Chazz
04-28-2004, 07:32 PM
Hello there kiddies. Chazz here with another edition of Focal Point . Today I bring to you five wrestlers in the WWE who have the potential to be superstars. I will rank them from five to number one and will give strengths and weaknesses. So, here we go. Enjoy!
Five wrestlers with superstar potential.
Before I begin, allow me to describe to you what I feel makes a superstar. First of all, charisma. You can be great in the ring, but if you can't get the fans to love or hate you, then you will be stuck in mid-card hell your entire career. Second, ring work. You don't have to be great, but you do need to be a solid performer. Third, how well you work with others. What I'm talking about is your ability to mesh with others so both guys look good. Fourth, attitude. Hey, it means alot in the wrestling business. Guys like Jericho and Foley have great attitudes towards the wrestling business, and are willing to help others become superstars. So, with these in mind, let's get to the list.
5. Renee Dupree- I may have been the only one in the world excited about seeing him split from La Resistance. Of those three (Dupree, Grenier & Conway) Renee was the one who always stood out for me. Whether it was him doing that silly dance in the ring or his mic work (which I loved), he appeared to be seperating himself from Grenier and Conway. Well, Grenier was gone for awhile so I am sure that fact kept Dupree and Conway together. The moment Grenier returned, Dupree immediately started to do things on his own (most notably of which was him calling out Stone Cold). Now, he is on Smackdown where he has developed his own talk segment (like Jericho's HighLite Reel) and is fast becoming a major heel. For a young twenty year old, Renee certainly has his best days ahead of him.
Stengths: He has the most charisma of anyone on Smackdown (and that says a lot). He beats Cena out because, to me, Cena's charisma is not that great. Cena's gimmick got him where he is, and John made the most of it. I'm not dogging John. I love the guy and his character. But Renee has charisma that is rare. The guy makes you hate him so much that you actually find yourself liking the guy. HHH is a prime example of this. I feel it is hard to make people love to hate you, but Renee has it. His wrestling game is solid and he knows how to interact with a crowd during a match. And as a heel, he knows how to get the fans behind the faces. For his age, he has a tremendous amount of knowledge. Which is why the guy has been given the chance he has.
Weaknesses: His age. If he is pushed hard like a Brock Lesnar, he could become burnt out with wrestling at a young age. Because he is very talented and the WWE has acknowledged that fact, he seems primed for a big push. Then the questions will begin to appear. Can he handle the pressure? Is he deserving? The WWE should take there time with him at gradually bring him along.
Bottom Line: I will go out on a limb and say that Renee will become one of the best heels in WWE history. I feel that stongly about him.
4. Matt Hardy- Does anyone doubt who was the backbone of The Hardy Boyz? If so, then get your head out of your *** and pay attention. Hardy, at one point in time, was on the way to becoming a superstar. Then, and I won't speculate as to why, he was sent back to being a jobber. This guy has been a multiple time tag team champ and a cruiserweight champ. He had a great rivalry going with Rey Mysterio last year. His Version 1 gimmick was the best gimmick on Smackdown until Cena broke out with his hip-hop gimmick. Then, in a move I thought would help him, he was sent to Raw where he has been stuck on Heat. When he does get on Raw, he usually jobs. This guy could be so much more.
Strengths: Experience. Hardy came from dark matches to the legendary TLC matches to Version 1. He has been through it all, and he still is a top performer. Their is no reason to hold this guy back. He has shown he can deliver in big time matches (both tag and singles). His ring work is solid, and he has been a guy that always seems to get better year after year. He showed that by losing weight to enter the cruiserweight division, and he held his own with those guys. His mic work is not Jericho quality, but he is good on the stick.
Weaknesses: Size is one. I would like to see him beef up a little bit. Version 1 is dead. I really don't think the WWE can salvage that character, so Matt needs to develope another gimmick. V1 had the potential, but it is dead now. The fans are not buying it anymore. And make the guy a heel or face, not a tweener. Personally, Matt is better as a heel and I see more potential for him as a heel. Lastly, he needs to get off of Heat.
Bottom line: Matt is a risky pick, but I see so much potential in the guy. In time, I feel he could hold the Heavyweight title.
3. Christian: It is rare that a tag team can have so much success and then both memebers of that tag team go on to singles success. Alas, Edge is about to be a main-eventer and Christian is well on his way. When Christian beat Jericho at WM20, it was a sign that the WWE is ready to elevate him. And who can blame them. The guy has become a solid heel, and he and Trish have become the most hated couple in WWE since HHH and Stephanie. Christian had a great 2003 and is off to a promising 2004. He has been slowly moving up his status on Raw. And with all the big names Raw has, they ain't easy to do.
Strengths: His best skill is his mic work, which he has had since the E & C days (he was better tahn Edge). Like Cena, he has taken a gimmick and made the most of it. And it did not hurt when he got a rub off from The Rock as the new people's champion. Ring work wise, Christian has shown he can work with anybody. His match with RVD last year and his match with Jericho at WM20 showed that. He has great timing in the ring. He knows when to taunt and he knows how to sell. He could honestly be another Ric Flair type of champion.
