Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel - Tag Team Saviours

[FSWWE]

Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel​

Yesterday Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel had an incredible match against The Usos, and it made me miss the Tag Team Divison...

The Usos were fucking brilliant, but Slater & Gabriel have a lot more exposure/ accomplishments now:
- former Nexus members,
- former Corre members;
- 3x times WWE Tag Team Champions

They can capitalize on that to create an incredible Tag Team like in the old days, they have the look and the ring skills to do that.
Seeing the match I was thinking about E&C vs The Dudleys, it really felt like this tag team legends.

• Can Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel acquire success as a Tag Team?
• Can anyone of them be a successful singles competitor?
• Would you book him as a Tag Team like E&C and Miz & Morrison, with their own promo shows?

 

[Remix]

Can Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel acquire success as a Tag Team?

Well why not? They aready have, haven't they? There's not much competition for them in the tag scene and they're both good wrestlers so there's not many good teams for them to beat in order for them to get the tag titles.

Can anyone of them be a successful singles competitor?

Oh god yes, Justin definately could. Especially if he's given something resembling his gimmick from his pre-FCW days. Fucker's got a hell of a lot of tallent and an arsenal big enough to keep pulling surprises out of the hat for years to come. I don't see much in Slater though. He sells well but other than that I don't see much in him, charisma wise or skill wise. So he's probably destined for the jobber heap.

Would you book him as a Tag Team like E&C and Miz & Morrison, with their own promo shows?

Christ no. Let me show why.

[YOUTUBE]gvIRjKmXr2Q[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]NfrrDCMIo2w[/YOUTUBE]

Neither of these guys can cut a good promo.

 

[Ming]

Of course they can accomplish more as a tag team, they've won three tag team championships already(somehow?).

I think they're a good tag team and are good fillers for the division.

Individually I think they're opposite, Slater's a clown and Gabriel's good enough in the ring with his finisher to get over alone on that basis just like Evan Bourne. I wouldn't give them their own promo shows, Miz & Morrison and E & C had very, very good chemistry among themselves but Slater and Gabriel even attempting a promo show would be laughable.

I think they have a decent future as a tag team but individually, Slater should become future endeavored and Gabriel would be a fine mid-carder.

 

[Camm123]

Good question- from what I saw on Smackdown, the two could work out very well, but I still don't know if they will have what it takes to be tag team champions with the way they act. I don't really find Slater very interesting, and Gabriel can be exciting at times. I do agree though, the Uso's very great last night! I think they are getting a real push, and I can see them even pulling off a championship IF they are not released. I think if they bring back an actual division for tag teams they could be great, just like Ming said.

I don't know though, if they were to have a tag team division, there would be McGuillicutty/Otunga, Uso's, Slater/Gabriel and...anyone else..

 

[LSN80]

Yesterday Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel had an incredible match against The Usos, and it made me miss the Tag Team Divison...

I don't know if a 5 minute match can be seen as incredible, but it was solid for the time alotted. For me, the team that seems to be getting the push out of it is the Usos, who have become fan favorites over the past two weeks, and have really clicked together in the ring. It was a great match for the Uso’s. They showed some flashy offense and picked up a clean win.

[*]Can Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel acquire success as a Tag Team?[

They already have, right? Being 3 time tag team champions within a years time is success as a tag team, no matter how watered down the division is. Can they have continued success? Hard to say. Like Barrett, theyve never done any work outside of a faction, and losing clean in a 5 minute match leaves them looking directionless for the time being. They definitely seem n the outside looking in with regards to the championship picture.

[*]Can anyone of them be a successful singles competitor?

Maybe Gabriel, if he can add some mass and quicken his pace a little bit. I don't see much in Heath Slater honestly, as I don't see him as having a good look, solid in the ring, or being a good talker. Gabriel showed flashes here and there of all 3 during season 1 of NXT, but he hasn't competed much in a solo capacity since. Id be interested in seeing what Gabriel can do as a single's competitor, so the possibility is there. But ultimately, I see both topping out as tag team specialists.

[*]Would you book him as a Tag Team like E&C and Miz & Morrison, with their own promo shows?

