[9.0] "Norman Smiley is likely the single most underrated wrestler on Cagematch. He was a master of technical wrestling, as seen by his work as Black Magic. He definitely found his biggest success in WCW in 2000, but Screamin Norman was so damn good that he made Russo-era Nitro watchable. The Big Wiggle is still the best dance move in pro wrestling."
[9.0] "Norman Smiley is wildly underrated. He was an extremely talented grappler and wrestler who could work amazing matches when he was allowed to. His UWF Newborn stuff made me feel like I was watching Volk Han at times. He was that good. His work in CMLL is tremendous as well."
[9.0] "Prior to getting over as Screamin' Norman Smiley and being a goofy hardcore wrestler in WCW which hey, it worked so not knocking him for that, Smiley was a truly gifted technician who worked all over the world and managed to have great matches wherever he went. While a very good hand to have, the main issue with Smiley is that aside from the big wiggle he used to do which admittedly was popular, he really had nothing going for him as a character. He looked bland and non-descript despite his talents. Still, looking at his overall body of work, I have to rate him highly as a wrestler. Plus, he also helped to train the likes of MVP and Brian Cage for what its worth."
[8.0] "Who can actually say that they managed to work the territories, the shoot-style leagues of Japan AND the number one lucha libre promotion ? Practically nobody. The guy went from the Florida office, to the UWFi to reaching the top spot in Mexican wrestling. Not to mention his stint as the longest-serving coach in the WWE."
[8.0] "Underrated wrestler who was hilariously charismatic. I can never forget The Big Wiggle, nor "Screamin" Norman Smiley. He was great in his own right for sure."
[5.0] "Dude was a legit mat technician and even started getting over with "the wiggle" but then the dumb hardcore stuff came along and he wasn't allowed to show it as much. His talents were wasted in the Russo WCW."
[9.0] "The guy was universal in talent in talent. I don't think there was a style of wrestling he couldn't do from strong style to lucha, to hardcore and comedy. WCW really dropped the ball when it came to Norman."
[8.0] "Very talented technically, Tremendous work in Mexico has Black Magic. UWFi run showed off that he can go plus the WCW run although mostly known for comedy. He could have a good solid match with anyone."
[6.0] "I always got a kick out of Norman Smiley-- great comedic wrestler. I think he settled into a comedy role before he got a real chance to establish himself as a legit guy, and that's a shame because he had good skill."
[7.0] "Despite the goofy gimmick he got later, he was actually quite a legitimate worker beforehand overseas, even in early TNA he was having great matches. Regardless, it's clear that his decades of ring experience combined with a natural charisma that made WCW's horrible writing work well enough that he's still remembered for it to this day. The fact that he remains as a NXT developmental trainer is pretty impressive considering he's not exactly a big name in the business."
[8.0] "Anyone who says Norman Smiley was bad in the ring either wasn't paying attention or doesn't know wrestling. He was always a good technical wrestler. In WCW's dying days, he really came into his own as a goofball midcard comedy wrestler. Screamin' Norman was never going to be the world champion or anything, but for a long time he was one of the only entertaining things in WCW."
[9.0] "Surprisingly good technician, I liked his Screamin gimmick, and I think that's what most people will know him for. Which is a shame, cause his early work in Japan and Mexico are pretty damn good."
[6.0] "Norman Smiley was very underrated, more than just the terrible gimmick he was foisted with in his waning years. His work in the UWF and CMLL is worth checking out."
[8.0] "Norman Smiley was an amazing worker. His work in UWF demonstrated how skilled he was. He was also hilarious. The big wiggle was ok but his hardcore days, those were the best. Especially when he showed up in a random kid's backyard wrestling fed, pinned the kid and took his belt."
[9.0] "Norman Smiley, Black Magic, had it all and still gives a little bit of what he has left to his many trainees. Smiley started in WCW as just another jobber, but couldn't help but stand out and become a superstar in his own right, more or less defining that company's hardcore division. And years prior, he set the world on fire in Mexico, where he was a true main event star. Smiley was a hell of a lot more than just the Big Wiggle, and hey, the Big Wiggle was pretty fun, too."
[8.0] "Screamin' Norman? The Big Wiggle? There are some wrestlers that are right on the borderline of ironically liking and truly liking, and Norman is right there."
[9.0] "Great technical wrestler and very charismatic. I mainly knew him from WCW, though I later saw some of his stuff from Mexico. Whether as a technical master, fun dancing babyface or reluctant hardcore champion, Smiley was always a lot of fun to watch. His match against Chavo Guerrero, Jr. at Souled Out '99 was amusingly a mat clinic, fought over a stick horse. Wish TNA would have done more with him, but I'm sure he has much to contribute as an NXT trainer."
