The Crystal Ball 8.23.06: Seth Skyfire
Posted by Steve Sullivan on 08.23.2006
I talk about him a lot, now find out who the OVW TV Champion resembles from the last 30 years!
Welcome one and welcome all back to the OVW Crystal Ball! Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing this for no reason at all. Just for fun. Just to talk some rasslin' with other fans. There are days where I wonder if I quit doing this, would anyone actually even know I was gone. Then there are days like this week where I feel like maybe just maybe I made an impact in the business.
Last week's column, maybe you read it, maybe you didn't. I went a little in depth talking about Boris Alexiev, making several different comparisons to older wrestling legends. Guys like Nikolai Volkoff and Kurt Angle came into comparison. I also made the argument that Alexiev wasn't even under a WWE contract.
Ironically this week, Boris Alexiev was signed to a WWE contract.
Maybe someone read me, maybe they didn't. But there is always that slight chance. When I first started this column, I wrote about individuals and their past careers in OVW. I changed things up a bit for awhile and last week, for the first time in months, I wrote about an individual again. In case you don't think that this column has any impact or has any idea what it's talking about, let me just show you what's happened to every single OVW wrestler I've spotlighted individually.
Elijah Burke- Smackdown
Ken Doane- Raw
Johnny Jeter- Raw
Brent Albright- Smackdown
C.M. Punk- ECW
Da Beast (Shad Gaspard)- WWE Developmental Deal
Boris Alexiev- WWE Developmental Deal
So let's put it this way, if you're an OVW wrestler, you WANT me to talk about you. Seth Skyfire, this is your lucky day my friend.
By the way, on a side note, I cheated on 411 and read another wrestling website since for whatever reason I STILL can't access this website from my house. When I read about Boris Alexiev getting a Developmental deal, this particular website stated that it was Alexiev that was the reason for Jim Cornette getting fired. This in fact was not true. Kevin Fertig aka Mordecai aka the Vampire Dude from ECW who got slapped by Cornette for not selling the Boogeyman. Just goes to show that this is the best and most accurate OVW coverage on the net.
In case you missed last week's column, I've taken a new approach to The Crystal Ball by giving it…well…A Crystal Ball type feeling to it. There have been many wrestlers over the years and every decade has a similar individual stepping into the ring. This week, The Crystal Ball looks to the past in order to look to the future of the current OVW Television Champion Seth Skyfire.
If you've read anything I've written the last few months, you'll know that I really like Seth Skyfire. At one point, I looked at Seth Skyfire and thought to myself, he'll never make it. He will be wrestling in the OVW Tag Team Division for the rest of his life and the majority of his career will consist of jobbing out if he ever does make it to the WWE. My opinion changed drastically the last time I was at an OVW TV Taping.
In March, Seth Skyfire defeated new Smackdown star Aaron "The Idol" Stevens for the TV Title. Nobody saw this coming from a mile away, including myself who was in attendence. This was the first time I had seen Skyfire in solo action in a long time. In his past, Skyfire was mostly a tag team specialist. He had held the tag team titles 3 times up to this point in his career with two different partners (Mac Johnson & Chet The Jet) Watching Skyfire win this title in person really opened my eyes to him and I could suddenly could see why OVW wanted this guy to have a nice push in the company. I admit, I had a bit of a mark out moment, but so was everyone else, including announcer Dean Hill who announced the winner as "Bah God it's Seth Skyfire!"
Skyfire has made one appearance on Monday Night Raw. In April of 2005, Skyfire stepped into the ring with Chris Masters. Masters of course won the match with the Masterlock and Skyfire assumed the jobbing I half expected to see him pull for most of his career.
Skyfire is now involved in a pretty hot storyline with OVW Heavyweight Champion C.M. Punk. Skyfire and Punk won the OVW Tag Team Titles together and held them for a whole half week before losing them to Deuce & Domino. Skyfire accidently tagged in an injured C.M. Punk who was attacked and pinned for the 3 count. The following week, Punk tagged in Skyfire who had taken some abuse for most of the match. Punk had been in complete control of the match after getting the tag. Punk, who is now catching heat in the lockeroom, looks to be set for his next title defense.
And I'm just speculating here, but when an OVW Heavyweight Champion is called up to the main roster, a great storyline is set up for a month before the title is finally dropped to the next OVW great in the making. I am expecting the same here. So consider yourself spoiled.
This week, I'm not aiming to get the WWE to sign my spotlight wrestler. He actually just signed a WWE contract about a month ago after working in OVW for the past 3+ years.
But maybe you don't remember seeing Seth Skyfire on Raw that Monday in 2005. There are and always will be men in the past that a new up and coming wrestling superstar can be compared to. Also keep in mind that I'm not saying that this guy isn't going to be as good or successful as some of these well known names you are going to see here today, but in comparrisson, their ring skills and the way they handle themselves in the ring can easily be compared without comparing individual success. So take a look into my Crystal Ball 30 years ago.
