Is Cody Rhodes holding Damien Sandow back?

[CM Steel]

Cody Rhodes & Damian Sandow have been a tag team in the WWE for awhile now and has yet to win the WWE tag team championship. But with Damian Sandow being the rookie between the two with a promising future ahead of him with both Triple H and WWE chairman Vince McMahon strongly behind him. Damian Sandow is or was pushed to be in the WWE main event scene with the chairman's blessing. But is still paired up with Cody Rhodes and now the Bella Twins for some reason? So with Damian Sandow being Triple H's newest pet project in the making. Is Cody Rhodes holding Damian Sandow back?

Damian Sandow must have really paid his dues since his days in the WWE as Idol Stevens getting beat around by Michelle McCool's yardstick while managing him in a tag team with a guy who's no longer in the WWE. But in your opinion, could Sandow go further without Cody and is in serious need to drop him? Because now Damian Sandow has missed his first Wrestlemania by still tag teaming with Cody Rhodes. But as a single's star he could have made the card in some fashion.

What do you think?

 

[Dysturbed]

But with Damian Sandow being the rookie between the two with a promising future ahead of him with both Triple H and WWE chairman Vince McMahon strongly behind him. Damian Sandow is or was pushed to be in the WWE main event scene with the chairman's blessing.

He faced some main eventers, but as you know he wasn't being pushed to actually be in the scene in the respect of being considered a main eventer or anything like that. With the exception of Ryback (who may now be a heel) and Bo Dallas (who made a few appearances as a face then disappeared), all of the people who WWE brought up to the main roster in the last year have been heels. The Shield is made up of three heels who can potentially be singles stars too, maybe all as heels. At the very least Ambrose will estalish his heel persona more at some point. Some of the NXT people who could be up soon are also probably better suited as heels. With that in mind, Sandow very well may have a better chance of getting airtime as a tag team wrestler.

Because now Damian Sandow has missed his first Wrestlemania by still tag teaming with Cody Rhodes. But as a single's star he could have made the card in some fashion.

While we are on the subject of people that Triple H is behind, we all know that he is fond of Sheamus. Two years, despite being a former WWE champ, KOTR winner, and the current US champ (therefore having more relevance then than Sandow has now), he was only booked to have a dark match, whereas Sandow was originally booked this year to be on the main card, but there wasn't enough time. Then there is Cesaro, who has been the US champion for months, which suggests that some higher up obviously likes him, and he isn't paired with anyone yet wasn't even booked on this years WM card. The fact that Sandow was even supposed to have a match isn't something to overlook imo.

I am a big fan of Sandow, but him being taken off of the card was probably more of a reflection on WWE planning on too much for a less than 4 hour window (which we know they did) than the tag team holding him back. Cody Rhodes is more established than Sandow. If they were both singles stars, Cody probably would in theory have had a better chance of being on the card than Sandow too.

 

[Nate DaMac]

Holding him back? Not at all. Sandow is good but he was on the verge of being a comedy character before he got paired up with Rhodes. Rhodes isn't exactly a huge star but he did a lot for Sandow's credibility simply by association.

At this point though, he should probably move on. They've gone pretty much as far as they can with this team and Sandow is obviously going to have a shot on his own. Rhodes would be a good candidate for his first feud.

 

[Merkin353]

Is Cody Rhodes holding Sandow back? Probably not but Sandow should be partnered with Ceasaro. That team would be perfect. I think Cody Rhodes makes Sandow look & feel less believable. They fit but not always so I'd make Cody go face & have Ceasaro & Sandow work together for awhile.

 

[JaylisJayP]

The only thing holding Damian Sandow back now is his gimmick. And if they're not careful, he'll be become a midcarder comedy jobber forever with it. I guess the WWE always needs someone to make people laugh.

 

[WWE4EVA!]

No, I would say Damien Sandow is holding Cody Rhodes back, from his days in The Legacy I always thought Rhodes could be a Main Event superstar but Wwe keeps on sticking him in Tag Teams and not giving him the singles push he deserves. If anyone is holding someone back it is Damien holding Cody back.

