3. How Did Jon Stewart Get Seth Rollins Over More Than Anyone Else Has In A Year?
From being associated with The Authority, to having two less-than-effective security guards and also that one time Dean Ambrose packed the Money in the Bank briefcase with Nickelodeon slime, Seth Rollins has still overcome at every turn that he's been made to be a heel who can "show some ass." Rollins isn't Brock Lesnar physically, so having the ability as a character to allow the babyfaces to appear cooler than him is really difficult. Or is it? Whether as a stand up comedian, actor or talk show host, Jon Stewart has been "cutting promos" for well over 20 years of his life. Let's be 100% certain that the promo from lMonday night's Raw in which he referenced hard-working WWF champions of yesteryear, outlined how Rollins doesn't compare to them, and then pointed out that he's "a SWAT team stripper with Lady Gaga hair" wasn't written by anyone in creative. That was all likely his own work. What's ridiculous here is that we're at a place in this company where none of the younger talents are learning how to create draws in each other. There's a necessary skill and art in creatively disparaging your opponent in a memorable way that allows the crowd to see him as slightly flawed. As well, there's a way to be a heel and be able to be totally cool between the ropes, but when not wrestling, have a ready-made place for a babyface to run to in a promo and find the ability to create the plausible belief that he can win a match against you. Outside of Paul Heyman working overtime to give Roman Reigns greater dimensions as a character, Jon Stewart's hard work (though on one level ridiculous) deserves praise.
Marcus K. Dowling
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Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
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