I wouldn't. I think they would draw more "go away" heat then anything if they did. Neither of them is particularly strong on the mic, and I think this would overexpose their weaknesses. There are better performers, like the Usos, who should be features within the tag team ranks over Gabriel and Slater. I don't see them as big time players with the charisma or upside that the other teams you mentioned do, and as such, I personally wouldn't.

 

[Remix]

Maybe Gabriel, if he can add some mass and quicken his pace a little bit.

I think that adding mass would be quite counterproductive to Gabriel, because being heavier does make it harder to pull off the springboard stuff he does, and naturally slows you down anyway. As it stands, he can scoop slam 260+ lbs and that's probably enough to be getting on with tbh. He's got the skills to hurt people from all ends of the spectrum, from power moves, to strikes, to submissions and obviously with high flying manouvers. He can go faster with his current mass, but he's learned to slow down and tone down his high flying in FCW, for good reasons. If he picks up the pace, it's little more than a bigger, African Evan Bourne. If he keeps his grappling and slamming he's got himself a nische as a small allrounder who can go with anybody on the roster and produce something good. Rather than just a high flier, which are ten a penny outside WWE.

Gabriel showed flashes here and there of all 3 during season 1 of NXT, but he hasn't competed much in a solo capacity since. Id be interested in seeing what Gabriel can do as a single's competitor, so the possibility is there. But ultimately, I see both topping out as tag team specialists.

I don't think that's the limit for Gabriel, at least. He's spent most of his career pre Nexus being pushed as a singles guy for good reason and even with his lack of mic skills he could make a very good (upper) midcarder because of how good he is in the ring.

Slater too would be better spent outside the tag division too, where his selling ability and the fact that he's a very safe worker (he was in the ring with Bret for a reason) means that he'd be very useful getting greenhorns over. If WWE still had a tag division, I could see him as a perenial tag teamer, but there simply isn't and to make him a "tag team guy" would just be a waste of a perfectly good jobber.

 

[Theo Mays]

Can Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel acquire success as a Tag Team?
-They already have acquire success as a team. Like you've said they are 3 time tag champs already.

Can anyone of them be a successful singles competitor?
-I think Slater has mid card potential. He is a guy who could carry the IC or US title a time or two, but I think that is where he maxes out at. Gabriel could smell the main event a time or two, but I think he is an upper midcard kind of guy. Sort of like Jeff Hardy a few years back. He'll taste the main event and maybe get the championship, but it is likely he is going to be a key name in the midcard in years to come.

Would you book him as a Tag Team like E&C and Miz & Morrison, with their own promo shows?
-Heavens no. I love Slater, he is one of my personal favorites but he can't talk if his live depended on it. His voice is too hick and rather annoying in its own right. Gabriel isn't much of the talker either. Certainly not as bad as Slater, but certainly not good either.

I want to go back to a point LSN made in his post about The Usos. I really think the purpose of that match was to put The Usos in the spotlight and build them up as contenders for the tag team championships. I believe The Usos would benefit from carrying the straps. They have charisma, work well together, are getting over with the fans, and are on a hot streak. If the WWE wants to put some focus on the tag team division, let The Usos carry the load. They have what it takes.

 

[Trill Co$by]

Would you book him as a Tag Team like E&C and Miz & Morrison, with their own promo shows?

Christ no. Let me show why.

[YOUTUBE]gvIRjKmXr2Q[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]NfrrDCMIo2w[/YOUTUBE]

Neither of these guys can cut a good promo.

I respectfully disagree with you on that one. For one, those FCW videos are far too outdated. Hell, Alex Riley was horrible on the mic in FCW but now he's pretty decent. Heath and Gabriel have become more natural on the mic since being with Nexus and Corre and so now they may have a valid shot at being a nice trash talking heel tag team.


Now, I'm not sure how much of Slater and Gabriel as a team the OP has seen, but I've felt the connection between the two for a while now. When they first won the titles and started working with Santino and Kozlov, I felt that they made a very decent and fair balanced team. The two have worked hard on their tag team work and have started to come off as a modern day Smokin' Guns in terms of chemistry. Now without Barrett or other people, this is their chance to become something big.

 

[FSWWE]

In my opinion they are the team with most chemistry to create a version of The Miz and Morrison, currently.

