Everyone rightfully points out the problems with scripted promos in WWE but their repetitive nature is another one. Especially for heels. Alexa is a big one here. There are outliers like Joe and Miz who can adapt to different angles and situations but most promos in WWE have repeated phrases and similar cadences. They all blend together after awhile

 

also has promo ability meant less than at any time in WWE history? Seth is arguably the most over face on Raw and AJ and Nak are dominating the main event scene on SD. AJ is the best talker of the three but obviously is not considered elite. Again there is Miz and Joe but it does seem like fans are more accepting of average/poor talkers on top than ever before in WWE. A trend or anamoly?

 

also you can add Sasha as she's still over as hell despite struggling with promos on the main roster

I think my biggest issues with the promos in WWE and the announcers is that no one talks like a human being. Joe telling Brock to look at him when he's talking to him was the best thing said on a WWE program in years. That was great because it was real, it was visceral and it felt spontaneous to that moment. The problem I have is even the good talkers feel like they're reading off a script.

I also think that's why Rusev is so over right now. It feels like they conned someone into letting them write their own material.

I've been thinking about this alot lately. And it goes beyond the promos to the matches. EVERY SINGLE HEEL tries to garner heat in the exact same way: by sarcastically copping their opponent's catchphrase -- or by getting them down on their knees during a match and shouting "give up, I'm better than you!", which always leads to a babyface comeback at that very moment. It is beyond tiring.

 

The Ronda/Nia promo video was absolutely cringeworthy. Also anytime somebody shouts "I'm going to kick your teeth down your throat" or any other lame insult that no real adult would ever say. It is just impossible to invest in any character right now.

Joe is fully committed and knows who he is in a way almost no one else does, so he can follow many of the same tropes, but they connect because of his delivery. The material is way too complex. I hate you, I want to beat you up, I'm going to do it at (x) show is about as complicated as it needs to get. No yammering on about legacy.

I remember on the last Tough Enough when Velveteen Dream cut a promo that was really good, but Barrett told him it was dated and proceeded to cut a promo about kings that was incredibly cheesy and stupid.

Look at Lesnar. Best heel promo of his career was after beating Frank Mir at UFC 100.

There’s also that thing where they make them repeat the last thing an interviewer said to them.

 

Renee: “Miz, what are your thoughts about Seth Rollins’ challenge to you?”

 

Miz: “What are my THOUGHTS about SETH ROLLINS’ challenge to ME!?!? I’ll tell you my thoughts about Seth Rollins’ challenge to me!”

 

Every goddam interview.

That works in reverse too, where Miz cuts a promo saying like "I am going to kick you in the dick" and as he makes his entrance later on Cole says "Earlier tonight The Miz said, and I quote: 'I am going to kick you in the dick.', those are the words of The Miz there earlier tonight."

 

Repetition ad nauseam. Literally.

That works in reverse too, where Miz cuts a promo saying like "I am going to kick you in the dick" and as he makes his entrance later on Cole says "Earlier tonight The Miz said, and I quote: 'I am going to kick you in the dick.', those are the words of The Miz there earlier tonight."

 

Repetition ad nauseam. Literally.

God damn Miz stealing Nakamura's gimmick...

That works in reverse too, where Miz cuts a promo saying like "I am going to kick you in the dick" and as he makes his entrance later on Cole says "Earlier tonight The Miz said, and I quote: 'I am going to kick you in the dick.', those are the words of The Miz there earlier tonight."

 

Repetition ad nauseam. Literally.

 

This annoys me too. It's even worse when it's "Earlier today, Sasha Banks took to Twitter and said "It's my time tonight. #TheBossisHere #BankHoliday" with Cole taking a dramatic pause before saying each hashtag out loud

Any mention of social media in promos or by announcers should be an automatic wellness violation.

...even the good talkers feel like they're reading off a script.

 

Not only that but (based on the small sample size of what I saw this year during RumbleMania) it feels like most of them are reading off of the same script, and that the script was written by someone who has never ever 1) been in a fight - or been in a tense situation, or stood up for themselves... - or 2) paid attention to how actual human beings speak to one another. Just awful, awful stuff. Painful to watch.

 

I fully admit that I am a very casual WWE fan, at best, but from what little I have seen this year: The vast majority of the promos and the skits, as well as a lot of the commentary and the insane "hard cut every time someone makes a move" production style all did major damage to my ability to enjoy watching WWE in 2018.

 

I don't even want to mention the booking... though I was happy with how they booked both Rumble matches.

