If only ONE of them makes it: Robert Roode vs. James Storm

[Uncle Sam]

To celebrate the return of TheOneBigWill (AKA the prodigal son), we have the two members of Beer Money going head to head. The now former (for no raisins) tag team champions and sometime main event fillers have both been hotly tipped to be "the future" of TNA, along with the obvious like AJ Styles and the less obvious like Alex Shelley and Hernandez. So, if only one of them were to "make it" - however you were define that - who would it be? No "both of them" answers!

For me, it'd be Storm. Always has been. I mean, they are quite equally matched but I just see Storm as the one more likely to make it. He just has "the X factor". He's the more natural heel, if not the more naturally gifted in-ring athlete - though I personally think he's a fantastic brawler. He's opportunistic, slimy and has a solid character which can be milked for a while. He's TNA's Edge.

Roode, for all his great qualities - a fitting moveset, deceptive strength, etc. etc. - just doesn't seem to be as believable, to have the same star quality.

That said, I see them both making it. Look at that, I broke my own rule.

 

[TheOneBigWill]

I'll break down my opinions of both, and make the ultimate decision after.

Robert Roode: It's been no big kept secret that Robert Roode has been one of my all-time favorite T.N.A. wrestlers, and my love for him has only grown with time. I jumped on the Roode band-wagon when he was Bobby of Team Canada, and fell deeply in love with he punched Booker's Wife.

While I truly wish he'd get more into his character as far as being "rich" goes. (Any character with that gimmick needs to have the ability to spend their money in a heelish way, ie. buy title's, title shot's, people, etc.)

Roode has a very solid moveset, but his finisher (the Perfect-plex) is rather weak these days. That hurts him as far as being a Main Event contender. After all, you definately need a solid finisher to end your matches.. and a pinning suplex just isn't the next gen thing to do.

Roode has the nature ability to piss people off and make you hate him, to me anyways. Well, I love him, but most hate him because of his attitude. Whereas Storm doesn't have the same ability as a heel. He's a comedic heel, not a jackass heel.. that hurts Storm in my opinion & helps Roode.

Roode's biggest weakness is charisma. Even as a heel, you must maintain the ability to make people care. Whether it's to boo you or otherwise, and Roode from time to time slips in and out of being a jackass. He goes through mini-phases (to me) where he just seemingly doesn't try to get people to react to him.. and they willingly don't. For that, I think Roode hurts himself.

James Storm: Before Sam enlightened me, I only seem Storm as one-half of America's Most Wanted. Forever in my mind, a lifetime Tag team athlete. But no more. Storm has shown me, especially recently, that he's got all the gifts and qualities you need to be a great single's Superstar, with the ability to make it as a Main Eventer.

Storm has an equally great moveset, and the topper he has that Roode doesn't, is two very good finishers. While the "Eye of the Storm" is a glorified Airplane spin, it's a perfect set-up for the Superkick that is a nice finish to any match. And if all else fails, the beer bottle to the head is a limitless time-keeper.

As I mentioned above, the only hurtful factor to me about James Storm is the fact that he's a comedy heel more than a jackass heel. For that, I find that people might not know whether to boo, cheer or even laugh. And that hurts him in the range of being a good Main Event contender.

If Storm can fix that aspect of his character, which at this point actually benefits him because it's his personality, then he would be solid.

Outside of that, Storm's charisma is definately a great selling point. As I mentioned with Roode not having the ability to constantly sell himself, with Storm he truly does make me believe he's a redneck drunk 100% of the time. Infact, I'm perfectly inclined to believe he's every bit of his character.. whereas with Roode, I can openly see that he isn't "Robert Roode the Millionaire".

Winner: In the end, Charisma is everything.. and I will forever WANT Robert Roode to be the guy who becomes a World Heavyweight Champion someday.. but right now, looking side by side.. James Storm is closer to it than Roode is.

Storm is a widely gifted Tag team Superstar, but he's had a lot of great single's matches as well. Roode's biggest single's feud was with Booker T, and ultimately that repushed his career.. but once again, Roode isn't selling himself 100% where Storm is.. so Storm would get my vote, even though I still wanted to say Roode because I'm his fan over Storm.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Beer Money reminds me a lot of Miz and Morrison. I believe Roode will get far because he has the natural ability to have fans hate him like the Miz. He's solid in the ring and I did love his feud with Booker T mainly because I can't stand Sharmell. All he needs is a decent finisher and better promos and I think he will become TNA Champion this year once the MEM/Frontline storyline ends.

What hurts Storm much like Morrison is that he is seen as a comedic heel not a serious heel. I thought they would capitalize on it more after his feuds with Chris Harris and Rhyno. If he can get back to that mentality, he can become a world champion as well but I choose Robert Roode.

 

[Mr. TM]

I would pic Robert Roode myself. I see him as being more likely to become big in the main event. It is almost like Edge and Christian when they were younger. Edge, who was probably the more serious of the two, was more easily viewed as the better. Christian was more comedic. Like Edge and Christian, both of them could become a main eventer, I just see Edge as the better Main eventer just as I see Roode. Roode has more intensity, while Storm would be the better charismatic main eventer. Roode would be a great heel champion and I think Storm could be an actually good face contender.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

Before I say anything about which one of these two has the best chance of "making it," I would just like to say that, if either of them are going to main-event, TNA needs to pull the trigger now. Both of these gentlemen are in their early 30s; while this may appear to be a young age, in reality, within the world of professional wrestling, it is getting to that time where they will almost surely be condemned to mid-card status for the rest of their careers if something doesn't happen soon.

Strangely enough, if you would have asked me this question five or ten years ago, I would have wholeheartedly argued that James Storm is clearly the shining-star of this duo and will be the one who goes places. While, in my opinion, they are equally matched in terms of their wrestling ability, Storm oozes charisma while Roode is comparatively bland (although he is by no means bland in an absolute sense).