 

[dman1373]

Is Cody Rhodes holding Sandow back? Probably not but Sandow should be partnered with Ceasaro. That team would be perfect. I think Cody Rhodes makes Sandow look & feel less believable. They fit but not always so I'd make Cody go face & have Ceasaro & Sandow work together for awhile.

I agree 95%. Cody really needed to change his gimmick and attire to fit more with sandow, but he didn't and he now looks like a one of those simpletons that sandow likes to put down. Now with your next statement how ceasaro and sandow being tag partners would be great but I would rather just have ceasaro wait for hero to come up for a kow reuninion.

 

[Aquaman6686]

I agree with WWE4EVA, Damien Sandow is the one holding Cody Rhodes back. After his feuds with Big Show and Christian, Rhodes was ready for a major singles push...and they stuck him with Sandow instead, ******ing his progress. Rhodes should be rapidly nearing main event status, and instead he's trapped in this dead-end tag team.

 

[Mustang Sally]

Holding him back? Not at all. Sandow is good but he was on the verge of being a comedy character before he got paired up with Rhodes.

Yes, that. His heel routine was fresh and entertaining, but doing only the "intellectual savior" bit would have had a limited shelf life, and Creative was smart enough to realize it.

Pairing Sandow with Cody was a good move, because Cody's personality is bland enough that in no manner would he overshadow Damien's "lectures." At the same time, Cody is a recognizable name to provide support for Sandow, but could also benefit from having a "mouthpiece" to speak for him (a la Swagger/Coulter).....and the result was a pairing in which each guy covered the weakness of the other: Cody doesn't speak that well, so Sandow did it for him. Meanwhile, Sandow needed someone to break up the "sameness" of his routine,and Cody was able to provide that.

The arrangement is flexible: they don't need to break up, yet they're both perfectly capable of engaging in singles matches.

I say, leave them alone and let them do what they do. If future plans call for a push for either one, it can be handled without upsetting the applecart.

You're welcome.

 

[The Butcher]

They're holding each other back and WWE should have gone ahead and split them when they first decided to. Cody Rhodes has yet to recapture my attention since he himself stopped using a gimmick. If he had kept with the mask, the bags, and the evil voice, I think he'd be much more over than he is currently. Sandow should be wearing the IC title by now. Not that that means much these days, but he's the type of smarmy, chicken-shit, yet talented and credible heel that could wear that belt for a long while and win, lose, or draw as necessary without it hurting him. The tag team renaissance came and went, it's time to move on. Get these guys their own programs going and build them up to be the future that we keep hearing about in spite of a Groundhog's Day remake in the main event scene.

 

[Cole Mine]

Is Cody holding Sandow back? Yes, Sandow is a good wrestler and good on the mic. To me Sandow's gimmick is fine, he can ease up on the intellectual savior of the masses bit if it becomes stale and just be a Flair type heal. Sandow could be jobbing to Cena on PPV right now, a big step up from being a comedy act (and Cody's love stache is hardly a good comedy act). Rhodes on the other hand should have stuck with his Mankind type gimmick. Without it he's just a good wrestler with nothing really to talk about. Imagine if he had kept that gimmick, he was on the mic every week on Smackdown using all of these big words and stuff, his promos were great. Imagine if he just kept getting better with his mic skills, how good would he be right now? He needs to find a way back to that gimmick. He could even shave his mustache in anger and put the mask and leather hoodie back on like a comic book villain. I think that would work great to split them up and let them go their separate ways. If they must face each other it would be easy to get Sandow over as a face if you have Cody setting insane traps and brown bagging him.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Holding him back? Not at all. Sandow is good but he was on the verge of being a comedy character before he got paired up with Rhodes. Rhodes isn't exactly a huge star but he did a lot for Sandow's credibility simply by association.

At this point though, he should probably move on. They've gone pretty much as far as they can with this team and Sandow is obviously going to have a shot on his own. Rhodes would be a good candidate for his first feud.

I agree. Sandow is someone that's got a lot of potential but he did seem to be on the verge of being made into a comedy jobber. At this point in time, both Rhodes & Sandow are two strong mid-carders who, in my opinion, really haven't realized their full potential as a tag team.

It's hard to say what the future holds for them. If anyone takes the tag titles from Team Hell No, it'll be The Shield at this point. So if Rhodes & Sandow are essentially turned into a jobber tag team rather than the legit contenders for the tag titles that they have been for most of their existence, then maybe it would be best to split them up and/or turn them babyface.

