I think what's most encoraging about the whole 'next big thing' scenario is that WWE aren't putting all their eggs in one basket, as they have done in the past, and this means thgey've got plenty of avenues to explore as they go on. Certainly doing something like this is essential when you take injuries/suspensions into account.
For me? Not the immediate future, and I'm hesitant in saying it, but Ted DiBiase Jr. Now this is going to go one of two ways. He's either going to be awesome, and everyone's going to call it ahead of time, or everyone's gonna say he'll be great, and he'll just flop, and here's where I'm a little hesitant. Kenny Dykstra? Remember him? Just over a year again, everyone was saying he'll be great, he'll be a solid upper-midcard act by the time 2008 comes. Where is he? Doing house shows. Ditto DH Smith, we all thought he'd rocket to the top...he's stuck flailing around on Heat.
But Ted Jr. seems a different kettle of fish altogether. What impression are WWE giving the audience when they bring this unknown guy out on RAW, with his Hall Of Fame dad, and give him mic time on national television? They're telling the crowd that 'hey, look, this kid's special'. People have been making the Randy Orton comparison...is that a bad thing? Hell no, apart from perhaps attitude. If DiBiase goes along the same route as Orton, and I can envisage a sort of 'Evolution' stable for him early on in his career, then we've got something good going on. If he does indeed take his dad's gimmick, WWE are on to a winner. As long as they don't drop the ball, I can see DiBiase Jr. becoming a regular fixture in the midcard within the next two years, and then hopefully after that, he'll be able to break the glass ceiling into the top tier.