But, it is my opinion that Storm's charisma is deceptive, in that it comes from the confidence he has playing a character that seems to be nothing more than an exaggeration of himself in real life. Consequently, if he was given another persona (especially one which differed markedly from his current persona with respect to its mannerisms and idiosyncrasies), I couldn't help but think that he would look uncomfortable and awkward. On the other hand, while he may not have the amount of charisma Storm has while being the "Cowboy," Roode's charisma is consistent, and, furthermore, he seems credible in any role he is asked to play, be it a face, heel, or 'tweener.

While this may seem irrelevant to the topic at hand, I think it is worth remembering that, in professional wrestling today, the product's development and execution revolves more around the creative team than the wrestlers themselves; ultimately then, a wrestler's success hinges on how they can adapt to what their writers give them. Therefore, I am going to have to say that Roode has the best chance at being the breakout star of Beer Money, as I am confident that creative teams would feel more comfortable with him if they felt the need to abruptly change the direction of his character. In the end, Roode, in my opinion, has the one essential thing that Storm doesn't have: versatility.

 

[Rusty]

Since Sam forbid me for choosing the "both" answer, I'm going to go with James Storm here. Both are great young talents that do remind me of The Miz and John Morrison as somebody else mentioned earlier. Beer Money has become a successful tag team and I'm glad with the way TNA handled their push. It was then that both superstars opened my eyes and made me realize that they both have great potential to be labelled "the future of TNA". Their gimmicks mixed well as a tag team because they are both heels, but yet they are so equally different from each other.

Robert Roode is that rich guy that you want to boo simply because he thinks he's above everyone else. On the other hand, James Storm is that guy that you boo simply because he's a sneaky bastard and has no other interest apart from drinking beer 24/7. Both are great heels nonetheless. But for me, James Storm has the better gimmick of the two. His gimmick could be compared to Stone Cold's as they are both alcoholics and are badass. But Storm has a gimmick that can work as a heel but also as a babyface. Roode might struggle turning babyface due to his rich and classy gimmick.

In terms of mic skills, I like Roode's promos better. But in terms of in ring ability, I prefer Storm over Roode but not by very much at all. So it really is difficult choosing one over the other, but I think James Storm is almost certain to win the TNA Heavyweight Championship as soon as the end of this year, or in 2010. Both are charasmatic superstars, but Storm edges out Roode in that area also. So for me, James Storm is superior than Robert Roode and should be the first one to break-out, by only just.

 

[MisterRob]

I think both have talent and potential, but I have to go with Roode. I think Robert Roode has the entire package and if developed could become a great heel champion and certainly be a main event player. They just have to give him more to work with, in my opinion, for him to prove just that. I definitely see Roode as a strong, and fresh, candidate for TNA's main event scene as opposed to the tired ones TNA has right now. Roode could have a good match with anyone for the championship, and I think an entertaining feud, too.

 

[Marquis]

While i think they are both great talents, for me its Storm. I find Storms character more unique then Roode's. Roode is basically a throwback of a number of characters. While Storms gimmick can be compared to Austin, Storm certainly adds his own unique twist to the gimmick. In ring they both are equal in my eyes, but i do lean a bit towards Storm. As for charisma, i say Storm takes it hands down.

Ether way like Ulises Lima said, If they expect one of them to make the Main Event they have to pull the trigger now. These two aren't old but they aren't young ether. If they finally decide to push one of them to the Main Event scene, their gonna wanna get a good few years out of them.

 

[the-celtic-destroyer]

I think they arer both similar in the ring but if it comes to entertainment, storm wins it for me.He is hilarious, one of(if not only) the few wrestlers that make me chuckle,even laugh.Roode's a bit boring but i still like him.In fact i like beer money.They add a bit of comedy relief.

So Storm,imo

And his "boozer Cruiser"!

 

[presto]

Storm by a long shot

This guy is just a tweaking of his character away from the James Storm character being viewed as greatness. Where Austin never drank until after the victory, have Storm drink and drink and drink at various points during the match and combine it with either a earlier rough and tough version of Terry Funk or a 'brutal beatdown' version of Stan Hansen.

Wrestling needs something original. Originality was what made Stone Cold Steve Austin great. The night he stunned his boss Vince McMahon in the ring and when he pulled the gun on Brian Pillman and the toy gun on Vince was classic.

I think die hard wrestling fans have watched too much wrestling to the point where 'we have seen it all' and are awaiting something innovative and different

That was what Flair, Rhodes, and Austin was. That was what DX and nWo was.

-------

Roode on the other hand is to me, the master of gimmick infringing. The swagger of Rick Rude combined with the technicality of Curt Hennig combined with the hairstyle of Jimmy Garvin (when his hair is down) or Triple H (when his hair is pulled back). This combined with him being boring on the mic makes him horrible to watch on tv.

He needs both a gimmick change and a personality change. If not, then all he is really good for and all he will really be known for in his career is being an 'enforcer' or 'hitman' type in a tag team setting with the other guy doing all the talking. That was why he excelled in Team Canada and is doing well in Beer Money, Inc. He has a good frontman to talk for him.

Arn Anderson was the 'enforcer' but he could cut a promo with the best of them and mean what he said.

 

[klunderbunker]

I'll take Storm as well. Roode has had his chance as a singles guy and it never really seemed like he could go much further. Storm has just had a flash in singles feuds and he didn't really do much. Roode has never seemed to be the guy that could become a superstar. An upper midcard guy sure, but for a main event spot no. Storm I could see doing something in the main event though. I could definitely see he and Styles having a pretty good match. Storm has the superkick that works well as a finisher in that it is a knockout shot. By far and away Storm and that's just a few of the reasons.