| DDP sues Jay-Z over fan taunt gesture |
[Dec. 8th, 2005|01:34 pm] |
Rush & Malloy report:
Wrestler Diamond Dallas Page is accusing rap mogul Jay-Z of - get this - theft of gesture. Page just filed suit in L.A. Federal Court, claiming Jay pirated his "Diamond Cutter" hand signal. The grappler, whose real name is Page Falkinburg, says he trademarked the move in 1996. He charges the Def Jam CEO appropriated it for several album covers, according to AllHipHop.com. A Def Jam rep declined comment, but one pal tells us that Jay may show Page a different gesture if he ever runs into him ...
The best part is that the "Diamond Cutter" signal (arms out, index fingertip touching index fingertip, thumbtip touching thumbtip) was actually a fan-created taunt. DDP's old heel gimmick involved his valet, the Diamond Doll, holding up a sign reading '10' whenever DDP did something well in the ring. The fans created the signal in order to hold up '0' in response. After a face turn, DDP appropriated the symbol, which looks about as much like a diamond as it does a zero I guess. But even before the face turn, DDP thought he was winning over the crowd and they were making little diamonds for him. He's always been the biggest mark in the world...for himself. He didn't even enter wrestling till he mid-30s, and got a job with the failing AWA because he flew himself to all their events on his own dime. He did make a good go of it for a while, especially given his late start and age, but I guess that Wondercon appearances and Yoga for Regular Guys: The Best Damn Workout on the Planet! (foreword by Rob Zombie!) ain't payin' the bills like graps did. |
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Sheesh.
To be fair, DDP was incredibly over for a two-year period right around the original NWO storyline (which helped him break huge), and the DIamond Cutter surely helped (the move itself, not the signal), although I'd still say his shining moment was disguising himself as La Parka.
That said, this is truly sad on Page's part. Unless Jay-Z follows up the signal by performing a variant neckbreaker, I don't think this one will make it to court.
I've got your gesture right here...
There are no end of lawsuits over wrestling gimmicks. A great example is that Shark Boy lawsuit against the makers of Shark Boy and Lavagirl. That was a stupid suit, but Shark Boy supposedly got some good money out of it.
Chris
As long as it causes Jay-Z some inconvenience and annoyance, it's a good thing. | |
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