In my opinion, they're too talented to simply be allowed to wastefully linger about.

 

[Pedigree1]

I dont necessarily feel that at all. Cody is a talent no doubt at least to me anyway. But Cody is kinda of bland not totally but just sort of. When he was paired with Damien i thought it was a great pairing. Damien is an okay worker but an excellent talker. They took each others weakness and made it look stronger some how.

Both are destined for great things but Cody is going to go further than Damien will IMO. I wish they didnt break up and they did deserve at least a tag team title run. Unless a special situation calls for them to break up for good i say leave it alone.

Your Welcome

 

[Bryan Is A God]

It's the other way around bro... Damien Sandow is holding Cody Rhodes back.

Or The Bella Twins are holding Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow back. The Bellas were always irrelevant and they shouldn't be stuck in a story with 2 future main-eventers like Cody and Damien.

 

[One to Remember]

I agree 95%. Cody really needed to change his gimmick and attire to fit more with sandow, but he didn't and he now looks like a one of those simpletons that sandow likes to put down.

If he had kept with the mask, the bags, and the evil voice, I think he'd be much more over than he is currently.

I'm not sure he personally liked it. I think he might had felt it was too gimmicky or divergent from his real life persona maybe? I think he could had even thought it was too close to Goldust in some regards. I've felt like he's always put distance between him and Goldust or even the American Dream.
I thought it had potential though, kind of reminded me of when Undertaker got his mask and he seemed like he went super saiyan and got so much more ominous and ruthless.

The tag team renaissance came and went, it's time to move on. Get these guys their own programs going and build them up to be the future that we keep hearing about in spite of a Groundhog's Day remake in the main event scene.

Came and went? This isn't like promoting the hardcore title past 2003.. Tag team divisions and championships have been a staple in wrestling since the early '70s. Not every group is in the tag team division either, the two can remain allies without being "regulated" to tag team bouts. People are jumping back and fourth to Raw and SD, one cn get the I-C the other the U.S. strap.

I keep telling all you people we have two "brands" level shows, a bunch of sideshows, two secondary titles, and a splintered World title. The days of having to choose one or the other in a tag team are over. They could promote each other strait to the top and still share the tag team titles.. The only thing that could put them in conflict is someone's desire to give us back the Undisputed Championship. If that becomes the storyline and its main goal then I am willing to sacrifice one of the two for that worthy cause.

 

[GoochOwnsYou]

I say no because Sandow isn't ready. He has a real risk of being lost in the shuffle like so many good talents just wind up being. With Rhodes Scholars he is a central figure in the rebuilding Tag Team Division. He has more exposure and the mid card singles area is such a mess right now.

 

[Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D.]

No one's holding anyone back. They're a helluva entertaining tag team.

 

[JASONIGHTMARE]

Thats another reason why the wwe sux holding down young future stars for tomorrow and pushing older stars over 30+. They have a hugeroster and are abused and underused underutilized another reason why Cody Rhodes , Damian Sandow,Evan Bourne,Sin Cara,Henrico,Primo and Epico, Prime Time players (cryme tyme wanna bees),Zack Ryder, Tyson kidd,Red Dibiase Jr,Justin Gabriel, Heath Slater . I liiked Cody Rhodes c ause Randy Orton put him over and when they were tag teamed with Ted Dibiase Jr as Legacy were awesome after that it was downhill and I won t be suprised if all these talents head to TNA as it is another reason why wwe sux today

 

[Dysturbed]

Thats another reason why the wwe sux holding down young future stars for tomorrow and pushing older stars over 30+.

Wanting different people to get bigger pushes in favor of certain people who have been pushed heavily for years is one thing, but if you truly believe that wwe "sux" for pushing stars over 30, why did you make a list where most of your examples are in their young 30's (but in their 30's regardless)? Those stars are still younger industry wise, but you specifically mentioned a certain age. Then again, you kinda rambled

I won t be suprised if all these talents head to TNA as it is another reason why wwe sux today

You mean another company where people over 30 are some the most relevant members of the company? I know that with that line you probably really mean that TNA may offer opportunities that WWE won't, but you did mention the age thing.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Underutilized? Head to TNA?

