Oftely the anti-American gimmick died then in America only unless there is a middle eastern character. Sad that this country is inflamed with anti-Muslim feelings.
Most of the anti-American gimmicks have worked well with Middle Eastern related ones such as mentioned Muhammad Hassan, Iron Sheik, and Sgt Slaughter being a turn coat. La Resistance, Ludvig Borga, and Yokozuna doing the bodyslam challenge on July 4th worked as well. The Hart Foundation, World Elite, and Mexican America are all fails cause one Hart Foundation's heel status didn't last long, and two World Elite wasn't much of a success and Mexican America barely an Anti American gimmick.
good video, however a few things: the reason those gimmicks are not as effective, is because, as you said it, iran, iraq, and the soviet were all in conflict with the us. England and Canada are not at conflict with US. another inaccuracy, not all canadians or britians are friendly with US. other than that, good video
Good video but I have to agree with some of the cats under me, Muhammad Hassan (in my opinion) was the greatest heel of the 2000's decade. Nobody had more heat as a heel than he did, his storylines were classic and he was pretty good with his mic skills and promos. I'm surprised you didn't really talk about him when regarding an anti american gimmick. wwe also did a good job on his character by billing him as an american
Only 1 guy, Muhammad Hassan! He was the freakin man. He did excellent in his role, I did hear however he was sometimes afraid to say certain things, but since the lil masked Men thing happened they fired him and never really brought a anti- American person or stable together.
I think that William Regal does it will. They shouldn't be ANTI-USA in their gimmicks, but to be pro-their country and say "we're better than you or more refined" (as many Europeans do) would work. ("Ugly Americans" in other pro-wrestling promotions all over the world could probably work in a similar fashion).
Vladimir Kozlov from the Soviet Union, William Regal from the U.K. & Ezekiel Jackson, who's from the U.S.A., but, he's African-American & they're called 'The Ruthless Round-Table'?...: Fail!
The anti-american gimmick is cheap and lazy. It does nothing for the heels doing the gimmick because they'll have that stapled to their forehead for the most of their career from then on.
I reckon TNA/WWE could find someone that knows how to do au capoeira and wrestling.
That would be an awesome gimmick and nobody else has done it. It would raise awareness of the beauty of capoeira too :)
i was thinking who u remind me off & just realized u look & sound a lot like a real life version of cleveland brown from family guy...now i think if u were on the wwe creative team it would be sooo much better...and i agree w/everything u said in this EXCEPT vladimir kozlov is my favorite superstar because i'm also russian & he kind of resembles a village russian idiot & i know A LOT of them so it is fun 4 me 2 watch it in my favorite show...
haha, trust me Regal can pull off the anti gimmick REALLY well...I went to a wrestling show in Australia in July and Regal wrestled Kofi and he kept dodging Kofi running round the ring, and when the people started to chant you SUCK REGAL!!! he grabbed the mic and uttered such a funny freaking saying, "I possibly cant suck, Im not Australian" and everyone laughed and started chanting again :P
Even though I think the gimmick is wore out today. Is it me, or does it seem to keep coming into play cause of the fans (Mainly WWE fans). Whenever they see a wrestler who's from another country they automatically start booing them and chanting "USA, USA". Even if the wrestler, who's a heel, doesn't say anything anit-american. Just look at last weeks smackdown with Drew McIntyre. Never said anything anti-american but he got the "USA, USA" chants
In William Regal's case it's more about class then hating the USA. He sees himself as a high-class individual and therefore everyone else is inferior to him. USA was once part of the British Empire, and as a man with old school views he dislikes what he sees as a mere colony state.
Kozlov is a patriot, he loves Russia, so he's anti everyone else. I think it's silly to do a Soviet gimmick when he could simply just be Russian. Soviet Union no longer exists
It's not a poitical statement in the sense the old way was IMO. Now it's more about culture, about how Americans are 'trash' or whatever by comparison to the people from whatever country the heel represents. Yes, it's definitely much less effective, but I don't really consider it the same gimmick as such. It's more like JBL trashing Texas because he moved to New York where the 'better' people live according to him. It's about offending local pride to get heat more so than national pride.
just to advise people who go to wwe events and chant USA! USA! it just really turns non-americans against you because it makes you look arrogant and anti-foreigners. just saying
Timing needs to play a major role as well with these gimmicks. Muhammad Hassan was introduced to the WWE Universe in 2004, not even three years after the 9/11 attacks. His career on RAW was tolerable, but when he was drafted to Smackdown, he basically became a "terrorist," and too many fans were not liking his new gimmick.
hassan was a great heel gimmick to me (controversial, but i found it great! and heck im middle eastern).....i was so pissed when that old dinosaur named hulk hogan got to beat him up at wrestlemania and be the american hero for the gazillionth time!
Oh please. Do NOT get me started with Hogan. There are enough people on the current WWE roster that would make a much better "American Hero" than that fossil.
yeah but as spinnernet said some gimmicks were going on during the conflicts of the cold war and the gulf war, with muhammed hassan at least they waited. But for some reason 9/11 seems to be the touchiest of subjects when it comes to americans moreso than any other american disaster in history (Well im only 17 so I havent been around that long lol)
Yea, ive been to alot of San Francisco Giants games this year. I met Tim Lincecum, Brian Wilson & Rich Aurilia during batting practice they are really nice and down to earth.
I think they still use the anti-American gimmick to draw heat to the individual wrestler, not their country. What better way to do that, than to claim that they hate the U.S. and claim that their country is so much better than the U.S.
Hey Spinnernet, what do you think of a Japanese group being anti America? Do you think a gimmick like that could work, or would that be similar to America being friends with Japan?
Man you are very right. The whole "I hate the United Sates thing" is now whereing thin nowadays. It was ok back in the old days of WWF, but now its so pointless. Why can't there be a new hate in wrestling.
I remember in 2002, WWE had The Un-Americans and around 2003 the Dudleyz would carry around the USA flag. It just didn't work with the Dudleyz. ack then I called them "The Patriot Boyz". That USA vs Canada thing back them was just stupid.
