Big Show on WWE’s present lack of in-ring psychology

Big Show being from the Attitude Era, remembers the time when in-ring psychology mattered a lot in the business. He spoke to Busted Open Radiodiscussing the differences between the two eras of the company.

 


 

Big Show noted how there was far more motivation for lower-card superstars back then, as opposed to today’s wrestlers who just don’t seem to want to improve.

“It was a different time back then. You have to figure, I think our business was more competitive back then because where you were on the card had a direct relation to how much money that you made so it was a shoot in respect of, if you were the champion, if you were a tag champion, if you were working towards the latter-end of the card you made more money so yeah, if there were guys that were working after you towards the end of the card making more money than you, yeah, you didn’t like them.”

You were pissed off at them, it wasn’t the whole everybody gets along, you know what I mean? You had an opportunity and you had to get an angle to go over to be able to work live events to get a better position on live events to make more money. I think the biggest thing that bothers me in today’s wrestling is that everybody is too nice to each other. They are all way too nice. It is all too chummy, chummy.”

A good part of wrestling nowadays lack proper storytelling and devolve into dishing out each other’s moveset before someone wins. According to Big Show, there still are fans who prefer actual storytelling.

 “Today, it feels like you do your stuff, I’ll do my stuff, and you do your stuff. Zero to hero, hero to zero. I get it: maybe the audience has changed. Maybe it is more action-packed. Maybe people don’t want drama, which I disagree that people don’t want the drama.”

I think they do want the drama, and when you give people the time of when something is done right, people get into it. They get a chance to absorb it, but when it is one move after another move and nobody isn’t selling anything and doesn’t mean anything and if it doesn’t mean anything why are you doing it? Don’t throw 50 punches when 2 will do.”

Big Show also expressed his wish for today’s superstars to actually want to make a name for themselves. He feels they do not make good of the opportunities presented to them.

“Maybe today’s product has changed, but I just can’t put my finger on it yet. There’s never been a better time, in my opinion, to be a WWE superstar as a wrestling entertainer. You have so much worldwide access and exposure that we never had when we first started.

I mean, I can remember being a WCW world champion and then when I went to WWE we went on a tour to Germany and they had no idea who I was, you know what I mean? I was starting all over again. Now, because of social media, because of all the websites, because of Busted Open Radio people have more exposure.

People know more about the product and learning about the superstars so there is a chance to distinguish yourself from the rest. I think that is my point is with all of this opportunity I am begging some of these younger guys to distinguish themselves from everybody else.”

h/t to Wrestling Inc for the transcription.

Harrison Carter
Harrison Carter
Harrison Carter has been a huge pro wrestling fan since 2002, and it's been his first love ever since then. He has years of writing experience for all things pro wrestling. His interests outside of wrestling include films, books and soccer.

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