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MY TURN! |
I was
looking at my blog stats and it hit me that people are reading my wrestling
articles!
Should
I do a New Year article or should I do a wrestling blog?
Hmmm...
At the
latter part of 2009, Sheamus won his
first WWE Championship. Almost a
year later, The Miz won his first
WWE Championship as well when he cashed his Money in the Bank contract at a televised Raw show. At Smackdown, Jack Swagger won the Money
in the Bank contract in Wrestlemania and he cashed it almost a week later to
win the World Heavyweight title. Then Kane
won his second big belt after cashing his MITB contract against Rey Mysterio.
I don’t
know if the first title run counts as a title run because Stone Cold Steve Austin lost and won back his title in less than 24
hours!
So why
am I saying this? Shawn Michaels has
retired (unless otherwise), Batista
has left, Undertaker and Triple H didn’t appear much in 2010, John Cena, Randy Orton, Edge, CM Punk, Big
Show, and Sheamus have won too many titles in such a short period of time
and with the current roster where star power is lacking which is why Jerry Lawler is back in the spotlight,
they need to establish a couple of new stars fast!
Since
the ECW Championship doesn’t matter in terms of being a big belt, here are the
ten wrestlers you need to look out for in 2011. I’m probably lucky if I guess 50
percent of the guys perfectly but it should be noted that perhaps there will
only be at least four guys to find their selves owning a big title.
GAME
STARTS NOW!
10 MARK HENRY
/ I am sorry.
I really do. I should be kicked in my balls for even thinking this. I chose to
leave out Ted DiBiase, Even Bourne, Santino, Tyson Kidd, DH Smith, Ezekiel
Jackson, Tyler Reks, most of the Nexus, the mascot formerly known as the
Swagger Soaring Eagle, for this? First of all, Vince likes his big men. Second,
he’s always a threat in matches that isn’t ladder matches (because no ladder
can support his slowness). Third, did you notice that he has been injured for
some time now? And lastly, well... as long as Mark Henry is there, he can
defeat everyone because of his sheer bulk. Hell, I won’t even be surprised if
Christian or numbers 3 to 9 lose to this guy!
You
shouldn’t too.
If
Matt Hardy, Kaval, and MVP are still in the WWE, they’ll probably be in this
spot.
9 KOFI
KINGSTON /
I am not really a
fan of his work but I’ll give this guy credit for doing well. I really enjoyed
his program with Jack Swagger in-ring action-wise and perhaps he can be again a
key player in those Money in the Bank matches. But I just can see him doing
more in his current state. As of now, he looks like a better version of Evan
Bourne because Bourne barely gets a decent ring time on Raw. Maybe a heel turn
for him? That would be good but he needs to establish a Rey Mysterio-like
following first before the creative team can execute this to perfection.
8 DREW
MCINTYRE /
His sick and
sadistic image is direct and usual. It makes me think that he’s just a good-looking
version of Tyler Reks. Anyway, while I can see him hold a title, I think he
needs to have a great material to work with before he gets the title. Give him
feuds with The Undertaker or Edge or have him win against The Big Show and Rey
Mysterio. I can see this guy inheriting the Legend Killer gimmick but he should
stay away from the oldies and stick with the established bets.
7 DASHING CODY
RHODES /
I am loving the
gimmick. I thought for sure, he’d be the forgotten member of Legacy but unlike
Ted DiBiase, he managed to hold on and become more. Sure, the “pretty boy shtick”
has been done overly, but has those pretty boy characters from the 1980’s and
up ever win a world title? Sure, you’ll say Shawn Michaels... but try
disregarding this fact for a sec. Cody should throw a tantrum and then get
excited and furious just like when Hulk Hogan “hulks up” or when a random
wrestler deals a Samoan with a head bump. Also, please make the Beautiful
Disaster his finisher! Cross Rhodes is a generic finisher!
6 DOLPH
ZIGGLER /
I placed him ahead
of those under him because I like the potential he has right now. He sort of
reminds me of Billy Gunn with his Mr. Ass character... except that Ziggler is a
better wrestler. He needs to find a way to drop the name though. The name is
horrible! Dirk Diggler is awesome but Dolph Ziggler sucks! Ziggler is solid in
the ring and while he is a good talker, he also has heat magnet Vickie Guerrero
accompanying him. Perhaps his run with the big belt could happen with Vickie
giving him the opportunities since she’s a Smackdown special consultant to the
GM. Maybe Ziggler could feud with Edge since he’s Vickie Guerrero’s former
flame?
5 DANIEL BRYAN
/
I am more than
certain that indy wrestlers shouldn’t dream of the WWE if they are impatient
and if they can understand the guidelines. But hey, DB made The Miz stand out
and DB gave Michael Cole the “I favor ____” character which gave Cole a
character... and yet DB is now stuck in a love angle with the Bella Twins...
and he is not mad or anything so that means he’s good, right!?! The patience
and respect to the rules could be tools for DB stick and perhaps win a
championship. I just wish he’ll move to Smackdown because the matches there are
longer.
4 JOHN
MORRISON /
The guy is a
championship waiting to happen. He has the looks and his Parkour movesets that
Michael Cole aggressively pimps makes him unique. Everyone has a beef in his
not-so-great mic skills but I don’t think that’s a problem. He is like those
drugged-up rock stars that zone out. I think he needs to stick with one or two
finishers. When I see a large fan, I go near it and I mimic his slomo entrance.
I don’t look pretty when I do that...
3 ALBERTO DEL
RIO /
Mexican JBL is
awesome! While I’d rather have a mascot than a creepy-looking ring announcer,
the way Del Rio is booked is good. He also has the skills to pull off his
persona although he reminds a bit of Carlito’s rookie year. I don’t know how
well he can work with big men but he’ll have fun with Smackdown’s wide array of
good workers. He’ll have to name his cross armbreaker finisher because it is cool
but he also needs another finisher that’s not a submission move. Perhaps the
backstabber?
2 CHRISTIAN / Oh look. Here’s Christian. He
should win a big belt. Hell, he should get a title shot! The problem with
Captain Charisma is that he went to TNA. I think Vince McMahon has something
with regards to those guys. However I think 2011 is the time when Christian
gets pushed. It’s make or break time for him. He has the ability to make people
listen to him. He is a good worker as well. With Chris Jericho out indefinitely
(since he’s touring), maybe they can “heel” Christian up and give him Y2J’s
role. A Money in the Bank win could seal a good face turn but for a heel turn,
WWE should grant us a Edge versus Christian match.
1 WADE BARRETT
/
2010 was a great
year for this rookie. He has the size and the swagger. He is a good talker and
he brawls well. Barrett won NXT and used his reward (a title shot) against
Randy Orton. He had a highly-publicized feud with John Cena and leading the
Nexus, he became WWE’s fresh face up top of their food chain. With his ouster
as Nexus leader, his growth could stop. He could rejoin the Nexus now led by CM
Punk... or exalt revenge to his former allies by siding with Cena. Making him a
face could destroy his main event standing though.
Barrett
has the best chance for winning the belt but I hope Christian wins one.
Hopefully these wrestlers won’t have a crappy 2011.
Actually,
I hope they don’t join the future endeavours club.
Happy
2011!
Game
over!