Great video as usual. but to tell you the truth i liked British Invasion before they became World Elite. if they had just took Bashir or made a minor adjustment they could of been great. getting rid of Main event Mafia is what Tna really needs
Great vid as always spinner but I think you are missing the point. It doesn't matter if you know a great guy who happens to be an Muslim or if you know lots of great people who are from Canada or the UK.. the point of the gimmick is for you to hate this one character. Some guy who hates and slags the US for some dumb reason and goes on how his country is better.... It's the one guy who you are suppose to hate.. NOT the country he comes from
any can work if it is done right. The reason the anti-american gimmicks haven't worked in the last 10 years is cuz the people who write WWE and TNA don't know how to build an angle anymore.
I understand what your talking about but trust me theres quite a few uk people who dont like the usa, not like strongly hate all of it, just dont like it (not saying everyone but osme people do).
Look at Muhammad Hassan and Daivari. They didn't do a great job...
I think Great Britain or Canada and them being anti-American works as best as it CAN be. Remember the Un-Americans in 2002? They're kinda like the World Elite right now.
I think you made a great point. It would still be effective if the world didn't communicate with each other
And just to point out, I'm Middle Eastern (I lived in Kuwait for 12 years, but my heritage is Lebanese and Palestinian). You can't any worse than me. :P
the anti-american gimmick can still work if the writers actually knew their wrestling history. The writers only know about a particular era and are not politically incline anymore. The writers are just doing this as a stepping stone to something else.
do you remember the gimmick of "Alex Wright/Berlyn"? he was born in germany (in nürnberg), so his gimmick was anti-america, but today that would never work again, and i'm glad about that. I'm from Germany, and I really didn't like that gimmick.
I have to disagree with The Hart Foundation's anti American gimmick. The reason I believe it was so effective was how the WWF took advantage of this gimmick. It wasn't so much of one country being in conflict with another, more than it was national pride and that was very evident when the Hart Foundation were blatant heels in the USA but extreme baby faces when they visited Canada and the baby faces in the USA became instant heels. I thought it was very creative. That's just me though.
10% correct; Team Canada was weak, and now World Elite is the most boring thing I have seen in a long time. There is just so heat anymore in anti national gimmiks.
Its been a bad year for celebs... 2009 is ALMOST over thank God! Anti-American gimmicks don't work because with the invention of the internet, the world is getting smaller and smaller and people are exposed to more cultures and different types of people in my opinion.
The anti-gimmick for the muslim community is very stereotypical. Shiek Abdul Bashir does do the roll very nicely and effectively in TNA, and I thought he did a good job using the gimmick in WWE as well.
the ANTI-american dos not work any more i think it was good with iron sheilk and sgt slaughter was good but i get them, now i am from the uk and i like the usa so i dont ANTI-american thing any more
Now spinnernet1 dont consider my posts as a rant, cause its not :) This video is good and you base it on good arguments. But at the same time it arose some questions for me, but thats what a video will do, make you think for yourself.
So whats your take on this my fellow teacher, spinner-man? :)
The fact you say some countries are your friends implies that there is INDEEDan opening for whose not your friends as well, indirectly. Cause if you got friends, there's also other non-friends who are not considered as close as British or Canadian citizens. OR even better: what if these imagined friends of British or Candians folks turn their back on americans? Storyline-wise. What I say is that theres always an opening for it. Theres always gonna be WE, and always gonna the others, THEM.
yeah thats a valid point. Read my two posts surronding yours. Cause what you say is valid: If these anti-american storylines are to go they needto drop these damn chants in the arenas too. Cause as long as they keep going people will say: "oh my god, look at those damn americans, here they go again*sick to my stomach*" And that makes for a great counterweight to these anti-american-storylines.
I actually both agree and disagree. The angle aint as hot as it used to be. BUT as long as there are national stereotypes being created it will work.
Also you say something interesting that actually in itself proves that it COULD work. You say that British and Canadian people are friends with the American? How can one entire nation of citizens be considered as friends? Politically they are indeed teaming up.. but that doesnt need the people in the countries are the best of friends.
I thought I was the only one who thinks the whole anti-american gimmick is old and tired. I find myself not caring for the world elite in TNA. Bashir is okay but I still find his gimmick sort of boring.
muhammed hassan was the last wrestler to make this gimmick work. i wish he would come back because he cut great promos about america and how he was discriminated
I'm so glad you made this video. I've been thinking the same exact thing lately. The World Elite in TNA is so fucking stupid. We've seen this "I'm from another country and I hate America" gimmick a thousand times, and it just doesn't work anymore. It got old a long time ago.
I also agree that the advent and popularity of the internet has really weakened the believability of strong nationalistic hatred between countries. Most people who have been online are friends with people from other countries.
If WWE wants to make believable hate filled gimmicks, they need to start drawing inspiration from online feuds. Those are the ones that get really nasty.lol
Real life: "I disagree."
Internet: "Eat sh*t and die! B*tch! I hope you get murdered while you sleep!!"
Most people can name at least one Patrick Swayze movie that brings back a fond memory. Whether it's "Ghost", or "The Outsiders", or "Dirty Dancing", or "Red Dawn", etc. It is sad to know that he is gone.
As far as the nationalistic gimmicks are concerned, I tend to agree with you; these days, they are just cheesy and ineffective.
