Report: Top Indy Player Signs With WWE

[Jack-Hammer]

It's being reported on the WZ main page that former ROH World Champion Kevin Steen has signed with WWE.

Off & on over the past 6 months or so, there've been various reports mentioning that Steen was part of a WWE tryout a while back, that officials were impressed with him and that they've been looking at him for quite a while. There's nothing mentioned about when Steen will report to the WWE Performance Center, but he's expected to finish up his booking obligations on the indy scene before he does, which go on at least through the rest of June.

So, let all the "WWE won't use him right" rants begin.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

He's a good allrounder with strong aerial ability but doesn't fit the usual "mould" for guys who can do that. He's not Vader big by any stretch but his build is bigger than most guys who do the 450 or those types of moves so he offers a different take.

He isn't "another pretty boy" but someone they can package and who can fit into a tag team or group or go on a tear through singles. I could see him as a Wyatt or brought almost right up as part of the Shield... those won't happen but he's almost a blank canvas in some ways but he has the clear ability to be able to keep up with the tradition of the ROH guys coming in like Punk, Danielson and the like of being valuable roster members over time.

Of all the names recently bandied around, Steen is the most "WWE Friendly" and will need the least work to become a strong member of the main roster. KENTA, Devitt et al will need more work and packaging to get them ready. With the rate NXT is calling up it's best talents he's a great placeholder guy to go in to NXT, take the title from Neville or Breeze when they move up and continue that chain going.

 

[Perfected123]

Fantastic news. Bad news for the indy's, though. El Generico & Kevin Steen were the two things that hooked me on to Ring of Honor & independent wrestling back in 2010. They're both two of the hardest workers in pro wrestling and I see nothing but success for the both of them in the future. I swear i'm gonna cry if they team up or go up against each other in NXT. I'm wondering whether Kevin will start off as a heel or face, i'm leaning more towards heel...

 

[Wally Dangerously]

I'm thrilled for Steen. He has a unique style and persona and has built a really organic and dedicated following in ROH. I honestly didn't think WWE would ever sign him. Let him keep the shirt, WWE!

Immediately, I think of an epic Steen/Zayn feud on NXT that would put most of the main roster work to shame. It could happen. It doesn't matter if the audience doesn't know about their past work in ROH, the in-ring work would speak for itself.

This is great news and somewhat offsets the bummer of the Daniel Bryan situation we've read about today.

 

[Punk_Aries_Daniels_Bryan]

This is honestly great news. WWE is starting to gear up for an amazing future roster. Neville, Graves, Zayn, and now Steen? I can already see the 5 star matches. I don't know if Steen will be given a huge push, but who knows? At minimum, he will be a top mid-card for sure

 

[The Eighties]

I'm not a fan of Steen but he has a unique charisma, I can't deny. To me if they want to get him over they pretty much have to let him be what he is, I don't think he'll thrive shoehorned into a specific character role.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

WWE have the potential to have a phenomenal roster of talent over the next 5 years or so. With guys like Rollins, Ambrose, Cesaro, Neville, Reigns, Zayn, Crowe, Graves, Wyatt and many more, the roster is becoming filled with excellent wrestlers with alot of indie experience.

Kevin Steen is a very unique talent, he can fly but he doesn't look like he should be able to, plus he's one tough bastard who can also talk. I've kept an eye on him ever since I caught him on a random episode of Combat Zone Wrestling on "The Wrestling Channel" we used to get in the UK on Sky. I remember seeing him doing these crazy moves to Sexxxy Eddy and being amazed that a guy with his build could do a moonsault/450 etc, and the Package Piledriver blew my mind and immediately became my favourite finisher (Yeah, I know we aren't going to see that in NXT).

I never expected WWE to be interested in Steen, as he just looks nothing like one a "WWE guy" but its great news to see they have brought him in. I hope they don't stick him with a terrible ring name and gimmick, and let him wrestle in a shirt like he has done for years. Not everyone needs to be a ripped monster, Steen is one of the men who is believable and talented enough to make you a fan without needing to oil up his shaven abs.