The Wrath of Tito - Wrestlers with BIG Potential for 2006, Masters/Samoa Joe, more
Submitted by Mr. Tito on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at 8:18 PM EST
Welcome to the Wrath of Tito... It's ROYAL RUMBLE time, which is always nice and convenient to have just before the Superbowl. My local area is getting rather fired up for the Superbowl and Pittsburgh fans are the ones driving up the tickets on Ebay (seriously, CLICK HERE to see the madness). The Royal Rumble has provided for a nice venue to vent anticipation for the NFL's top gig.
But I loooooovvvvvvvveeee the Royal Rumble. It officially kicks off the WWE year, in my mind. Well, I would say the "year" that extends through Wrestlemania. Royal Rumble through Wrestlemania, it's the absolute best time to watch WWE wrestling. But the Royal Rumble event is so special. Not only because the winner gets a title shot, but it's one of the few things in wrestling that acts like a legit sporting event. It's single elimination over the top rope and the last man standing is your winner. Not only that, but the countdown and the luck of the draw. I've never seen a year where the crowd isn't amped up for the wrestler to run out. Many wrestlers have been made, while many classic wrestlers have come back. The WWE could extend the wrestler count from 30 to 50, and it would still rule.
With this in mind, I believe that the "soap opera" style of the WWE has hurt them in the long run. If they treated their shows like sporting events, it could bring back fans, in my mind. I'm growing very tired of the cameras backstage that film backstage happenings and NOT interviews. I believe it's exposing the sport as being completely fake and taking away from what's in the actual arena: a wrestling ring. Titles should get more respect and the competition, not the mic skills/gimmick, should get more attention.
But I'm rambling... thought RAW did a good job hyping the Royal Rumble. They were short on time to hype the event this year, which I felt was somewhat of a mistake. Cena vs. Edge, I feel, is getting some good attention and the quick title change seems more brilliant by the week. I do sense that the WWE will still do Triple H vs. John Cena at Wrestlemania, with HHH winning the title (after all, he did drop the title to Benoit and Batista for 2 years straight, both cleanly I might add and losing to both multiple times). I'm sure the issue of Cena's lost fan support (though I believe that could be fixed with better booking) has the WWE scratching their heads about the Royal Rumble match. Don't rule out the famous "Triple Threat" match between John Cena, Edge, and Triple H for Wrestlemania 22. I'm COMPLETELY insisting that Triple H is getting the title shot at Wrestlemania and I would suggest that his odds are very good for winning the title (and I honestly would have no problem with it).
As you may know, I get lots of email. A pal of mine from work let me borrow NWA-TNA's "Final Resolution" and I suggested that I really liked seeing Samoa Joe. So what do I get from hardcore NWA-TNA fans?
"Hey Tito! I told you that Samoa Joe and TNA was great! Much better than that Chris Masters you like!"
Come on, what did I do to deserve this? Chris Masters and Samoa Joe are in different realms. Samoa Joe is a guy who has worked his way up through the independents and has been seasoned on his own. Chris Masters, on the other hand, is a guy that the WWE farmed up through Ohio Valley Wrestling. Yes, at this point in time, Samoa Joe is the better wrestler and performer (at least from the one match I've seen). I hope he is. He's probably wrestled a lot more than Masters and he's probably fought more seasoned opponents than Masters.
Meanwhile, Masters is a 22 year old guy with a long future ahead of him. Samoa Joe is about to turn 27 in March and his hitting his major strides. I believe these two are completely different in comparison. Masters is a guy whom the WWE will work on over time. He doesn't have the seasoning that Joe probably has. That's not a knock, whatsoever. But Masters started earlier last year with the stupid Masterlock Challenge. Why doesn't everyone just realize how far he's come since then? He's more than capable of wrestling in the upper-card matches they put him in now. Masters can sell moves quite well and has established a good amount of heat with his heel antics. People boo him and the crowd reacts to whenever he slaps on the Masterlock. He's come a long way since he began.
Samoa Joe debuted in December of 1999. So if you think about it, Joe was around Masters' age when he debuted, maybe a little younger. Was Joe as good as Masters at the age of 22? It's hard to say. Joe's been around longer than people think. He's been in Ring of Honor since 2003 and has traveled the world to learn from many different styles. Meanwhile, Masters was trained in Ohio Valley Wrestling where wrestlers are taught to wrestle but be protective from each other. Joe works a lot stiffer style than Masters and can in RoH and TNA.