One reason those gimmicks worked so well was because America itself was extremely nationalistic. We were in the throes of the Reagan administration, after all.
i didnt start watching wrestling till around 1998 ive seen allot of anti american gimmick's and some are good but like you said i dont really care for them its wrestling and wrestling and politics shouldent cross paths good videos man 5/5
The wwe and tna is just going for cheap heat at this point. Theyre not building heels characters well even top stars like Orton character has no purpose now.
yeah this gimmick is dead and the last to pull it off was Muhammad Hassan. It's just so lame and simple. Are fans still the easy. USA USA USA it's like damn what year is this. Maybe these promotions and wrestlers work hard to get the heat. Not just say I hate America.
i HATE how some black ppl go so far as to make fun of middle eastern ppl saying that they should never be in the U.S and are all terrorists and shouldnt be alive and all that shit when it was Gandhi that inspired MLK jr. to make the speech that changed the world forever and let slavery end but its those black ppl that give a bad name to all the other blacks and americans in general i just wish one day that all the racists have to go thru wat middle eastern &mexicans and others have to everyday
I totally agree with you Spinnernet, these anti-American gimmicks are completely useless in wrestling today. You make a good point about the anti-American gimmicks being big in the 80s because we were with war with those countries, but today, the Pro-Canadian and Pro-United Kingdom gimmicks just don't cut it great vid. 5/5
great points. I really hate anti-American gimmicks, not because I give a fuck about this country, but just because it's so damn CHILDISH and cliche', there's never any depth to these characters. It's just "I hate America" and that's that. Now Muhammad Hassan was a perfect gimmick. His character had depth, and actually had legit VALID complaints that even I myself may complain about from time to time (even though in real life he was American).
this probley isnt relavant but when they have done house shows in new zealand the wrestlers have been anti new zealand so why should i care if people wanna be anti american for a storyline lol just a thought
good comments iam your friend and iam from palestin . i live now in berlin . But you defently forgot to talk about muhammad hassan he was great but because of9/11 they fired him right ???? IFsombody know please leave message on my sit . thx
Great video.... I completely agree. Sheik Abdul Bashir's act is getting pretty stale.
Way too many cowardly, opportunistic, egotistical, anti-american heels out there today. 90% of the heels today fall into one of those four categories, if not more.
I agree it's kinda passe these days and the internet is definitely a factor. But you'll continue to see companies do it because its easy and there are always some simple-minded xenophobes. Plus you don't have to really HATE another country as you say for the gimmick to work. Like the Hart Foundation in '97, everybody knows the US and Canada are allies, but there is sort of a friendly rivalry of sorts, and they can play on that for storylines.
Next time (just a bit of helpful criticism), when you stated that that type of cancer is deadly, perhaps tell us why its so deadly, cause i rather let u explain it to me then googling it :P
Great video non-the less and I wanted to give u some feedback, since u always liked it
I think these gimmicks can work, but after the whole Muhammad Hassan debacle, it won't be used to its full potential. As every character develops, it takes on a life of its own, right? So when that goes spinning out of control (like with Hassan), there will likely be a big backlash due to the controversy created, then your product gets put on the same level as Maury or Jerry Springer. That doesn't appeal to sponsors.
hassan wasnt a debacle. he was booked to win the wwe title. he had the most heat in wwe. they just aired a huge angle with the masked taliban guys mauling taker at the wrong time, which backlashed and ruined hassan's career.
That's the debacle I'm talking about. I didn't say anything about Hassan himself, I said that the incident that occured and derailed his career far too soon is the main reason why promoters are weary of this angle now.
Most of the anti-American gimmicks recently consist of wrestlers telling the truth and getting booed for it (see Davari/Bashir) but people are not so stupid now, well maybe Sarah Palin supporters are.
We're pretty much the same Canada and the USA only we (Canada) have a better health care system and better wrestling fans.
Eh spinnernet remember triple h when he was Hunter Hearst Helmsley he was all about UK or some other country i am not sure but when he was he got a lot of fans that led to him being so popular as Triple H
that i know of,the only anti-USA gimmick happening right now is Sheik Abdul Bashir,and he's more with the whole World Elite crap. he does awesome anti-USA promos,like the one a week before or on the same show Homicide turned heel.
Here's an idea on how to spice up the Anti-American gimmick.
Have a stable of overly-patriotic American assholes who think America is the absolute best thing in the world, and if you don't agree, we'll stick a nuke up your ass. Promos include "We give you people tools to come to this country and pursue the American dream, but you choose to come here illegally, because you're too lazy and incompetent to do it the right way!" They'll try and burn all sorts of foreign flags. It'd be great!
I like the Un americans back in 2002 Christian Lance Storm and Test and I thought Muhammad Hassan was wayyyyy over like world champion material in 2005 to bad hes gone though.
Great vid Brandon. Very much agreed this gimmick no longer works back in the 80s and 90s yes I allways remember Shieky baby and Nikolai Volkoff one of the biggest heels going back then and when Sgt Slaughter did the ani-America heel turn it was huge and really worked. Then the muhammed hassan and Divari heel turn got alot of heat over the media which fucking sucked them two are very talented superstars and they got fucked over. I may make a video response its eaiser than typing.
Well I recall the Unamericans gimmick bac in 2003, around the time when the US was about to go to war with Iraq. I think that was the last time an anti US gimmick has really worked in wrestling. I think the whole thing had something to do with France's refusal to go to war with with the US, which to the public, seemed unpatriotic, hence the Unamerican's gimmick.
The day swayze died. Keith floyd (famous english tv chef) died, Darren sutherland ( Irish olympic boxing silver medal winner) all died the same day. Weird shit. Everyone hates america. Ha Ha. Coming over here to Ireland thinking thet are Irish cos there great, great grandfather was Irish. Gangs of new york style. Ha Ha.
It's funny, I was just thinking about this the other day spinner. You're right, it doesen't work these days as well as it did before. I would say the last "anti-american" that did a good job and really pissed people of was Hassan.
Well, the gimmick isn't too bad but does still work, there were quite a few anti-americans that got over like the unamericans, LAX and now World Elite.
Oftely the anti-American gimmick died then in America only unless there is a middle eastern character. Sad that this country is inflamed with anti-Muslim feelings.
Hperman09 1 week ago
Most of the anti-American gimmicks have worked well with Middle Eastern related ones such as mentioned Muhammad Hassan, Iron Sheik, and Sgt Slaughter being a turn coat. La Resistance, Ludvig Borga, and Yokozuna doing the bodyslam challenge on July 4th worked as well. The Hart Foundation, World Elite, and Mexican America are all fails cause one Hart Foundation's heel status didn't last long, and two World Elite wasn't much of a success and Mexican America barely an Anti American gimmick.
