be conveyed when you are on stage. Eric, Paul Heyman and even Stephanie do this well. Austin never did. The fans saw Austin as a wrestler, and to this day, still do. He may be retired from the ring, but the fans will still see him as a wrestler because he is still "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Bischoff, Heyman and McMahon are seen as business people, and not wrestlers. When they get into the ring, it always looks and feels out of place.
Now, Kurt is the GM of Smackdown and he faces this same delimma. He is a wrestler who now is reduced to being a business man character. From what I have seen the past two weeks, Kurt looks to be uncomfortable with his new role. The suit just does not go with his character. He maybe the new GM, but he still acts like the main-event wrestler we all know him as. Yet, their is one positive. Kurt is still a heel. In my opinion, GM's who are heels make for a better show. That being said, Kurt has a lot of work ahead of him.
Another reason why wrestler's make bad GM's is due to the fact that the fans will expect that wrestler to return to wrestling. Even with Austin being retired, fans still anticipated him making a return to the ring. Kurt will face the same challenge. When he does return, the fans won't accept him as GM. And even as GM, the fans still see him as a wrestler who is doing this temporary until he heals up. This fact also leads to what I call the "realism" factor. Bischoff and Heyman were pure GM's who the fans believed in. Their is a certain realism to their characters because both men are known as great business men in the wrestling world. Eric comes off as a true GM. He is believeable. Kurt doesn't. He is an athlete with great ring skills and has done it all in this business. As a GM, he looks fake. I'm not blaming him, but I do blame the WWE for deciding to put him in the position of GM. I know the reason why he was selected as the new GM, but in all honesty Kurt should have taken time off to heal up.
And lastly, their is the personality factor. Kurt has a body and mind that are geared for wrestling. He is an athlete, a warrior and a competitor. As a GM, he is none of these things. He is a guy who is given power to run a show. And that is it. Now, he has conflict within himself. He is no longer Kurt the wrestler. He is now Kurt, the GM. And when you have conflict like that, it shows in your appearance. Like I said earlier, Kurt looks uncomfortable in his new role. To me, it seems that the wrestler in him is still what we get. As a GM, he can no longer be the Kurt Angle wrestler. He has to adapt at being the GM. But, if he does not believe in it, then the fans won't either. And as a GM, you need the fans to believe you are the one who runs the show. You have to convey you are a business man. Kurt does not convey that.
Wrestlers are what they are. They are warriors who put their bodies through training and performing in the ring. They are the guys who we look at with awe and even become inspired by them. We see them as gladiators. We don't see them as general managers. GM's are the guys behind the scenes who make deals, make matches and are not physically intimidating. GM's are psychologically intimidating. They use words and power as influence. Wrestler's and GM's are a different breed and when mixed together, the result is catastrophic. Wrestler's just do not make good GM's!
Wrestler's Make Bad GM's.
Call me crazy! Call me critical. Call me whatever you want. But, if you think I am crazy then maybe you should take a look at what the WWE decided to. Of particular interest is the decision that happened on Smackdown two weeks ago. That decision was regarding Vince McMahon's choice of Kurt Angle as the new Smackdown GM. That, my friends, is crazy! It's madness! When will Vince learn that wrestlers just don't make good GM's?
First of all, let me make one thing clear. I am not saying this because I have a hatred or dislike for Kurt. I actually like the guy. But that is as a wrestler. Being a GM is another whole ballgame.
Look back to when Austin was co-general manager of Raw. He never seemed comfortable with the role. The one thing that helped Austin was Bischoff. Eric is a great personality when it comes to playing the role of GM. He know how to do it. Austin was..... well he was Austin who possessed the mentality of a wrestler trapped in a body that was now trapped into being a GM. Austin never came off as a business man, which I feel is a quality you must possess in order to succeed as a GM. What I mean is, this characteristic must be conveyed when you are on stage. Eric, Paul Heyman and even Stephanie do this well. Austin never did. The fans saw Austin as a wrestler, and to this day, still do. He may be retired from the ring, but the fans will still see him as a wrestler because he is still "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Bischoff, Heyman and McMahon are seen as business people, and not wrestlers. When they get into the ring, it always looks and feels out of place.
Now, Kurt is the GM of Smackdown and he faces this same delimma. He is a wrestler who now is reduced to being a business man character. From what I have seen the past two weeks, Kurt looks to be uncomfortable with his new role. The suit just does not go with his character. He maybe the new GM, but he still acts like the main-event wrestler we all know him as. Yet, their is one positive. Kurt is still a heel. In my opinion, GM's who are heels make for a better show. That being said, Kurt has a lot of work ahead of him.
Another reason why wrestler's make bad GM's is due to the fact that the fans will expect that wrestler to return to wrestling. Even with Austin being retired, fans still anticipated him making a return to the ring. Kurt will face the same challenge. When he does return, the fans won't accept him as GM. And even as GM, the fans still see him as a wrestler who is doing this temporary until he heals up. This fact also leads to what I call the "realism" factor. Bischoff and Heyman were pure GM's who the fans believed in. Their is a certain realism to their characters because both men are known as great business men in the wrestling world. Eric comes off as a true GM. He is believeable. Kurt doesn't. He is an athlete with great ring skills and has done it all in this business. As a GM, he looks fake. I'm not blaming him, but I do blame the WWE for deciding to put him in the position of GM. I know the reason why he was selected as the new GM, but in all honesty Kurt should have taken time off to heal up.
And lastly, their is the personality factor. Kurt has a body and mind that are geared for wrestling. He is an athlete, a warrior and a competitor. As a GM, he is none of these things. He is a guy who is given power to run a show. And that is it. Now, he has conflict within himself. He is no longer Kurt the wrestler. He is now Kurt, the GM. And when you have conflict like that, it shows in your appearance. Like I said earlier, Kurt looks uncomfortable in his new role. To me, it seems that the wrestler in him is still what we get. As a GM, he can no longer be the Kurt Angle wrestler. He has to adapt at being the GM. But, if he does not believe in it, then the fans won't either. And as a GM, you need the fans to believe you are the one who runs the show. You have to convey you are a business man. Kurt does not convey that.
Wrestlers are what they are. They are warriors who put their bodies through training and performing in the ring. They are the guys who we look at with awe and even become inspired by them. We see them as gladiators. We don't see them as general managers. GM's are the guys behind the scenes who make deals, make matches and are not physically intimidating. GM's are psychologically intimidating. They use words and power as influence. Wrestler's and GM's are a different breed and when mixed together, the result is catastrophic. Wrestler's just do not make good GM's!