Again, I'm in no way saying that Masters could outwork Samoa Joe. He shouldn't. He's just a farm product of the WWE. But, however, imagine Chris Masters in 4 or 5 years when he's 27 years old, too. I believe Masters has come a long way since he started placing his Masterlock Challenge on local workers dressed up as fans. I bashed the shit out of the guy when he first arrived, Google it. Hell, I remember calling him "Lex Luger" on occasion. But as the months went by, I saw improvements in his in-ring work and saw that he was quite good as selling. He has potential, barring injury. I completely didn't expect for me to like the guy, but in my opinion, he's more than held up as a WWE wrestler. He can only go up and by the time he's 27, I believe he's going to be a vital part of the WWE main event puzzle.
Samoa Joe impressed me greatly upon first viewing. I was greatly enthusiastic to see someone in TNA using actual in-ring psychology instead of doing spot-after-spot or old WWE/WCW gimmick moves. This is the guy whom TNA should make champion instead of Jeff Jarrett staying "King of the Mountain". For every uprising of a promotion, it's usually from the creation of new talent (Hogan in the early 1980's, and Austin/Rock in 1998) or great gimmicks (New World Order, 4 Horsemen, DX, etc). TNA should embrace this extraordinary talent now and give current WWE fans something new to watch besides same old WWE. It's hard to watch a promotion who pushes older WWE/WCW stars than creating guys of their own. Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles is the match that I want to see and it should get top attention in TNA... but it won't. Jarrett only cares about himself.
With Samoa Joe, however, you could argue that he's looking much more effective tossing around little guys like a Christopher Daniels. Joe has great size and in the Indies or TNA, he's more able to work a stiffer (and effective looking style). Do you honestly believe that the Undertaker or Triple H would even let Joe attack them with his submission holds or knees? I don't think so... But I'm knocking Joe or looking for a reason to put Masters above him in any way, shape, or form. I'm just suggesting that Masters and Joe are in two different realms and were brought up in wrestling in 2 completely different ways. My defense/praise of Masters is that he's progressing in such short time. That's what impresses me with Masters, for he's given the RAW roster a vital upper-midcarder for the time being. When he fights John Cena, it's somewhat of a big deal. Give Masters time to develop some more and you, too, will be impressed with Masters as well.
Meanwhile with Joe, I'm glad to have seen him and he's actually giving me a reason to watch NWA-TNA. Sting was the only pending reason for me to think about watching TNA, but seeing Joe, it made my decision more definite. Joe CAN be a draw for TNA. I believe TNA would thrive if they created brand new stars that made the wrestling world buzzing. I also believe that TNA should start ponying up to those wrestlers and MAYBE suggest that they take less indy dates. That's right, why watch NWA-TNA when the TNA wrestler is coming to my hometown for another promotion? I believe that many TNA guys are getting themselves over-exposed by wrestling for many top indy promotions at the same time. I'm all for a guy getting work, but at the same time, long run implications could hurt you if you're overexposed. Looking at the NFL, it's doing killer business because you get it mostly on ONE day. Same with NASCAR. One could argue that the NBA, NHL, and MLB hurt themselves by being aired nightly. NFL and NASCAR viewership is through the roof right now!
One thing I like about the Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Year in Review is the "This Could Be their Year" section. If I were to look at today's crop of wrestlers, here's whom I believe have potential to have a HUGE 2006:
AJ Styles - This guy should be the promotion's top face. Instead, he got a taste of the World Title and was quickly depushed to the midcard by Jeff Jarrett. He's a unique talent and should be pushed hard. He's unique to the TNA product and doesn't have that WWE/WCW smell on him like many others.
Christian - Speaking of that smell, this is a guy whom everybody and their mother knows was wasted by the WWE. Nobody will disagree there. He was redhot the second the WWE let him have mic time and freedom to speak his mind about John Cena. Then, we had the roster change-ups and Cena was moved to RAW. This should have been the feud that made Christian, but someone within the WWE sabotaged it and put Jericho into the feud. Christian was soon turfed off to Smackdown to job, job, job while Jericho got his Summerslam match with Cena. WWE lowballed Christian with a contract to further disrespect him. The WWE is almost daring Christian to outdo them and I believe this is a chip on the shoulder that won't let wrestling fans down. Christian is very hungry to succeed and he's doing well in TNA so far.
Chris Masters - Again, he's only 22 and he's advanced quite a bit. I'd argue that he's had a better first year in the WWE than Orton or Batista, as it took 2 years for those guys to even get any attention (and you could argue that both are still very flawed as wrestlers despite their big pushes). The Masterlock is over and Masters is getting great heat from the fans, working well in matches, and is a very stable working upper-midcard heel. Masters only needs to add more offensive weapons to his wrestling arsenal and maybe work on the mic skills a tad. This guy is only getting better.
