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Showing posts with label Cryme Tyme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cryme Tyme. Show all posts

July 28, 2015

WWE's sordid history of racism makes its swift justice vs. Hogan ring hollow


Everyone knows that the WWE and professional wrestling are fake—a group of finely chiseled athletes, orchestrated by a scripted theater of controversial plots, story arcs and over-the-top characters. Against that backdrop, cult icon Hulk Hogan became the most recognizable face of the WWE after winning the world championship against The Iron Sheik in January 1983, and last week its most stunning big-name dismissal.

Known previously as the WWF, the franchise branded Hogan as The Hulkster and capitalized off of his alluring, patriotic, good-guy persona. In the words of Hogan himself, “Hulkamania was running wild, brother!” Still, while Hulkamaniacs rejoiced, what wasn’t fake was the WWE’s sordid history of exploiting racial stereotypes. For decades the organization capitalized and profited off racist undertones, even while receiving countless criticism over its portrayal and treatment of minority characters. It also has been chided for the fact that in the company’s 63-year history there has never been a unified African-American World Champion. (The Rock, a seven-time WWE champion and noted Hogan nemesis, is bi-racial, having been born to an African-American father and a Samoan mother.)

Nevertheless, the criticism regarding professional wrestling’s premiere franchise never thwarted the company’s multi-million dollar cash machine. While Hogan—a blond, 6’7” Tampa native who first gained famed as Thunderlips in Rocky III in 1982—became an All-American folk hero (before he briefly went to the dark side with the nWo in the rival WCW in 1996), some of the WWE’s most popular characters have been its most controversial. Rowdy Roddy Piper, a Canadian wrestler who wore a kilt and was billed as being from Glasgow, Scotland, was a WWF superstar in the '80s alongside Hogan. Unlike Hogan, Piper was a textbook villain whose entire shtick was built upon spewing brash, lewd comments regarding race and gender. In his on-air segment Piper’s Pit, he once asked wrestler Tony Atlas, who is black, “To get them big arms, do you eat all of that soul food stuff? Do you eat pigs' feet?” After Atlas seemingly took offense to the line of questioning, Piper responded, “Let me tell you something in your own language, I don’t let the thieves stop me from enjoying my watermelon.”

In another interview segment, this time with Fijian wrestler Jimmy (Superfly) Snuka, Piper asked his rival if he grew up climbing trees like a monkey to get coconuts. Piper also once said that Mr. T’s lips looked like “a catcher’s mitt,” and later told him that he would “whip him like a slave.”

Then there was wrestler Ted (The Million Dollar Man) DiBiase, whose black sidekick/bodyguard Virgil was often subjugated and debased as a part of DiBiase’s emerging storyline. In a video from 1987, DiBiase can be seen boasting about how he could easily buy Virgil, to which Virgil responds “Yes-suh!” Throughout their pairing, DiBiase often referred to Virgil as a slave, even having him rub his feet.

And the list doesn’t stop there. Kamala, The Ugandan Headhunter, was billed as being from “Deepest, Darkest Africa,” and exhibited mannerisms and grunts that were almost inhuman. He wrestled with a spear and wore tribal paint on his face and belly. The Junkyard Dog’s gimmick was crafted in the frame of textbook Negro shuck and jive, with him prancing around wearing a dog collar and chains. Former WWE legend and color commentator Jesse (The Body) Ventura once referred to the Junk Yard Dog as having “a mouth full of grits.” Ventura also commonly called fan favorite Tito Santana, a Mexican-American, “Chico” and dubbed his finishing move the “flying burrito.”

Former WWE champ Triple H, who mocked African-American wrestler Booker T for his "nappy hair, once said that “people like Booker T couldn’t win championships," and that in the WWE “they were just there to dance and entertain.” Then there was Cryme Tyme, a tag-team made up of wrestlers JTG and Shad Gaspard and who brandished themselves as thugged out, gangsta rappers. Their catch phrase was, “Yo yo yo, pop a 40 and check ya rollies-it’s Cryme Time,” and they were often shown assaulting police officers and committing robberies.

July 11, 2014

Pro Wrestling Is Fake, but Its Race Problem Isn't

August 12, 2013

Blast From The Past: DX and Cryme Tyme

April 2, 2010

SmackDown Results: Jackpot in Vegas

Moments after an irate Edge blasted his WrestleMania opponent, Chris Jericho, with The Spear, Mr. Money in the Bank, Jack Swagger, emerged to leave the entire WWE Universe breathless. Without warning, “The All-American American” stormed onto the scene, nailing the unsuspecting Ultimate Opportunist from behind with his newly-acquired Money in the Bank briefcase. Frantically calling for an official, Swagger proceeded to cash in his championship opportunity, pinning Jericho for the World Title after the Gutwrench Powerbomb heard ’round the world. Swagger’s monumental triumph came just four days after he attempted to use his Money in the Bank position on Raw against John Cena, only to rescind the decision at the last second.