Do you guys watch the same product? Or is that the answer to everything? Head to TNA?


Look, one of the most, if not THE most important aspect of the wrestling world that gets over looked is the slow burn. Many superstars flourish because the spotlight isn't thrust on them from the get go. The Drew McIntyre Chose Ones fall on the way side. The under the radar burning is what ignited the Austin and Goldberg phenomena. It is such a pivotal period for a talent because he has no pressure and flourishes. He does his schtick, and the men with talent cement their connection with the crowd in this period. The Doctor of Thugonomics, The Animal, you name it.

Sandow is burning. He is honing his talent. He is getting people on his side. I see very good things for Sandow in the future. His delivery, facial expressions are great. Ain't too bad in the ring. He has a presence. But he needs to brood and connect. This is a crucial time for him, and he shouldn't be around the ME scene for a good year.




AND FOR FUCK'S SAKE! It's You're Welcome!

 

[Rhodes2TheFuture3313]

I think both are being held back, but I think there's method to VKM's madness. They've been jobbing since WM ended. Sandow keeps taking the pinfalls. I'm thinking a storyline develops where Nikki and Brie start arguing and Damien & Cody are each paired with a bella twin. Sandow and Rhodes will be one of the hottest mid-card feuds going into the summer. I'm hoping Cody turns face and gets a US title strap or another IC title reign. I could see Cody winning MITB this year, too and Sandow turning on him. Bottom line is The Rhodes' Scholars aren't for long.

 

[The Butcher]

I'm not sure he personally liked it. I think he might had felt it was too gimmicky or divergent from his real life persona maybe? I think he could had even thought it was too close to Goldust in some regards. I've felt like he's always put distance between him and Goldust or even the American Dream.
I thought it had potential though, kind of reminded me of when Undertaker got his mask and he seemed like he went super saiyan and got so much more ominous and ruthless.

I don't know why he wouldn't like standing out, but it's as good a theory as any I suppose. Post-mask and pre-stache, he was just a generic guy in underpants.

Came and went? This isn't like promoting the hardcore title past 2003.. Tag team divisions and championships have been a staple in wrestling since the early '70s. Not every group is in the tag team division either, the two can remain allies without being "regulated" to tag team bouts. People are jumping back and fourth to Raw and SD, one cn get the I-C the other the U.S. strap.

You totally misinterpreted what I was referring to. The "tag team renaissance" I made mention to was the short lived revival of tag team wrestling that everyone in the IWC took as Triple H rebuilding the division. I wasn't at all making a statement about the historical significance or justification for having tag team wrestling. Don't get it twisted. I don't believe that teammates should be restricted (I think you meant to say "relegated") to wrestling tag team bouts. That said, Cody and Damien have more potential as singles stars. The Rhodes Scholars has been busy work at best, and has advanced neither Superstar past where he was before teaming up.

I keep telling all you people we have two "brands" level shows, a bunch of sideshows, two secondary titles, and a splintered World title. The days of having to choose one or the other in a tag team are over. They could promote each other strait to the top and still share the tag team titles.. The only thing that could put them in conflict is someone's desire to give us back the Undisputed Championship. If that becomes the storyline and its main goal then I am willing to sacrifice one of the two for that worthy cause.

You keep telling us that? I've failed to notice. I'm pretty sure everyone here understands the general breakdown of what shows and titles they have, but thanks for the reminder(s). The rest of what you're saying there is sort of odd. Of course they could promote one another straight to the top and share the tag titles, but that would never happen unless you got the book. A lot of things could put them into conflict, so that's just silly saying the only thing that could would be a WWE and World title unification. And that will never become the storyline, neither man would be "sacrificed" by taking part in a world championship re-unification match, and the worthiness of that cause is subjective.

 

[The Perfect Max]

When Team Rhodes Scholars first came about, I enjoyed it. The two are perfect for each other and WWE failed to capitalize on what they had, which was a brilliant tag team with a good gimmick of two guys believing they are better than the rest. They are both good talkers, Sandow being the better of the two, but Rhodes I feel is better in the ring.

