If all reports are believed and physicals are passed, (eventually) incoming WWE signees are KENTA, Prince Devitt, and Kevin Steen, an eclectic crew of all shapes, size, and nationalities if there ever was one. It kind of shows how misinterpreted Triple H's comments were in That Grantland Interview about how 100% of the roster is going to come through developmental -- he never meant they're going to stop cherrypicking indy and global talent that appeals to their unique draft board, even if he didn't think the American Wolves (or one of them in particular) were what they were looking for.
I know Daniel Bryan and many others have talked about Nigel McGuinness missing out on WWE success due to some bad breaks, but it's probably extra annoying to Colt Cabana that he missed out on a likely run as the king of NXT for a while. '08 Cabana and '05 Samoa Joe would've been intriguing additions under The New Way Of Doings Things. Also, NXT Champion: 2008 Evan Bourne.
There was also word going around yesterday that they signed Willie Mack (en.wikipedia.org). Between him and Kevin Steen, does this mean the "Vince hates fat guys" era is over?
Steen in WWE could be soooo awesome, if they even remotely handle him right.
Originally posted by SchippeWreckThere was also word going around yesterday that they signed Willie Mack (en.wikipedia.org). Between him and Kevin Steen, does this mean the "Vince hates fat guys" era is over?
Steen in WWE could be soooo awesome, if they even remotely handle him right.
Well, he certainly isn't a 'fat' guy, but Bray Wyatt is both portly and given some of the most TV time at present.
You know, watching the network has made me hanker for a guy in a spangly suit doin' it for 'Murica and now a fat guy (Just watched Survivor Series '87 and really miss Bigelow even more now.)
(edited by Lexus on 20.5.14 1348) "Laugh and the world laughs with you. Frown and the world laughs at you." -Me.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroIf all reports are believed and physicals are passed, (eventually) incoming WWE signees are KENTA, Prince Devitt, and Kevin Steen, an eclectic crew of all shapes, size, and nationalities if there ever was one. It kind of shows how misinterpreted Triple H's comments were in That Grantland Interview about how 100% of the roster is going to come through developmental -- he never meant they're going to stop cherrypicking indy and global talent that appeals to their unique draft board, even if he didn't think the American Wolves (or one of them in particular) were what they were looking for.
Excited about KENTA, who's pretty amazing and often credited with a lot of the moves CM Punk and Daniel Bryan use. Of course, he probably won't be using his Running Knee in WWE, but I'm really interested to see what they do with him. Can't wait to see if he's another Muta or another Tajiri. Not that there was anything wrong with Tajiri.
I think the WWE Performance Center doesn't have the longevity yet for us to know how it's really going to be playing out in 5 years, but I imagine once enough talent is ready to graduate from there and move on to NXT and they have their own in-house farm system going, we're going to see less and less guys plucked from ROH and the indy circuit.
This isn't the last wave of guys who will be picked from the indies or anything, and if someone is really outstanding, they'll probably work to sign them, but if this all plays out the way it's engineered to, while not the last of a dying breed, strong indy prospects are going to be an endangered species.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroIf all reports are believed and physicals are passed, (eventually) incoming WWE signees are KENTA, Prince Devitt, and Kevin Steen, an eclectic crew of all shapes, size, and nationalities if there ever was one. It kind of shows how misinterpreted Triple H's comments were in That Grantland Interview about how 100% of the roster is going to come through developmental -- he never meant they're going to stop cherrypicking indy and global talent that appeals to their unique draft board, even if he didn't think the American Wolves (or one of them in particular) were what they were looking for.
Excited about KENTA, who's pretty amazing and often credited with a lot of the moves CM Punk and Daniel Bryan use. Of course, he probably won't be using his Running Knee in WWE, but I'm really interested to see what they do with him. Can't wait to see if he's another Muta or another Tajiri. Not that there was anything wrong with Tajiri.
I think the WWE Performance Center doesn't have the longevity yet for us to know how it's really going to be playing out in 5 years, but I imagine once enough talent is ready to graduate from there and move on to NXT and they have their own in-house farm system going, we're going to see less and less guys plucked from ROH and the indy circuit.
This isn't the last wave of guys who will be picked from the indies or anything, and if someone is really outstanding, they'll probably work to sign them, but if this all plays out the way it's engineered to, while not the last of a dying breed, strong indy prospects are going to be an endangered species.
(edited by SKLOKAZOID on 20.5.14 1051)
I don't know that I'd go that far. It seems like what they're doing right now is taking guys with a good pedigree and running them through their own system, teaching them the WWE style and seeing how they work out. A viable pattern for the future would be sending guys out to the indies to learn their trade and then bringing them back into the system for conditioning when it seems like they've become a product the WWE wants to put out. Basically, a guy could potentially start out in WWE developmental, get booted, tour the world, come back, and get promoted up to NXT and the RAW.
I've been keeping up with "insider talk" about KENTA showing up to the WWE developmental center in Florida for a few months now as well as the deals being made with DeVitt. NJPW has already made the adjustments by replacing Devitt with AJ Styles, and NOAH is pretty much dead. I'm happily surprised about Steen. I hope that he won't have to slim down for TV, the more unique his body type compared to the typical WWE talent the better. I can imagine him getting mocked by pretty boy Orton or Ziggler and then Steen proceeding to kill either guy with the many dangerous looking moves he'll have to replace The Package Piledriver with.
I'm excited, sad for Misawa's dream dying with him. I don't want to see Kenta held down due to a language barrier or size as he was my favorite wrestler from NOAH that wasn't already a made star in AJPW. I think Devitt will be fine, he has a great look and those Y2J light up jackets. This can all go really great or terribly for someone or all three men.
As long as they don't turn KENTA into a caricature, then I'll be a happy guy. It's not like this company would do something stupid like package a Japanese wrestler as a real-life hated and loathed Japanese dictator or something.
Triple H seems to have been interested in Devitt since early 2013 but it's probably better that they never got a deal done because I think Devitt benefited from the whole Bullet Club angle in NJPW.
Triple H seems to have been interested in Devitt since early 2013 but it's probably better that they never got a deal done because I think Devitt benefited from the whole Bullet Club angle in NJPW.
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