Resurgence of Youth

[The Dragon Saga]

A few months back when the WWE did their draft, some people were a little sceptacle as to how WWE planned to push Smackdown onwards with little main eventers and a roster full of youth, but last night on Smackdown, the match before the main event was a six man tag team match that I've now watched three times; constant reruns on Sky Sports.

And, honestly, it may just be my easy to please mind-set but the match between The Uso's and Trent Baretta vs. McGillicutty, Otunga and JTG was pretty... Entertaining... To me.

Some will undoubtedly want to question the match, and say how it was slow and their was no crowd reaction - but looking at the bigger picture in-terms of what it actually means, I think the bout could serve a larger purpose.

Otunga and McGillicutty to begin with are becoming decent, better than they were a few months back in my opinion at least when it comes to their in-ring presence. As a team they have formed from the ashes of The New Nexus but not only do they hold the WWE Tag Team Championships but they have appeared on both RAW and Smackdown in the last two weeks, competing on all four shows. That is pretty decent exposure for two guys who a month ago were figures placed behind Mason Ryan and CM Punk in The New Nexus.

The Uso's currently define 'improvement' on the WWE roster. They've gone from being on the future endeavour list of almost everyone to making a u-turn and becoming an impressive duo, their exchanges with Gabriel and Slater were entertaining and they are in the midst of a decent push also which will probably see them eventually capture the WWE Tag Team Championships.

Trent Barreta appearing on Smackdown usually means you're in-store for a squash match but instead, last night he had some pretty good offense and according to Josh Matthews we'll be seeing a lot more of Trent on Smackdown in the coming weeks. Trent is probably only ever going to get midcard status if hes lucky, but for those who watched him gut it out on Superstars he has bonified skills. Great to see him last night, even in a losing effort.

And finally... JTG. JTG has been getting a bit more airtime as of late, and last night not only did he get airtime but for those who were watching, somehow Booker T has placed JTG, "right outside my fave five, dawg" which is becoming like a running rankings system on Smackdown as of late. JTG possibly got over more than anyone in the match, he showed he could make an alright heel and with some more time to show his stuff could also rise, becoming something more than he is.

This isn't even including the appearence and competitive bout between Danielson and the spariodically seen Tyson Kidd whose been rumored to receive a push for these past few months, probably having the match of the night with Bryan.

What I'm trying to say by describing each of their performances last night is, I love seeing young talent, I've missed Superstars once in the last three months, or maybe twice. And last night showed my favorite part of Smackdown, the fact that it isn't cluttered with all this mid-card talent thats been around on television for awhile and that these young guys, even after they've failed in a sense in the past, like JTG and to small degrees The Uso's, are able to make their way onto television and have a pretty entertaining six man tag team match.

In the long haul, I'm hoping that the WWE can push forward with these guys making their appearences. I know not all seven will go onwards to do so, Otunga and McGillicutty will be back on RAW on a normal basis once they lose their belts anyway, but the others I'd love to see more of. Especially, I'd like to see JTG get some microphone time and actually convey further why he's a heel.

I'd normally just say discuss, but I'll put a couple questions instead:

Did you watch the Six-Man Tag on SD? What are your thoughts?

Who in these bouts impressed you the most? Who would you like to see more of?

Any other thoughts or comments to make?

 

[¡Roján!]

Yes, I caught both matches and thank god I did. Normally, I just skip through the matches until about halfway due to time restraints. But, I had time and decided to watch the tag match and Bryan v Kidd and I was impressed. What are my thoughts on the tag match? They all impressed the hell out of me. JTG can play a really good heel, someone kids and adults alike can get invested in. Trent impresses me more and more every week. He consistently puts on great matches and his mini-series with Hawkins was awesome. He is also pretty good on the mic. If he were tweaked perhaps, I see a great future for him. The Uso's were awesome as always and Jimmy (or Jey) hit one hell of a superkick, man. He almost took JTG's jaw off. And, now to Perfect Jnr and Otunga. Man, they've really impressed me as of late. They are getting constant exposure at the moment on RAW, SD and Superstars. They've even made me care about the tag titles for a bit. Their finisher is awesome and I used to slam both of them for being boring and generic in the ring, but they've improved leaps and bounds within the last month it's not normal. Also, anyone notice how their titantron didn't include the Nexus symbol? That can only be good news for them, not being in Punk and Mason's shadow. I expect them to be on SumerSlam card.
Anyway, back to Bryan and Kidd: Bryan hasn't really improved, but I'll be damned if he needed too. His mic skills are ok, not the Rock but better than JoMo anyway. The only problem with him is that he's not over in the slightest. Only 1/4 of the arena popped when he came out, according to KB and that's not good news. He needs one feud to propel his face status. Maybe even slaying the beast that is Mark Henry, if he goes over Sheamus. That would sure as hell work. Now on to Kidd: He is one of the best in-ring techinicians in the WWE game, for sure. I've never seen a bad Kidd match, seriously. However, he'd work much better as a face. He can't be taken seriously with his heel persona. That hair and attire really scream jobber and if it weren't for his background, your average Joe wouldn't care in the slightest.

