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Michael Cole and the WWE roster...

Column Posted by The Armchair Wrestler on 08:24:45 AM May 31, 2010

Okay, first things first. My last article mentioned I haven’t really followed NXT. I’ve now tried to follow it as much as I can, and I must say I am VERY intrigued by this Daniel Bryan/Miz/Michael Cole situation! I do actually like this face/heel dynamic from Striker and Cole, and I think it’s starting to work. The WWE must realise Cole is not well liked by the more experienced fan base, as Cole comes off as a genuinely dislikeable heel character that we just want to see get beat up! Daniel Bryan is starting to show some depth and intensity to his character, and it seems to be a grey area if he’s a heel or face. There is a great opportunity here I think to make a very heated, long-running feud with the Miz that has ‘money’ written all over it. Done right, this could be the start of something very memorable and make Daniel Bryan a star, as well as elevate the Miz.
As for the rest of NXT, it seems to be nothing but padding and a pointless exercise, as half of the dropping contenders will no doubt creep into Raw and Smackdown in the next few months anyway, making the credibility of ‘winning’ absolutely pointless! It would be so much more interesting if the Pro’s dropped the characters for this show and gave us some genuinely interesting insight and guidance, treating it more like Tough Enough. Even the Cena-loving kids know it’s all scripted, so when the Pro’s get on the mic to review etc it’s kind of embarrassing, 80’s-era embarrassing to see them keeping in-character. Actually, aside from the relationship-bickering rubbish, the first season of Tough Enough was very entertaining TV for the real wrestling enthusiast!
Anyway, there have been changes to the WWE roster, additional, heel-turns etc, and I just thought I’d vent my opinion on some of the guys. Feel free to comment, agree/disagree etc, as I’m keen to hear opinions…
Chris Jericho – Criminally underused and should have kept the heavyweight title much longer than he did. Pound for pound, there’s nobody better for mic and ring-work, ultimately confirming his heel-claim as being ‘the best in the world at what he does’.
Edge – Heel-turn felt a bit quick and forced. He needs to keep his character fresh as the Rated-R gimmick simply cannot survive in the PG13 WWE ‘Universe’ (sorry, that word makes me bleed a little inside). Also, is it just me or does he seem out of shape to you?
Evan Bourne – Could be pushed as the next Rey Mysterio, and should be, given the speculation on Rey’s relationship with WWE at the moment, and also the fact that Rey wont be an active wrestler forever. I fear he could remain as the jobber-guy for Vince’s preferred ‘big guys’.
Goldust – This one actually perplexes me. Yes he’s a vet, stuck doing the duties of a Val Venis-type guy, but this Goldust gimmick is just not funny and I cannot believe Vince ‘future endeavoured’ Shelton Benjamin, yet kept Dustin??
Great Khali – I always believed Vince shot himself in the foot on hiring Khali, as it counteracts having Big Show as your main ‘Monster’. Khali has a good look and gimmick I suppose, but is very limited in his abilities. Would work better as a bodyguard for someone and just not have him compete in the ring.
John Cena – This generation’s Hulk Hogan no question about it. Unfortunately he has been force-fed and moulded into this role, and let’s face it, something like Hulkamania will never happen again, that was all about timing and fate. The PG13 status will keep his character stale too. Its clear though that he is the ‘go-to’ guy and can perform on the big stage with just about anybody. A true workhorse in and out of the ring, so good on him I say!
John Morrison – my personal pick on who should be one the big players in the next few years. Incredible ability, good persona (yet needs to regain that arrogance and attitude for it to work), and I honestly believe can be the next HBK if booked and pushed correctly.
Mark Henry – pass
The Miz – has proven himself in the past year to be a major player and has impressed everybody. He just needs to find a little extra something for his in-ring work to make me want to pay for a PPV to see him headline it.
R-Truth – good worker, but I just can’t see him in the main event level. Lets face it, Vince must be kicking himself over TNA’s The Pope!
Randy Orton – looking stronger and more popular each week. His in-ring ability has developed well and is great to watch at a fast pace, so long as he doesn’t resort to sleeper holds. If he’s a face now, we need something else from his character other than a blank stare. He does need some kind of attitude, some kind of Samoa Joe-like intensity to his anti-hero character. Regardless, he will go the distance at the top of the roster for many years to come.
Santino Marella – sadly will be used for comedic effect from here on in. Yes he has bags of charisma and genuine comedic talent, but dressing up as each guest host each week and jobbing to everyone else is just embarrassing. Unfortunately will never regain his Intercontinental Champ status due to this pathetic booking. Remember the Honky-Tonk-O-Meter?! Genius!!!
Sheamus – I don’t think he will last many more years in the main event, as he just doenst have ‘IT’ for me. Yes he has a unique look, but as a character he is just a stereotypical heel. Thanks to creative cramping any natural development of younger guys, he will come and go once the ideas run dry. Can you imagine if Vince and the current creative control were present at the time of Rock and Austin??!! …There simply would not have been a Rock or Austin.