Carlito - This guy has the intangibles that many wrestlers wish they had. Personality wise, this guy is possibly the best. He's such an ass and his mic skills are very original. He pisses off crowds, but at the same time, he's starting to tow the line of being a major "cool" heel who receives more pops and boos. His t-shirts are selling well. Carlito is improving, too, on his ability. His program with Flair actually made him a much better worker (as a credit to Flair). It will make you wonder when the WWE would ever pull the trigger to make him the top heel.
Samoa Joe - Incredible cerebral wrestler. It will only be a matter of time before TNA cannot hold this guy back any longer. He needs a good contract so that he might not jump ship elsewhere. Reports suggest that he's tired of backstage politics and that could force him to leave and just work more with his other top indy gigs. TNA needs to make this guy an exclusive wrestler to their product and make him a top star.
Chavo Guerrero - An sad bi-product of Eddie's death was the ditching of Kerwin White and Chavo's wrestling ability actually getting attention. Chavo needs to move back to Smackdown and receive a push of a lifetime (he's on RAW, right? He was at the RAW houseshow I saw recently?). Chavo has always had the ability and he has the personality to carry the role. His height, I believe, holds him back in the WWE's eyes, but this guy can flat-out go.
Super Crazy - Juventud Guerrera's exit might have been a prayer for this held back wrestler. At ECW One Night Only, Super Crazy showed he was the most talented of the 3 when that show let Crazy go crazy in his match. He has the most graceful moonsault in the business and his talent needs to be pushed.
Kane - It's time to stop wasting this guy, WWE. He's a big wrestler who can actually go inside the ring. Stupid storyline after stupid storyline has held this guy back. It's time to take him seriously as a wrestling talent and possibly ditch the Kane gimmick for good. If any other promotion had Kane, they'd make him an unstoppable machine and it would take hell & high water to defeat him for the title. In the WWE, he's a joke. PUSH HIM!
So there's my "Wrestlers with Potential" list for 2006.
~Apple Dumplings~
-UPN & WB have merged to become the CW Network. C.W. Anderson should sue, ala Spike Lee trying to sue TNN for changing their name to Spike TV. If I were the WWE, I would BEG to be on this channel. By merging the two, this network will now be more available on cable and regular television systems. Many channels already mixed up WB/UPN, so this transition, I imagine, will be very easy. I have distinct worries that the WWE will not even get looked at by other networks once their contract with UPN runs out in September 2006. IF the WWE wants Smackdown to survive, they should accept a lesser rate by CW to remain on network television. If not, let the contract die.
-Mark Henry vs. Undertaker at Wrestlemania 22... HAHAHAHAHAHA! You've got to be fucking kidding me with that match up!
-TNA Impact still remains at 0.9 after their Pay Per View... Again, they need the booking changes to create a buzz around their organization to gain more viewership. Shitty timeslot or not, demand will create your supply of good ratings in that mixed up economical sense.
-Sean Waltman will reportedly call into the "Bubba the Love Sponge" show to tell his side of the story about Chyna/Joanie Laurer. Why can't these two fuckwads just stay away from each other and stop talking about each other? Both are trainwrecks and are even worse when they are together. Maybe if their personal lives weren't such messes, then maybe their careers could blossom again? Waltman was just awful against Raven at that TNA Pay Per View...
-Stay tuned to Brock Lesnar vs. WWE's lawsuit conclusion that may go down on Friday. If Lesnar wins the case, it will be very interesting to see where he goes within the United States. Though the WWE's deal does restrict Lesnar from obtaining work, he signed the release and the WWE invested a lot of money in him and made him famous.
-Looks like Stephanie McMahon will be having a boy. Oh boy, a baby Game-Ah... he'll be playing in his Crib-ah, possibly one day becoming a wrestle-ah. Another Triple H-ah. What's funny about this pregnancy is the Bus that Stephanie and Triple H have purchased. They bought it so that they could travel as a family, but many marks out there are denouncing it as Triple H milking the company. HELLO!?!, he's only married to the WWE owners' daughter and they'll run the company in the future. Besides, I can imagine that in the long run, the bus could potentially be cheaper than rental cars, private jet rides, and hotel rooms. I bash HHH a lot, but I completely understand the purchase of this bus. It will enable HHH and Stephanie to raise a family on the long road schedule that the WWE has. Nothing wrong with this, whatsoever, and in fact, I'm giving the pair props for thinking up such a good idea.
I reckon I'll have a Royal Rumble review... but who knows, I might write something else this week? See, we will.
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