Al Snow Talks about Smart fans

[THE_CRIPPLER]

On smart fans: "The most oxymoronic term out there is a 'smart-mark'. Just doesn't exist. Because how can you be smart at something – knowing somebody is lying to you, while actually believing the lie. It's a term created by fans who believe they're on the inside of something that they're not really on the inside of. They're not a part of the business because they don't have a real stake in it…A great example is if you ask what was the best match of WrestleMania 3. Most people would say Savage/Steamboat. But it was Hogan/Andre because 93,000 people paid to see Hogan/Andre. The best match isn't about 'working' or 'taking the best bumps', it's the match that draws the most people and makes the most money. That's the best match.


see wrestlers have this stupid notion what ever draws is the best..... but that is like saying Avatar was a better Movie than schindler's list, Midnight Cowboy, Pulp Fiction and just about every movie ever made.... not to mention American Idol is the best show on TV....its stupid way of thinking that the best is the one that generates more interest. if that true Al Snow shouldnt try to have a good match then, why even talk about workrate and try to get good workers, just have Justin Bieber and Someone from Jersey shore have a match im sure it would generate more attention than any wrestler currtently in wrestling and it be the best match EVER.... cause alot of people will watch right.

[Raiyne]

In a way he is right....Best match is the one that can draw in the most...it means your actually doing your job....ENTERTAINING. If it was just real wrestling/UFC I would have a different opinion on drawing numbers. But Wrestling Entertainment is about Entertaining no matter what smarks want to say about this. I mean its not just about being a suplex machine cause anyone can pull it off with training. The thing about calling the greatest wrestler is one that will be remembered. Hogan>The Rock=Austin>Cena These guys(Just to name a few) will be remembered for generations. Not guys like Austin Aries or Roderick Strong who are phenomenal wrestlers. One of a few is Kurt Angle because he is able to Work/Take Bumps/Draw Crowds. Point is....its the entertainment business....Al Snow knows what he is talking about because he has been there and knows no matter how good you wrestle....if you can't draw it doesn't matter.

[THE_CRIPPLER]

In a way he is right....Best match is the one that can draw in the most...it means your actually doing your job....ENTERTAINING. If it was just real wrestling/UFC I would have a different opinion on drawing numbers. But Wrestling Entertainment is about Entertaining no matter what smarks want to say about this. I mean its not just about being a suplex machine cause anyone can pull it off with training. The thing about calling the greatest wrestler is one that will be remembered. Hogan>The Rock=Austin>Cena These guys(Just to name a few) will be remembered for generations. Not guys like Austin Aries or Roderick Strong who are phenomenal wrestlers. One of a few is Kurt Angle because he is able to Work/Take Bumps/Draw Crowds. Point is....its the entertainment business....Al Snow knows what he is talking about because he has been there and knows no matter how good you wrestle....if you can't draw it doesn't matter.

Well the most successful yes, the Best noooo..... the point is its entertainment, just like movies and music and just cause Lady GaGa sells more than Neil Young doesnt mean she is a better singer song writter than him.. nor does it mean Hogan or Andre are better Wrestlers than Beniot or Angle...... Drawing means money, Drawing means attention, Better means better..... Money doesnt make something better..... i made plenty of examples with movies and music which is Entertainment such as Wrestling

[The Brown One]

To the people backstage in wrestling, I'm sure its mostly about the money that the match will generate(especially Vince ;P), so of course they would focus more on putting big names into their matches, and calling them the best. But I, as a wrestling fan don't care too much about the draws taht the match will do, but actually how good the match is. When I watch wrestling matches, I want to see wrestling.

[A1ex197]

Irony, thy name is...Al Snow

[Rated_R(ob)KO]

Al Snow recently spoke about several topics on Arda Ocal's Right After Wrestling Radio. Check out the highlights:

On wrestlers using Twitter: "It shouldn't be a venue to air gripes or complaints, by no means. The wrestling business was a closed business for a very long time. It's kinda like remember when you were a kid, and you were at home and something would happen within your family and it was never spoken outside of the house because it was your family. It was nobody else's business because nobody else could appreciate or understand the situation, and therefore, would pass judgment on something they really didn't have a part in. Because at the end of the day, the only people who are gonna have to go to bed with it and wake up with it are you and your family – and that's kinda like the wrestling business."

