Curtis Axel = Rocky Maivia?

[CM Steel]

Ever since Joe Henning debut in the WWE we've seen three faces of himself.

1. Joe Henning
2. Michael Migilicutty
3. Curtis Axel

Joe is the son & grandson of two former AWA world champions making him a third generation superstar in wrestling while being in the WWE using both of their names as a tribute. Much like how a kid named Dwayne Johnson did in 1996 as "Rocky Maivia". Rocky Maivia came in the same way that Curtis Axel did in the then-WWF. Winning the IC title! Yeah back when Axel was Migilicutty he won the WWE tag team title's with David Otunga. But Henning didn't get the "Mr. Perfect treatment" until later when he became a "Paul Heyman guy".

Rocky Maivia was one of WWE chairman's Vince McMahon's few blunder's. Rocky Maivia was shoved down the people's throat's much like how John Cena is being shoved down the WWE universe's throat's today! After about six months as Rocky Maivia, enter THE ROCK via the Nation of Domination. And the rest is history. So will Curtis Axel be yet another gimmicky superstar who gets re-packaged or will Curtis Axel be a household name in the future of wrestling?

Because being a third generation wrestler means that you have some big shoes to fill. (Rock, Orton, Dibiase Jr, C. Guerrero)

 

[Fire Marshall Bill]

If those are the only 2 available options, I'd still say neither. So far the guy hasn't shown much of crap. You mentioned it yourself, he's already on his 3rd repackage and now he's paired with Paul Heyman. If he can't make himself relevant at this point he'll be like a lot of professional wrestlers: average enough to hang around for awhile until he's future endeavored. Now clearly since he's a legacy they're trying hard, but if he doesn't have it, he doesn't have it.

But to compare him to Rocky Mavia is nonsense. Rock had all the charisma in the world, he was just saddled with a crappy gimmick. Once given something he could work with, well you know how it went.

Joe Hennig is on his 3rd gimmick, as you said, if he can't do it by now, it's not going to happen. And he's still coming off as generic of a heel as they come.

 

[Hard Hit Prince]

You made a good point there, but that's the only thing Axel has to similar to The Rock. I get it, he's a Paul Heyman guy, he was underrated and he deserved it, but he is not anyone to push to the main event level. He has nothing in him particularly that screams money, if you look at him, he's very generic indeed. I don't think they are going to change him again, that's his last shot - if anything they may start calling him Curt, instead of Curtis.

Also it really disgusts me the fact that someone actually thinks that THE face of the company is being forced down people's throat. People want him in the main event, ence the reason he's always there. When haters start to have logical reasons to hate him, I'll be very much happy. That's it, this thread also lacks something to further the discussion about Curtis Axel.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

In my opinion, I think a good deal of people have some unrealistic expectations. It's not just when it comes to Curtis Axel, but with just about every other wrestler that's part of a celebrated wrestling legacy. Whether it be Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, The Usos or Curtis Axel; I think a good deal of internet fans often expect a vast level of greatness that only comes along in very, very, very rare instances no matter what sort of lineage, or lack thereof, your family has in pro wrestling.

For instance, just because Curtis Axel is paired up with Paul Heyman as his manger isn't some automatic endorsement that Axel is going to be a main eventer. I get that a lot of people worship the ground that Heyman walks on but his presence doesn't translate into main event status. From what I've seen of Curtis Axel thus far, the guy is doing a good job as a solid mid-card wrestler. Is he capable of more? Maybe, maybe not but I'm gonna worry about that when & if it comes up. Axel has only been relevant in WWE for a couple of months now and just recently won the IC title, so why not give the guy some genuine time to show what he's capable of before labeling him as a brief flash in the pan mid-card guy or a long term star.

If Axel never goes higher than the mid-card or tag team picture in his career then, for some reason, it gets equated as him having a lousy career. Too often, at least in my opinion, we throw around the term "mid-carder" as if we're referring to someone who has the Plague. I'm guilty of it too, sometimes I don't even realize it at the time. Wrestlers like Greg Valentine, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, The Road Warriors, Barry Windham, Ricky Steamboat, Ron Simmons, etc. are wrestlers who spent all of or the vast majority of their careers as mid-card or tag team wrestlers; yet they're often thought of as all time greats and/or hall of famers. Curt Hennig himself, thought of by many as the greatest IC champ of all time, spent the vast majority of his career as a mid-card wrestler that sometimes challenged for the WWF Championship. Was he worthy of being it? In my opinion, yes, but it didn't happen. Sometimes, wrestlers who have had the ability to be a main event star don't make it there for one reason or another. Sometimes, wrestlers who shouldn't be in the main event spot are put there. It's the nature of the beast no matter what occupation you find yourself in.

Curtis Axel is part of a great wrestling legacy but I'm not too concerned about that. I know what his old man & grandfather did and, to me, that's got nothing to do with what Axel brings to the table. Maybe he's got it, maybe he doesn't so we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Mustang Sally]

So much of it depends on how strongly the WWE machine gets behind a performer. In Hennig's first two identities, he didn't get much of a push.... nor, in my opinion, did he particularly deserve one. In his Axel role, they're shooting him to the stars, for reasons I don't fully understand, although I get the feeling Vince McMahon is utilizing what he sees as his "star-making" acumen. He needs the featured performers of tomorrow and seems to have decided that he will dictate who they're going to be.....shoving them down the throats of the fans, if necessary. (read: Dolph Ziggler)

Does a wrestler's personality and/or ring abilities matter? Yes, but if management isn't pushing, there have been very few performers who've carved out a niche for themselves. After all, did Hulk Hogan make it on his wrestling ability?

Not in my book. He did it with his personality.....and his ability to entertain his way through a wrestling match. (YOU !!) Yet, he might be the biggest star ever in pro wrestling, while a technical wizard like Tyson Kidd is buried in the lower card and is apt to remain there until the day he's wished best luck in his future endeavors.

Curtis Axel/Rocky Maivia? I get the point about both being third-generation wrestlers, but the similarity ends there. Both men are pretty good performers in the ring, but Rocky had the personality and ability to entertain in and out of the ring that captivated the audience and went far beyond the wrestling world.

But, you know what? Curtis Axel has the full backing of WWE management ....and seeing him featured on TV might be enough to convince a lot of people that Axel is the greatest thing since sliced bread.....which, if it works, would prove that McMahon is the star maker he believes himself to be.

Stay tuned.

 

[byrnside]

My biggest problem with Curtis Axel is how he has been booked in short matches to steal wins. As Hammer said, the guy is going to need some time to live up to expectations. I think he has all the talent in the world, but it is going to be very very tough to live up to expectations that his father set. Look at The Rock. Rocky Johnson is Hall of Fame-worthy, don't get me wrong, but he did not have near the charisma as his son; not many have. The same is true for Curt and Larry "The Axe" Hennig and Randy and Bob Orton, Jr. Many would argue the reverse happened with Ted DiBiase, Jr. and his father. Even if you look at Bray Wyatt and Mike Rotunda. Mike did not have a ton of charisma, but he was a solid in-ring worker. His son seems to have/be both. Then again, a lot of people didn't think Husky Harris was very good when he debuted so he was sent back to developmental and look at him now. Only time will tell with Axel. I think once he gets a few matches under his belt that last more than 5 mins we'll see something special. It may not be Mr. Perfect special, but special none the less.