Brad Maddox "What Could Have been"

[Jstrike]

So we're almost 1 year away from when brad maddox screwed ryback for the wwe championship, woah! what a serve that was, but the whole plan was ruined, cause wwe can never go through with anything they start so brad doesn't get a contract "kayfabe" but what if brad would've beat ryback? and won the 1 million dollar contract? and would've got a push straight to the top, which could've led to brad maddox becoming a big superstar, and could have by now made him a top star! now don't say like are you kidding? cause the shield became huge in 1 year! i know 30 percent of you guy's knew about ambrose and rollins before the debut, but literally let's face it until the shield started ambrose and rollins we're just good rookie's now their close to being the main eventer's. so what if brad would've got the big push? who know's what wwe would be like?
what could've been for brad maddox?

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I think you're giving Brad Maddox FAR, FAR too much credit and ability for what he brings to the table. I've seen Maddox wrestle and I can't say that I've ever seen anything all that special about him, the same goes on the mic. When I look at the guys who are on the roster in 2013 who are getting most of the attention like Cena, Bryan, Punk, Orton, The Shield, Axel, Ziggler, Ryback and Del Rio; I can't see Maddox carrying their jock straps. At the end of the day, Brad Maddox just isn't that good.

I know that it's common to wonder what would happen if this wrestler got pushed, that wrestler got put into this spot, these wrestlers were put into the title scene, etc. whenever someone who seems to have the slightest spark of talent pops up. If everyone who someone thought had potential was given a big push, then there'd be a revolving door in the main event picture and titles would change on a weekly basis. Maybe Maddox would have been "the next big thing", but I personally don't think so. If I had to pick between any one of the wrestlers I listed and Maddox getting a push, it wouldn't be Maddox.

 

[Kris Benwa]

He wouldn't have been diddly squat. I think this turned out for the better because Maddox I haven't seen wrestle but I can assume he doesn't do it very well because he doesn't and on the mic he's awkward but I find it funny sometimes. I just don't think he would be good for a big superstar push but I think he's great in his current role so I'd argue it worked out for the best.

 

[d_henderson1810]

I don't know why the WWE still employ Brad Maddox. They never have him wrestle. He struggles on the mike, and he comes across as a bumbling idiot. Maybe they signed him to a contract off-screen, and are waiting for it to expire before they future-endeavour him. I don't see anything he brings to the table.

To think, there are talented guys in NXT who haven't got the call-up, talented guys like Wade Barrett, who has more upside, jobbing every week, while Maddox gets more face-time being Triple H and Stephanie's bumbling henchman. I just don't get it.

 

[Mitch Henessey]

Yeah, I've never seen anything special in Brad Maddox, at all. His shtick as this clueless schmuck/kiss ass isn't funny or entertaining. He was lucky to be in the right place at the right time during the Ryback/Punk feud, but that's about it. WWE could've used any other ref on their roster to give Ryback a low blow, and the difference wouldn't be noticeable, because Heyman and Punk were the culprits behind it all.

I can think of other wrestlers on WWE's roster, who are more worthy of a significant push than Maddox. Somewhere down the line, there's going to come a time, when Maddox is "fired" from his job. After that, I'll be shocked if WWE decides to keep Maddox on the roster.

 

[DetectiveZelix]

For the record I think all of the mess ups Brad does are on purpose and part of his character/gimmick and he does so well. Personally I think he could have been so much more. Not The number one star but definitely a mid to upper midcard guy. A somewhat of a Miz type. Now I know that's not a big push but Miz bounces up and down the card but I still hold him special and think he can quickly become a main eventer in a heartbeat. I mean people that knock his Mic skills better be shitting on Bryan too because he's no better on the Mic

 

[Pivel]

I think Brad Maddox is currently very well booked and we gonna see him wrestle a lot. The start of his wwe carrear remind me of William Regal.

He on a very heavy gimmick right now, where he's constanly interract with Vince Macmahon and Triple H, so we cannot see past the gimmick much, but he's 100% a wrestler and that where he gonna make his mark or not. I enjoyed his squash against The Great Khali, he made Khali look fluid, which his not an easy task to do at all.

2nd. thing about his wrestling style, i really dig his finisher:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slNLTOmSU1o

 

[TempestH]

I don't know why the WWE still employ Brad Maddox. They never have him wrestle. He struggles on the mike, and he comes across as a bumbling idiot. Maybe they signed him to a contract off-screen, and are waiting for it to expire before they future-endeavour him. I don't see anything he brings to the table.

To think, there are talented guys in NXT who haven't got the call-up, talented guys like Wade Barrett, who has more upside, jobbing every week, while Maddox gets more face-time being Triple H and Stephanie's bumbling henchman. I just don't get it.

I think that's supposed to be his gimmick. He is this poor performer but his character is written as a guy who has ideas above his station.

I think Brad Maddox should wrestle more often, even if he isn't that good. Maybe he shouldn't get pushed, but he would make a nice heel jobber who can put over low level faces so that when THEY get jobbed out, it means a little more because they have a few more wins on their record.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

If Brad Maddox was a wrestler for the past year, at this point he would be having regular comedy matches with Tamina. He would lose consistently. He should be thankful for the position that he has.

 

[LSN80]

It would have been absolutely insane to have Brad Maddox be the first wrestler to get a clean pin over Ryback. Yes there are no rules inside Hell In A Cell, but Punk's victory amounted from a low-blow from the referee, and a fast three-count. CM Punk couldn't beat him clean and he was the WWE Champion. And you're upset because.... Brad Maddox....didn't beat him?