Ted DiBiase – I like this guy. Has the potential to evolve and develop the Million Dollar Man gimmick into something quite popular. Vince needs to throw some genuine cash at his persona (arriving on-screen in custom limo’s and Supercars, private dressing rooms etc) to make it that bit more believable. If handled correctly, could be made into a great main event heel with a long shelf life. I kinda like this idea more than the planned ‘Fortunate Sons’ stable. In fact, bring his Dad on-air as his manager – that’d be cool!
Triple H – unfortunately in cruise mode, whether he knows it or not. Matches are predictable, character is good, but is just lacking something. Has a good head for the business when he retires from in-ring competition and the natural successor to Vince.
William Regal – Should be given his old position as RAW General Manager back in my opinion, as he’s great on the mic as a snobbish, anti-American heel. His old-school unorthodox working style doesn’t sit right with the kiddie-orientated ‘sports entertainment’. Shame as he’s a damn good mat wrestler with great in-ring psychology. He no doubt taught Triple H a lot in his early years!
Big Show – while he gets slated by many on the internet, I’m a fan of Paul’s. For a man of his size, he does amazing things in the ring and he definitely can entertain; being funny, the bullying monster, whatever. I felt so proud for him at the Hall of Fame when Ric Flair praised him as the best ‘big man’ he’s ever worked with – I couldn’t agree more.
Chavo Guerrero – I would love Chavo to get a solid push as a legit heel/anti-hero and reclaim the ‘lie, cheat and steal’ gimmick that made his matches with Eddie so damn entertaining! While he may not reach main event level, Chavo in my book is a great upper mid-carder who has incredible ability, and produces very entertaining matches.
Christian – Heavyweight Champ material in my book. Just look how far he has come and what he can do when given the gold to run with. He was one of the main reasons I turned to watch TNA and can do it all. Always a fan favourite because of his all-round talent, and could have brilliant feuds with the top-tier roster. Christian V Edge, Christian V Triple H, Christian V Randy Orton, Christian V CM Punk, those would be some killer matches!
CM Punk – suits the heel persona and pulls it off brilliantly. The SES gimmick/stable is great TV, and the Rey Mysterio feud only highlights how good he can be. Always deserving of the main event status, and when he pulls out the intense, hardcore violent streak, he’s amazing to watch.
Drew McIntyre – Apparently a favourite of Vince and Hunter’s. Pretty solid in the ring, and his persona reminds me of the early Hunter Hearst Helmsley gimmick. Time will tell if he can go the distance.
Jack Swagger – Big guy and big potential. I think WWE needs to find his niche, as he has been pushed too soon into Champ status. He’s kinda in-between a Kurt Angle and a Brock Lesnar, but something is just not quite right. Once he develops a bit more and work out a solid direction for the character, he could be a legit top star in the future, but not yet.
Kane – A model, loyal long-term Vet. He lost steam after he lost the mask, and the big red monster wasn’t given much to work with since then. Pretty solid worker, but if they took him off TV for a bit, hit the re-set button and gave him the mask back and brought him back as a monster to be afraid of, I think he could get the main gold again and have a good run with it.
Kofi Kingston – Shame the WWE dropped the ball on his excellent feud with Randy Orton. The belt could’ve and should’ve gone to him I think, if only for a little while. He has the potential and the definite ability to excite people. I loved seeing the serious, intense side of him break out of his happy, jumpy high-flyer persona.
Matt Hardy – Respect. Mucho respect. A constant fan favourite and I marked out when he won the ECW title! The reception he got at his surprise entrance at WM24 was extraordinary. Was Vince deaf and blind at these points?!! Give him more feuds to work with (like this good feud with Drew McIntyre) and a solid push, and I think EVERYBODY would like to see Matt as the Champ!
MVP – Seems like they ran out of ideas with MVP once they turned him face. Shame really, as the fans lost interest after that. The MVP gimmick was quite good and there could be some good ties with Ted DiBiase here – perhaps ‘run’ the Smackdown version of the ‘Fortunate Sons’ as Teds partner? After all MVP did claim at first that he was the highest paid, plus with all the bling and the grand entrances – it just makes sense to me.
Rey Mysterio – Will always be popular especially with the younger fans. Not sure if he has staying power as a heavyweight champ though? However, given the right opponent and some time, he can produce the best matches and the most memorable feuds. A show stealer.
Undertaker – carried Smackdown as the main guy for so many years. Depsite his age, produces incredible matches and can work with anyone. Nobody garners so much universal respect as the Undertaker. A legit badass and a legend. What more do I need to say?
Batista – I know he has left for the time being, but his last run as a heel and the ‘spotlight superstar’ gimmick was brilliant! WWE finally played to his strengths and he showed me more in the past few months than in recent years. Was excellent on the mic and seemed to rediscover the Animal-like intensity to get over as a powerhouse. My only complaint is that he really should’ve won one of his matches with John Cena, cleanly too.

Adios Guys! Will write another column in the next week or so.