Weaknesses: Trish. At first, it was good. Now, Trish seems to be a hindrance to him. And, after the fued with Jericho is over, how can the WWE justify her being with him? Second, he is on Raw. With guys like HHH, Jericho, Benoit, HBK and Edge there, will he ever get the chance to main-event?
Bottom Line: I feel his best opportunity is on Smackdown. Smackdown needs quality heels, and Christian fits that bill. He has all the tools to be a heavyweight champion. He just needs the opportunity.
2. Randy Orton: He proved he belonged with his match against Foley at Backlash. I know many have questioned why he has been given such a push, but his matches with Foley have put him over. Yea, Foley did his part. But, I now see the confidence within him that he has lacked since his debut. This guy will be a major player.
Stregths: Like Dupree, Orton is a guy you love to hate. The difference between the two comes down to placement. Orton was given a huge spot with Flair and HHH, and now he is taking full advantage of it. People hate this guy, which means that he has gotten over. Ring work wise, he is talented. He is fluid and fast and has learned how to pace himself within a match. His dropkick is great, and he has a great sense of timing. Orton has the looks that will also carry him far. His mic skills keep getting better and he is playing his role as "legend killer" very well.
Weaknesses: Same as Dupree. Is he being pushed to fast? Can he carry the ball and avoid injuries (which have plauged him).
Bottom Line: Unlike Christian, Orton can survive with the top tier guys on Raw. He will be the heavyweight champion within the next two years. And he'll do it on Raw.
1. John Cena: I said this last year, and I'll say it again. John Cena is the true next big thing in the WWE. His gimmick has caught on so fast that it reminds me of Stone Cold's SOB gimmick from 98. Yep, Cena is the one guy who can be the next big draw for the WWE. I'm talking the next Stone Cold, Rock or Hulk Hogan.
Strengths: Gimmick. Cena has captured the fans imagination with his gimmick. Not bad for a guy who two years ago was gimmick-less. His mic skills tie with Jericho as the best in the WWE, but on Smackdown, Cena is the king of the stick. His ring work has improved. It may not be great, but he has shown improvement. Cena has the look of a superstar. The body build is just right for a heavyweight champion.
Weaknesses: Ring work. He aint the best, but you don't have to be. Still, I would like to see him keep improving. The big question here is, can Cena keep the fans wanting to see him. So far, he has. But the bigger the push becomes, the higher the expectations. He needs a good rivalry. Yea, him FUing Show is great, but it was not that great a rivalry. Stone Cold had Undertaker, Rock and HBK. Cena needs that as well.
Bottom Line: He will be the next big one. He has all the tools for it.
Well, that's it for this week. Thanks for reading and as always, comments and feedback are appreciated.
Five wrestlers with superstar potential.
Before I begin, allow me to describe to you what I feel makes a superstar. First of all, charisma. You can be great in the ring, but if you can't get the fans to love or hate you, then you will be stuck in mid-card hell your entire career. Second, ring work. You don't have to be great, but you do need to be a solid performer. Third, how well you work with others. What I'm talking about is your ability to mesh with others so both guys look good. Fourth, attitude. Hey, it means alot in the wrestling business. Guys like Jericho and Foley have great attitudes towards the wrestling business, and are willing to help others become superstars. So, with these in mind, let's get to the list.
5. Renee Dupree- I may have been the only one in the world excited about seeing him split from La Resistance. Of those three (Dupree, Grenier & Conway) Renee was the one who always stood out for me. Whether it was him doing that silly dance in the ring or his mic work (which I loved), he appeared to be seperating himself from Grenier and Conway. Well, Grenier was gone for awhile so I am sure that fact kept Dupree and Conway together. The moment Grenier returned, Dupree immediately started to do things on his own (most notably of which was him calling out Stone Cold). Now, he is on Smackdown where he has developed his own talk segment (like Jericho's HighLite Reel) and is fast becoming a major heel. For a young twenty year old, Renee certainly has his best days ahead of him.
Stengths: He has the most charisma of anyone on Smackdown (and that says a lot). He beats Cena out because, to me, Cena's charisma is not that great. Cena's gimmick got him where he is, and John made the most of it. I'm not dogging John. I love the guy and his character. But Renee has charisma that is rare. The guy makes you hate him so much that you actually find yourself liking the guy. HHH is a prime example of this. I feel it is hard to make people love to hate you, but Renee has it. His wrestling game is solid and he knows how to interact with a crowd during a match. And as a heel, he knows how to get the fans behind the faces. For his age, he has a tremendous amount of knowledge. Which is why the guy has been given the chance he has.
Weaknesses: His age. If he is pushed hard like a Brock Lesnar, he could become burnt out with wrestling at a young age. Because he is very talented and the WWE has acknowledged that fact, he seems primed for a big push. Then the questions will begin to appear. Can he handle the pressure? Is he deserving? The WWE should take there time with him at gradually bring him along.
Bottom Line: I will go out on a limb and say that Renee will become one of the best heels in WWE history. I feel that stongly about him.
