wrestling

The 411 Wrestling Top 5 02.23.11: Week 115 – ROH or TNA Wrestlers That Would Thrive In WWE

February 23, 2011 | Posted by Larry Csonka

Hello everyone and welcome to 411 Wrestling’s Top 5 List. What we are going to is take a topic each week and all the writers here on 411 wrestling will have the ability to give us their Top 5 on said topic, plus up to three honorable mentions. Most of our topics will be based on recent events in the Wrestling World, looking at those events that make us think of times past.

So, on to this week’s topic…

ROH OR TNA WRESTLERS THAT WOULD THRIVE IN WWE!

So what did our group of writers select? Let’s find out…

Chad Nevett
Note: As I did last week, I’ll be focusing exclusively on TNA for my picks.

HM: Kurt Angle – He already thrived in the WWE and I’d rather focus on people who haven’t. Rather limiting, don’t you think?
HM: Generation Me – They’re the new Hardy Boyz, but the state of the WWE tag team division means even that wouldn’t help a lot.
HM: Abyss – He’s big and his nickname is ‘the Monster.’ He’d only thrive for six months as he gets a big push before never seeing the main event scene again, but that’s six months more than a lot of other people.

5. Matt Morgan – I know, I know, Morgan had a brief run in the WWE and they couldn’t make it work the way TNA has… but his run was a rookie run, it doesn’t count. It’s not like the ball they dropped with Elijah Burke/the Pope. Morgan has really grown in TNA, particularly this past year and, now, he’s shown the talents that the WWE would love to have and push the hell out of. He’s more articulate on the mic, his ring work is limited but he can tell a story, and he just seems comfortable in the ring. If there’s one thing that he has going against him, it’s that TNA brought all of this out of him when the WWE couldn’t, and that could limit how far he’d go.

4. James Storm – The WWE’s tag team division is a joke right now, so I couldn’t see Beer Money thriving as a unit. Apart, both men fit the WWE’s style, but James Storm a little less so. He’d have to adapt to the PG atmosphere, but, aside from that, his in-ring work would need very little changing for him to fit into the WWE’s style.

3. Velvet Sky – Looking at the Knockouts, Velvet Sky seems like the best fit for the Divas. Sure, the Beautiful People are parodies of the Divas, but that doesn’t mean Sky wouldn’t excel in the WWE. Her ring work continues to improve and so does her mic work. She’s shown an ability to work as both a face and a heel with the same amount of success. And, really, she’s tolerated Tazz’s outlandish commentary during Knockouts matches, so you know Jerry Lawler won’t bother her.

2. Hernandez – He’s Latino and he’s a big guy. Do I need to give any other reasons really? Right there, he does enough to warrant a few months of squash matches, a feud with Rey Mysterio, and a shot at the main event. That TNA hasn’t been able to capitalize on Hernandez yet is shocking.

1. Robert Roode – Both members of Beer Money make my list with Roode topping it because he’s got the talent on the mic, his in-ring work is very polished, and, as TNA hints at from time to time, he could be a main event talent if given the right push. It’s telling that he was the one to deliver an excellent promo a couple of weeks back. Like Storm, his in-ring style fits with the WWE’s style incredibly well already and he’s had some great solo performances. More than that, he’s got something about him that makes me think he’d excel in the WWE if given the chance.

FRANCISCO RAMIREZ
5. Desmond Wolf – Although I’m a firm believer that TNA has hurt ol’ Nigel more than actual in ring competition, Desmond Wolfe would immediately fit in a WWE ring. The man is talented in the ring, but he can work a mic as well. He would instantly fit in as an Intercontinental or U.S. Champion, hell team him up with William Regal and you have yourself a damn good tag-team on paper! The WWE dropped the ball when they let TNA take him due to injuries as he debuted red hot against Kurt Angle, lightning can strike twice if booked correctly, except I doubt the WWE would drop the ball once Desmond gets the ball rolling.

4. Claudio Castagnoli – Vince has a hard on for big men, allegedly! Then who better to bring in then the talented Swiss Claudio Castagnoli! European uppercuts and Big Swings galore, as long as the WWE doesn’t go overboard with the whole Swiss thing, and we all know they are capable of doing it, Claudio would thrive in the WWE.

3. Hernandez – Ok, so Rey Mysterio is close to retiring due to injuries and the WWE has hired Dos Caras Jr., Mistico and el Hijo del Medico Asesino in preparation to fill the void once Rey leaves. So my question is why not bring in Hernandez? He’s big, WWE loves big guys! He’s talented, WWE is okay with talented guys, but it’s not a requirement. Finally, he’s Mexican-American, which means the Latin community would look at him in the same vein that they see Cain Velasquez in the UFC.