[0.0] "Also ich hab den Typen gehasst. Wenn der zum Ring kam musste ich einfach umschalten, weil er mich so ankotzte. Er hatte weder Ausstrahlung, noch gutes Micwork, einfach alles fehlte bei ihm. Verstehe bis heute nicht warum ihn die WCW so in Szene setzte"
[6.0] "Ach der Norman, was soll man dazu sagen. Gekreische, Hardcore das keines war, ein Wahnsinns-Finisher. Pure Comedy, gerade eben noch nicht Bullshit sondern eher Surrealität. Irgendwie gehörte er in den Zirkus der WCW und war da eigentlich auch ganz gut. Und im Grunde kann r auch was im ring."
[8.0] "From a masterful technical wrestling wizard to a comedic hardcore champion, Lord Norman has had quite a career. One of the best parts of latter day WCW, no matter what role he was in."
[9.0] "Norman Smiley doesn't call himself "The Big Wiggle" for nothing. But honestly, I've followed this guy's career since I was a little 7 and 8 year old kid when I was watching WCW and since he's been on FCW TV in early 2010, I've really got to notice how good he is at an on-air non-wrestling role for a whole year now and he is literally that good! I don't think people should underestimate him because of his comedy persona he's had throughout the years. He is a great on-air non-wrestling personality on FCW whether he's the lieutenant general manager or whatever, he plays the part so well. Why do you think WWE put Norman Smiley in a position to train the wrestlers in FCW to begin with? Because not only is he a veteran in the sport of professional wrestling but he's really smart about the business and can teach the young guys in FCW more than those guys can ever even imagine. He is one of the best trainers you can ever have in your wrestling company and I'm so glad that WWE put him in that position a long time ago!"
[8.0] "Von seiner Comedy-artigen Rolle mag man halten, was man will. Auf jeden Fall hat er damit eine Wirkung erzielt (wie man manchen Reaktionen hier entnehmen kann). Technisch ging bei ihm definitiv einiges. Smiley hatte ziemlich viele Haltegriffe drauf und hat mir ansonsten, bei den (zugegebenermaßen) spärlichen Angelegenheiten, bei denen ich ihn mal performen sah, ganz gut gefallen."
[9.0] "es wird gewiggelt xD Ah doch auf jeden fall screaming Norman Smiley ist kult! entertainment pur wenn er gegen Meng den hardcore championship verteidigt hat haha ich find ihn göttlich... just mean thoughts!"
[5.0] "Sein witziges Auftreten war schon etwas. Ein glück das er heute nicht mehr im TV wrestlet sondern jüngere Talente ausbildet, und das sehr erfolgreich."
[8.0] "Whiggl, whiggl! Norman Smiley war KULT! Und wenn der schlechter war als Jamie Noble (allein die Gestalt, DAS WHIGGLN! , dann irr ich mich gewaltig! Whiggl-Whiggl! Note Eins. Naja, 2..."
[5.0] "Gerade im Mat- und Chainwrestling Bereich war Norman Smiley herausragend. Zu dumm nur, dass man dies in der WCW viel zu selten zu sehen bekam. Und ich muss zu meiner Schande gestehen, dass ich ihn außerhalb von WCW und MLW kaum gesehen habe. Von daher bleibt in erster Linie die Erinnerung an die "Witzfigur" Norman Smiley, was eigentlich sehr schade ist."
[8.0] "Der Mann gefällt mir einfach und macht jedes Mal wieder Spaß! Das Gimmick ist gut und der Einmarsch alleine schon Kult! Aber auch sein Stil, vor allem die Hardcore Title Matches der WCW von 99/00 sprachen mich sehr an!"
[8.0] "Ein Wahnsinnstechniker, der in seinem Matwrestling-Stil durchaus mit Dean Malenko, Fit Finlay oder William Regal mithalten kann bzw. konnte, darüber hinaus aber auch noch einiges andere an Moves draufhat. Schade, dass man sein Talent nie vollständig ausgenutzt hat - es blitzte meist nur in einzelnen Cruiserweight-Matches auf - und ihn stattdessen in der für ihn unpassendsten Division (Hardcore) abgestellt hat. Hätte er größeres Star-Charisma, hätte er auch nicht solche dummen Comedyrollen spielen müssen und stattdessen um anständige Titel kämpfen können."