4. Matt Hardy- Does anyone doubt who was the backbone of The Hardy Boyz? If so, then get your head out of your *** and pay attention. Hardy, at one point in time, was on the way to becoming a superstar. Then, and I won't speculate as to why, he was sent back to being a jobber. This guy has been a multiple time tag team champ and a cruiserweight champ. He had a great rivalry going with Rey Mysterio last year. His Version 1 gimmick was the best gimmick on Smackdown until Cena broke out with his hip-hop gimmick. Then, in a move I thought would help him, he was sent to Raw where he has been stuck on Heat. When he does get on Raw, he usually jobs. This guy could be so much more.
Strengths: Experience. Hardy came from dark matches to the legendary TLC matches to Version 1. He has been through it all, and he still is a top performer. Their is no reason to hold this guy back. He has shown he can deliver in big time matches (both tag and singles). His ring work is solid, and he has been a guy that always seems to get better year after year. He showed that by losing weight to enter the cruiserweight division, and he held his own with those guys. His mic work is not Jericho quality, but he is good on the stick.
Weaknesses: Size is one. I would like to see him beef up a little bit. Version 1 is dead. I really don't think the WWE can salvage that character, so Matt needs to develope another gimmick. V1 had the potential, but it is dead now. The fans are not buying it anymore. And make the guy a heel or face, not a tweener. Personally, Matt is better as a heel and I see more potential for him as a heel. Lastly, he needs to get off of Heat.
Bottom line: Matt is a risky pick, but I see so much potential in the guy. In time, I feel he could hold the Heavyweight title.
3. Christian: It is rare that a tag team can have so much success and then both memebers of that tag team go on to singles success. Alas, Edge is about to be a main-eventer and Christian is well on his way. When Christian beat Jericho at WM20, it was a sign that the WWE is ready to elevate him. And who can blame them. The guy has become a solid heel, and he and Trish have become the most hated couple in WWE since HHH and Stephanie. Christian had a great 2003 and is off to a promising 2004. He has been slowly moving up his status on Raw. And with all the big names Raw has, they ain't easy to do.
Strengths: His best skill is his mic work, which he has had since the E & C days (he was better tahn Edge). Like Cena, he has taken a gimmick and made the most of it. And it did not hurt when he got a rub off from The Rock as the new people's champion. Ring work wise, Christian has shown he can work with anybody. His match with RVD last year and his match with Jericho at WM20 showed that. He has great timing in the ring. He knows when to taunt and he knows how to sell. He could honestly be another Ric Flair type of champion.
Weaknesses: Trish. At first, it was good. Now, Trish seems to be a hindrance to him. And, after the fued with Jericho is over, how can the WWE justify her being with him? Second, he is on Raw. With guys like HHH, Jericho, Benoit, HBK and Edge there, will he ever get the chance to main-event?
Bottom Line: I feel his best opportunity is on Smackdown. Smackdown needs quality heels, and Christian fits that bill. He has all the tools to be a heavyweight champion. He just needs the opportunity.
2. Randy Orton: He proved he belonged with his match against Foley at Backlash. I know many have questioned why he has been given such a push, but his matches with Foley have put him over. Yea, Foley did his part. But, I now see the confidence within him that he has lacked since his debut. This guy will be a major player.
Stregths: Like Dupree, Orton is a guy you love to hate. The difference between the two comes down to placement. Orton was given a huge spot with Flair and HHH, and now he is taking full advantage of it. People hate this guy, which means that he has gotten over. Ring work wise, he is talented. He is fluid and fast and has learned how to pace himself within a match. His dropkick is great, and he has a great sense of timing. Orton has the looks that will also carry him far. His mic skills keep getting better and he is playing his role as "legend killer" very well.
Weaknesses: Same as Dupree. Is he being pushed to fast? Can he carry the ball and avoid injuries (which have plauged him).
Bottom Line: Unlike Christian, Orton can survive with the top tier guys on Raw. He will be the heavyweight champion within the next two years. And he'll do it on Raw.
1. John Cena: I said this last year, and I'll say it again. John Cena is the true next big thing in the WWE. His gimmick has caught on so fast that it reminds me of Stone Cold's SOB gimmick from 98. Yep, Cena is the one guy who can be the next big draw for the WWE. I'm talking the next Stone Cold, Rock or Hulk Hogan.
Strengths: Gimmick. Cena has captured the fans imagination with his gimmick. Not bad for a guy who two years ago was gimmick-less. His mic skills tie with Jericho as the best in the WWE, but on Smackdown, Cena is the king of the stick. His ring work has improved. It may not be great, but he has shown improvement. Cena has the look of a superstar. The body build is just right for a heavyweight champion.
Weaknesses: Ring work. He aint the best, but you don't have to be. Still, I would like to see him keep improving. The big question here is, can Cena keep the fans wanting to see him. So far, he has. But the bigger the push becomes, the higher the expectations. He needs a good rivalry. Yea, him FUing Show is great, but it was not that great a rivalry. Stone Cold had Undertaker, Rock and HBK. Cena needs that as well.
Bottom Line: He will be the next big one. He has all the tools for it.
Well, that's it for this week. Thanks for reading and as always, comments and feedback are appreciated.