IHATEROCKNMETAL 2 months ago
good video, however a few things: the reason those gimmicks are not as effective, is because, as you said it, iran, iraq, and the soviet were all in conflict with the us. England and Canada are not at conflict with US. another inaccuracy, not all canadians or britians are friendly with US. other than that, good video
Treyvlog 10 months ago
Good video but I have to agree with some of the cats under me, Muhammad Hassan (in my opinion) was the greatest heel of the 2000's decade. Nobody had more heat as a heel than he did, his storylines were classic and he was pretty good with his mic skills and promos. I'm surprised you didn't really talk about him when regarding an anti american gimmick. wwe also did a good job on his character by billing him as an american
RhymnDymnd 1 year ago
Only 1 guy, Muhammad Hassan! He was the freakin man. He did excellent in his role, I did hear however he was sometimes afraid to say certain things, but since the lil masked Men thing happened they fired him and never really brought a anti- American person or stable together.
OHarold118 1 year ago
I think that William Regal does it will. They shouldn't be ANTI-USA in their gimmicks, but to be pro-their country and say "we're better than you or more refined" (as many Europeans do) would work. ("Ugly Americans" in other pro-wrestling promotions all over the world could probably work in a similar fashion).
NewKokujinOptions 1 year ago
Vladimir Kozlov from the Soviet Union, William Regal from the U.K. & Ezekiel Jackson, who's from the U.S.A., but, he's African-American & they're called 'The Ruthless Round-Table'?...: Fail!
tthomaselli2 2 years ago
R.I.P., Patrick Swayze.
tthomaselli2 2 years ago
The anti-american gimmick is cheap and lazy. It does nothing for the heels doing the gimmick because they'll have that stapled to their forehead for the most of their career from then on.
I reckon TNA/WWE could find someone that knows how to do au capoeira and wrestling.
That would be an awesome gimmick and nobody else has done it. It would raise awareness of the beauty of capoeira too :)
Ophiuchus123456789 2 years ago
we need strait up Middle Eastern wrestlers to collab and do a harsh anti-american gimmic. Bring back Muhammad Hussan why did he get released lol????
CawFanMan 2 years ago
R.I.P. Pat, he was a great actor.
CawFanMan 2 years ago
i was thinking who u remind me off & just realized u look & sound a lot like a real life version of cleveland brown from family guy...now i think if u were on the wwe creative team it would be sooo much better...and i agree w/everything u said in this EXCEPT vladimir kozlov is my favorite superstar because i'm also russian & he kind of resembles a village russian idiot & i know A LOT of them so it is fun 4 me 2 watch it in my favorite show...
WWEUltimateFanpage 2 years ago
I never liked the gimmick at all. I found it to be cheap and stupid.
bluesilver12 2 years ago
haha, trust me Regal can pull off the anti gimmick REALLY well...I went to a wrestling show in Australia in July and Regal wrestled Kofi and he kept dodging Kofi running round the ring, and when the people started to chant you SUCK REGAL!!! he grabbed the mic and uttered such a funny freaking saying, "I possibly cant suck, Im not Australian" and everyone laughed and started chanting again :P
BackyardWrestlingKid 2 years ago
I honestly thought you said patriotic cancer for like a whole minute
Saxbaggity 2 years ago
Even though I think the gimmick is wore out today. Is it me, or does it seem to keep coming into play cause of the fans (Mainly WWE fans). Whenever they see a wrestler who's from another country they automatically start booing them and chanting "USA, USA". Even if the wrestler, who's a heel, doesn't say anything anit-american. Just look at last weeks smackdown with Drew McIntyre. Never said anything anti-american but he got the "USA, USA" chants
Linklex7 2 years ago
Very good rant 5/5 im from uk btw lol
Jaystyles17 2 years ago
In William Regal's case it's more about class then hating the USA. He sees himself as a high-class individual and therefore everyone else is inferior to him. USA was once part of the British Empire, and as a man with old school views he dislikes what he sees as a mere colony state.
Kozlov is a patriot, he loves Russia, so he's anti everyone else. I think it's silly to do a Soviet gimmick when he could simply just be Russian. Soviet Union no longer exists
ChildOfTheWilderness 2 years ago 4
Muhammed Hassan did an excellent job with his anti-american gimmick
greenparrot5 2 years ago 13
It's not a poitical statement in the sense the old way was IMO. Now it's more about culture, about how Americans are 'trash' or whatever by comparison to the people from whatever country the heel represents. Yes, it's definitely much less effective, but I don't really consider it the same gimmick as such. It's more like JBL trashing Texas because he moved to New York where the 'better' people live according to him. It's about offending local pride to get heat more so than national pride.
Mikko84 2 years ago
just to advise people who go to wwe events and chant USA! USA! it just really turns non-americans against you because it makes you look arrogant and anti-foreigners. just saying
Dontknockmedown 2 years ago 8
I would never turn on the U.S. BTW, The "World Elite" Gimmick doesn't work. It is bad, plain and simple.
jww112093 2 years ago 2
I think the World Elite is going good so far.
KINGGEORGE1985 2 years ago
Do you feel that La Resistance worked at all when they debuted at the time that they did?
Frostbite12211983 2 years ago
guys like koslow still get good heat from the crowd because stupid little kids think his voice sounds evil in this wwe kids era
chewyngooey 2 years ago
Timing needs to play a major role as well with these gimmicks. Muhammad Hassan was introduced to the WWE Universe in 2004, not even three years after the 9/11 attacks. His career on RAW was tolerable, but when he was drafted to Smackdown, he basically became a "terrorist," and too many fans were not liking his new gimmick.
crinos43 2 years ago
hassan was a great heel gimmick to me (controversial, but i found it great! and heck im middle eastern).....i was so pissed when that old dinosaur named hulk hogan got to beat him up at wrestlemania and be the american hero for the gazillionth time!
chewyngooey 2 years ago 2
Oh please. Do NOT get me started with Hogan. There are enough people on the current WWE roster that would make a much better "American Hero" than that fossil.
crinos43 2 years ago
yeah but as spinnernet said some gimmicks were going on during the conflicts of the cold war and the gulf war, with muhammed hassan at least they waited. But for some reason 9/11 seems to be the touchiest of subjects when it comes to americans moreso than any other american disaster in history (Well im only 17 so I havent been around that long lol)
BJgrand 2 years ago
After watching this video, I just gained alot of respect for you. I had you all wrong i'm sorry dude.
