Husky Harris - New Direction for WWE?

[Avitus25]

I remember on the first episode of NXT series 2, I remember a few people who stood out for me. Kaval, from his experience in TNA and the indys. Percy Watson, because he was just a little bit different. Eli Cottonwood because he was just huge. But the most impressionable person for me during not only the first episode, but also the entire series 2 of NXT, was Husky Harris.

I've seen criticism over the internet for his 80's style name and flabby physique, but I think that's what makes him so interesting. WWE is constantly criticized for for only going with Cookie-Cutter "WWE-Style" big guys, who all looks the same and have the same hair cut. I immediately thought, oh, this is something different, and I immediately wanted to see more. I'm sure most people read the reports that WWE brass were impressed by Husky Harris and therefore he finished much higher than had previously been expected, and I can completely understand. Sure, he may have had some shortcomings on the mic, but I think he's reasonably good in the ring, and his speed is unexpected for his type of physique. I really hope to see Harris debut on one of WWE's main two shows, and I think he's a good type of blast-from-the-past, and that makes him interesting and refreshing.

The question I have is whether you guys agree with my view of Husky? Or whether you think that his physique and name were a detriment? Furthermore do you think that he's the start of something new and different from WWE? The fact that WWE were so impressed by him suggests to me that this could be the case. Do you agree or not, and why?

 

[Furyof5]

I wouldnt say that Husky is the start of something "New" in the WWE, but more of a revisiting of a previous era. WWE seems to be in a way bringing back what made them big in the 80s, at least in some facets.

A big wrestler (in more ways than one) durring that time period was Dusty Rhodes. Someone people in the past have likened to Husky. Now I find Husky excellent and understand exactly why WWE is high on him. The biggest thing going for him is that he "stands out" from the rest of the pack. This is one of the reasons Sheamus rose so fast. Sure he was huge and muscular, but he also was a ginger with bright red hair and pale white skin, something no one has seen in WWE in a major way since Bob Backlund. Its a very important trait to have.

WWE fans see so many of the same body type, same look individuals that when they see someone that looks very different from the rest they take notice, especially when that wrestler can go. We saw this with Umaga in recent years; a huge man that was incredibly fast and athletic and could jump all the way across the ring from the top rope, and the people bought him so much that he became a main eventer for a period of time and was wrestling against the likes of John Cena for the WWE Championship.

Now that was also due to his monster/savage gimmick, but I dont see why Husky couldnt become a Dusty Rhodes like wrestler if he continues to work on everything, especially his promo work.

 

[Prax]

The only problem with Husky is that he's hard to look at. I'm not saying this to sound gay or anything, but truth be told I'd rather look at someone with muscles than someone who's flabby like Husky. It's just human nature. Kind of like how WWE wouldn't hire a diva who has cellulite. It's kind of wrong, but it's the reality of the business. You're selling people a show, and while he occasional freak is always wanted (kind of like slowing down to stare at a 10 car pile-up), your champions have to be marketable and have to have a decent look.

Dusty Rhodes was a big name because he had a family oriented gimmick and was extremely charismatic. Husky is good at what he does as a heel, but can he be a world champion in this industry, when you consider that being a world champion in WWE, in 2010+, is less about wrestling and a lot more about marketing? It's hard to say. But it's nice that WWE is willing to give an opportunity to someone who doesn't fit the John Cena/Randy Orton/Triple H look, and I'm very inrterested to see where it goes.

 

[Hawkeye]

I don't find Husky hard to look at at all. I found Big Dick Johnson hard to look at,but that's a story for another day.

True that in most cases to be a champion you have to look a certain way but the focus of WWE image is to make them look superhuman. To be as quick as he is and have that offset his size,that in turn makes him look more 'superhuman' than say,someone with the perfect pecs and abs that can even do a simple Sunset Flip(just a random example). Be that as it may Husky is still going to struggle and fight like hell to get any recognition as a true superstar from the WWE Universe simply because he's not up to their standards on physical appearance.

Compare him as Husky Harris to him as Duke Rotundo and you'll find him a little less difficult to look at.

 

[enterkey]

The only problem with Husky is that he's hard to look at. I'm not saying this to sound gay or anything, but truth be told I'd rather look at someone with muscles than someone who's flabby like Husky. It's just human nature. Kind of like how WWE wouldn't hire a diva who has cellulite. It's kind of wrong, but it's the reality of the business. You're selling people a show, and while he occasional freak is always wanted (kind of like slowing down to stare at a 10 car pile-up), your champions have to be marketable and have to have a decent look.

Dusty Rhodes was a big name because he had a family oriented gimmick and was extremely charismatic. Husky is good at what he does as a heel, but can he be a world champion in this industry, when you consider that being a world champion in WWE, in 2010+, is less about wrestling and a lot more about marketing? It's hard to say. But it's nice that WWE is willing to give an opportunity to someone who doesn't fit the John Cena/Randy Orton/Triple H look, and I'm very inrterested to see where it goes.

Husky may be flabby but he managed to impress me more than any other rookie aside from Alex Riley because he does look like a tank and he can haul ass whenever he wants to. If he weren't so flabby then his senton finisher would not look as painful as it does and even though at first it may seem like a wtf finisher it has definitely grown on me because I don't know the last time that a big(ish) man did a move like that to finish a match so right off the bat he has some uniqueness. The flabbyness seemed to work for umaga when he was being pushed as an unstoppable monster and if Husky were to be pushed as a more intelligent powerhouse monster similar to Umaga then I'm sure that most people would lose their annoyance of the flab after seeing him bust out some impressive moves. This guy has a bright future ahead of him if he can push himself to work on his promos and effectively use his ring psychology to make each and every one of his matches memorable, not just the unique finish. If the majority of the TNA/ROH marks could go crazy for Samoa Joe then there is definitely some hope for Husky as long as he ups his game in the ring and shows that he deserves to be there.

 

[Monkey_Mania]

I tend to disagree with the fact that Husky is hard to look at. Sure he's flabby, but he's a solid flabby if that makes sense. He looks intimidating because he is. The only thing that he could work on really is his mic skills. He's got a nice catchphrase in the "Army Tank with a Ferrari Engine". Other than that though, it seems he struggles a little bit on the mic.

As far as a new direction for WWE? I don't think so. They brought in Umaga, and he was no Ronnie Coleman. But he was a beast, same as with Husky Harris. If Husky just polishes off his gimmick a little more, the guy could be a severe threat to any midcard title. Probably even main event a few times with the proper storyline. Just because he doesn't have the buffed up physique your used to seeing, does not mean he doesn't have a unique look, and that he's talentless. The guy is plenty talented, and should make a nice career for himself in the WWE.