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[Masculine Todd]

It's gotta be only a matter of time before they realize that as over as he is with the typical fan, Orton doesn't really draw as a face, right? He hasn't really done anything for the Smackdown brand in the last year, that was setup for him to be the main face for. It seems to me that his destiny is to be the HHH to Cena's Rock. The sometime face who really works best as hated rival. Wouldn't we all want to see a heel Orton vs. face Punk feud? I mean more than face Orton vs. heel Kane anyway. I don't know, I'm the guy who thought there was no way Zack Ryder wouldn't be getting payback over Kane at Wrestlemania, so what do I know?

The fans tried to turn him face when he first codified all the facets of the "viper" gimmick with Legacy in early '09. As he punted the McMahons and flashed those sadistic facials, the fans cheered him heavily and his merch shot through the roof. Their response was to mitigate his pops by diluting the character and making him an interchangeable, cowardly heel who hid behind threats from lawyers and running from a stumbling Hunter in backstage segments.

There was a brief window where he was poised to be a phenomenal Cena alternative; you have relatively good looking (I guess) guy with the shaved head and the sleeves who loses his shit and punts authority figures. He has that "cool, edgy" shit going on, and he has the charisma to sell it. His face run has only further diluted the character he nurtured in early '09. He's just a guy who does dropkicks and has a short temper. His promos are hideous when he's marginalized into this awful, pandering role. He could have been an awesome tweener who was really a face.

[DAVE]

So last night, my best friend, who lives in Miami somehow was at the Lillian Garcia party with a bunch of WWE people. He said that Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella were really nice, and Brie actually was the one who introduced herself and started the conversation. Jinder Mahal was really nice and introduced himself as "Raj". John Laurinetis was like one of the most popular people in the room and worked it like a pro.
I don't want to sound like a total mark here, but Santino doesn't really have an accent!? Is this known?
Also, Heath Slater seemed to be one of the most popular people in the room with the other wrestlers. They were all gathered around him.

Kayfabe is dead!!!

Here he is with big Johnny:

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[Prime]

"Santino" is really canadian.

His original OVW gimmick was of a russian, that essentially became Koslov.

[Patrick King]

"Santino" is really canadian.

Yep. Both he and Jinder Mahal are Canadian, and the latter's real-life nickname (according to Wikipedia) is Raj.

[DAVE]

"Santino" is really canadian.

My mind is blown. Next thing you're gonna tell me Razor Ramon isn't really Cuban and Undertaker isn't really from Death Vally!

[Gregory]

Santino's OVW gimmick was as a Russian.

[Prime]

Santino's OVW gimmick was as a Russian.

ha i'd edited my post before I read this and it now looks like I said it first!.

Sucks to be you gregory!!!!!

[DAVE]

"Santino" is really canadian.

His original OVW gimmick was of a russian, that essentially became Koslov.

Santino's OVW gimmick was as a Russian.

Dude's good at accents. Funny seeing him being a serious character.

[Gregory]

Sucks to be you gregory!!!!!

I'll be able to watch WrestleMania at a decent time of day. Nyah.

[DAVE]

Yep. Both he and Jinder Mahal are Canadian, and the latter's real-life nickname (according to Wikipedia) is Raj.

Thanks for the Wikipedia confirmation about Mahal calling himself Raj. Part of me thought my buddy was lying to me.