5 star video Spinner
marveldcstinger 2 years ago 3
thank you. btw, good to see the San Francisco Giants coming back to respectability.
spinnernet1 2 years ago
Yea, ive been to alot of San Francisco Giants games this year. I met Tim Lincecum, Brian Wilson & Rich Aurilia during batting practice they are really nice and down to earth.
marveldcstinger 2 years ago
i am one of your canadian subscribers!
so spinner..who do you think was the last good wrestler who did the anti american gimmick very well?
RyaNs1984 2 years ago
Could a Korean do the antiUSA gimmick? I mean there is conflict with North Korea. (Or has that all ended, I'm all lost about that one).
Also AntiUSA gimmick has no effect on people outside the USA.
thepog 2 years ago
Would Mexico kinda work as an Anti-American gimmick cuz of the whole immigration issue?
GeorgeBushSucks69 2 years ago
I hate hearing about diseases in the abdomen area like the pancreas and kidney. Because I worry about that whenever I get a stomachache.
Anyway the Anti-American this IS weak but I don't really pay attention to it.
RobAlister 2 years ago
I think they still use the anti-American gimmick to draw heat to the individual wrestler, not their country. What better way to do that, than to claim that they hate the U.S. and claim that their country is so much better than the U.S.
rtdkat 2 years ago
i agree with you imo its not the country but to draw heat to the wrestler
thegoldenhero 2 years ago
The Linksman needs to take care of his pancreas
wwetna100 2 years ago
Good Points Spinner
Muhammad Hassan got some good heat some of the best heat i ever seen in my life
dxbomber 2 years ago
Hey Spinnernet, what do you think of a Japanese group being anti America? Do you think a gimmick like that could work, or would that be similar to America being friends with Japan?
classic1333 2 years ago
Man you are very right. The whole "I hate the United Sates thing" is now whereing thin nowadays. It was ok back in the old days of WWF, but now its so pointless. Why can't there be a new hate in wrestling.
ClassicUndertaker120 2 years ago
I think they could do somthing with the asian wrestlers
Bodyslam82 2 years ago
I am muslim and I don't hat USA plus I'd like to go vist this country
10Y2Z01 2 years ago
rip pat love ghost
stevenash1386 2 years ago
IMO these Anti-american gimmicks actually result in an inability for a wrestler to stay over these days due to being played out.
AVONISION 2 years ago
Muhammad Hassan probably would still get some good heat if he was still in the WWE.
DahStoryTella 2 years ago 2
im from Canada!!!!!!!
lol anyway one good anti american gimmick that was recent was Muhammad Hassan and Davahri
TDick611 2 years ago
I remember in 2002, WWE had The Un-Americans and around 2003 the Dudleyz would carry around the USA flag. It just didn't work with the Dudleyz. ack then I called them "The Patriot Boyz". That USA vs Canada thing back them was just stupid.
outofsightoutofmind1 2 years ago
I don't like the British Invasion in TNA, I just don't see the point of being "pro-Britain" when the United States is friends with Britain anyways
m0tl3ysl4y3r 2 years ago
i dont like kozlov not cuz hes from russa but cuz he goes all i have no looses so i can beat any1
shurdi3 2 years ago
Great video as usual. but to tell you the truth i liked British Invasion before they became World Elite. if they had just took Bashir or made a minor adjustment they could of been great. getting rid of Main event Mafia is what Tna really needs
Tonyblaise823 2 years ago
Great vid as always spinner but I think you are missing the point. It doesn't matter if you know a great guy who happens to be an Muslim or if you know lots of great people who are from Canada or the UK.. the point of the gimmick is for you to hate this one character. Some guy who hates and slags the US for some dumb reason and goes on how his country is better.... It's the one guy who you are suppose to hate.. NOT the country he comes from
virago2 2 years ago 2
I hope I don't get that cancer =/
amfahmage 2 years ago
any can work if it is done right. The reason the anti-american gimmicks haven't worked in the last 10 years is cuz the people who write WWE and TNA don't know how to build an angle anymore.
dstnarg 2 years ago
this is AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!! great vid man
mohammed22egypt 2 years ago
I understand what your talking about but trust me theres quite a few uk people who dont like the usa, not like strongly hate all of it, just dont like it (not saying everyone but osme people do).
firewing0 2 years ago
talk to 50 from uk but only one is AWESOME
and thats ME!!!
TheSharpShooter43 2 years ago
screw the british invasion
im gonna go to america and create the english invasion and take over TNA & WWE
mwhahahaha
TheSharpShooter43 2 years ago
well I am canadian and I am gonna create the CC(Canadian Coaliation)
WE SHALLL RULE TNA WWE .....you take ROH
CaptainPhenomenal 2 years ago
ur right im british and have huge respect for the USA
boovboy7 2 years ago 2
do u have facebook
music324ready 2 years ago
I was under the impression that the Vladimir Kozlov gimmick was inspired in Fedor Emelianenko.
DarkPascual 2 years ago
Look at Muhammad Hassan and Daivari. They didn't do a great job...
I think Great Britain or Canada and them being anti-American works as best as it CAN be. Remember the Un-Americans in 2002? They're kinda like the World Elite right now.
I think you made a great point. It would still be effective if the world didn't communicate with each other
And just to point out, I'm Middle Eastern (I lived in Kuwait for 12 years, but my heritage is Lebanese and Palestinian). You can't any worse than me. :P
RomiEzzo 2 years ago
the anti-american gimmick can still work if the writers actually knew their wrestling history. The writers only know about a particular era and are not politically incline anymore. The writers are just doing this as a stepping stone to something else.
eddypimp 2 years ago
do you remember the gimmick of "Alex Wright/Berlyn"? he was born in germany (in nürnberg), so his gimmick was anti-america, but today that would never work again, and i'm glad about that. I'm from Germany, and I really didn't like that gimmick.
