Heroes and Villains: Evaluating the Young Guns

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THE FUTURE

One of my favorite features of Widro’s old wrestling column at 411 was his ongoing examination of how well the WWE was promoting its young talent. Since Widro no longer writes that column, and since I have no scruples of any sort, I am going to shamefully swipe that idea right out from under his nose. Sort of. I won’t be doing the exact same thing; instead, I’m going to put on my prognostication helmet and try to figure out how good a shot the current lineup of WWE wrestlers have at making it as longterm fixtures in the main event scene. A few caveats first:

1. I’m only doing the WWE because it’s the only promotion I’m qualified to discuss. I have no doubt that TNA has any number of young guns with far more potential than some of the people I’ll be discussing here. In fact, TNA’s use of young wrestlers is probably the best reason I can think of to watch it (unfortunately, it’s apparently not a good enough reason to compel me to tape it every week–now if any of you wanted to bestow the gift of Tivo on your favorite columnist named David Goforth, then I might change my tune a little). I have no clue what’s going on in Japan or Mexico either. So WWE it is.

2. I’m not trying to predict who will be at the top of the WWE in five or ten years. As I’ve said before, the hottest thing in wrestling circa 2014 is probably playing football in some podunk town in Texas right now. Or maybe he’s struggling to make ends meet as a bouncer and working indie shows on the weekend. There’s really no way of knowing. All I’m trying to do is evaluate which of the young-ish wrestlers in the WWE have the best chance of being tomorrow’s Steve Austins or Kurt Angles.

3. Having said that, I think too many folks are trying to figure out which young wrestler has the best chance of becoming a crossover star who will drive viewers back into wrestling. This, I think, is a fool’s errand. Too many of those crossover stars were like lightening in a bottle. You can’t just pick out a promising young wrestler and decide that he’ll be the next Rock (though that seems to be what the WWE is trying to do with John Cena). Not only that, but wrestling has gone long periods without creating such stars–most recently in the mid-90s, when Bret Hart was the closest thing to a crossover star (which he ultimately was not, despite his appearance on The Simpsons). If you really think about it, there have only been a small handful of legitimate mainstream icons to come out of professional wrestling in the post-1985 era: Hogan, Flair, Andre, Austin and the Rock are the only clear-cut examples. You could make somewhat strong cases for Foley, the Ultimate Warrior, Piper, Savage, and Goldberg. You could make much weaker cases for Hart, the Big Show, Sting, DDP, HHH, or the Undertaker. And of course Jesse Ventura and Vince McMahon are highly recognizable figures, but probably shouldn’t count toward this list (though one could make a case that McMahon was a draw himself during his war with Austin, circa ’98-’99). The point is this: don’t hold your breath waiting for the next mainstream star to emerge from the world of wrestling. If it happens, it happens. I really don’t believe that any amount of wishful thinking or strenuous promotion on the part of the WWE will be enough to create a new crossover sensation.

Now that all that’s out of the way….

THE HEIRS APPARENT

These wrestlers have all but been anointed as the future of the company; casual fans, internet fans, and, from all outward appearances, WWE officials themselves all seem to take it for granted that they will eventually be the top guys in the promotion.

Randy Orton

Current position: Already part of the main event scene
Closest comparison: Lex Luger

I know I run the risk of redundancy in going after Orton again, but he’s clearly considered to be the brightest of all the WWE’s young talent. If you missed my recent anti-Orton diatribes, it all boils down to this: I think he looks like a complete doofus. That worked for him when he was an arrogant heel, but as a (theoretically) crafty face, it’s a problem.

Having said all that, I don’t really think that Orton’s another Lex Luger if for no other reason than my belief that Orton will eventually improve. He was just too good as a heel to be completely discounted, despite his current struggles (and I should add that not everyone thinks that Orton is struggling right now). He’s a pretty good worker, probably comparable to the Rock at the same stage in his career, and considerably better than HHH (though not as good as Austin or Angle). He seems to have a pretty good sense of psychology; given time, he’ll probably be able to work a crowd as well as anyone in the business. Most complain that his moveset is too limited, but that’s never struck me as an especially damning indictment. Ric Flair, Bret Hart, HHH, and the Rock have all had similar criticisms leveled against them, yet all of them clearly climbed to the top of the heap.