There is no more Cryme Tyme in WWE after Shad turned on JTG following a loss to John Morrison & R-Truth on last night's SmackDown. Shad later cut a promo and said it's now his time. Full results.

source: wwe.com

February 22, 2010

Interview with Shad Gaspard

October 22, 2009

Shad Gaspard on Missing Smackdown

Shad Gaspard of WWE's Cryme Tyme tag team issued the following statement on his official MySpace page in regards to missing the Smackdown tapings this past Tuesday night in Columbia, SC:

"Ok before this thing gets out of hands let me set the record straight. This past Monday I got sick while traveling from Mexico to the US. On Tuesday my symptoms increased drastically to body pains, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. I tried several over the counter medicines that temporarily worked, but didn’t help in the long run.

Finally I went to or WWE doctor who prescribed to give me a shot of Phenergan, which should have worked. Unforchantly it made me drowsy and brought on cold chills. The office thought it best I leave than try to perform."...More?

October 1, 2009

WWE Superstars in Boston

More than 70 wrestlers turned out for the Decade of SmackDown afterparty at The Kowloon, following the sold-out TD Garden show, including WWE U.S. Champ - and ex- Winchester High wrestling wonder - Kofi Kingston, who arrived with his high school wrestling coach Larry Tremblay .

Also scarfing lobsters in ginger, Kowloon steak, sushi, and pu pu platters were World Heavyweight Champ CM Punk and fellow wrestlers Chris Jericho, Batista, Randy Orton, “World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry, Matt Hardy, Hornswoggle, Cryme Tyme, The Hart Dynasty, Dolph Ziggler, Santino Morella, Jimmy Wang Yang, R-Truth, WWE Divas Maria, Eve, Kelly Kelly, Natalya, Melina, Rosa, Katie Lea, The Bella Sisters...More?

source: bostonherald.com

June 1, 2009

Shad: WWE's Diesel

"When I was 20-years-old, Tough Enough came on, and they (his friends) were all watching it," he said. "They all thought I was 25. I was 6-7, 310. They were like you should go on the show."

Gaspard qualified for the finals of WWE Tough Enough 2 in 2002 but was disqualified and replaced after failing a physical. "I was really down-hearted on wrestling," Gaspard said. Still, he did not quit.

WWE talent scout Tom Prichard wanted him to continue training. He trained with Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker from the WCW Power Plant and attended Prichard's first Ohio Valley Wrestling training camp in Louisville.

"I loved it [OVW]. I learned a lot from Al Snow, and I learned a lot from Danny Davis of what to do in the ring and outside the ring. It was a really good experience."...More?

source: miamiherald.com

April 21, 2009

Shad Gaspard Rips Internet Sites For False Rumors

In quite a heated Myspace Q&A Cryme Tyme’s Shad Gaspard ripped several wrestling news sites and a reporter by name...More?

source: wrestlingtruth.com

February 11, 2009

Company Officials Unhappy With WWE Star's Ring Work

October 21, 2008

Cryme Tyme Interview

From the beginning, their characters were met with controversy over whether or not their portrayal as thieves and street thugs reinforced the worst stereotypes about African Americans.

The duo have managed to take that all in stride though, believing that ultimately, they’re just having fun in a business that’s inherently over the top. Their characters are of teir own design and they have no intention of making any changes...More?

source: hiphopdx.com

September 5, 2008

Kaliqo's Unforgiven Picks, Predictions & Speculations

WWE Diva's Championship: Michelle McCool (c) vs. Maryse
I love the Diva Championship belt, but I am not interested in seeing these two "wrestle" at all. I do wish that wweshop.com would sell replica belt buckles of the belt. I would buy that.

World Tag Team Championship Match: Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Cryme Tyme
This should be a good one. Ted DiBiase is definitely the star of this group. Since Cryme Tyme is over as faces I think the titles should stay with the current champs.

ECW Championship 'Scramble' Match: Mark Henry (c) vs. Matt Hardy vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. Finlay vs. The Miz
Oh God ECW. I just don't get it. Mark Henry is pitiful in the ring. I'd like to see Matt with the title. He's earned it.

