Funny thing is I thought of Tyler Black before I posted about Strong, but at this point in time, he needs to break free of AOTF to be a serious contender. His performances against main eventers, while strong and accepted with by the crowd, will be overshadowed by his role in the stable. He is not the leader of a stable. Back in 04 when Orton won his first heavyweight title as a member of Evolution, he lost it in a month and was quickly dropped out of the title picture. Why? Because the group's jealousy angle completely backwatered his title win. For Black to be taken 100% seriously as a possible champion, I say he loses several very important matches in a row for his team, but due to "could've happened to anyone" circumstances instead of clean losses. Jacobs' faith in Black as a member of AOTF begins to dwindle as Black continues to defend himself, citing good points that the fans can agree with as to what has been wrong lately. Black slowly begins to see less and less action as a member of the team, as Jacobs sidelines him and begins using Delirious in his tag matches instead (thus also giving Delirious something to do instead of being underutilized in pointless matches with local jobbers or former students). Jacobs is seen backstage in a video wire talking to Necro Butcher. Nobody knows what this is about, as before they can finish talking, they see the camera and leave. At another show, Black is about to face "local guy A" when Jacobs and Delirious storm the ring, taking out Black's opponent and leaving him in a pool of blood. Jacobs, incensed, says he just watched the video wire and had to find out that Black was talking to Necro Butcher. Jacobs is suspicious that Black is going to turn on AOTF just like he did. Black, adamantly defending himself, says that it's not what it looks like and that it's not him who has been disloyal to AOTF. He claims that Jacobs has been so obsessed with all of his own personal issues that he has been missing the whole point of AOTF to begin with. Black says it wasn't supposed to be like this, with AOTF turning on each other, but he said he can see why Necro did. He even mentions that he doesn't blame Lacey for leaving him for Aries. At that, Jacobs goes to strike Black, but pauses, and then leaves the ring in a fit, cursing the whole way to the back. Delirious and Black are both left in the ring, lost with themselves, and leave separately as well. At the next show, all of AOTF have decided to try to rekindle their bond as Black, Jacobs, and Delirious take on the YRR (Jason Blade, Kenny King, and former ROH Tag Team Champion Sal Rinauro). AOTF controls most of the match, but then after a miscommunication, Jacobs gets pinned and loses the match. Black makes a point, publicly, that even his fearless, idealistic leader can make mistakes-and throws the mic down at Jacobs' feet. Next show, Black gets a number one contender's match against, say... Brent Albright. After a fierce bout, Black looks to have the win secured as Jacobs charges the ring for the Dusty Rhodes finish, with the spike in hand, and begins mutilating Black, shouting disparagingly at him. Delirious runs in and stops Jacobs, but Jacobs puts the spike in Delirious' hand and yells that if he doesn't spike the miserable piece of shit himself, he's out of AOTF and reminds him that Jacobs was the man who befriended him after Daizee crapped on his heart. Jacobs tells Delirious to picture Rhett Titus and the masked man goes nuts on Black, busting him open even more and even taking out Albright in the process as well (setting up another feud for Delirious to be a part of... I try not to leave anyone out, lol). Black vs. AOTF is in full swing. Black then heads up a team of himself, Aries, and Albright vs. Jacobs, Delirious, and returning AOTF member, Joey Matthews. Black and Jacobs go on to have a bloody and barbaric feud, which culminates a year later in a violent steel cage match (ala Jacobs vs. Whitmer). During that year, as well, Black wins many key matches against top ROH names. In the wake of his feud with AOTF and his wins over main eventers, Black finally challenges for the ROH Title again, losing his first and second shot in a two month timeframe. Black garners more and more fans and his cult following grows, so by the time he wins the title on his third attempt, the venue is chock full of rabid Tyler Black fans as he collapses in the ring, his ROH Title draped over his chest...
...thoughts?