In terms of then, no, he wasn't holding Damien Sandow back. They should have won the WWE Tag Team Championship at Royal Rumble. As much as I love Team Hell No, WrestleMania 29, in my opinion, should have been the night the two faced each other. Team Rhodes Scholars should be title holders as we speak.

In terms of now, no, he still isn't holding Sandow back. They were pushed off the WrestleMania card unfairly, however there match wasn't going to be one for the ages, but it was different and featured them on the card, which is more than what people can say for the likes of Antonio Cesaro, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth and so on.

If they want Team Rhodes Scholars to be champions, WWE should keep them. If not, disband them. WWE missed their oppertunity. In my opinion, both of them are holding each other back, or they are both being held back by WWE. They are two guys with more than decent mic skills, both are very good in the ring and both are able to get a credible amount of heat. They could be great singles stars and should have been a great tag team.

So in short, he is not holding Sandow back.

 

[One to Remember]

I don't know why he wouldn't like standing out, but it's as good a theory as any I suppose. Post-mask and pre-stache, he was just a generic guy in underpants.

Honestly, I think he just wanted his face to be seen or felt weird. I don't think there was a real good reason behind the scenes to dump the mask.

That said, Cody and Damien have more potential as singles stars. The Rhodes Scholars has been busy work at best, and has advanced neither Superstar past where he was before teaming up.

But there is still too much of a habit to show a nasty break up. Even if they get singles division oriented a lose knit alliance needs to remain. Why can't we present them or any other two guys as two men with a tag team mentality and singles stars goal? They promote each other and stay out of each other's path. One week we see them doing speeches as a tag team, the next we see one trying to get the U.S. title, the next we hear about the tag gold, or maybe there is an overlap and we hear about one competing for two titles, or they help each other cheat.. One doesn't have to be the Arn Anderson because the Ric Flair of the group only wants one of the two World titles.

You keep telling us that? I've failed to notice. I'm pretty sure everyone here understands the general breakdown of what shows and titles they have, but thanks for the reminder(s).

Yeah, most of the time I present that point it is ignored. Everyone wants a situation where one betrays the other, then that one starts competing for a secondary title, he feuds with ex partner, throws him aside, then goes for the World title..

I tried to make a thread about it but some idiot exiled that to the WWE complaints thread as a post..

The rest of what you're saying there is sort of odd. Of course they could promote one another straight to the top and share the tag titles, but that would never happen unless you got the book. A lot of things could put them into conflict, so that's just silly saying the only thing that could would be a WWE and World title unification. And that will never become the storyline, neither man would be "sacrificed" by taking part in a world championship re-unification match, and the worthiness of that cause is subjective.

Nothing can put them in conflict except old story line habits of creative.. If they stay a tag team that gives as much in the singles division they have an edge over all singles competitors who are just solo.. After spending so much times as equals yet as guys who used an unfair advantage, losing to your current partner in a unification bout would knock you down quite a few notches.

 

[One to Remember]

Underutilized? Head to TNA?

Do you guys watch the same product? Or is that the answer to everything? Head to TNA?

Leaving is an answer, it would be better if it where to a WCW or even ECW caliber company though. If ROH was bigger or one of the Japanese companies had a foothold here I'd love to see them boosted by an exodus. It also helps if the bulk of those leaving keep their old names and persona if legally doable..

Look, one of the most, if not THE most important aspect of the wrestling world that gets over looked is the slow burn. Many superstars flourish because the spotlight isn't thrust on them from the get go. The Drew McIntyre Chose Ones fall on the way side. The under the radar burning is what ignited the Austin and Goldberg phenomena. It is such a pivotal period for a talent because he has no pressure and flourishes. He does his schtick, and the men with talent cement their connection with the crowd in this period. The Doctor of Thugonomics, The Animal, you name it.
!

Slow burn as you say sounds a lot like simply being employed. Slow burn also sounds like a build up to another WWE phenomenon, "quick release..'

How does Cena's slow burn differ from Esse Rios? Why didn't Orton need a slow burn? What did it do for hard workers like Regal and Kozlov..? A persona shift is what got Austin attention and that was after a classic "enough is enough" speech. Obviously with Goldberg you didn't know his first 8 victims were apart of a streak.. Del Rio has a chosen amigo gimmick that is similar to Drew Mac's..