Maddox is 28 so it's not like he's done, but to think that he's anywhere near ready for a push to the top is ludicrous. He has a certain charisma that grows on you after awhile, he showed that when he jumped the rail on Main Event or Raw and did commentary, much to the bewilderment of King or Michael Cole. But far too much credit is being given to the guy, I'm guessing WWE believed Tyler Klutz(his real name) was ready for much more than he was.

Ask yourself this: Could you see this guy regularly beating the John Cena's, CM Punk's Daniel Bryan's, or Randy Orton's of the world?

And there's your answer regarding his push, or "lack thereof."

 

[chrisddusombre]

Are you kidding me??? How he presented himself this past Monday night on Raw was atrocious.. Brad is nothing more than a Gm that will get fired eventually and then released.

 

[BeastFromTheEast]

I personally like the position that Brad Maddox is in. I think he has enough mic skill and arrogant enough personality to be the Raw GM. I've enjoyed his work thus far and think he can run with the ball after HHH and Steph step out of the picture for a while. As far as his wrestling ability and getting the big push mentioned by the OP, I'd say I'm glad they didn't go that route. He is just okay in the ring. IMO not good enough for a push past the mid card. Would I have liked to see him as a wrestler? Sure, but he is good where he is at right now.

 

[chicagokmc]

Interesting responses...For those who don't think we're missing out on anything, if this same question would have been asked about Daniel Bryan when he was on NXT and making his debut in the backend of the Nexus, what would your responses be? Even if you thought then that Bryan would be a good pro, who thought he would be good enough to be top face in the company, ahead of even Nexus teammates Barrett, Otunga or Sheffield (Ryback)?

Will Maddox shine if he gets a major push? Who knows? My point is to not dismiss it based only on what you have seen of him on tv because with the right script, tv presence and opportunity, most wrestlers could look good if they received a major push.

 

[LegendKiller716]

I think a better question is what if someone else was in that position and got a big push from it. I like the role Maddox plays, he reminds me of coach. Personally, I find him hilarious.

But what if a guy like Kasious Ohno or Xavier Woods worked the main roster as a ref for a while than screwed Ryback and beat him for the contract. This all happened before the debut of the shield, what if one of those three was in that position. If that were the case things could look a lot different right now.

 

[Charismatic Enigma]

I attended MANY shows at FCW that Brad Maddox was on, even had him tear my tickets stubs, and seat me...so I think I'm pretty qualified to speak on his abilities after having witnessed them from the front row.

Brad is a wasted opportunity.

This pathetic corporate stooge gimmick they have him working is totally beneath him. I kind of equate it to what they've done to Miz, Brad's strong point as a character is a cocky, arrogant, heel. The best work of his career thus far was when he was feuding with Richie Steamboat. He cut some incredible promos about how he didn't have his daddy's help to get to where he is, he's actually good enough to be there, and proceeded to have both his and Richie's best matches.

I thought the way he was debuted in WWE was actually pretty interesting, and I liked the promo he gave about how he had been looked over so many times and when he was offered a position as a referee he would do anything he could to get to WWE, they were off to a good start....

but then, having him lose repeatedly and get destroyed by Ryback served no purpose. They made him look like he was insane (but even that could've been a gimmick) for wanting to keep trying to fight matches you knew he'd lose, but ultimately I think they just squandered good potential. Due to his size, it would have certainly been a huge uphill battle for him to ever get near the title but his charisma is certainly enough to do way more with him than they currently are. Why bother having a GM when the McMahons run the show anyway?

If I was booking Brad, right now, the way I'd turn his character is by having HHH try and "punish him" for some decision he makes, and have him go up against some impossible opponent like Big Show, have Brad get knocked out and then the Shield interfere, knock out Big Show, and get Brad the pin. Then when he comes to, he doesn't even know what happened just that he won. This could then start his arrogant streak that he beat a guy twice his size, and him telling HHH he can beat anyone, Hunter will think it's funny and throw him to the wolves but he'll end up winning again (this time clean) and he can start on a little mini-fluke win streak getting more cocky along the way, go from there. But that is how you get him back on track, doing his character the way he should be.

 

[Mustang Sally]

.... but what if brad would've beat ryback? and won the 1 million dollar contract? and would've got a push straight to the top, which could've led to brad maddox becoming a big superstar, and could have by now made him a top star!

And if AJ were taller, she'd be the Great Khali.

If you asked Brad Maddox what he figured he'd be doing once called up to the main roster, I would imagine he guessed he'd be wrestling, no? Yes, he doesn't have outstanding ring skills, but he can work a match and has a decent look to him.

It's very early in his career and if he's got a gig in the big leagues now, he has the opportunity to capitalize on it and make a real rep for himself. Of course, he can also go right down the drain, but at least he's in a visible position on TV and has the chance to forge his own path.

Put it this way: If you were a young wrestler looking to make a name for yourself, would you rather be Brad Maddox or Bo Dallas?

 

[MCMG]

As a wrestler Maddox would not be an important part of the roster. He would just be another guy and would probably end up unemployed.

As a heel GM he is perfect. Maddox plays his role incredibly well - the awkward suck up that is impossible to like. Brad Maddox can be a great GM for many years to come; whereas, as a wrestler he would be a mid-carder at best.