The 8 guys I've just basically reviewed will be major players in the WWE for a long time to come, perhaps with the exception of JTG and McGillicuty. I definitely see Bryan as an upper midcarder maybe taking over the underdog status Rey has. If you think about, both are similar. They put on great matches, mic skills are so-so and are about the same stature and strength. I see Bryan interchanging through Mid-card feuds and main event feuds. Trent will be a great mid-carder and the WWE seems to have some sort of faith in him. Perfect Jnr and Otunga should probably stay as a tag-team but in the current WWE climate, they'll break up. I see McGillicuty as a low to mid (Appearing on Superstars and Smackdown or RAW, sporadically) superstar, unless his gimmick is changed and he is made a lit more interesting, which I doubt will happen (he seems very adamant about not being known to be Perfect's son). Otunga has a future, he could play a similar character to the Miz (so-called celebrities) but he is still extremely green on the mic. But, I like CM Punk used to, have faith in Otunga. Hey, and if it doesn't work out the WWE can always try to make him persuade his wife to perform and then fire him . The Uso's should stay together and reign over the ever re-surging tag team division. A feud between them and the KoW, Hero and Castagnoli makes my mouth water, literally.

 

[Wade's Public Transit Bomb]

Well, I watched the DB vs Kidd match. Wade was calling it, so I was listening.

I was blown away with how completely uncharismatic Daniel Bryan came across as. The match started off movezy and got little reaction, which is expected tbh. However, they switched to the basic WWE formula of "heel works limb." DB was doing his damn-est to get the crowd into the match, but they didn't even react to his dropkick from the top. They got 10 minutes (tho it was probably 15 min live) and the crowd just couldn't give to shits about any of it. Just brutal. Tyson Kidd has the perfect look for a jobber tho. How can anyone like someone who looks like a Neo-Nazi douchbag?

I took more enjoyment in Wade almost calling Bucket (his accent doesn't let him say Booker haha) a moron and only thanking Cole for having him tbh

 

[The Dragon Saga]

Well, I watched the DB vs Kidd match. Wade was calling it, so I was listening.

I was blown away with how completely uncharismatic Daniel Bryan came across as. The match started off movezy and got little reaction, which is expected tbh. However, they switched to the basic WWE formula of "heel works limb." DB was doing his damn-est to get the crowd into the match, but they didn't even react to his dropkick from the top. They got 10 minutes (tho it was probably 15 min live) and the crowd just couldn't give to shits about any of it. Just brutal. Tyson Kidd has the perfect look for a jobber tho. How can anyone like someone who looks like a Neo-Nazi douchbag?

I took more enjoyment in Wade almost calling Bucket (his accent doesn't let him say Booker haha) a moron and only thanking Cole for having him tbh

In response to that, I can only refer you to Sam's thread describing the differences between the crowd last night, and as he said, the crowd was dead as shit last night for almost everything.

The week before Danielson got a great reaction, his microphone work was solid and he came across natural. Hes not being given a reason to be angry or sad or feel any emotion so really hes been given the instructions of, "You play a normal guy who likes submission wrestling, talk about how you're doing better than most people ever thought you would and tell whoever that you'll make them tap-out."

Danielson isn't an instantly charismatic person - he can be though, the proof is in the pudding they say, and the pudding was his promo towards Cody Rhodes several weeks ago which left nobody able to doubt he has mic skills, charisma or personality, even Michael Cole said it was a side of Bryan he had yet to see until then.

 

[Wade's Public Transit Bomb]

In response to that, I can only refer you to Sam's thread describing the differences between the crowd last night, and as he said, the crowd was dead as shit last night for almost everything.

They were white hot for Sheamus. So, maybe it has something to do with the performers themselves?

The week before Danielson got a great reaction, his microphone work was solid and he came across natural. Hes not being given a reason to be angry or sad or feel any emotion so really hes been given the instructions of, "You play a normal guy who likes submission wrestling, talk about how you're doing better than most people ever thought you would and tell whoever that you'll make them tap-out."