On TNA talent using Twitter to talk about the competition: "We're the ones who rely on and depend on the wrestling business for our livelihood and how we're gonna feed our families. So why throw dirt on each other and throw muck around, or air out our grievances or talk about the competition in a public forum. It's okay to do all of those things amongst ourselves, but once it goes outside those doors, and goes into an area where people don't have a real stake in what happens or what it being said then it's like your cousin Jim who went to jail – you don't want to share that with anybody because he's your cousin – he's your family.

On smart fans: "The most oxymoronic term out there is a 'smart-mark'. Just doesn't exist. Because how can you be smart at something – knowing somebody is lying to you, while actually believing the lie. It's a term created by fans who believe they're on the inside of something that they're not really on the inside of. They're not a part of the business because they don't have a real stake in it…A great example is if you ask what was the best match of WrestleMania 3. Most people would say Savage/Steamboat. But it was Hogan/Andre because 93,000 people paid to see Hogan/Andre. The best match isn't about 'working' or 'taking the best bumps', it's the match that draws the most people and makes the most money. That's the best match.

On his job as a producer for TNA: "A communicator who conveys message from an agents' meeting to determine what type of business we want to accomplish from a particular match – pushing a storyline, getting a babyface over, make a character, put heat on a heel, or start teaching the audience (6-montsh out) that a certain guy could be a champion so that 6-months later he becomes a viable threat/contender to the title (in the eyes of the audience)."

So, he berates the internet, berates the fans, tells us we know nothing, tells us we deserve to know nothing, tells us were basically easily led automatons... and then tells us what he does. Like, his REAL position behinds the scenes. You know, the place we shouldn't know anything about and don't deserve to know anything about? Yeah. He tells us just about that place.

What a maroon.

[Stinger187]

So, he berates the internet, berates the fans, tells us we know nothing, tells us we deserve to know nothing, tells us were basically easily led automatons... and then tells us what he does. Like, his REAL position behinds the scenes. You know, the place we shouldn't know anything about and don't deserve to know anything about? Yeah. He tells us just about that place.

What a maroon.

Haha I read that and didn't even make the connection! Your right he said we shouldn't know what goes on behind the closed door and then tells us what he does.... Smart!

[Robstar]

I think you meant MORON ;)

I was just about to come here to comment on this;
On smart fans: "The most oxymoronic term out there is a 'smart-mark'. Just doesn't exist. Because how can you be smart at something – knowing somebody is lying to you, while actually believing the lie. It's a term created by fans who believe they're on the inside of something that they're not really on the inside of. They're not a part of the business because they don't have a real stake in it…A great example is if you ask what was the best match of WrestleMania 3. Most people would say Savage/Steamboat. But it was Hogan/Andre because 93,000 people paid to see Hogan/Andre. The best match isn't about 'working' or 'taking the best bumps', it's the match that draws the most people and makes the most money. That's the best match.

The analogy about WM3 is so far off the mark, I'm surprised and a little speechless. What was the biggest pop of the night? It wan't when Hogan slammed Andre in their staggeringly dull match, it was when Steamboat pinned Savage. And hey, I'm sure there were some people there to see the Can-Am Connection or Bundy squash a midget. ;) Not to mention Roddy Pipers 'retirement' match was a major drawcard too

[Rated_R(ob)KO]

I think you meant MORON ;)

I was just about to come here to comment on this;
On smart fans: "The most oxymoronic term out there is a 'smart-mark'. Just doesn't exist. Because how can you be smart at something – knowing somebody is lying to you, while actually believing the lie. It's a term created by fans who believe they're on the inside of something that they're not really on the inside of. They're not a part of the business because they don't have a real stake in it…A great example is if you ask what was the best match of WrestleMania 3. Most people would say Savage/Steamboat. But it was Hogan/Andre because 93,000 people paid to see Hogan/Andre. The best match isn't about 'working' or 'taking the best bumps', it's the match that draws the most people and makes the most money. That's the best match.

The analogy about WM3 is so far off the mark, I'm surprised and a little speechless. What was the biggest pop of the night? It wan't when Hogan slammed Andre in their staggeringly dull match, it was when Steamboat pinned Savage. And hey, I'm sure there were some people there to see the Can-Am Connection or Bundy squash a midget. ;) Not to mention Roddy Pipers 'retirement' match was a major drawcard too

Nah. I meant "maroon"... you know, what Bugs Bunny says? Either way, I agree with the above statements.

[Robstar]

Nah. I meant "maroon"... you know, what Bugs Bunny says? Either way, I agree with the above statements.