But what really sells me on Orton being a longterm fixture in the main event is his strong endorsement from folks in the industry who know talent when they see it. They’ve seen a hell of a lot more of Orton than I ever have. They’ve seen how he’s progressed, and they know what he’s capable of becoming. It comes down to this: if Orton has already peaked, he’ll never survive in the main event scene. If he’s still improving, he’ll probably be a great one. Orton’s really young, so I’m betting on the latter. Unless he gets complacent (like Luger did), maturity will bring improvement in all aspects of his game. And given what he’s already doing, I think the future is pretty bright for Orton (even if the present isn’t so dazzling).

John Cena

Current position: At the top of the upper midcard, with occasional forays into the WWE title picture
Closest comparison: Sting

There seems to be a divide among wrestling fans similar to ones you see in other aspects of human existence. Some people are Beatles fans, while others prefer the Rolling Stones. Some like Superman, some like Batman. Some people drink liquor, and others drink beer. (For the record, I’m in the latter camp for all these things.) And among WWE fans, some like Orton, while others favor Cena.

As much as I’ve ragged on Orton lately, I can’t help but prefer him to Cena. Don’t get me wrong; Cena’s all right. Not great, but all right. His ring work is frequently criticized; he’s been labeled clumsy or plodding. That’s true enough. Others (including our own Scott Keith) have complained that his matches are formulaic and boring. Again, I can’t argue with that. His matches are pretty boring. On the other hand, I like his selling and he sure as hell knows how to work the crowd. Cena’s a little older than Orton, but he’s still young. Good selling and good interaction with the crowd isn’t a bad starting point for a guy with (hopefully) 15 years left in the business.

My problem with Cena is that most of the enthusiasm for him seems to be grounded in the idea that he’ll one day be a major breakout star along the lines of the Rock or Steve Austin. Now, as I mentioned above, this is a slim enough prospect as it is, even if a wrestler does have everything going for him. Cena, however, doesn’t have everything going for him. His major problem, as I see it, is that he comes off as incredibly phony and corny.

There’s nothing edgy about Cena. As Hyatte has mentioned before, his rap-promos are sloooow. They sound like what a 54 year old ad executive in Muncie, Indiana would think hip-hop sounds like. His insults are cheesy, predictable, totally edge-less, sub-moronic jock fare. When the Rock insulted people, he was believable and funny. When Cena does it, he sounds like the wacky next door neighbor in a terrible sitcom from the ’80s.

There’s no way that today’s John Cena will become tomorrow’s Rock. He’s just not going to capture the general public’s imagination with his current cheeseball Vanilla Ice routine. Worse yet, I really think his act is going to wear thin among wrestling fans eventually–after all, the Rock’s similar (buy undeniably superior) act got a little threadbare after a while. Cena will eventually have to move beyond his current gimmick if he wants to climb to the next level and stay there. There’s a strong enough foundation to his character (i.e., the brash rebel) so that he should be able to move beyond weak rhymes and baggy shorts and still remain over. Otherwise, like Sting, he may find it necessary to reinvent himself later in his career to remain relevant.

GOOD BETS

These guys haven’t broken through to the main event yet, but they have a lot of momentum behind them. They also show great potential, with much more of an upside than a downside.

Shelton Benjamin

Current position: Near the top of the upper midcard; no real forays into the world title picture yet
Closest comparison: Barry Windham

Now I’m not saying that Benjamin and Windham work a similar style (aside from working hard). But there are some strong comparisons to be made between the Barry Windham of 1986/7 and the Shelton Benjamin of today. Both have a sort of natural charisma best expressed in the ring. Both have the air of a young upstart destined for greater things, but not quite there yet. Windham’s relationship to Flair is pretty similar to Benjamin’s to HHH (and both guys got plenty of mileage out of those relationships).

The usual knock on Windham is that he eventually just lost interest in the business, either out of frustration with his booking or hitting easy street by marrying a wealthy woman. I feel moderately confident that Benjamin won’t fall into the same trap, as his amateur background seems to have made him more Kurt Angle than Brock Lesnar. Plus he’s a longtime fan (he says his splash is a tribute to Sting), and clearly is having a ball out there every week.