Hate to break it to ya, but most wrestlers who's gimmick is to "be a good wrestler" really don't pan out to any commercial success. And to be honest, I think DB is mediocre on the mic, especially compared to others.. Particularly the guy he had that segment with.

I really don't think they have much faith in DB's abilities to get over on his own. It is one thing when a heel has a bunch of flying monkeys, but when you constantly need to be reminded that the face is the one you are suppose to like.. Might not be the best sign.

Danielson isn't an instantly charismatic person - he can be though, the proof is in the pudding they say, and the pudding was his promo towards Cody Rhodes several weeks ago which left nobody able to doubt he has mic skills, charisma or personality, even Michael Cole said it was a side of Bryan he had yet to see until then.

Well, they should keep him off the mic then. If he isn't 'traditional' charismatic, then don't be surprised that he isn't really over and it takes a while for the fans to react when they are pushing him.


Guess I will stick my neck out and stay that I haven't been impressed with DB at all. Everything he does just feels so cliche. He is supposed to be this great mat worker, so he opens every match with.. Only to lose almost every exchange. Then he just starts flipping around just to get the crowd to react. I really hate that the guy really hasn't shown much emotion. Those stupid fist shakes just feel like "Okay. This shows I care, I guess." as oppose to really feeling like he wants people to get excited. On the mic, he doesn't stand out. Which isn't a bad thing, but when you got strong promo guys like Barrett (the guy he is feuding with it seems), it just amplifies how average he is on the mic.

 

[RicoLen]

Hate to break it to ya, but most wrestlers who's gimmick is to "be a good wrestler" really don't pan out to any commercial success. And to be honest, I think DB is mediocre on the mic, especially compared to others.. Particularly the guy he had that segment with.

Yeah I think Daniel Bryan will get over about as well as Dean Malenko. Sure, great wrestler, but thus far about a personable as, well... Dean Malenko.

Guess I will stick my neck out and stay that I haven't been impressed with DB at all. Everything he does just feels so cliche. He is supposed to be this great mat worker, so he opens every match with.. Only to lose almost every exchange. Then he just starts flipping around just to get the crowd to react. I really hate that the guy really hasn't shown much emotion. Those stupid fist shakes just feel like "Okay. This shows I care, I guess." as oppose to really feeling like he wants people to get excited. On the mic, he doesn't stand out. Which isn't a bad thing, but when you got strong promo guys like Barrett (the guy he is feuding with it seems), it just amplifies how average he is on the mic.

I've seen him to be a good wrestler, I actually really liked the match he had on smackdown "last night" with Tyson Kid, they both looked pretty good in that match... in fact it was one of the best technical matches I've seen in a damned long time... maybe even as far back as a Kurt Angle match, but then the guy has to open his mouth... I mean, I want to like him... really I do, especially if he has good exchanges like he did with Tyson Kid, but more often than not they have him jumping around like he's a luchadore and it just doesn't look good, I don't like seeing it from Evan Bourne or Billy Kidman, or the 1-2-3 Kid either. It's just hard to take guys like that seriously if they're not in masks for me.

I know it's stupid, but even so, if you're not a real luchadore I just don't want to see you act like a luchadore, act like a mat technicaion and get over like that and I'll love you, as long as you don't have to talk and you lose to someone who can do what you can do and talk well too.

As far as I'm concerned Daniel Bryan had better get some charisma fast or go away.

EDIT: Actually he doesn't need to go away, he just needs to know his role, and be a well respected jobber, like Jumpin Jim Brunzel & The Brooklin Brawler, someone that coulda been a contender, but just didn't have what it takes, but still have a lot to offer in the form of jobbing and making others look good and maybe teaching those guys a few things too. There's really nothing wrong with being one of those guys. They have an important role to play and the career jobbers are actually very well respected because they help a lot of huge stars when they're just starting out, and they're never forgotten for the help they give.

 

[Da Solo]

Did you watch the Six-Man Tag on SD? What are your thoughts?

Who in these bouts impressed you the most? Who would you like to see more of?

Any other thoughts or comments to make?

Yes, I watched and enjoyed the 6 man match. Even though Hennig (fck that other name) and Otunga are complete crap as singles wrestlers, they are actually getting good at functioning as a team. As for the Uso's they continued to impress me and WWE does to them what they did to Cryme Time i'll call BS. Baretta is impressive but he didnt show much this match.

What really caught my eye was JTG. I was always a fan of him as a singles star, but I felt that w/o Shad, he can't be a face with this thug gimmick, and he gave off a good heel aura.

Other thoughts/comments: Anyone who says Bryan has no charisma: Get over it. Not everyone can be The Rock or Y2J or The Miz in mic skills