1970's- Seth Skyfire vs. Jimmy Snuka vs. Ricky Steamboat
Last week, Boris Alexiev had a Triple Threat Match between Chris Benoit and Arn Anderson and this week, I had to put Seth Skyfire in a Triple Threat match right off the start. Snuka and Steamboat both in their own rights were known for being creative in the ring and performing at heights nobody in their time had pulled off. Seth Skyfire is on his way to the same height in his OVW career. In fact, Skyfire already performs at more of a high risk, high energy, and high flying pace than anyone on the OVW roster. Period. He's created a few creative moves at times, including his weekly "Matrix Dropkick" which basically takes one step up on his opponent's chest and another kick to the head. Skyfire has also shown quite a bit of agility in his creativeness, jumping to the top rope and and sometimes even walking across the ring rope to perform an inzuguri. This kid's got talent.
Steamboat was just as exciting in his own time. While wrestling was not known for high flying maneuvers, Steamboat still had a few tricks up his sleeve that excited the crowd like nobody else from the 1970's could. Steamboat started utilizing the flying cross body press, which at the time was about as exciting as a barb wire table is today. Skyfire also uses the flying body press, normally from a quick leap off the top rope. Skyfire also uses a top rope leg drop to finish off his matches, similar to what Kenny from the Spirit Squad uses.
Snuka let his actions speak louder than his words. While Snuka rarely spoke, he was not camera shy. Snuka's legacy will always be the day he jumped off the top of the cage at Madison Square Garden onto Don Muraco. Snuka once again pioneered wrestling into what it is today. Because of Snuka, guys like Mick Foley and Tommy Dreamer became wrestlers and other guys like Jeff Hardy and AJ Styles started jumping from heights. His creativity in the ring and his willingness to take risks with his body made him one of the top stars in wrestling history.
Chosing a winner of this match is pretty simple. Ricky Steamboat wins easily. The reason being, while Steamboat was just as exciting to watch as Skyfire and Snuka, Steamboat was "on his game" at all times. Snuka was on his game when he was flying through the air and the one thing that's keeping Skyfire in OVW right now is his inconsistency in the ring. While most days, and I do say MOST, Skyfire is on top of his game, there are days where he could do better. And that's why he's in OVW. When Skyfire can find a way to remain consistent every single night, watch out, he's going to be fun.
1980's- Seth Skyfire vs. Tito Santana
If I had to sum up my predictions for Seth Skyfire's WWE career, it would be that of the career of Tito Santana's. I never see him holding anything hire than the Intercontinental Title, which Santana held a couple of times. Tito Santana was also known for his tag team wrestling, teaming up with several people in his illustrious career. Santana also won the Tag Team Championship a few teams, once with Ivan Putski, another with Rick Martel. He also held the NWA Tag Title with Ted Dibiase at one point as well.
Tito Santana was normally the high flyer of his tag team partners, similar to that of what Skyfire has been in his past OVW career. Santana's most famous finisher was a flying forearm, which Skyfire uses fairly often in every match, but not as a finisher. Santana also utilized the middle rope for some offense, which was fairly exciting for the early 1980's.
There's not much to compare here other than their tag team careers. Seth Skyfire will likely never be the Intercontinental Champion but I can someday seeing him being the United States Champion on Smackdown. Skyfire would likely be used in the Crusierweight division at first. In fact, Skyfire as the next Crusierweight Champion could be likely with the lack of talent that is currently in the WWE's Crusier division. Or perhaps get Skyfire started in a tag team as many of Smackdown's stars have been starting out with recently.
In a match, Seth Skyfire wins this. I realize Tito Santana is a WWE Hall of Famer, but Skyfire is a bit more creative and fun in the ring. Tito was fun in his time but did more jobbing than he probably should have in the latter part of his career. Skyfire's creativity and agility in the ring would overcome El Matador every single time.
1990's- Seth Skyfire vs. Jeff Hardy
And I'm talking about the pre-druggie Jeff Hardy, not the current, tardy, troubled Jeff Hardy we've known over the last couple of years. Jeff and even Matt were both known for making tag team wrestling interesting. Both men were agile and willing to punish their bodies to perform high risk moves for the crowd. Jeff however was always a bit more exciting and inventive in the ring, similar to that of what I see in Seth Skyfire.
Jeff's career in the late 90's and Seth's career the last couple of years are almost identical in a way. Jeff obviously got his start as a tag team specialist. Seth Skyfire did the same thing in OVW. Jeff won a few Tag Team Championships. Seth did the same in OVW. Jeff broke away from his partner to pursue a midcard singles career. Seth Skyfire broke off with his tag team partner and became the OVW TV Champion and is currently working at a main event status in OVW. Pound for pound. Skyfire and Jeff Hardy are more so brothers than Jeff and Matt.
In a match together, these two would have the capability of putting on a pay-per-view caliber match. Both men would be tossing their bodies off of the ropes and/or other objects in the ring. Both men would excite the crowd. I think Seth Skyfire comes out on top here because of Hardy's troubled past. Hardy would find himself a victim of the Wellness program and be punished by doing the job and giving the rub to the younger, cleaner, punctual Seth Skyfire.