The real question mark for Benjamin is how well he can carry a storyline. So far he’s done most of his talking in the ring, with relatively little mic time to date. He definitely looks pretty comfortable and confident, but will that be enough? I think a large part of his success will be determined by how well the writers are able to tailor a character to Benjamin’s particular strengths. If he gets off on the right foot, I think everything else will fall into line.

But will he ever main event? I guess it depends on how much his character clicks with the audience, and just how good a worker he turns out to be. Those vignettes about Benjamin’s past will help a lot. But ultimately, like Benoit and Guerrero, Benjamin’s in-ring talent might just be enough to propel him into the main event. As good as he is now, he’s bound to get better. And if he does turn out to be a world class worker, Vince McMahon and his bookers will surely find him a welcome addition to any world title scene.

Batista

Current position: Somewhere in the upper midcard, with no forays into the world title scene just yet.
Closest comparison: Scott Hall (admittedly a reach, but I’m stumped here–Vader seemed a bit too flattering, and Undertaker a bit too unflattering)

I know I say this like every other week, but Batista is going to be huge. He’s already pretty damned over, the latest evidence of which came in the battle royal. His staredown with Snitsky drove the audience nuts, to the point where they booed when the other wrestlers went after them. (The crowd also went nuts when he eliminated Flair, but that probably had more to do with the Nature Boy than anything).

Batista has to be a lock for all the year-end “most improved” awards. He’s working a lot smarter now, both from a technical and a psychological sense. He’s pretty good on the mic, and he’s been great in his backstage segments this year. I can’t help but think that he’s closer to being a sure thing than anyone else on this list. A guy with his look and his skills will be around as long as he wants (health permitting).

In the short term, Batista’s turn on HHH can’t be rushed. I just can’t understand why some internet pundits wanted to see it happen last week; Batista would have immediately been lost in the shuffle, especially since Orton’s removal from Evolution is still fresh in everyone’s mind. Meanwhile, the seeds were laid last week for the eventual breakup. As much as we’re quick to fault HHH, you can’t deny that his angles have a good eye for detail. That stuff won’t go unnoticed when the time comes for Batista to turn–hopefully sometime in the summer or fall of 2005. In the end, Orton might be the better wrestler. In the short term, however, I think Batista will soon surpass him.

LONG SHOTS

New wrestlers who seem to have little chance of being top guys

Gene Snitsky

Current position: Upper midcard
Closest comparison: Zeus (or, should he actually stick around, let’s say Kane)

The jury’s still out on this guy. Will he stay or will he disappear after Kane returns (and presumably annihilates him)? I haven’t seen any more of Snitsky than any of you, but I think it’s pretty fair to say that he’s not setting the world on fire with his work in the ring; in fact, I think it’s pretty fair to say that he’s significantly below average by WWE standards. He’s only over because he’s been booked perfectly as a killer monster heel. I think there’s reason to be suspicious that this will continue for the rest of his career, or even through the end of 2005.

Luther Reigns
Tyson Tomko
Jesus

Current position: Bodyguards
Closest comparison: Bull Buchanan

None of these guys have really shown anything other than the ability to stand behind their boss and flex menacingly (with the exception of Jesus, who just looks silly in the getup he’s been forced to wear). Actually, Reigns is pretty good on the mic, and Jesus seemed like a pretty decent talker last week. Tomko, on the other hand, hasn’t said much of anything, which is somewhat suspicious. Only Reigns has shown Diesel-like signs of being able to break out of his current role, but there are plenty of better choices for big guys to push. I just don’t see any of these guys being in the main event in five years; in fact, they will be lucky to still be employed by the WWE at all by then.

Orlando Jordan
Current position: Lackey to the champ, thus propelling him into the upper midcard on occasion
Closest comparison: It’s too easy to say Virgil, so let’s say Big Bubba Rogers (pre-Bossman era)

Even Jordan’s supporters don’t see him getting to the main event. He’s improved a lot, and is way better on the mic than I ever would have dreamed, but he’s not going to carry the company. And I can’t imagine that he’ll ever be asked to do so.