 

The video packages were still good, for the most part, and there is a ton of talent on the roster... but a lot of the time it honestly felt like a chore to watch the shows.

I remember on the last Tough Enough when Velveteen Dream cut a promo that was really good, but Barrett told him it was dated and proceeded to cut a promo about kings that was incredibly cheesy and stupid.

 

Tremendous.

The buzzwords and taglines are the absolute worst for me. I hate them with a passion. I remember last year every time someone said Wrestlemania they had to add "The Ultimate Thrill Ride". It got to a point where Triple H, during a promo about how he was going to destroy Seth and end his career, still needed to say "At Wrestlemania, the Ultimate Thrill Ride..." That just kills me.

Loss's point about wrestlers not knowing who they or their characters are is very salient. This uncertainty leads to them not believing in their words, and that is invariably the death knell for promos. WM season was not too long ago, and many promos were cut to hype matches, but I thought of the sit-down interview Austin and Rock did with JR before WM 17, and Austin, with an almost deranged look, told Rock that "I really need to beat you Rock. I need it more than anything else in the world." This was after Rock had said, again while displaying great facial expressions, that "I will give you every drop of sweat and blood at WM. Win lose or draw, you are going to get the absolute best of The Rock." There was a conviction there which is simply missing in 99% of the promos today, and that is one huge reason why promos today are not as memorable as they used to be, and arguably do not sell matches and card as well as they used to.

 

Austin's heel turn ultimately was a flop, but that promo still gives me goosebumps, and nothing complex about the nature or meaning of life or whatever the fuck was said. Just a simple "I need to beat you, I will give my best, I will win."

Look at Lesnar. Best heel promo of his career was after beating Frank Mir at UFC 100.

 

Not the one with the mariachi band?

 

...even the good talkers feel like they're reading off a script.

 

Not only that but (based on the small sample size of what I saw this year during RumbleMania) it feels like most of them are reading off of the same script, and that the script was written by someone who has never ever 1) been in a fight - or been in a tense situation, or stood up for themselves...

 

I mean, the truth is, it's likely much of the 2018 WWE roster, especially the people under thirty has never been in a 'real' fight outside of an MMA gym. America is a far less violent place than it's been in decades. Bullying is done via social media shaming and the such, not beating up somebody at their locker or whatever. I say all of this seeing it largely as a good thing, even if it means we have less people to cut promos based on their bar fights.

@jesse: that definitely is a good thing, overall.

 

That works in reverse too, where Miz cuts a promo saying like "I am going to kick you in the dick" and as he makes his entrance later on Cole says "Earlier tonight The Miz said, and I quote: 'I am going to kick you in the dick.', those are the words of The Miz there earlier tonight."

 

Repetition ad nauseam. Literally.

 

This annoys me too. It's even worse when it's "Earlier today, Sasha Banks took to Twitter and said "It's my time tonight. #TheBossisHere #BankHoliday" with Cole taking a dramatic pause before saying each hashtag out loud

 

 

The buzzwords and taglines are the absolute worst for me. I hate them with a passion. I remember last year every time someone said Wrestlemania they had to add "The Ultimate Thrill Ride". It got to a point where Triple H, during a promo about how he was going to destroy Seth and end his career, still needed to say "At Wrestlemania, the Ultimate Thrill Ride..." That just kills me.

 

Both of these posts cracked me up. the Utlimate Thrill Ride was my absolute favorite tagline ever because of that and how many times it had to be said. I feel like all the earlier today this was is now in reference to twitter or instagram. Hash tag............. it's BOSS TIME!!

I think my biggest issues with the promos in WWE and the announcers is that no one talks like a human being. Joe telling Brock to look at him when he's talking to him was the best thing said on a WWE program in years. That was great because it was real, it was visceral and it felt spontaneous to that moment. The problem I have is even the good talkers feel like they're reading off a script.

 

This x 100.

 

No-one in the WWE talks like a human - they talk like robots that have been programmed with stock phrases and buzzwords.

‘Fantasy warfare just got real!’ (though I guess that was at least contained to the announcers)

The announcers have been forced to spout off awful tag lines for years.

 

"The WWF runs on Diesel Power!"

I don't know what set my wife off at one of the PPVs with the announcers but she despises Cole.

When particularly Cole reads out what a wrestler has tweeted he will say something like #bosstime #*pause for effect*legitboss. The first time I heard it is thought he was pausing because he misread it or something but no he pauses for at least a second before finishing the sentence