2. Davey Richards – So if the company currently has the former “Best in the World”, why not go after and grab up the current “Best in the World”. Davey Richards is as close as to the new “Indy God” as possible without actually taking the throne. He is extremely talented, albeit not the biggest guy around. Also let’s face it, as much as people like to crap on ROH, WWE is starting to look more and more like ROH with the likes of Punk, Danielson, and Tyler Black. If I had to bet on anyone from my list of actually going to the WWE and making it, it would be Davey Richards. Then again those on again off again retirement plans might hinder my bet.

1. Beer Money – As much as it hurts me to admit it WWE gives two craps about the tag-team division. It could be because they don’t have a good solid TRUE tag-team that can revitalize the division. Hell Santino and Kozlov are the current Tag champs. Beer Money is a team that the TNA faithful love to hate, that can transition well in the WWE. Hell even if they eventually do get split up, which we all know would be inevitable, James Storm and Robert Roode are immensely talented individuals in the singles ranks as well. I can picture both as Intercontinental or U.S. champions either way.

Michael Ornelas
HM: Desmond Wolfe – He would be a little higher up on the list a year ago, but his history of injuries that caused him to not sign with WWE hurts his ranking. Once on screen, he’d be great with working a crowd as a face or a heel.
HM: El Generico – A PG character that can play face-in-peril better than anyone out there today, the Generic Luchador would be great as long as he wasn’t debuted via NXT.
HM: Kenny Omega – A PG character that SHOULD be debuted via NXT, Kenny Omega’s antics combined with his in-ring prowess would quickly make him a favorite of any season of NXT he could join.

5. Colt Cabana – And to cap off my NXT considerations, Colt Cabana is at the top of the pack. I truly wish his signing with WWE had come a year and a half later than it did, because he would have had a huge chance to get over with fans if he were a part of NXT (preferably Season 2 so he wouldn’t be in Nexus). Cabana can mix comedy and wrestling better than arguably anyone in history, and would quickly elevate himself between promos and his matches if given the chance to prove himself for a more extended period of time. NXT has been a place for wrestlers to get over as themselves moreso than the major WWE brands, and that’s where Colt would excel. I still think they need to sign him again—he’d be a great fit.

4. Claudio Castagnoli – This guy would probably be number one on the list if he didn’t used to be in the WWE developmental system…but he’s still such a strong candidate anyways. “Very European” Claudio Castagnoli was one of the busiest guys on the indies last year and was in very high demand. There’s a reason for that. His in-ring ability is fantastic, his promos are great, and he could play the despised foreign heel in the WWE so perfectly. He backs everything he says up with skill, and he’s one of my personal favorites to watch. When you see Claudio is on the card, you’re pretty much guaranteed a great match.

3. Samoa Joe – I heard somewhere (I don’t recall) that WWE had no interest in Joe during his recent free agency…but I really have a hard time believing that. WWE has always had a knack for hiring (and pushing) big Samoans, and Samoa Joe is just that, but one of the best workers to boot. Joe’s wrestling style and mic skills are just too good to ignore, and really the only thing going against him is his body…but he’s not worse than Rikishi or Umaga, both of whom the WWE got quite behind and turned them into top-tier contenders. I think the same could be done with Joe. Cue the man-boob comments. Whatever, Joe’s a great worker and you know it.

2. Chris Hero – Why hasn’t Chris been scooped up by the WWE already? I ask myself that question pretty often actually. He has the most natural charisma of anyone not named Kevin Steen on the indies (who’d be on this list if he was still with Ring of Honor). Chris Hero’s hard-hitting style would be refreshing in the WWE, and he’s also best friends with CM Punk. He’s got the WWE look, too. He’s not some “vanilla midget” who just does flips and has no psychology…he’s the opposite. He’s a big guy, for indy standards, and wouldn’t look small on WWE television at all. “Hero to WWE” is a movement that needs to begin ASAP, and that’s all there really is to say about that.

1. Kurt Angle – I’m cheating here in that he’s already thrived in WWE, but Kurt Angle is just too good for TNA. With the shape he’s in, he probably only has a couple years left (if that), and it’s only natural that he spend them on the biggest stage where the most people can watch him entertain and perform. He can still go in the ring better than most, and the landscape of WWE is so different than it was when Angle left. An Angle/CM Punk feud is a personal dream feud of mine. Angle/Ziggler, Angle/Bryan, Angle/Swagger, and Angle/Del Rio all would be great feuds that I’d pay to see. It seems as though Angle’s trying to keep the option open since he’s only been signing one-year contracts with TNA at a time, so make of that what you will. Kurt deserves the spotlight that only WWE can offer in North America.

