Negative Reaction To Top NXT Star Backstage

[Jack-Hammer]

I ran across this little tidbit at wrestlingin.com. Video game journalist Dave Ryckert spoke with WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson while he was covering WWE 2K15 during SummerSlam. During a recent podcast, Ryckert revealed that, according to Patterson, the work of one of the top stars in NXT isn't viewed all that highly by some of the company's influential people.

During the interview, Ryckert asked Patterson if there was anyone in particular that he thought stood out.

"Oh, I like the guy who does the...," Patterson responds, and he starts doing motions in the air with his hands before Ryckert asks if it's Sami Zayn.

"Sami Zayn! I love that guy! The stuff he does, it's amazing! Oh my God, he's the best."

Ryckert alleges that Patterson touted the work of the talent to Vince McMahon and others backstage, but drew a negative response. Patterson allegedly said:

"Oh, I tell Vince, I tell all the guys and I say, "Oh the stuff he does and they all go, "Oh no, he just does a bunch of flippy shit."

While it wasn't specified by Ryckert, the article says that it's likely Patterson was referring to the producers backstage, though no names were mentioned. Also, the article mentions that he may have been talking about NXT Champion Adrian Neville rather than Sami Zayn, whom Ryckert believed Patterson was originally speaking of before mentioning Zayn. It's also possible that once Ryckert mentioned Sami Zayn that Patterson's attention was immediately pulled to Zayn because of genuine excitement towards him. Ryckert also alleges that Vince McMahon "doesn't watch NXT."

I don't know how much of this is legit, exaggerated, if Ryckert is heavily embellishing his conversation with Patterson or what. On one hand, it seems legit because, after all, Ryckert isn't involved in pro wrestling. He's an outsider with no sort of axe towards anyone to grind. On the other hand, what gives me the most pause about Ryckert's assessment of this is his statement of Vince not watching NXT. I find that difficult to believe, especially if it pertains to the live NXT specials. Vince McMahon is a notoriously well known control freak who micro manages damn near everything and the notion of him not even watching NXT strikes me as being quite out of character. While Vince ultimately, for the most part, allows Triple H to make the final call as to what goes on in NXT and seems to trust him quite a bit, again, the notion of Vince not watching NXT doesn't strike me as true.

As to whom Patterson was referring to, my guess is that it's Adrian Neville. From an overall standpoint, Sami Zayn is stronger in terms of character and mic work. Neville is known for his high flying ability and as far as the "flippy shit" goes, Neville has displayed in NXT that he brings quite a bit more to his matches than just high spots and flips.

 

[Starkist]

Typical WWE stuff. They're never high on the talent that people actually like. Blame Vince or Triple H or whomever, but this "it's best for business" stuff is making it worse for business. If they don't succeed in the WWE because the brass don't like them and don't get high off them then they'll go to the Indy's and survive.

 

[Slash-LN]

If he was talking about Sami then at least one person is interested in him and that person is Paul Heyman.

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If you don't want to watch it it's basically Chris Hero talking about how he had wanted to talk to Heyman but he was always busy with other people and Chris didn't want to interrupt.

So anyway they're talking about wrestling stuff and Sami is having the 2 out 3 falls match with Cesaro and Sami does the lower turnbuckle ddt spot for the first time in NXT and Paul just stops mid sentence and he becomes focused on the t.v. and after the match he gets out of his seat and goes straight to gorilla position.

 

[Creepy Old Man]

It all comes down to who Vince finds buff and sexually attractive. Think of Luger, Ahmed, Ryback and all the other failed meat heads who were pushed to the moon, while the likes of Bret, Shawn and Punk had to leave everything in the ring to make it to the top.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

Typical WWE stuff. They're never high on the talent that people actually like. Blame Vince or Triple H or whomever, but this "it's best for business" stuff is making it worse for business. If they don't succeed in the WWE because the brass don't like them and don't get high off them then they'll go to the Indy's and survive.

Bullshit. They clearly like guys like Rollins, Ambrose, Punk, Bryan, Zayne, Kenta, etc or they wouldn't be on NXT, they wouldn't be pushed, they wouldn't be getting articles. You're being worked. This article sounds like bullshit.

If Neville wasn't highly regarded, he wouldn't be NXT champ as HHH is very heavily involved. if Zayne wasn't heavily regarded, he wouldn't be pushed so much in NXT and showcased on Raw.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

The quality of NXT would very much point to Vince not watching it at all.

It seems like with many of the "NXT guys" there is a clash between the Triple H regime and way of thinking, and the old guard. As time goes on, the guys with true talent down there will get over, even if they have to wait a little longer than is sensible.

 

[Starkist]

Bullshit. They clearly like guys like Rollins, Ambrose, Punk, Bryan, Zayne, Kenta, etc or they wouldn't be on NXT, they wouldn't be pushed, they wouldn't be getting articles. You're being worked. This article sounds like bullshit.

If Neville wasn't highly regarded, he wouldn't be NXT champ as HHH is very heavily involved. if Zayne wasn't heavily regarded, he wouldn't be pushed so much in NXT and showcased on Raw.

Put them all on the main roster and then see what happens. There are always these reports out there. I'm not being worked as I don't care that much. Sure they put the belt on him, and then what? Main roster debut and a totally new character. Adam Rose is a perfect example. WWE seriously is a shell of its former self.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

Put them all on the main roster and then see what happens. There are always these reports out there. I'm not being worked as I don't care that much. Sure they put the belt on him, and then what? Main roster debut and a totally new character. Adam Rose is a perfect example. WWE seriously is a shell of its former self.

Put them on the main roster and they'll get a long title reign like Punk? Or to go over Orton, HHH, and Batista like Bryan did? The IWC is more predictable than it claims the WWE is. Just feed into the "WWE R TRYIN TA KEEP DA INDY GUYZ DOWN" myth and watch guys get over (both heels on the "office" side and the indy undersized baby faces).

 

[Mustang Sally]

As to whom Patterson was referring to, my guess is that it's Adrian Neville.

That's my guess too, for the simple reason that I can't figure why he hasn't made the major leagues yet. His look and ring repertoire is fantastic ....and he delivers it in exciting and polished fashion. So, what are they waiting for?

But Pat Patterson himself is a case, huh? He comes across as so goofy when he speaks, and was depicted as such in those silly skits with Jerry Brisco back in the day, that you wonder how much the guy really knows about what's going on. Sure, he has a storied career as a wrestler, but that doesn't always translate to a knowledgeable figure backstage.

Still, the man's got to have something if he's been able to stay employed by Vince McMahon all these years.