Post by Evil Abed on Dec 17, 2022 11:25:03 GMT -5
Just wanted to get public opinion on where you guys think everyone has landed since returning. Everyone loves a good return but obviously its just as important to have a plan for that star after the initial comeback or interest will die out quick. Where do you think everyone is currently? Here's my thoughts
Good Rehire/Use of Talent:
Cody Rhodes - Guy will be World Champ some day, went from floundering in his own company to being near the top tier in the one he left 6 years ago.
Dexter Lumis - Guy fits a niche role and used properly could be either silent comedy face or scary heel. His feud with Miz has been great/different.
Giovanni Vinci - Gunther & Kaiser were a strong pairing before but reuniting Imperium has done wonders for all 3.
Scarlett - She's a great manager, unfortunately she's tied to dead weight
Dakota Kai/Iyo Sky - Two solid talents helping strengthen the women's division all while propping up Bayley.
Too Early to Tell:
Johnny Gargano - This guy could be huge for WWE but feels like they're heading in the wrong direction. Partially bummed they murdered his entrance music with that remix.
Candice LeRae - I don't think at her age and with a kid at home now that she's ever going to be doing much more than what she is currently (mid card feuding with the likes of Nikki Cross).
Tegan Nox - Just returned, could be a solid program with Damage Control given history with Dakota. Could also get lost in the shuffle quickly. Injuries or lack there of I think will determine how far she goes.
Bray Wyatt - Trying to give him the benefit of the doubt currently. Guy went from massive re-debut to losing interest quick. Someone said it best in the Smackdown thread, im currently higher on the LA Knight character side of this feud and the constant rambling is not helping Wyatts case. Hoping the slow burn leads somewhere solid. Not sold on the Uncle Howdy character currently.
Braun Strowman - Seemingly heading towards an IC feud with Gunther which could be solid but the same problem with Braun exists as before. He should be booked as an unstoppable monster and instead he comes off as dimwitted by the ways that he loses matches. Booking is doing him no favors, but its also not like he has a slew of guys to be put against that would seem legit on the heel side. He should be pushed as a heel and then you could logically have him demolish smaller guys instead of losing to them constantly.
Non-Difference Makers/Dead in the Water:
Karrion Kross - Seemed like he was going to be something of importance upon return the way he was booked, especially being one of the first to return, and has just been a non factor ever since. His "Universal Title" promos led him nowhere and now it seems like he's farther away from importance than when he first arrived.
Hit Row - Maybe its just not my group to relate to but I just never saw the appeal here (honestly even with Swerve I thought it was wildly overrated). Their matches are atrocious, conditioning and technical skills are lacking severely. Feels like some weird knock off mix of Street Profits and Cryme Tyme, just without the Profits match quality and Cryme Tyme's entertaining appeal.
Valhalla - It doesn't help Erik & Ivar aren't getting any younger and seemingly have lost a step moving slower in the ring. Maybe I missed it, maybe I don't want to know - introducing the Raiders as from Vahalla and then having your manager named Valhalla sounds like she birthed them, which gets even weirder knowing Erik & Val's relationship in real life.
Mia Yim/Michin - Pretty much was done for the moment she re-debuted. Not one person in the crowd cared that Mia Yim returned, I don't think there is a majority that have cared since. Could have been set up for a feud with Ripley but it feels like a complete mismatch. Rhea is arguably at the highest point of her career - doing her best work, and Mia is a third-fourth tier women's division wrestler at best.
Anderson/Gallows - Clearly brought back just to settle this OC/Judgment Day Feud. Once thats over I don't have high hopes for these two. Their resigning does nothing to strengthen the tag division at its core. Uso's own the division and I don't see that ending anytime soon, leaving not a lot for two guys like Anderson/Gallows.
Emma - Interesting re-debut against Rousey but has done literally nothing since. Looked like we might have gotten a Madcap/Emma vs Kross/Scarlett feud at one point but that seemingly was scrapped (not that anyone in that proposed feud should have wanted that to be their program anyways)
Good Rehire/Use of Talent:
Cody Rhodes - Guy will be World Champ some day, went from floundering in his own company to being near the top tier in the one he left 6 years ago.
Dexter Lumis - Guy fits a niche role and used properly could be either silent comedy face or scary heel. His feud with Miz has been great/different.
Giovanni Vinci - Gunther & Kaiser were a strong pairing before but reuniting Imperium has done wonders for all 3.
Scarlett - She's a great manager, unfortunately she's tied to dead weight
Dakota Kai/Iyo Sky - Two solid talents helping strengthen the women's division all while propping up Bayley.
Too Early to Tell:
Johnny Gargano - This guy could be huge for WWE but feels like they're heading in the wrong direction. Partially bummed they murdered his entrance music with that remix.
Candice LeRae - I don't think at her age and with a kid at home now that she's ever going to be doing much more than what she is currently (mid card feuding with the likes of Nikki Cross).
Tegan Nox - Just returned, could be a solid program with Damage Control given history with Dakota. Could also get lost in the shuffle quickly. Injuries or lack there of I think will determine how far she goes.
Bray Wyatt - Trying to give him the benefit of the doubt currently. Guy went from massive re-debut to losing interest quick. Someone said it best in the Smackdown thread, im currently higher on the LA Knight character side of this feud and the constant rambling is not helping Wyatts case. Hoping the slow burn leads somewhere solid. Not sold on the Uncle Howdy character currently.
Braun Strowman - Seemingly heading towards an IC feud with Gunther which could be solid but the same problem with Braun exists as before. He should be booked as an unstoppable monster and instead he comes off as dimwitted by the ways that he loses matches. Booking is doing him no favors, but its also not like he has a slew of guys to be put against that would seem legit on the heel side. He should be pushed as a heel and then you could logically have him demolish smaller guys instead of losing to them constantly.
Non-Difference Makers/Dead in the Water:
Karrion Kross - Seemed like he was going to be something of importance upon return the way he was booked, especially being one of the first to return, and has just been a non factor ever since. His "Universal Title" promos led him nowhere and now it seems like he's farther away from importance than when he first arrived.
Hit Row - Maybe its just not my group to relate to but I just never saw the appeal here (honestly even with Swerve I thought it was wildly overrated). Their matches are atrocious, conditioning and technical skills are lacking severely. Feels like some weird knock off mix of Street Profits and Cryme Tyme, just without the Profits match quality and Cryme Tyme's entertaining appeal.
Valhalla - It doesn't help Erik & Ivar aren't getting any younger and seemingly have lost a step moving slower in the ring. Maybe I missed it, maybe I don't want to know - introducing the Raiders as from Vahalla and then having your manager named Valhalla sounds like she birthed them, which gets even weirder knowing Erik & Val's relationship in real life.
Mia Yim/Michin - Pretty much was done for the moment she re-debuted. Not one person in the crowd cared that Mia Yim returned, I don't think there is a majority that have cared since. Could have been set up for a feud with Ripley but it feels like a complete mismatch. Rhea is arguably at the highest point of her career - doing her best work, and Mia is a third-fourth tier women's division wrestler at best.
Anderson/Gallows - Clearly brought back just to settle this OC/Judgment Day Feud. Once thats over I don't have high hopes for these two. Their resigning does nothing to strengthen the tag division at its core. Uso's own the division and I don't see that ending anytime soon, leaving not a lot for two guys like Anderson/Gallows.
Emma - Interesting re-debut against Rousey but has done literally nothing since. Looked like we might have gotten a Madcap/Emma vs Kross/Scarlett feud at one point but that seemingly was scrapped (not that anyone in that proposed feud should have wanted that to be their program anyways)
