The Wrestling Framework 04.29.12: Who Should Be Pushed in WWE

Welcome, once again, to The Wrestling Framework! My name is Aaron Frame, if you didn’t know, and I want to thank you for reading.

This week I’ve decided to do something different, again. The framework of a good company is built around it’s stars. And part of that is creating new stars. As most would know, this seems like an impossible task for WWE to do. There are many things that you would have to take in to consideration as to how to make a new star and as to why WWE doesn’t seem to have the process down.

Don’t get me wrong, they have been doing somewhat okay with pushing people to the top area. Regardless of how you feel about these guys, Sheamus, Punk, and Bryan have been able to step up and share some of the spotlight with guys like Orton and Cena. You know, the guys that WWE had seemingly put their all behind as their top stars.

There’s one main factor that has brought me to doing the column this way this week. It’s something you may have heard me discuss already. That factor is that WWE seems to have to bring in old stars to give Cena something to do. I’m a firm believer that Cena doesn’t need old stars that were huge to be successful. And it really bothers me that it seems they’ve had to bring in Rock and Lesnar to occupy Cena. Why not bring up someone new who could be a legit threat? Is it too hard to try and do that? Is it too much to ask that they even try?

So with that being said, let’s get this under way. And just know that this isn’t a ranking list either. It’s just guys I’d like to see get a little more spotlight in the ‘E.

Cody Rhodes

Cody is one guy that I’ve long believed could easily be a top contender. Some of the feuds he’s been in have proven that he has both the in-ring talent and the speaking ability that top tier talent should possess. The fact that he hasn’t been moved passed midcard hell just continues to bother me. I think the IC title still means sometimes. Sadly, that’s just not the truth these days. I’m hoping that at Extreme Rules, Cody DOESN’T win the IC title so he can be focused elsewhere. What could be done with him? Well, how about put him in a program with Punk after he’s done with Jericho? Or have him go after Orton after he’s done with Kane? Come to think of it, there’s not a whole lot of top tier faces to throw at a young heel. I think Rhodes and Orton really need to have a huge feud. I don’t feel like their past has been tied up properly enough. Have Rhodes go after Orton talking about how he came in to the ‘E sitting in his shadow (nevermind his dad and brother). He’ll go on to say how he needs to beat Orton to get to the next level. Orton is the one obstacle in his way to greatness. Have them go back and forth for maybe a month or two, three at the most. Have Cody go over in a decisive manner in their final meeting and move him on to chase after Punk. But that’s what I’d do, I’m sure it could be done MUCH better than that.

Wade Barrett

Wade Barrett is one of those guys that I thought was definitely going to be in the title picture. He seemed like such a sure thing to me. He’s got a naturally heelish feel to him that translates well to the fans. He has the ability to cut a fantastic promo and he was able to do good things in the ring. It seemed like before his injury that he was going to be one of the next guys to be pushed up to the top. Unfortunately, he broke his arm in a spot gone wrong. With Barrett out of action, it hurts his chances of being pushed slightly. When he gets back on to TV, they’ll either ease him back in, stick him in midcard hell, or put him right back where he was. I would like to see him go right back where he was. Makes his return and hits Orton right off the bat. That’s one of the most logical approaches I could see happen. As I’ve posed before, there aren’t many top tier faces. But, they could ease him in by feeding him lower tier faces. Let Orton focus elsewhere while he is eased in, taking out guys like Show or Khali. Why Show and Khali? Why not? Two big monsters that are usually used for this type of thing. It’s not like Barrett is a squirrely guy like Bryan or Rhodes. He could legitimately beat Show or Khali and in doing so, gain some credibility. He could be one of the new powerhouse heels in the main event.

Kofi Kingston

I look back on the feud that Kofi had with Orton and THAT’S the Kofi I believe the fans need to see. He was definitely in his element in that feud. He showed amazing potential to be a top star. But then I often wonder if that’s even plausible. Why? Because the WWE tends to be pretty damn racist. I’m not sure they would be willing to make a black man “the guy.” Well, that is unless he becomes the next Rock. If memory serves me correctly, Rock was the only black guy to be “the guy.” And he’s only half black. Anyone remember the feud between Triple H and Booker T from March 2003? That was probably one of the most racist feuds I have ever seen. Don’t remember that one? Let me see if I can find some video on it…

Tell me that wasn’t one bit racist. Point is that I just don’t know if WWE would be willing to have Kofi in the title picture. I would like to say that’s not the case anymore considering that they pushed Del Rio straight to the title picture. Yes, I know, he’s Mexican and not black, but that’s got to count for something. If they’re willing to put the strap on Del Rio, who is Mexican, surely they could have the strap on Kofi, who is black. And I think I’ve said this, but they need new top tier babyfaces. Kofi would fit that bill perfectly. He’s exciting to watch, kids love him, and, when motivated, he can cut one hell of a promo. Kofi could easily be another marketing cash cow.

Santino Marella

Oh yeah, I can hear all of you pissing and moaning at this choice. Well, after I’m done talking about this one, I have another you’re all going to go apeshit over. So what? Nobody likes comedy wrestlers? A goofy, comedy act could never hack it as a believable world title contender? I’ll believe that when Santino stops getting huge pops. Do I think Santino, as is, could be a world champion? No. Do I think with a little tweaking of his character, but staying relatively the same, he could be a world champion? Absolutely. One of the things that ruins the idea of him being a world champion, to me, is that he’s a bit of a coward. If he were to come off as fearless, but still goofy as all hell, I think he could easily fit in to the top tier mold. Have Santino become tired of being a walking mat and not being taken seriously. So he becomes serious. It starts with him being US champion. He defends his title more and does it in a more serious wrestling fashion. All until he comes face to face with an opponent that takes him to his limits. Santino walks out of this brutal feud with his head held high and his US Title still in tact. At this point I would think Santino could be white hot with the crowd, so move him on to something that most people would scoff at. Make him want to be a double champion as he challenges for a world title while he’s still the US champ. It’s all in how he’s booked, really. I think they could make a huge star out of Santino.