Maroon is a colour. I don't recall Bugs saying it, but I'll take your word :D

[Rich Cranium]

Maroon is a colour. I don't recall Bugs saying it, but I'll take your word :D

Correction: Maroon is a color! ;)

[Rated_R(ob)KO]

He says it. A lot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_Kh7nLplWo

[Robstar]

Correction: Maroon is a color! ;)

Dude, you Americans and your spelling. We spell it with a U, the correct way! ;) You didn't know that? We spell a lot of things differently

[Bodom]

Dude, you Americans and your spelling. We spell it with a U, the correct way! ;) You didn't know that? We spell a lot of things differently

What next? You guys drive on the wrong side of the road? The left?

[Rich Cranium]

Dude, you Americans and your spelling. We spell it with a U, the correct way! ;) You didn't know that? We spell a lot of things differently

Just messing with you! And I know for example you guys spell organize as organise and favorite as favourite!

[Robstar]

What next? You guys drive on the wrong side of the road? The left?

Well the left side is the right side, dontcha know?

[Bodom]

Well the left side is the right side, dontcha know?

Well at least the drivers side of the car is on the curb.

[willos19991]

i think al snow is correct about the smart marks remark mainly because we dont work in the industry so we dont know whats happening inside for example if you go to an italian restaurant and order a pizza now you may think that you know how to make a pizza or how they are making the pizza but you dont know if they guys have wash their hands or if they have just spitted on the pizza, the same with wrestling we may think we know whats happening on the inside but at the end we are clueless of whats actually is happening, as for hulk vs andre being better than steamboat vs savage i understand why he is saying it, because we the internet fans not smart marks but just the marks we are a small percentage of the wrestling community, in a raw live event maybe only 15 percent max knows that their is wrestling outside of the wwe, so for all of those what i call casual fans hulk vs andre is going to be the better match because it had the greater superstars compare to savage vs steamboat where it had the better wrestling

[Xpacfan]

Well the most successful yes, the Best noooo..... the point is its entertainment, just like movies and music and just cause Lady GaGa sells more than Neil Young doesnt mean she is a better singer song writter than him.. nor does it mean Hogan or Andre are better Wrestlers than Beniot or Angle...... Drawing means money, Drawing means attention, Better means better..... Money doesnt make something better..... i made plenty of examples with movies and music which is Entertainment such as Wrestling

I wholeheartly agree!

[THE_CRIPPLER]

i think al snow is correct about the smart marks remark mainly because we dont work in the industry so we dont know whats happening inside for example if you go to an italian restaurant and order a pizza now you may think that you know how to make a pizza or how they are making the pizza but you dont know if they guys have wash their hands or if they have just spitted on the pizza, the same with wrestling we may think we know whats happening on the inside but at the end we are clueless of whats actually is happening, as for hulk vs andre being better than steamboat vs savage i understand why he is saying it, because we the internet fans not smart marks but just the marks we are a small percentage of the wrestling community, in a raw live event maybe only 15 percent max knows that their is wrestling outside of the wwe, so for all of those what i call casual fans hulk vs andre is going to be the better match because it had the greater superstars compare to savage vs steamboat where it had the better wrestling

Yes but to think that Steamboat and Savage is a better match or to think that a undercard match is better than a main event match isnt fans thinking they know how to run a wrestling bussiness, its fans decieding whats a better match, cause....... You dont have to know how to make a pizza to know a good pizza... Best Food Critics are not great cooks, best movie Critics couldnt make a great movie.....

Point is if anyone on earth was on a desertisland and had only one thing to watch Hogan and Andre or Steamboat and Savage, i think Hogan him self and even Snow would choose Steamboat and Savage

[CobraNightviper]

looking back on wrestlemania 3 the Hogan&Andre match sucked that was just another case of something not living up to the hype.

[Viperfish]

Yes but to think that Steamboat and Savage is a better match or to think that a undercard match is better than a main event match isnt fans thinking they know how to run a wrestling bussiness, its fans decieding whats a better match, cause....... You dont have to know how to make a pizza to know a good pizza... Best Food Critics are not great cooks, best movie Critics couldnt make a great movie.....

Point is if anyone on earth was on a desertisland and had only one thing to watch Hogan and Andre or Steamboat and Savage, i think Hogan him self and even Snow would choose Steamboat and Savage

Here-in lies the foundation of the problem. You are speaking after the fact, not before it. Had you tried to make this point before Wrestlemania 3, you like most other people would probably have said Hogan and Andre.