Kentai1994 2 years ago
You missed out La Resistance they were pro French anti United States.
hydra555 2 years ago
good video man
michealolague86 2 years ago
I have to disagree with The Hart Foundation's anti American gimmick. The reason I believe it was so effective was how the WWF took advantage of this gimmick. It wasn't so much of one country being in conflict with another, more than it was national pride and that was very evident when the Hart Foundation were blatant heels in the USA but extreme baby faces when they visited Canada and the baby faces in the USA became instant heels. I thought it was very creative. That's just me though.
DictatorOfWaR 2 years ago
well the gimmick still works for Claudio Castagnoli in ROH....very European
MRKENNEDY07126 2 years ago
10% correct; Team Canada was weak, and now World Elite is the most boring thing I have seen in a long time. There is just so heat anymore in anti national gimmiks.
Dante1Savage 2 years ago
Its been a bad year for celebs... 2009 is ALMOST over thank God! Anti-American gimmicks don't work because with the invention of the internet, the world is getting smaller and smaller and people are exposed to more cultures and different types of people in my opinion.
GWRevolution2008 2 years ago
i agree 100% with you Spin.
The anti-gimmick for the muslim community is very stereotypical. Shiek Abdul Bashir does do the roll very nicely and effectively in TNA, and I thought he did a good job using the gimmick in WWE as well.
devinslate123 2 years ago
the ANTI-american dos not work any more i think it was good with iron sheilk and sgt slaughter was good but i get them, now i am from the uk and i like the usa so i dont ANTI-american thing any more
hahazet 2 years ago
i'm really sorry to hear about what happened to your grandfather. my condolensces.
spinnernet1 2 years ago
What's your MSN, Spinner?
mynameisiansmum 2 years ago
send me a message in the inbox.
spinnernet1 2 years ago
Muhammed Hassan was the last person to make the gimmick work. The amount of heat he got was amazing!!!!!.
HBKanedge818 2 years ago 4
Now spinnernet1 dont consider my posts as a rant, cause its not :) This video is good and you base it on good arguments. But at the same time it arose some questions for me, but thats what a video will do, make you think for yourself.
So whats your take on this my fellow teacher, spinner-man? :)
SpeakingOfWrestling 2 years ago
The fact you say some countries are your friends implies that there is INDEEDan opening for whose not your friends as well, indirectly. Cause if you got friends, there's also other non-friends who are not considered as close as British or Canadian citizens. OR even better: what if these imagined friends of British or Candians folks turn their back on americans? Storyline-wise. What I say is that theres always an opening for it. Theres always gonna be WE, and always gonna the others, THEM.
SpeakingOfWrestling 2 years ago
Yeah the anti american gimmick is way played out. And the usa chants need to go too.
BigRed1687 2 years ago 4
yeah thats a valid point. Read my two posts surronding yours. Cause what you say is valid: If these anti-american storylines are to go they needto drop these damn chants in the arenas too. Cause as long as they keep going people will say: "oh my god, look at those damn americans, here they go again*sick to my stomach*" And that makes for a great counterweight to these anti-american-storylines.
SpeakingOfWrestling 2 years ago
I actually both agree and disagree. The angle aint as hot as it used to be. BUT as long as there are national stereotypes being created it will work.
Also you say something interesting that actually in itself proves that it COULD work. You say that British and Canadian people are friends with the American? How can one entire nation of citizens be considered as friends? Politically they are indeed teaming up.. but that doesnt need the people in the countries are the best of friends.
SpeakingOfWrestling 2 years ago
Drew McIntyre in WWE is doing it with R Truth, kind of. He is playing more of a racist foreigner role.
GamingPalooza 2 years ago
I thought I was the only one who thinks the whole anti-american gimmick is old and tired. I find myself not caring for the world elite in TNA. Bashir is okay but I still find his gimmick sort of boring.
pamlovsy2j 2 years ago
hassan was the last wrestler to make this gimmick work.his promos were excellent and it sucks wwe got rid of him
cctitansfan 2 years ago 2
muhammed hassan was the last wrestler to make this gimmick work. i wish he would come back because he cut great promos about america and how he was discriminated
cctitansfan 2 years ago 3
Sgt. Slaughter's gimmick was almost done too well. LOL
JerJerikoh 2 years ago
I'm so glad you made this video. I've been thinking the same exact thing lately. The World Elite in TNA is so fucking stupid. We've seen this "I'm from another country and I hate America" gimmick a thousand times, and it just doesn't work anymore. It got old a long time ago.
Niroticpogo 2 years ago
I think the only way an Anti-American storyline would work is if they actually had someone who's persona was a terrorist.
KingOfDaNoobs 2 years ago
Volkov was great, he had some great AWA matches. Man, I wanna watch some ESPN CLassic now.
TheAbsintheReviewNet 2 years ago
I am a middle eastern and i love american and canada i don't them
festus2999 2 years ago
Damn Spinner the way u so gangsta!!!!! mmmmmmm
Irock827 2 years ago
Road House & Point Break. 2 of the best guy movies ever.
The Hart foundations Canada vs. US fued in 1997 was my favorite because it gave us Canadian fans a voice for the first time.
chriswarden420 2 years ago
I do like world elite. But I do agree with the whole Anti American being old. I would like to see them keep the group but not so much USA sucks.
EternalDeathSavior 2 years ago 2
Yes, I feel exactly the same way.
TheAbsintheReviewNet 2 years ago
How many subscribers do you have apart from USA, Canada and UK? Im one of the these :)
HeartBreakKid1987 2 years ago
I also agree that the advent and popularity of the internet has really weakened the believability of strong nationalistic hatred between countries. Most people who have been online are friends with people from other countries.
If WWE wants to make believable hate filled gimmicks, they need to start drawing inspiration from online feuds. Those are the ones that get really nasty.lol
Real life: "I disagree."