Tony Acero
HM: Generation Me – If only because I wish WWE would focus on more tag teams and GM is my favorite right now in terms of TNA…

5. Samoa Joe – It was a few years ago that this would have been my number one pick but he’s lost a lot of luster in my eyes recently. I’ve never been big on TNA but my interest has steadily been growing. One thing that kept me interested was Samoa Joe. True, his storylines weren’t always the best but it was amazing the agility he had. His quick moveset and hard impact moves would be well versed into the WWE, particularly if they just let him be him. I don’t know for sure it would ever happen, but I see it being a good fit.

4. Jay Lethal – In all honesty, he’d probably get lost in the shuffle but he’s really one of the reasons people like me (the fickle fan of TNA) keep coming back. Adding Lethal to the WWE roster would make up for stellar matches with practically anyone. I can see him cuttin it up with Mysterio one week and perhaps Kane the next, he’s that good. Another stretch of the imagination, but would be nice to see.

3. Motor City Machine Guns – I think this is one team that would stand out above all the rest and given the proper back up support from the writing staff, they’d tear some shit up! Although, some might point out that they can wrestle circles around pretty much anyone in The Corre OR The New Nexus. Then again, anyone beating That fauhawk wearing douchbag is ok in my book…

2. Velvet Sky – Sky is definitely my favorite TNA Knockout and I don’t even like blondes. Steve Cook and I have had many a conversations about the TNA knockouts and their importance in our lives. I’ve always been of the mind that there’s AJ then there’s everyone else,(I like the petite. Cook is more of a boob guy) but Velvet Sky has something about her that makes me want nothing more than to see her in the WWE ring. She’s not the greatest, but she’s better than more than half the WWE Women’s roster and it’d definitely be refreshing to see her mixin it up with the lesser being females in WWE.

1. Kurt Angle – This is such a biased pick, it’s not even funny. I miss Kurt in a WWE ring so much. He’s running low on years I bet and the window is shrinking for him to jump back over. I don’t know if he ever will but he is my definite number one pick. He would thrive above all others and I can immediately see him in the title picture, perhaps against Edge, Alberto, Christian, hell…put him against Chimel and I bet he’ll still put on an amazing match. Kurt is the epitome of greatness and although he is still putting on great matches in TNA…I’d love nothing more than to see him in WWE!!

Marc Elusive
HM: All Night Express – Kenny King and Rhett Titus are talented (with personalities) and the WWE could use a few more tag teams.
HM: Colt Cabana – Only if he stays Colt and since Santino lost the tag titles; SmackDown need a good comedy wrestler.

5. Matt Morgan – Yeah, I know he was in the WWE before and had a stupid stutter but he has improved and is a perfect mold for Vince’s muscly obsession. He can work a decent match and isn’t all that bad on the microphone either; plus he is big. I could see him doing better in the WWE if he got a second shot.

4. Briscoe Brothers – This will only work if two things occur; WWE puts more emphasis on tag teams and does not totally neuter them and allows them to do some of their high flying stuff. Back in 1999, I never would have thought the Dudley Boyz could have gotten over in the (then) WWF with their foul mouths and extreme style, but they altered their approach and got over. The Briscoes are talented enough to do the same thing and perhaps the WWE can catch lightning in a bottle again, like in 2000, with the tag team scene.

3. Delirious – I think that the WWE universe could get behind the lizard-man; let him cut some nonsensical bah-bah-bah promos and he could get over as a silly babyface. The WWE Universe loves it comedy acts, look at Santino and Kozlov, they are over as a silly comedy act it brought them all of the way to the Tag Team Titles.

2. Desmond Wolfe – I liked him when he was Nigel McGuinness in ROH, still like him now and is a good worker, good talker and entertainer. As with past Brit heels (William Regal and Wade Barrett) they can get quite over as nasty heels and still have the Englishman touch of class; Wolfe, if booked properly, could fit right in to an US title feud or IC title feud then let’s see what he can do with it, he’s been on top of a company before, so he could do it again.

1. Samoa Joe – I would love to see what the WWE could do with an extremely talented Samoan, and since Rikishi has run Stone Cold over, it is all clear for Joe to come to the WWE. Rikishi got over and so did Umaga; Joe is articulate, and can play both a crazy Samoan and a normal average pro wrestler. He is big and agile, like most of his predecessors, but Joe also has great endurance and a grip on ring psychology, that is needed to work a long main event match. I think Joe could do well in the WWE, presuming Vince does not mind that he does not have the physique of a Batista.