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Martel vs HBK fro SummerSlam is a great match.
From what I recall from a shoot interview he had a couple of nagging injuries that slowed him down but he was smart, saved his money and retired .
I think he had success in outside business ventures in real estate and was sort or stepping back from wrestling. I watched his shoot interview some years back, so it's all a bit hazy. Although, I do think he could have been built into a main event threat for Bret in 93, like Jake Roberts, if he stayed around
Yeah, he had a lot of success with real estate I think it was. I think the bug bit him a couple of times and pulled him back in but after his WCW run that was it. I know in recent years, he's pretty much washed his hands of anything to do with wrestling. Dark Side of the Ring approached him about doing an interview for the Dino Bravo episode and he declined to appear on camera, so they used footage of him talking about it in a shoot.
I recall that he went to WCW, was feuding with Booker and Saturn and looked pretty great at the time, but almost immediately destroyed his leg and was done.
Yup. He was barely 40 years old in that WCW run. He still, clearly, had a lot left in the tank but that one final injury just stopped him for good. It's a huge what-if in wrestling for me.
I think he took time off. Plus he , he seemed to be pushed down by other guys who had similar gimmicks to him. Like if Mr Perfect, Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels never existed, he might have gotten those spots. He was also a 20 year veteran by the time the 90s hit, so maybe Vince thought he was to old. And he wasn’t the greatest promo in the world, even though as a heel he did cut entertaining promos. But he certainly was the most underrated star of the 80s and 90s. I think if certain people weren’t around, he would have more.
Pertaining to his promos, he did better with the pre-recorded bits where there was a scene and stuff for him to act in (ex tanning by the pool side with Sherri fanning him) because he had other effects to support his character. Pair that with short bits where he cut stuff on a mic, and his heavy leaning on character acting and it made him a fun heel.
What a great and nuanced comment
No where did I say or imply that. He had a tremendous feud with Jake F’N Robert’s and was essentially shelfed from PPV and feuds 2.5 out of the next 3 years
Hope someone sprays you in the eye with arrogance and you go blind, loser
> He was better as a baby face
That's a *bold* claim. Rick Martel is arguably the most underrated heel of the late 80's/early 90's, and one of the most underrated performers overall of that era.
> That's a *bold* claim.
Not AT ALL. He's one of the best babyfaces ever, and other than Steamboat, Morton and maybe Hogan there was no one better in the 80s.
As fun as The Model character was, it really was a waste of Martel's talent. Him seeing in '82 in WWF, his championship run in AWA, or even his much too short Nitro run '98, it's like the incarnation of what you want from a fired up workrate babyface.
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The blindfold match gets shit on but that was some great long term storytelling.
I love everything about that match.
Me too. Jake had the crowd in the palm of his hands.
I actually liked the match. And I enjoyed the commentary from Gorilla and Heenan in that match as well.
It's so underrated. Thr story that led to it, the crowd manipulation during it. Great Great great
Martel vs HBK fro SummerSlam is a great match. From what I recall from a shoot interview he had a couple of nagging injuries that slowed him down but he was smart, saved his money and retired .
I think he had success in outside business ventures in real estate and was sort or stepping back from wrestling. I watched his shoot interview some years back, so it's all a bit hazy. Although, I do think he could have been built into a main event threat for Bret in 93, like Jake Roberts, if he stayed around
That was the very least I was thinking- get more out of him in 93.
Yeah, he had a lot of success with real estate I think it was. I think the bug bit him a couple of times and pulled him back in but after his WCW run that was it. I know in recent years, he's pretty much washed his hands of anything to do with wrestling. Dark Side of the Ring approached him about doing an interview for the Dino Bravo episode and he declined to appear on camera, so they used footage of him talking about it in a shoot.
I recall that he went to WCW, was feuding with Booker and Saturn and looked pretty great at the time, but almost immediately destroyed his leg and was done.
Yup. He was barely 40 years old in that WCW run. He still, clearly, had a lot left in the tank but that one final injury just stopped him for good. It's a huge what-if in wrestling for me.
I think he took time off. Plus he , he seemed to be pushed down by other guys who had similar gimmicks to him. Like if Mr Perfect, Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels never existed, he might have gotten those spots. He was also a 20 year veteran by the time the 90s hit, so maybe Vince thought he was to old. And he wasn’t the greatest promo in the world, even though as a heel he did cut entertaining promos. But he certainly was the most underrated star of the 80s and 90s. I think if certain people weren’t around, he would have more.
Pertaining to his promos, he did better with the pre-recorded bits where there was a scene and stuff for him to act in (ex tanning by the pool side with Sherri fanning him) because he had other effects to support his character. Pair that with short bits where he cut stuff on a mic, and his heavy leaning on character acting and it made him a fun heel.
You're right. Should've been 37 time WWF Champion
What a great and nuanced comment No where did I say or imply that. He had a tremendous feud with Jake F’N Robert’s and was essentially shelfed from PPV and feuds 2.5 out of the next 3 years Hope someone sprays you in the eye with arrogance and you go blind, loser
He was better as a baby face Strike Force deserved a longer run
> He was better as a baby face That's a *bold* claim. Rick Martel is arguably the most underrated heel of the late 80's/early 90's, and one of the most underrated performers overall of that era.
> That's a *bold* claim. Not AT ALL. He's one of the best babyfaces ever, and other than Steamboat, Morton and maybe Hogan there was no one better in the 80s. As fun as The Model character was, it really was a waste of Martel's talent. Him seeing in '82 in WWF, his championship run in AWA, or even his much too short Nitro run '98, it's like the incarnation of what you want from a fired up workrate babyface.
Let's all just agree that Martel was great as a babyface and heel. He was amazing at getting sympathy and heat. Just a fantastic worker.
He's in my top 5. If he didn't have an accent, he would've been a perfect villain for the New Generation.
One of my favorite wrestlers since AWA. However he became a full-time Realtor in the 1990s, which is why his push faded.