This is my original notes to Chad, though I've added a bit more for clarity to the general populace. This is just MY votes, and obviously didn't always lead to who won the match. Finally, I warn you that I wrote these right as I read the RP. I waited until the deadline was over and read in a few sittings. My responses were immediate. Finally, please be cognizant that I judged half the matches - which is 32 RP threads (minus the jobbers and no-shows). That's a LOT! Keeping all my data straight may be problematic so if I get a bit confused, especially if I call in to the podcast, some grace would be appreciated.
Warren's votes -
Too Cool Chris Hopper vs. Howard King
Howard King 6-4. They were pretty equal but King has an interesting gimmick that he pulled off well. The only real weakness I felt was in Hopper's thing was the "Batcave" type setting on Cool's last promo - it just didn't work for me. That one ding and King pulling off his gimmick put King over in my eyes.
Larry Tact vs. Derek Martin
5-5 Derek Martin. Probably the 2nd toughest in this grouping. I loved Tact's concept and execution, but Derek hadnled his well and had a great angle. I thought the last RP put Derek over, but just barely. This was TOUGH TOUGH TOUGH!
Pete Whealdon vs. Gideon
5-5 Pete Whealdon - Classic funny bad guy. Some of the asides were a bit much, but even though they were over the top, I still had to laugh at the absurdity of it all. With Gideon, I had a hard time following Gideon's initial RP writing. However, I loved the Gideon character and would've put him over w/o the initial weakness. I know the writer was taking a gamble, but w/ me, those types of gambles don't work because it all reads as gobbleygook. Kudos for the attempt and this character is, quite possibly, my favorite of all the "losers". Gideon's 2nd RP could've taken ANYONE in this tournament, including...
Jason Murray vs. Sean Stevens
5-5 Jason Murray - This was TOUGH! Stevens did what I knew he could do, but Murray sucked me in IMMEDIATELY. To add to his strengths, I also have to share that I *HATE* the gimmick. It's tried and boring and one of those that I roll my eyes EVERY time I see it. Except that it was done SO well - I actually care about this punk, jerk - kudos to the handler. With all that said, I still had it as a dead heat. What put me over? Nothing more than a willingness to go first and take it straight to Stevens - one of the best in the game. That takes guts!
Classy Mike C vs. Johnny Niles
6-4 Mike C over Niles - With Niles, I hated the reporter usage and it seemed to lack the ability to garner a reaction from me. The reporter is one of my most hated RP tactics, only because it is always so hackneyed. Can it be done well? Sure, but it's frequently less than a talking head reading from cue cards - they rarely appear "real". Mike C was good enough to take this matchup, but he'll need to crank it up a few more notches to survive what I expect from Spooky Doom.
Leyanda de Ocho vs. "Canadian Wolf"
Alex Leblanc 6-4 - I thought Ocho did well but he had reporters (see above). At least give them a freaking NAME! He did do a touch better, at least having them talk amongst themselves prior to the "OCHO OCHO" opening that made me roll my eyes. These are wrestling reporters. Does anyone know anything about wrestling mags and dirt sheets? They don't NEED a story - they friggin' make it up! It's like the Weekly World News w/ real people... running around in their underwear... under the lights... before getting hit by chairs. Anyway, playing a reporter straight just KILLS me. I liked Alex's style and though it was your typical cool heel, he pulled it off pretty well.
Derek Allen vs. Christopher Allen Eagle
Derek Allen 7-3 - I'm going to ignore the broken and unwritten rule because, even without it, he would've lost. In the first RP, Eagle started a storyline, or seemed to, but didn't do anything w/ it, changing his tact in that infamous 2nd RP. They were very disjointed IMO and that was a larger mark (hence the 7-3) than even breaking that rule. I know the WWE does a lot of stories that start but never actually go anywhere, but in this, it would help to connect. On another note, if someone makes it to Rd. 2 and they can build off what they've already said and done - awesome. However, be sure to give us judges (and the readers!) the courtesy of refreshing our memory, either through a quick "info dump" or through dialogue. Derek Allen seemed strong and though I would've personally sold the "beating", at least more than he did w/ the "hiring actors", I thought he handled the character well. But tell me how funny it would've been to open w/ Derek talking about how the doctors haven't cleared him to wrestle and he doesn't know if he can make it, then as the RP goes along peeling the makeup off to reveal one ticked off Mr. Allen!
Doc Silver vs. Erik Mateo
7-3 Doc cause... I couldn't un-dher-sthahnd wut E-rek wuz sah-yhun. This cost Erik in the same way it cost Gideon. At least give us a translation, which might be hilarious (especially if sometimes the translator screws up the translation)! Doc Silver was solid, and given this is my first foray into the character (even though I've heard a lot about him), I'm thinking he's going to be a tough one for anyone to beat!
Sergeant vs. Gemini
6-4 Sergeant. I would've liked more from Gemini but Sarge just had stronger writing. I couldn't really get a grasp on Gemini, which might be because it was likely the 5th or 6th grouping I'd read or because I expected something different (Gemini is the freak w/ the funky arm, right?) It didn't come across as he read like anyone else - even people's reactions to him were normal. For such a unique concept, it would've been awesome to see this played up more, especially in these initial offerings.
Sammy Brown vs. Cyanide Harvey
6-4 Sammy Brown. Ugh - another generic reporter. To these handlers defense, I'm sure they don't realize how many other people are doing the same schtick, but if I hated this tactic before, I'm overwhelmed by so many nameless reporters. Cyanide's RP didn't really give me a good view of the character. Sammy's went much better and he could've probably scored higher, but he waited WAY late to post. That didn't given Harvey a chance to "come back" and if his work had been a bit weaker (or maybe even if Cyanide did something other than a reporter), it could've cost Brown the match in my eyes. I promise in Rd. 2, w/ the skill level ever going up, this'll be a cardinal sin punishable by... well, nothing beyond my vote going the other way, but you get the idea.
Castor Stife vs. Jaguar
10-0 Castor
Eddie Whisky vs. Chris Walker
10-0 Eddie Whisky