Heath Slater has the look of a goofy guy, that mocks everyone, Justin has a babyface look no doubt about that.
I think that if they have a Tag Team feud like in the older days, these guys could really have a great chance to be successful by themselves.
WWE should bring the Tag Team Division back, because this is the most successful way to make a superstar rise to the top, and we have a lot of examples, like HBK, Bret Hart, Ric Flair, Batista, Randy Orton, Edge and Christian, Jeff Hardy all of them were part of a tag team in their early days and all of them have a World Championship in their record.

There are lots of guys that came to WWE being a complete crap on the mic and that eventually they turn audible, like R-Truth or Dolph Ziggler.
I would like a push for them, The Usos, The Nexus and some other FCW guy to team up with Johnny Curtis.

 

[Remix]

I respectfully disagree with you on that one. For one, those FCW videos are far too outdated.

Ok. Here's a more recent with them talking. They haven't improved much.

[YOUTUBE]eQogcWSAif0[/YOUTUBE]

Hell, Alex Riley was horrible on the mic in FCW but now he's pretty decent.

No he wasn't. That was one of his selling points back then. See:

[youtube]AWGVxK_Grn0#t=1m30s[/youtube]

Heath and Gabriel have become more natural on the mic since being with Nexus and Corre and so now they may have a valid shot at being a nice trash talking heel tag team.

Yeah, no.

 

[Daniel]

Slater and Gabriel? No. If you're looking for tag team saviours, look no further than who they faced last night. I've been saying this for months and months, and now it may becoming true. The Usos can be the focal point of the tag team division. They have the in-ring ability (The Usos impressed me on Smackdown, not Slater and Gabriel) and they can talk. Their personality is an unknown quantity now they're faces, but as heels they undoubtedly had character.

As for Slater and Gabriel, there's now doubt that they can wrestle. Although I definitely prefer Gabriel to Slater in the ring. But their mic skills just aren't good. Gabriel is brutal on the mic, Slater is just a bit better. But the main problem with them is that they're bland. Really bland. In the Nexus, that didn't matter because Wade Barrett was the focal of that group. In The Corre, it mattered a bit more, but they could still get away with it because they were part of a bigger group. It's the same reason why McGillicutty and Otunga can get away with it. But If you're a tag team on you're own, you better have personality or be prepared to die. The Hart Dynasty found that out.

So can Slater and Gabriel be the saviours of the tag team division? Not without cultivating some sort of personality. And definitely not as long as Vince McMahon doesn't want a tag team division.

 

[martymcfly]

Back to the original questions, I guess it all boils down to what you define as "success". If success means keeping your job and hanging around for a while, then sure, probably. If success means having your career skyrocket and having a huge majority of fans care about you and love you, then no, probably not.

Specifically, for the first question, success as a tag team. Well...can anyone really be a success and a tag team in the WWE right now? In the WWE, tag teams is where you put people that you don't want completely off television but you don't really have anything for them to do right now. So I guess you could say that these two have been successful, or as successful as a tag team can be in the WWE.

Success as a singles competitor? Doubtful. I don't think either is bad, but Slater does not really stand out in any meaningful way, and if he were to lose his job right now I doubt anyone would even remember him in a year or two. It seemed like Gabriel had his own little mini following when he was part of the original nexus, but that seems to have fizzled out now. So ultimately, I think these two might be able to hang around in lower or midcard level, but I don't really see either of them having careers that will put folks in seats.

For the last question, I can't really answer that, I never watched promo shows and I can not attest if they really make a significant difference in someone's career or not.

So to summarize, no, I think these two will probably be around for a little while and hopefully someone will think of something good for them to do. Otherwise, they are on their way out. But you never know, one of them might get lucky along the way and pull a cody rhodes and end up ok.

 

[Kayoh]

You know, the more I think about it, the more I think Gabriel and Slater will be in similar (of not the exact same) position as John Morrison and Dolph Ziggler in ~3 years or so. Top of the midcard, brink of the main event. If you'd ask yourself who the two top guys in the WWE are right now who've never LEGITIMATELY (20 minute reigns don't count) held a Main Event title, Morrison and Ziggler are the two standout names, hands down. That's the position I can see Gabriel & Slater being in down the line because they're both great. Gabriel is athletic, and one of those guys who you want to see in matches; same as Jomo. And Slater is very talented in a similar way to Ziggler in that he sells EXTREMELY well and has the technical prowess.

