JaKyL25 posted...
I think when people call Del Rio "boring" that a large part of that comes with trying to watch wrestling with a post-modern mindset and not coming from the same approach WWE is aiming for.
Heels aren't by and large supposed to be super-exciting. You're not supposed to be like "SWEET time for another ADR promo, I love that guy." You're supposed to be like "Dammit I'm sick and tired of this guy coming out here every week and blathering on about his destiny, won't SOMEBODY come shut this idiot up?" Watching WWE with a smark mindset really kills the product.
Could ADR's promos be better? Of course. But I think to criticize him for not being exciting or dynamic on the mic is to miss the point entirely. As long as he's getting the storyline points across and sufficiently antagonizing the audience, he's doing his job.
Yeah, I know this is back a ways, but it's been on my mind a lot and this is probably the only chance I'll get to air this.
ADR can put on one hell of a match. The minute his slow, plodding entrance ends and he locks up, he's completely amazing to watch. But damn, that entrance and those promos just suck.
A good heel makes you want somebody to kick his teeth in. Back in the day, I hated Owen Hart because he came across as irritating and obnoxious in his promos. That made him a good heel. I use Owen as an example because ADR seems to want to be those things, but he's not; he's just boring. He comes out in a car every week, but so what? Is he going for an envy thing there? It doesn't work. Then there are the snooze-fests that were his in-ring vignettes. "I'm having a celebration on the retirement of Edge! Do you hate me yet?" No, I'm just bored, Mr. DR.
The thing is, ADR is competent on the mic. He's not tripping over his words, he knows what he wants to say and can get his point across. He just lacks that spark that a good heel can provide.