Internet: "Eat sh*t and die! B*tch! I hope you get murdered while you sleep!!"
DigitalOberon 2 years ago
Most people can name at least one Patrick Swayze movie that brings back a fond memory. Whether it's "Ghost", or "The Outsiders", or "Dirty Dancing", or "Red Dawn", etc. It is sad to know that he is gone.
As far as the nationalistic gimmicks are concerned, I tend to agree with you; these days, they are just cheesy and ineffective.
One reason those gimmicks worked so well was because America itself was extremely nationalistic. We were in the throes of the Reagan administration, after all.
DigitalOberon 2 years ago
i didnt start watching wrestling till around 1998 ive seen allot of anti american gimmick's and some are good but like you said i dont really care for them its wrestling and wrestling and politics shouldent cross paths good videos man 5/5
Brianwwecw48 2 years ago
The wwe and tna is just going for cheap heat at this point. Theyre not building heels characters well even top stars like Orton character has no purpose now.
spences3000 2 years ago
I Dont know spinnernet even do we live in a high tech society now I think there are still ignorant people that will by the gimmick
FLwrestlingfreak 2 years ago
yeah this gimmick is dead and the last to pull it off was Muhammad Hassan. It's just so lame and simple. Are fans still the easy. USA USA USA it's like damn what year is this. Maybe these promotions and wrestlers work hard to get the heat. Not just say I hate America.
chucky1x 2 years ago
The anti american gimmick is stupid known the last great anti american gimmick was muhammad hassan he was the first wrestler I actually hated
rackmors 2 years ago
i HATE how some black ppl go so far as to make fun of middle eastern ppl saying that they should never be in the U.S and are all terrorists and shouldnt be alive and all that shit when it was Gandhi that inspired MLK jr. to make the speech that changed the world forever and let slavery end but its those black ppl that give a bad name to all the other blacks and americans in general i just wish one day that all the racists have to go thru wat middle eastern &mexicans and others have to everyday
burgerking7472 2 years ago
That gimmick is the most overuse and overated gimmick ever
Terryfan 2 years ago
I totally agree with you Spinnernet, these anti-American gimmicks are completely useless in wrestling today. You make a good point about the anti-American gimmicks being big in the 80s because we were with war with those countries, but today, the Pro-Canadian and Pro-United Kingdom gimmicks just don't cut it great vid. 5/5
MrRicker89 2 years ago
great points. I really hate anti-American gimmicks, not because I give a fuck about this country, but just because it's so damn CHILDISH and cliche', there's never any depth to these characters. It's just "I hate America" and that's that. Now Muhammad Hassan was a perfect gimmick. His character had depth, and actually had legit VALID complaints that even I myself may complain about from time to time (even though in real life he was American).
FrankGarrett316 2 years ago 3
I'm sick of the stereotype that everyone from the middle east is a terrorist. The gimmick has indeed run it's course. Great video, Spinnernet.
WWEvTNA2009 2 years ago
this probley isnt relavant but when they have done house shows in new zealand the wrestlers have been anti new zealand so why should i care if people wanna be anti american for a storyline lol just a thought
chopster900 2 years ago
my grandpa was dianose with that
luisalexander70 2 years ago
i'm so sorry to hear that. my condolensces.
spinnernet1 2 years ago
thanks
luisalexander70 2 years ago
the un americans test, christian and lance storm were great in the wwf
Xicedragonnx 2 years ago
ya know, ive look high n low on skype for spinnernet and ive found nothing at all so whats your skype user spinnernet?
iampokefanjohnny 2 years ago
this is not the year for stars whos next?
WWETNAaremylife 2 years ago
good comments iam your friend and iam from palestin . i live now in berlin . But you defently forgot to talk about muhammad hassan he was great but because of9/11 they fired him right ???? IFsombody know please leave message on my sit . thx
saddamh8 2 years ago
Great video.... I completely agree. Sheik Abdul Bashir's act is getting pretty stale.
Way too many cowardly, opportunistic, egotistical, anti-american heels out there today. 90% of the heels today fall into one of those four categories, if not more.
Thanks for the video.
paranoid711 2 years ago
I agree it's kinda passe these days and the internet is definitely a factor. But you'll continue to see companies do it because its easy and there are always some simple-minded xenophobes. Plus you don't have to really HATE another country as you say for the gimmick to work. Like the Hart Foundation in '97, everybody knows the US and Canada are allies, but there is sort of a friendly rivalry of sorts, and they can play on that for storylines.
Generic1125 2 years ago
the anti-american gimmick will always work. you just need to creative with it.
LOKITUPISBACK 2 years ago
dude its wrestling, the story lines dont have to coenside with politics.
Saphier42 2 years ago
I think mohammed hassain was the last best heel related to anti-american
clowntrick 2 years ago 4
UN-AMERICANS
newyorkgiants11 2 years ago
good video but arent we still in a conflict with iran?
famouswwefan 2 years ago
Great Video Dr. Brandon.
Next time (just a bit of helpful criticism), when you stated that that type of cancer is deadly, perhaps tell us why its so deadly, cause i rather let u explain it to me then googling it :P
Great video non-the less and I wanted to give u some feedback, since u always liked it
clowntrick 2 years ago
What does it do to you / whjat is it :P
clowntrick 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
who the fuck is patrick who the fuck cares
jeffhardynextwwesman 2 years ago
fuck you
sjrob27 2 years ago
very true, and middle eastern gimmicks barely work
Roboturner2113 2 years ago
Gimmick is very hard to get over. I mean just let the ass whoopins come and give guys some character.
BigDaddy0207 2 years ago
Muhammed Hassan anyone?
Kimyumoto16 2 years ago 3
the world elite seems to have some potential
galetyler 2 years ago 2
ya but world eltie oen kindy wokrs but world elite anti usa its kindu clique
jeffhardynextwwesman 2 years ago
World Elite = Mid Card Mafia
I think these gimmicks can work, but after the whole Muhammad Hassan debacle, it won't be used to its full potential. As every character develops, it takes on a life of its own, right? So when that goes spinning out of control (like with Hassan), there will likely be a big backlash due to the controversy created, then your product gets put on the same level as Maury or Jerry Springer. That doesn't appeal to sponsors.