When I say Gabriel is one of those guys who you want to see in matches, I mean a dream match name.

Gabriel vs Morrison
Gabriel vs Ziggler
Gabriel vs Mysterio
Gabriel vs Bourne
Gabriel vs Bryan (happened already, but they're both more established now, I want to see them go for 20+ minutes)
Gabriel vs Cara

Even outside the company. I'd love to see Gabriel vs any number of guys like Styles, Samoa Joe, Roddy Strong, Davey Richards, hell even Chris Daniels. He's one of those guys.

Slater, on the other hand, is more someone you would want to see wrestle McGuinness or Angle. Somebody who can put on a great match without even letting his feet touch the ropes. Slater is the guy who you use to put up and comers over because he just makes the other guy look great. Gabriel is the star.

 

[Johnny Scumm]

Can Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel acquire success as a Tag Team?
Sure, of course they can. However, they already seem to have done so, by winning the Tag Titles 3 times. Which in my eyes is a bit pathetic. They should have truly worked their way up, albeit with no true Tag Teams to fight, but maybe they could have one reign under their belts right now, not 2. But yes, I think they will continue to have Tag Team success.

Can anyone of them be a successful singles competitor?
Definitely Gabriel. I find Slater uninteresting and basically, immensely boring when he's alone. He can't pull a promo and you can't deny, he's not the best of Wrestlers either.

Would you book him as a Tag Team like E&C and Miz & Morrison, with their own promo shows?
Never. As Remixie has proven, they are both crap Promo cutters. To do this is just suicide for both of them. I'd like to see them have a mouthpiece, but who, I don't know as of yet.

 

[Trill Co$by]

Ok. Here's a more recent with them talking. They haven't improved much.

[YOUTUBE]eQogcWSAif0[/YOUTUBE]

I'm sorry... I'm sorry...

What exactly is wrong with what they just did? That's basic mic skills 101... They went out, said who they were, and what you could expect from them. How is that terrible mic skills? Randy Orton and John Morrison both do that shit every single time they pick up a mic. Yet a rookie comes to the ring and does the same thing, so you say his skills suck? Well I'm sorry that those guys actually took time to study their promo skills before actually being put into one.

 

[Dagger Dias]

Slater and Gabriel are the most successful tag team since Miz and Morrison. They are now 3 time tag team champions and are the best candidates to center the division around for a bit. I think they would be better off as a team for now. If they split up then Gabriel would end up like Bourne and Slater might get lost in the shuffle. Having their own show could be fun because it would further their characters like the Dirt Sheet did for Miz and Morrison. I would be all for that idea, as well as making them the focus of the tag team division for a while so the belts can be on an actual team who could use the push.

 

[vthokie8]

•Can Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel acquire success as a Tag Team?
They technically have, they have won the titles which isn't saying much these days, but they are probably the most successful tag team on the roster right now behind maybe Big Show & Kane.

•Can anyone of them be a successful singles competitor?
I think Gabriel could be a top midcarder. I don't think he has the mic skills to really get over as a WWE main eventer. I do think he could work some great matches with guys like Daniel Bryan, Sin Cara, Kofi, Rey and the more technical and high flying guys. I like him as a broody heel, I think he would be a little too cheesy as a face. Slater reminds me a lot of Christian in a way, I think with time he could be a guy I might see in a main event program in transition now is just not the time. I think a guy like Slater needs a tag team to grow from much like Christian did. I would love to see him with Husky Harris or Trevor Murdoch and have them kind of play off each others characters. Kind of like Cade & Murdoch, two country boys yet so unalike.

•Would you book him as a Tag Team like E&C and Miz & Morrison, with their own promo shows?
No I wouldn't want to hear either of them promo for more than two minutes without wanting to rip my ears off. Slater is a little better than Gabriel but that is like saying the Timberwolves are a better basketball team than the Cavaliers. I don't mean to sound rude, but there is just something about Slater's accent that kills me. I think it is the fact that he doesn't look like he sounds I know this sounds crazy but it is something that has always bothered me about him.