Present- Gregory Helms & Rey Mysterio
A second Triple Threat Match for Skyfire. I choose both of these men to highlight to points. Gregory Helms, the career that realistically Seth Skyfire could mimic, being a tag team fan favorite or a Cruiserweight powerhouse. Or Mysterio, the best it could get for a kid that only weighs 190 pounds.
It's obviously tough to believe that a smaller guy can ever be a World Champion but Rey Mysterio made all the little people proud at Summerslam. Will we ever see a little guy be World Champion again? Not anytime soon. Rey Mysterio is being transitioned out of the World Title Picture, probably for good. For the little guys, the Cruiserweight Title and the Tag Titles are the top of your game and if you get any higher than that, you're blessed. That's what Gregory Helms is and what every little guy on the roster will realistically achieve at most in the WWE.
Gregory Helms is pretty inventive and agile for a person his size. Helms, like Skyfire, is borderline Crusierweight/Heavyweight. A quick diet or a cheap buffett can make him one or the other. In his pretty lengthy career, Helms has only reached as high as the Cruiserweight Title. He held the Tag Titles a couple of times and the Hardcore Title a few times as well as The Hurricane. He did beat the Rock on Raw once which will probably remain his career highlight and the biggest name he'll ever beat. Skyfire's career will likely be no better. Skyfire would likely get his start in the tag team division with another OVW partner or would find himself immediatly getting the push in the Crusierweight division.
But if the WWE decides to push another little guy like they did with Rey, several things has to happen. First, Skyfire needs someone to die. I'm just kidding. Sorry Rey.
First Skyfire needs to beat someone big. He needs a big debut. He doesn't need the type of debut that say Gunner Scott got. Getting the upset win then losing every match after that does not a star make. Skyfire will need to either beat a name like Finlay or someone of that calibar a couple of times. That or win a title in his debut a la Carlito.
Rey Mysterio and Seth Skyfire are a lot alike to and I'm really disappointed these two never had their match at Six Flags. About a month or so ago, these two were actually scheduled to wrestle for the World Heavyweight Championship at Six Flags but the rain washed the entire card out. Both of these men are quick and extremely agile. Both men play great baby face characters and both know how to excite the crowd. Both men are workhorses and both men are pioneering the way for smaller guys to succeed in a business that's always been stereotyped for tall, muscular, genetic freaks.
In a match, Rey Mysterio wins hand down. While Helms is decent, he's still shaky, just like Skyfire. Skyfire botches spots every now and then and his consistency in the ring isn't quite ready for him to beat Rey Mysterio. Rey is too quick, too agile, and too experienced for either of these men to come near him. Skyfire needs to find a way to be more consistent in his work and get some big league experience under his belt and then maybe, just maybe, in about 5 years, Seth Skyfire could beat Rey Mysterio.
Seth Skyfire will be on the roster by the end of 2006. If not, I'll not only be surprised but disappointed. Nobody and I mean nobody has developed into a better wrestler this year than Seth Skyfire. Nobody has made better improvement and nobody has impressed me more this year. While Smackdown has made improvement, it's still got a lot of work to do and the first thing that needs to be done is to improve the tag team division and the Cruiser division. The WWE already took one decent step with the arrival of Idol Stevens and KC James on Smackdown but I'm still disappointed in the way the they were introduced and the way they were packaged. Seth Skyfire, along with another OVW callup, maybe someone like Chet The Jet or Cody Runnels could make a nice impact on the tag team division while a start in the Cruiserweight division would probably mean championship gold immediately. Regardless of what happens, look for Seth Skyfire on a WWE show soon and anticipate nothing but exciting, high flying wrestling.
With that, I move on to yet another different part of The Crystal Ball. I received an email this weekend from an independent wrestling organization in Michigan called UWF…Underground Wrestling Federation. The UWF emailed me asking for me to just check out what was on their website and were seeking my approval.
Overall, the UWF is a small, rinky dink backyard wrestling club. The club was started in 1998 back when backyard wrestling was making waves. While many backyard wrestling clubs died out, the UWF not only survived, but have put on 8 seasons of underground wrestling.
They have a few videos on their website too which is worth checking out for some of the crazy bumps these guys take. The ring is obviously set up in someone's back yard. You can actually see the houses in the neighborhood and a group of about 30 or 40 people in lawn chairs standing around a rigged up wrestling ring. You can check out some of the wrestlers, which actually has a year 2000 version of Hulk Hogan as its World Champion.
I actually emailed the company back and got a little information about them. The email, from one of the wrestlers Castor Strong, ended with these words. We just do not want to be judged as just another hardcore backyard wrestling stereotype. We want to show the world that something so small can turn out to be something fun and well respected.
If you'd like to check it out, just go to www.uwfmichigan.com. Go in, check out some of the videos and keep in mind that it's small, independent and not intended to become the next ECW.
I'm going to try to give you options every week that you can go and check out small independent organizations on the web. Most will hopefully have programming on their website and I'll give you the thumbs up and thumbs down. Actually, it will probably be thumbs up because I don't want to waste your time. So if you know of a good wrestling organization that shows their programs on the web, send me an email.
That's going to do it for this edition of The Crystal Ball. Let me know what you think of Seth Skyfire! Anything you're curious about? Anything you disagree with. Let me know. Until then my friends…