MyselfTheThird 2 years ago
hassan wasnt a debacle. he was booked to win the wwe title. he had the most heat in wwe. they just aired a huge angle with the masked taliban guys mauling taker at the wrong time, which backlashed and ruined hassan's career.
LOKITUPISBACK 2 years ago
That's the debacle I'm talking about. I didn't say anything about Hassan himself, I said that the incident that occured and derailed his career far too soon is the main reason why promoters are weary of this angle now.
MyselfTheThird 2 years ago
I agree man! I even think a middle eastern gimmic no longer works.
RKOxxKane 2 years ago
good vid spinner.
TheBostonBrothers924 2 years ago
Yeah Muhammad Hassan got NUCLEAR heat, I'd say the anti-american gimmick can work if it's done well-- but it's certainly more difficult to do now.
loltheworld 2 years ago
He told the truth 80& of the time too.
seancarletonzero 2 years ago
Most of the anti-American gimmicks recently consist of wrestlers telling the truth and getting booed for it (see Davari/Bashir) but people are not so stupid now, well maybe Sarah Palin supporters are.
We're pretty much the same Canada and the USA only we (Canada) have a better health care system and better wrestling fans.
seancarletonzero 2 years ago
and crappy laws
disturbedspike 2 years ago
I know what you mean when bashir gave the iraq war rant he got booed like hell for telling the truth
Im also Canadian
galetyler 2 years ago
i hate when people call Muslims terrorists. I AM MUSLIM AND I LOVE CANADA/AMERICA
iservallah 2 years ago 4
Eh spinnernet remember triple h when he was Hunter Hearst Helmsley he was all about UK or some other country i am not sure but when he was he got a lot of fans that led to him being so popular as Triple H
Gameztoday165 2 years ago
It was Connecticut not the UK
KingOfKings111 2 years ago
that i know of,the only anti-USA gimmick happening right now is Sheik Abdul Bashir,and he's more with the whole World Elite crap. he does awesome anti-USA promos,like the one a week before or on the same show Homicide turned heel.
nWowolfpachollywood 2 years ago
The sad thing is that if in today's WWE their is a anti american gimmick nobody would care and probably not even boo.
Alex44343 2 years ago
Eric Young sucks as a full fledge heel. When he starts talking I change the channel. Make Brutus Magnus or Sheik Abdul Bashir as the leader of WE.
24varner 2 years ago 2
sheik is good because he is iranian and americans hate iran.
edgehead0228 2 years ago
Bring in Alex Koslov, he doesn't have the weaknesses that Brutus and Bashir have.
seancarletonzero 2 years ago
I hate any kind of patriotism or nationalism. Burn all flags, I say.
Congest 2 years ago 3
Here's an idea on how to spice up the Anti-American gimmick.
Have a stable of overly-patriotic American assholes who think America is the absolute best thing in the world, and if you don't agree, we'll stick a nuke up your ass. Promos include "We give you people tools to come to this country and pursue the American dream, but you choose to come here illegally, because you're too lazy and incompetent to do it the right way!" They'll try and burn all sorts of foreign flags. It'd be great!
dstebbin 2 years ago 4
Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity?
seancarletonzero 2 years ago
I was thinking more along the lines of JBL and MVP. You know, two epitomes of the "American Dream?"
dstebbin 2 years ago
Iron Sheik and Volkoff are two of my favorite heels off all-time because of kayfabe and political tension of 1980s.
ilovethe80sdude 2 years ago
I like the Un americans back in 2002 Christian Lance Storm and Test and I thought Muhammad Hassan was wayyyyy over like world champion material in 2005 to bad hes gone though.
JarrodDrover123 2 years ago
another great video, keep it up!
Imhim247 2 years ago
Muhammad Hassan would've been a great example too
stlucianrasta92 2 years ago 2
Muhammad Hassan is a case where a gimmick can work too well. It's what ultimately lead to him being fired.
IronFury 2 years ago
I dont know him but he sounds like a good man
TheHardyMafia 2 years ago
I agree with u 100%, I'm from the UAE and I'm a Muslim and I love the US a lot
DKFan5 2 years ago 3
Great vid Brandon. Very much agreed this gimmick no longer works back in the 80s and 90s yes I allways remember Shieky baby and Nikolai Volkoff one of the biggest heels going back then and when Sgt Slaughter did the ani-America heel turn it was huge and really worked. Then the muhammed hassan and Divari heel turn got alot of heat over the media which fucking sucked them two are very talented superstars and they got fucked over. I may make a video response its eaiser than typing.
01Vortex 2 years ago
Well I recall the Unamericans gimmick bac in 2003, around the time when the US was about to go to war with Iraq. I think that was the last time an anti US gimmick has really worked in wrestling. I think the whole thing had something to do with France's refusal to go to war with with the US, which to the public, seemed unpatriotic, hence the Unamerican's gimmick.
Nerdkiller316 2 years ago
The day swayze died. Keith floyd (famous english tv chef) died, Darren sutherland ( Irish olympic boxing silver medal winner) all died the same day. Weird shit. Everyone hates america. Ha Ha. Coming over here to Ireland thinking thet are Irish cos there great, great grandfather was Irish. Gangs of new york style. Ha Ha.
philipkeaveney777 2 years ago 3
I agree that this sort of gimmick doesn't really work for people anymore.
wr3stlegirl 2 years ago
I agree, it's a washed UP storyline... does not cut it anymore
UltimateBelief24 2 years ago
Nice rant based on logic. Nice vid!
mapleloaf67 2 years ago
It's funny, I was just thinking about this the other day spinner. You're right, it doesen't work these days as well as it did before. I would say the last "anti-american" that did a good job and really pissed people of was Hassan.
elel666diablo 2 years ago
Well, the gimmick isn't too bad but does still work, there were quite a few anti-americans that got over like the unamericans, LAX and now World Elite.
DrGnockerz 2 years ago