Topic: PINO: Push In Name Only

[FreebirdSTF]

Not terribly original, but I just used PINO elsewhere.  I think it's a good way to describe how WWE pushes most of its younger roster.  Think of guys like Kofi who always seem to have a belt, but lose to anyone that matters.  Swagger is who I was discussing when I said it first. 

[Zandrax]

I'd say most of the roster not named Cena and Orton fits that description

[FreebirdSTF]

Don't forget Punk.

[Solipsist]

Push In Name Only sounds like how I describe the first time big belt winners like Swagger, Christian and currently Daniel Bryan.

It's a weird mish-mash of Hitting The Glass Ceiling and Jobber To The Stars.

The only defense of Push In Name Only is that it seems Wrestling Marks want to see everyone Get A Push, which invariably means No One Gets Pushed.

And I'm going to stop now because this post reads an awful lot like a page on tvtropes.

[FreebirdSTF]

Your first line nails it.  Also the everyone gets a push mentality in action is what The Big Don calls "nonsensical parity booking."  You're right in that it is just as harmful.

[Zandrax]

I think Punk is getting there as far as a true top level push. Granted I thought Miz was getting there this time last year.

[FreebirdSTF]

Punk is there, I was never so sure of that with the Miz.

[Chus-Kay]

miz wasn't.  but that kind of push worked for his character.  ultimately, it hasn't helped HIM, but it did work.

unlike say Punk's first championship run where he was supposed to be a face.  of course this whole "depush a 1st time wwe/world champ" shit goes way back.  earliest i remember is orton's first run where HHH then got to rape him.

[FreebirdSTF]

I don't think the Miz push worked at all.  They waited far too long to make him look remotely legitimate and I'm not going to even start on the Lawler feud again.

That being said, his super serious badass gimmick is awful too.  They needed to find a sweet spot between his chickenshit heel and super serious persona.  He needed just a little more physical credibility as till might say.

[Chus-Kay]

eh, i thought they did do a good job of portaying him as a guy who presented himself as a badass, but was really a chickenshit.  that's why it the shitty push worked for him.

[FreebirdSTF]

I think they made him look too weak though.  Now they portray him almost like he's some sort of rough and tumble bruiser and that doesn't work for him either.  I liked the character when he was getting his main event push, but he shouldn't have been struggling with 60+ year old Jerry Lawler or getting annihilated by John Cena at every turn.

[Zandrax]

It's where I fear they are going with the Bryan program. That he'll lose the title without actually beating anybody of even midcard stature.

I do remember now how I was noticing that Miz lost something like seven matches in a row on free TV, and several times was the guy getting pinned. But after The Rumble it started getting better.

[FreebirdSTF]

I recall the Miz taking falls in tag matches as the champ and that is beyond stupid.  He should have weaseled out of actually taking falls so you would just want to see him get his ass beat more in the long run.