World Heavyweight Championship 'Scramble' Match: CM Punk (c) vs. JBL vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Kane vs. Batista
I'm sure CM Punk will retain the title, but as long as they don't put it on JBL or Mysterio, I'm a happy camper.

WWE Championship 'Scramble' Match: Triple H (c) vs. MVP vs. Brian Kendrick vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin
I would like to see Jeff get the title and re-new his feud with Triple H. A Shelton Benjamin/Triple H feud would be good also.

Unsanctioned Match: Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels
I don't think it matters who wins this match because it is going to be amazing regardless of the outcome. I would expect Shawn to get the pin.

August 1, 2008

Cryme Tyme offers hope to Washington D.C. youth

Shad and JTP talk to the youth of The FutureBound Independent Living Program in Washington, D.C...More?

July 14, 2008

Rumor Mill - New John Cena/Cryme Tyme Faction

At the end of last Saturday's Raw brand house show in Charleston, West Virginia, John Cena got on the mic and said that he and Cryme Tyme were forming a faction called "CTC," standing for "Cryme Tyme Cenation".

source: prowrestling.net

July 8, 2008

Lights, Camera, Auction!

Yo-yo-yo-yo! Hold on to your wallets! Just as their entrance theme explains, Cryme Tyme is bringing the ’hood to you! On Wednesday at 4 p.m., JTG & Shad will premiere their new WWE.com video original series, “Word Up.” According to the delinquent duo, this latest offering will teach urban slang to WWE.com viewers as only the two of them can.

Described as a mix between Snoop Dogg and Sesame Street, “Word Up” promises to put forth fresh, funny and “educational” content...More?

July 4, 2008

Raw House Show Results - Lima, Peru

Attendance was around 28,000, so not the 45,000 they were hoping for. Still a very solid draw and this will probably end up being the largest gate ever for pro wrestling in South or Central America.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan defeated Carlito

Santino Marella defeated Charlie Haas

Lance Cade defeated Paul London

Jeff Hardy defeated JBL

WWE Champion Triple H defeated John Cena

WWE Women's Champion Mickie James defeated Beth Phoenix

World Tag Team Champions Ted DiBiase Jr. & Cody Rhodes defeated Cryme Tyme

Shawn Michaels defeated Chris Jericho

source: wrestleview.com

July 3, 2008

Raw House Show Results - Santiago, Chile

Opening Segment: Rey Mysterio cuts a promo telling the audience that Triple H won't be able to be in the show and that he (Rey) will not be able to wrestle. Out comes Carlito and talks trash to Rey. Rey announces that a friend of his will fight Carlito instead… Batista.

Match 1: Batista def Carlito (squash match)

Match 2: Lance Cade def Paul London via pinfall

Match 3: Hacksaw Jim Duggan def Charlie Haas via pinfall

Match 4: World Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibiase Jr def Cryme Tyme via pinfall to retain the titles.

Match 5: WWE Women's Champion Mickie James def Beth Phoenix via pinfall to retain the tittle (Special Guest Referee: Santino Marella)

Y2J Promo: Jericho comes out. Talks trash to the crowd in Spanish telling them they are all cowards and liars just like Shawn Michaels… out comes HBK.

Match 6: Shawn Michaels def Chris Jericho via pinfall

Match 7: World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk def Kane via pinfall

JBL Promo: JBL comes out. Says Chile, its women and the audience are all trash. Then he starts to sing. Out comes John Cena to a mixed reaction. Women and kids went nuts. Men just booed him out of the building.

Match 8: John Cena def JBL via pinfall.

The arena was packed with approx. 15,000 people. All in all, the general reaction was that the show was below what people expected. The first part dragged a lot and the crowd got into the show when Y2J came out. In general, the Smackdown show was put together better and the crowd was more into it, probably because it was the first time we saw this type of event in Chile. At the end of the show, the crowd started chanting Triple H showing their disappointment after the draft took the chance of watching The Game away from them.

source: Aquiles Lasa and wrestlingnewsworld.com

April 2, 2008

Update about Cryme Tyme's Return to the WWE

source: rajah.com

March 31, 2008

Details on Cryme Tyme Returning to the WWE

source: wrestlingnewsworld.com

September 2, 2007

WWE Releases Cryme Tyme

World Wrestling Entertainment and RAW brand tag-team Cryme Tyme has parted ways. There are no in-depth details at this point, only that there was an incident sometime this weekend involving Cryme Tyme and WWE Tag Team champions Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch.

source: pwinsider

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