 

[#hamler]

Can Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel acquire success as a Tag Team?

Like many others have stated, three tag team championship runs are good enough to say they have acquired a great deal of success as a tag team. Can they achieve more? No doubt. I see these two sticking by each others side for a bit longer until they over themselves with the crowd.

Can anyone of them be a successful singles competitor?

Justin Gabriel is one of my favorite guys in the WWE. He can surely win over any crowd if he simply showcases his ability in a good match. Heath Slater, well maybe. I really don't see such a bright future for him. To me, he's bland, boring, and doesn't really have the look it takes to be someone huge in the WWE.

Would you book him as a Tag Team like E&C and Miz & Morrison, with their own promo shows?

No. They would be god awful in those type skits. Hold up...

I'm sorry... I'm sorry...

What exactly is wrong with what they just did? That's basic mic skills 101... They went out, said who they were, and what you could expect from them. How is that terrible mic skills? Randy Orton and John Morrison both do that shit every single time they pick up a mic. Yet a rookie comes to the ring and does the same thing, so you say his skills suck? Well I'm sorry that those guys actually took time to study their promo skills before actually being put into one.

Just because you remember your script, makes you great on the mic? No. Hell no. You would have to be mentally inept not to understand that Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel have horrid talking ability. And what do you mean "Randy Orton and John Morrison do the same thing?" The video shows that these two shouldn't be taking the Miz/Morrison approach and perform skits to show how talented they are to over themselves with the crowd. You totally dodged the point Remixie was making...

 

[Remix]

I'm sorry... I'm sorry...

What exactly is wrong with what they just did?

They cut a dull, unemotional promo which nobody could care about the second after they stopped talking.

That's basic mic skills 101... They went out, said who they were, and what you could expect from them.

Great. But they still didn't grab anyone's attention in the same way that someone like Wade Barrett did saying "ladies and gentlemen, my name's Wade Barrett..." in week one of NXT.

How is that terrible mic skills? Randy Orton and John Morrison both do that shit every single time they pick up a mic.

Two guys who get shat on for being shitty promocutters.

Yet a rookie comes to the ring and does the same thing, so you say his skills suck?

By whatever defintion you use, neither of those guys are rookies. Gabriel's got 14 years in the buisness, and Slater's got 6. And they've both been on WWE TV full time for over a year. They both are uninteresting on the mic, making them completely unsuited for the role advocated in the OP.

Well I'm sorry that those guys actually took time to study their promo skills before actually being put into one.

Yes. That's why they suck on the mic

 

[FSWWE]

I still think that they have a great future, they are only flying solo for two weeks and you already hate the dudes.

Heath Slater has a funny look, Justin Gabriel is already loved by a lot of guys.
Everybody starts from the bottom, everybody!!

And please tell me why the blue hell do you think that Randy Orton is a shit on the mic?
The guy can make me feel his emotions in every word he says, so I'm sorry but your mic evaluation is completely crap Remixie.
In JoMo I agree he is the worst talker in the WWE by miles and comparing him to Orton, fuck no way...

 

[Bingching]

Meh, I'd break the tag-team up. Next weak, you can have a money in the bank qualifying match between the two, which Obviously Gabriel wins. Then when the money in the bank match is going on, Heath can come in the ring and turn on Gabriel. This turns Gabriel into a face, and with his move-set and look, the fans will instantly start giving him big pops. Over the next couple weeks on smackdown you have them feud, and you have match between them at Summerslam. Gabriel gets put over and instantly goes into the mid-card scene, and Slater disappears and gets released.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Feel like they would make a fine face team, as well, especially with that theme. Could be a sort of new age Rockers.

Will the dissolving of all the factions and nothing guys running about all over, it only makes sense to have many of them form tag teams. Guys like Otunga, Mcguilicutty, Mason Ryan, Hunky Harris, the other kid who won NXT this season....Lots of them could use time for seasoning in tag teams, and could work well to bolster the division.


I wouldnt say "Slabriel" in and of themselves will save the division, but they are certainley a step in the right direction

 

[Mick Foley is the Best]

Holy crap, these guys are COMPLETELY changing the WWE tag team landscape. I saw that incredible match against the Usos and I think they could be the next Team 3D or Edge & Christian.