Dave Meltzer is arguably the most sought-after and famous name when it comes to voices in the pro wrestling media. As the founder of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer has been a pioneer of the dirt sheet business since the early 1980s. It doesn't matter if a wrestler or fan loves or hates Meltzer, they're going to listen to what he has to say. But what's strange is that his impact on the business hasn't resulted in a wrestling gimmick about Meltzer.
Meltzer is famous for his star rating system, which has been praised and critiqued by many. Considering Dave's critical nature, he has drawn backlash from certain wrestlers for his reviews and reports, which is akin to how a heel generates heat. Why hasn't the mainstream pro wrestling business capitalized off of this gimmick beyond the dirt sheets?
A Dave Meltzer Gimmick Has Heel Heat Written All Over It
If the gimmick is about a wrestler/manager who has a star rating for matches, it'd be perfect for the heel character. Considering personal bias coming into play, what would be stopping this gimmick from giving themselves and their allies a five-star or more rating while giving their enemies less than one star?
Despite Dave Meltzer being a respected name in the business, the idea of a character who acts as a judge towards others is much more fitting of a heel character than a face. That in itself has gotten Meltzer heat in real life with some wrestling personalities. But as a gimmick, that quality could be amplified in order to craft a character that's born to play a heel.
The Star Rating System Gimmick
Dave Meltzer is famous for his star-rating system, which generally goes from zero to five stars. However, Meltzer has given more than five stars on rare occasions, with seven stars being the most. That honor goes to the match between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada at NJPW's Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall.
What if there was a wrestling personality named "Dave Starr" or "Dean Starr" with his own Starr Rating System? The extra "r" could be that necessary tweak needed to avoid any infringement claims if parody law in itself isn't enough to dispel any fears of legal action. Dave Starr would be a character that works as either a wrestler or a manager.
As a ringside manager, Starr could hype up whatever tag team or solo act he's representing with a rigged system created to benefit his clients. As a wrestler, Starr could hype himself up as the most critically acclaimed star on the roster no matter the win/loss record.
The Dirtsheet Dynamo
Another aspect of this gimmick is that those involved should be in some way connected to the wrestling media. A nickname like "The Dirtsheet Dynamo" could be utilized for such a gimmick. Perhaps the manager or wrestler is a writer/editor for one of the many wrestling websites/magazines or from a fictional publication.
The Dirtsheet Dynamo just sounds like a natural heel. The media can sometimes have a shaky relationship with the public and this includes the wrestling business. In a way, the character could become a parody/critique of the wrestling media in itself.
It's Not Necessarily A Forever Heel Gimmick
Although the star-rating gimmick would be perfect for a heel, this gimmick doesn't necessarily have to be villainous. What if this gimmick had a manager representing extremely talented wrestlers who deserved such praise? What if this gimmick starts off as a heel act and then starts to grow on the audience?
With the way Don Callis talks about Kenny Omega, we already have a gimmick of a manager hyping up his client as the best in the business. The same can be said with how Paul Heyman has represented Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar. And considering the quality of work put out by these wrestlers, they have a character that grows on the audience beyond just being a heel. If someone is really as good as they say, fans take notice and start to appreciate.
The Dave Meltzer Gimmick Could Lead To A Faction
As a faction, this gimmick could go a variety of ways. It could be unqualified wrestlers with an inflated rating system backing them up. Or this faction could actually be a group of well-qualified wrestlers worthy of the stars they receive. Both of those examples could lead to heel heat, but if they're unqualified, it wouldn't be surprising to see this gimmick turning out a group of jobbers.
Although the idea of a group who gives themselves high ratings has heel heat written all over it, they could become the heroes if they are really that good. And if this idea churns out a crop of journeymen, they could still be good for a laugh.
Are Wrestling Companies Too Afraid Of Angering Dave Meltzer?
Considering the clout that Dave Meltzer carries as a lead voice in the dirt sheets, are the bookers in the wrestling business too afraid of the potential consequences of lampooning the WON founder? Of course, wrestlers like Kevin Nash and Al Snow have come out to criticize Meltzer. But would Tony Khan or Vince McMahon be too scared of what might happen if they introduced a gimmick based on a top influencer in the wrestling business, someone who popularized the star system?
A negative write-up from Meltzer is something that isn't sought after. And if this gimmick is seen as a personal attack against Meltzer, the wrestling company that introduces it could be seen as provoking a war against an extremely influential figure in the dirt sheets. And doing so might sway Meltzer's judgment regarding the company to some extent. There's also the chance that Meltzer might enjoy this character inspired by him. But is it worth the risk?