Controversial Wrestling Moments

[Peachy]

What do you guys think when a pro wrestling company makes a controversial storyline? There have been problematic moments in companies like WWE, WCW, etc. At what point does what's done for entertainment cross over into tasteless territory? What's fair game? What should be off limits? Is hanging a wrestler on a cross or a wrestler's real-life alcoholism fodder for plot or untouchable subjects?

Some examples include the Katie Vick storyline, Vince McMahon vs God, and so many others.

 

[prphd]

If it's written as thought provoking vs written for propaganda or self importance.

 

[Webster]

We're going to start off with a bang - New Jack vs. Vic Grimes.

There is no one in professional wrestling as notorious as New Jack. The stories we read about Jerome Young seem unbeliavable at first, but you best believe that New Jack really did live the gimmick. In SMW and ECW, New Jack made headlines along with his "Gangstas" tag partner Mustafa, brining a new meaning to extreme wrestling.

At ECW Living Dangerously 2000, New Jack worked a match against Da Baldies. During this match, the infamous "Danbury Fall" occured when Vic Grimes fell on top of New Jack when a planned table bump from a scaffold went wrong. The botch left New Jack with some serious health issues, and New Jack heard that Grimes was boasting about putting New Jack out of commission. New Jack returned to ECW a few months later but, in his words, he was never the same.

Fast forward 2 years later and New Jack vs Vic Grimes is booked in XPW, in an event aptly named "FreeFall". During this match, New Jack got his revenge when Vic Grimes was thrown from a 40 foot scaffold, right into the ring.

This mini documentary from Wrestling Bios takes a look at the New Jack vs Vic Grimes matches and the shoot interviews New Jack gave after the incident. Topics covered include:

00:44 New Jack and his reputation as a feared hardcore wrestler
03:14 New Jack's early career before ECW
04:42 Vic Grimes journey in Professional Wrestling, including his WWE tryouts
05:58 The Danbury Fall at ECW Living Dangerously 2000
10:25 XPW Freefall 2002 and the New Jack vs Vic Grimes Scaffold Match

 

[PGen98]

There is no one scarier in wrestling that New Jack.

 

[Webster]

There is no one scarier in wrestling that New Jack.

I remember seeing him here in Morganton back in 94' when he was with Smoky Mountain Wrestling; the man drew nuclear levels of heat.
I did get his autograph though (as well as autographs from both Jim Cornette and a young Chris Jericho!)

 

[Webster]

What do you guys think when a pro wrestling company makes a controversial storyline? There have been problematic moments in companies like WWE, WCW, etc. At what point does what's done for entertainment cross over into tasteless territory? What's fair game? What should be off limits? Is hanging a wrestler on a cross or a wrestler's real-life alcoholism fodder for plot or untouchable subjects?

Some examples include the Katie Vick storyline, Vince McMahon vs God, and so many others.

Back in the territory days you could get away with controversial storylines (a) because wrestlers, bookers, promotoers, etc., knew what worked and what didn't and didn't pull stupid stuff and (b) there wasn't an internet (nor an Internet Wrestling Community) to worry about.

 

[Dead2009]

I wouldnt count the Katie Vick storyline as controversial because it was more for shock value if anything else.

 

[PGen98]

I remember seeing him here in Morganton back in 94' when he was with Smoky Mountain Wrestling; the man drew nuclear levels of heat.
I did get his autograph though (as well as autographs from both Jim Cornette and a young Chris Jericho!)

OMG, I'd never have had the nerve to approach him for an autograph, lol

 

[Webster]

OMG, I'd never have had the nerve to approach him for an autograph, lol

Which "him"?
Cornette or New Jack?

 

[Webster]

I wouldnt count the Katie Vick storyline as controversial because it was more for shock value if anything else.

It counts because they, at the behest of Vince McMahon (read: he ordered them to run the angle) actually ran the storyline for a couple weeks until they found the number of fans they were bleeding was more than the number of fans they'd hoped to pick up. Chalk it up to (a) Vince's ego - after all, this was the man who'd bought out his two Attitude Era rivals and thought he was God's Gift to the Squared Circle, and (b) Vince Russo, who, if reports are to be believed, came up with the original idea.

 

[PGen98]

Which "him"?
Cornette or New Jack?

New Jack, though Cornette is intimidating too

 

[Webster]

New Jack, though Cornette is intimidating too

Depends on whether he's carrying that tennis racket and/or whether its' loaded.
And yes, I was in the audience when Arn Anderson said...."Jim Cornette, you want to whack me with that racket? You're gonna need a gynecologist to get it out of you the next day!"

 

[PGen98]

Gotta' love Arn

 

[Webster]

Gotta' love Arn

Of all the great wrestlers who've never won a top-tier wrestling title (think NWA World Heavyweight or WCW or WWE equivalents) Arn Anderson is one of the first two to come to mind.
The other one? Jake "the Snake" Roberts.

The difference, Crystal? Jake Roberts had too many outside-the-ring issues to be reliably trusted with the top strap, while Arn was honestly content to be the Creon to Ric Flair; as long as Flair was protected, Arn was a happy guy. For what its' worth, I'd add recently-retired wrestler Jake Hager (the former Jack Swagger) to that list from his time as second to Chris Jericho.

 

[PGen98]

Hager deserved better, honestly, but yeah, he was a solid number 2

 

[Webster]

Hager deserved better, honestly, but yeah, he was a solid number 2

Hager is in that unenviable position a lot of wrestlers have been in - a pretty decent wrestler who never hit the Main Event scene for whatever reasons you can think of usually because there was always someone just a step better than him - exs. Claudio Castagnoli, The Miz, Randy Orton).

 

[Webster]

@Dead2009, @PGen98, @FallandPray >>> Thoughts?

 

[Webster]

 

[Webster]

@PGen98 >>> Shame we couldn't've gotten to see Brian Pillman - *points above* - and New Jack together.... #CompleteUnhingedness

 

[Webster]

@PGen98, the match above wasn't that good, but seeing a former NWA champion on Bizarro Street with the Claw move, epic.