Charlie Haas
Current position: Midcard, with no immediate prospects of rising
Closest comparison: Billy Gunn

I like Haas, but he seems a little too whitebread to ever really make it past the midcard. I see him as a lifelong “tag team specialist.” I think he’ll be a hell of a lot better than Gunn, but I just don’t see him going far beyond that. Of course, I guess it’s also possible that there’s something beneath the surface just waiting to bubble over–in which case, move Haas up to the Tito Santana level.

DARK HORSES

I’m going out on a limb and declaring that these unlikely candidates have the potential to be major stars if given the opportunity.

John Heidenreich
Current position: Upper midcard
Closest comparison: Sid Vicious

Yeah, he sucks in the ring. But so have dozens of other big guys who went on to have successful careers. What Heidenreich has going for him is his fairly unique look and his incredible intensity. I think he’s going to have to start winning some meaningful matches sooner rather than later, but his look and charisma might be enough to net him an Undertaker/Kane type role. Of course, I also read that he might be a little on the unstable side–in which case, maybe the Sid comparison is especially apt.

Paul London
Current position: Curtain jerking
Closest comparison: Shawn Michaels (though this might be excessive praise)

Yeah, I know that there seems to be little to no chance of London receiving a push in the near future. I wouldn’t be too surprised if he was released within the next year. But what I’ve seen of his work has been pretty great, and those who have seen more have much more exuberant praise. Terry Funk described him as a mix of RVD and Ricky Steamboat. I don’t know that he’ll ever get a chance in the WWE, but I think he might surprise some skeptics if he’s given the opportunity.

Doug Basham
Current position: Has been curtain jerking, but it looks like he’s about to ascend way up the card thanks to a new alliance with JBL
Closest comparison: Ted Dibiase

I realize this is a tough sell, but hear me out. Basham and his “brother” will probably be in a pretty prominent position for at least the next couple of months. You’ll have the opportunity to check Basham out for yourself. Watch him–he’s just a great, smooth, smart worker. When Lesnar, Goldberg, and Angle all stepped out in April, Basham was mentioned as a guy who might be given a singles push. Jim Cornette though the world of the guy, and he’s got a pretty good track record for finding diamonds in the rough. Give him a chance–you might be surprised by what you see.

QUESTION MARKS

Not enough information is available yet to persuade me one way or the other.

Rene Dupree

Current position: Stuck in going-nowhere-tag-team hell
Closest comparison: Rick Martel

I wrote about all I have to say on the guy a few weeks ago. His prospects of moving up the card seem to be getting worse every week, partly because of a reportedly swelling head. We’ll see, I guess.

Carlito

Current position: Upper midcard, but who knows how long that will last
Closest comparison: Jeff Jarrett

He’s been a heat magnet, and I like his delivery, but I haven’t seen nearly enough of the guy to pass judgment. I didn’t hear much buzz on him as he was coming up through the system, but maybe I just missed it.

ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID….

Edge

Current position: Upper midcard, knocking loudly on the door to the main event
Closest comparison: Curt Hennig

He’s running out of time. He’s been hurt a lot, and it seems like we’ve been waiting for his ascension into the main event for the longest time now. If it doesn’t happen in the next year, it’s probably never going to happen.

THIS HAS BEEN LONGER THAN I EXPECTED

Alright, I gotta call it a column here. I had hoped to give you my thoughts on Smackdown vs. Raw, but that will have to wait ’til next week. The short version: Playing heel or face is a good idea but there’s not enough payoff; the create-a-wrestler feature is actually worse than last year’s; and I don’t do online play, so I have nothing to tell you about that.

Let’s do some plugs and then get out of here:
The big guns return: Hyatte and Flea.
Eric is also a big gun, but he never went anywhere. I should point out, however, that Eric, Jerry Lawler, and myself all have birthdays within a few days of each other. I’m 12 years younger than Eric, and, from what I understand, about 5 years older than Lawler.
Jed. Nothing else need be said (I hope, cause it’s getting late).
Dan. Dan’s working hard on a really cool feature that I think you’ll all enjoy, and is still getting his column in on time every week. Good man, that Dan Hevia.

That’s it for now. See all of you next week.