Zack Ryder

Yeah, here’s another guy that I’m sure everyone will be up in arms over picking, but I believe in Ryder. I think that his character has more dimensions than just he Woo Woo Woo Kid from Long Island. I think that he has a lot of potential to be a huge star. First of all, look at the picture of him below:

Now look at the picture of him that I posted at the top. You see the complete change of character? Do you see how he went from looking like every other cookie-cutter superstar to looking like his own unique character? That right there says a lot about the potential he has. He has a unique character that seems to be his own creation that he could seemingly do anything with. Even turn heel. Think about this: after being played the fool by the hoeski Eve, being betrayed by his best-friend Cena and constantly demolished by the monster Kane, he becomes a shell of the Ryder we once knew. He starts showing heelish tenancies by maybe getting DQ’ed for being out of control, or continuing a beatdown on someone after the match is over. Eventually, he starts becoming a little out of control and brutal with his opponents prompting Cena to come around and try to figure out what’s wrong with him. This leads to a feud between Ryder and Cena that see’s Ryder come out on top as a new heel threat. I think that could work.

Dolph Ziggler

This one is pretty obvious. So many people have been hounding about Mr. Ziggles getting the push in to the main event. At least, that’s what it seems like. I think Ziggler has amazing abilities in the ring and on the mic. I look back at his almost title reign during his feud with Edge and can’t help but think what would have been had he gotten the title and given the chance to run with it. Could we be seeing Ziggler as a champion today instead of teaming with BiffJack Swagger doing who knows what in midcard hell. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just blind and Ziggler isn’t as great as I think he is. But then I watch some of his matches and remember that he really is a talented wrestler who, I think, needs to get the hell away from Vickie Guerrero and fend for himself. Once he drops the dead weight that he obviously doesn’t need anymore, I think we would see him become a top tier star. Put him in a feud with Kofi. Let them really go at it and set the world on fire. I think these two would work really well someday as a title feud for a world title. They’re both really athletic and have their own unique style of promo. But for any of this to happen, Ziggler still has a little, tiny bit more to learn before he can become the ultrastar that he should be. Oh, and drop that dead weight like I said, that’s what I want to happen as soon as possible.

Drew McIntyre

Here’s another choice that may come off as controversial, but I think that Drew could become a big player in the company. He has the look and the skills to do good things. Why has he gone from Vinnie’s chosen one to barely on TV anymore? Oh, well, I guess it could have something to do with Tiffany or whatever the hell her name was. That’s his ex-wife, right? Sorry if I don’t know, I don’t pay much attention to their personal lives. If that’s why he’s not getting a push, I think that’s bullshit in the first degree. Drew has the size and the ability to work on his side that could easily make him a star. He knows how to use his size to his advantage. His move set is also very complementary to his size. And he’s not too bad on the mic, either. Not the best, but with some work, he could put some good stuff together. Where would you put a guy like Drew Mac, though? How could you bring him to the top? That’s where I’m having a tough time figuring stuff out. While I think Drew should get a push to the top, I just don’t think he’s as deserving as a few other guys already mentioned. And if Barrett is to be in the top tier, would Drew work there as well? I mean, you’ve got the big English bruiser in Barret, would a Scottish bruiser fit? Maybe put them together as a team. Turn Sheamus heel and add him to the mix. That’d be interesting. No, for now, I think I’d like to see Drew take the IC title from Big Show and see where he goes from there.

Tag Teams

I’ve said it before that I’m not really a huge fan of tag team wrestling, but that’s really not the truth. I’ve been jaded by the WWE to tag team wrestling. Their lack of caring for tag teams over the years has really made me not care so much for tag wrestling. Recently, I’ve started to really get back in to tag team wrestling, and I’ll thank TNA for that. WWE needs to devote some time to the tag teams that they have. If anything, tag teams are a great way to build young stars. You can get them some exposure and evolve them from that. There are some many possibilities with tag team wrestling. Looking at the teams that they have with Primo/Epico and the Usos, if these teams are what they have sitting in FCW, they need to bring more up and work with them. Tag team wrestling can also provide a lot of great entertainment. When you get four talents together in one ring who all work similar styles, and they have fantastic teamwork, you get awesome results. And if they did focus more on tag team wrestling, they would be able to bring in even more new stars. Stars that they could easily keep as just a tag team. MCMG comes to mind. If WWE were to keep them around as just a tag team, that would be awesome. I’d love to see MCMG go against Primo/Epico or the Usos. That’s just my opinion. Fix the tag teams. Please?

Well, that’s pretty much it for me. One thing I’ll end off with is that there are also some awesome future prospects coming out of FCW. Guys that I really hope make it somewhere in the ‘E. Antonio Cesaro is definitely one of them. His debut match was pretty damn impressive. Dean Ambrose seems like he’s ready to do good things on the main roster and I’m also awaiting when Seth Rollins will be brought up as well as Kassius Ohno. With guys like this sitting in FCW or just now being introduced to the main roster, I have good feelings about the future of the talent pool. But, then again, WWE does like to give false hope only to brutally murder it right in front of you. Well, see you guys next week.