You couldn't take the top 50 best technical wrestlers alive today world wide, stick them in a pay per view and have it sell more than... say, Cena vs The Rock. Wrestling is showbiz first and foremost, everything beyond that is extra. I think too many people just look at the culmination point and objectively say which one was the better match(including Snow) as if nothing took place before it. The best build-up, the most hype and the biggest stars put the butts in the seat for an event like Wrestlemania, and at Wrestlemania 3 that was Hogan and Andre. Was that match by itself better than the Steamboat and Savage match in terms of a performance and entertainment value? Many would say no, myself included(other than maybe Hogan lifting Andre but that doesn't tip the balance for me). I think this is where Snow's point falls short. It's not the match on its own, it's the program, everything leading up to it, and the match as a whole package... and this is where I agree with Snow that the whole program with Andre and Hogan was better than Steamboat and Savage.

[THE_CRIPPLER]

No disrespect.... but how the Hell am i gonna argue the point that Savage vs Steamboat was a better match than Hogan vs Andre before WM3 if the match had not happen yet?.....

im not talking about Box office, im not talking about Hype. Noo im talking about better, better quality..... Thats like me saying the Tag match with the Bella Twins vs Eve and Gail Kim earlier this week on Raw was better than TNAs Beer Money vs MCMGs match they had a few monthes ago back in August (i think). Simply cause the Bella Twins tag match had 4 times the ratings for there match........ see my point

[Viperfish]

No disrespect.... but how the Hell am i gonna argue the point that Savage vs Steamboat was a better match than Hogan vs Andre before WM3 if the match had not happen yet?.....

im not talking about Box office, im not talking about Hype. Noo im talking about better, better quality..... Thats like me saying the Tag match with the Bella Twins vs Eve and Gail Kim earlier this week on Raw was better than TNAs Beer Money vs MCMGs match they had a few monthes ago back in August (i think). Simply cause the Bella Twins tag match had 4 times the ratings for there match........ see my point

Your point initially was "deserted island, only 1 match that you can watch, Andre/Hogan or Savage/Steamboat". You and most others would say Savage/Steamboat after having watched Wrestlemania 3 previously. I'm saying that if you had to choose which one to watch before Wrestlemania 3 aired , most people would say Andre/Hogan because it was something that most people felt they just had to see. Therefore, this constitutes a better match by Al Snow's standards because they sold tickets, put the asses in the seats and it was something that people everywhere wanted to watch. It was decided that this was the better match by Snow's standards before the match itself even took place. Nobody pays to see the Bella twins regardless of ratings between WWE and TNA so that's completely irrelevant.

I'm saying that in my opinion, I think it's wrong for Al Snow to think that Andre/Hogan was a better match just because they sold tickets. That's thinking way too much on the business side of professional wrestling. It's the whole program that they worked leading up to the match; the star power between the two, the build, the personalities, all culminating to the match which is the finish. Overall, the whole program was better than Steamboat/Savage's program. You only look at it from a technicality standpoint and from the point of in-ring performance, which is fair. That's what you like, so more power to you. I'm trying to say that professional wrestling as a whole is much more than that. Smackdown puts on a much better in-ring show in terms of talent than Raw, but Raw draws bigger numbers. If in-ring performance was the only thing that mattered, then these numbers would be flipped in Smackdown's favor.

Let me throw a hypothetical at you. The Rock vs Cena, or Daniel Bryan vs William Regal to headline a Wrestlemania? Rock/Cena would be the 'better match' even though Bryan/Regal would probably put on a better in-ring show in terms of technical skill. Nobody would pay to see Bryan/Regal because they wouldn't be able to build a feud that people would care about, neither are stellar in terms of promo skills, neither are massive stars, etc. Again it's the program as a whole for me. Relating to Al Snow who alludes to ticket sales being the only factor, it's the package as a whole that gets those sales most of the time anyway.

[samoan619]

al snow is nothing without head and a backwards "help me" on his forehead... got head

[THE_CRIPPLER]

Even though your point confuses me, you have the same sentiments i do.... so basicly you agree with me... so there is nothing to debate....... but honestly i do think The Rock and Cena would be a much better match then Regal and Daniels.... Cena never disappoints in a big time match and neither does the Rock plus they will pull out everything cause its such a big match.... Looking back even though it was a big huge moment the Match of Hogan and Warrior still stands up as a suprisingly good match.... But Hogan and Andre the Giant wasnt a good match.

But i have to stop you about the Build up for Hogan and Andre being far superior to the Savage/Steamboat match.. The build up for Savage Steamboat was amazing. One of the best build ups ever.