Reuben de Jong signs with WWE!

[Shadowmancer]

It's with great pride that we can now announce former IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Champion Reuben de Jong has joined the ranks of World Wrestling Entertainment!

A product of the Impact Pro Wrestling Training School, the 6'10 140kg giant will now unleash his immense skill on a world stage and prove why he is one of the most dominating IPW NZ Heayweight Champions in history!

In 2010 Reuben de Jong had the fastest rise to the top of IPW since its inception when he claimed the IPW NZ Heavyweight Championship from Vinny Dunn at Genesis 2010, a feat he acheived in less than six months.

But that’s not all there is to de Jong. With a storied history encompassing K-1 kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts and movie and television stunt work, the reality is that Reuben has taken more than his fair share of hard knocks, yet still is in terrific shape and is now focusing on creating more history on a universal stage.



Impact Pro Wrestling wishes Reuben de Jong, now known as Russell Walker, all the very best for the future! Kick some ass, Kiwi style!

source: Impact Pro Wrestling

This is an awesome development for the guy as he is a legit big man, having seen him in action relatively recently he has the chops to make it in the WWE. Dude is intimidating in reality even with him being a nice guy. I am really happy to see that a Kiwi is getting at least a developmental deal and I can see him getting called up in the next year or two.

4I2b6hPQJT8​

Can't put into words how awesome it is that there could/will be a New Zealander in the the WWE again, this time as more of a threat than that posed by the Bushwhackers, he could be another Pat O'Conner for the sake of popularity he has the legit cred from his K1 that I can see him doing really well.

 

[Shadowmancer]

While I think that Dal Knox and Vinny Dunn have the ability to make it on the largest stage, I think that the WWE would consider them too short. But Reuben de Jong is a monster and I don't think you can do too lame of a gimmick with him if they even remotely just base his gimmick and look off of the one that he has in IPW. I mean walking to the ring with the skull cloth for his jaw is really cool for one.

I am going to assume Conici that you have seen him wrestle and you know what potential he has to be great.

 

[Malenko316]

So, VKM has found yet another blundering, oversized monkey to come in a deminish the quality of actual 'wrestling' (he must still be taking lessons from Russo). While I can see the logic of needing to replace Kane, Undertaker and Khali within the next yr to 2, I'm not convinced this guy from the film I've found is the answer.

Admittedly, alongside the like of other prospects like Big E Langston in FCW, new Welsh wonder Mason Ryan and the likely soon to be 'future endevored' Jackson Andrews and Eli Cottonwood, EdJ is not terrible. But looking at other prospects out there, Matt Morgan for the all ready polished article or Bob 'The Beast' Sapp for the high profile, MMA/K1 monster, De Jong looks unimposing and unpolished. The only justification can be that this a cut price selection to be trained 'the WWE way'.

In short, roll on WM27 so Trips can hang up the boots and get down to shorting out the talent system, as this hiring is the perfect example of the current problems.

 

[Shadowmancer]

What are you on about? This is not a no talent option. It was a hype package so of course it isn't going to show much. Calling him blundering and oversized monkey is effectively saying that my opinion based on actually having seen him work live is invalid. What are you on about with the unimposing? He is huge and is imposing to me and I am not a small man, he is a nice guy and he is still imposing.

You are also falling into the giant hole of saying that because a guy is big and plays the role of the Monster that he therefore cannot Wrestle? that is a fallacy and really you should realise there is a place on the roster for most different body types and positions. Reuben de Jong is one that is a monster he isn't supposed to be a technical wrestler, the more technical based wrestlers are supposed to be more technical and not monsters. RdJ knows his role. This isn't an example of a the problems of the WWE development system as he has been wrestling and chose to wrestle, and then he got the contract for the WWE which is different for a number of other choices that the WWE has done.

This is more of an inspired hiring rather than that of a problem. He does need polishing to go to the WWE, but he has the tools to make it right to the top on a Kevin Nash type role.

 

[bko]

I'm half Kiwi and half Ozzy so it makes me happy to see a fellow native back in WWE, when I was younger Bush Whacker were my favourite Tag Team, and even when Nathan Jones debuted I was hoping he would go far. Best of luck to this guy, I hope he does well.

 

[The Eighties]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I2b6hPQJT8

I found this video on him and I think he looks intimidating, he reminds me a bit of Kurgan. If WWE can get his in ring work to a solid level and book him right I can see him making some money with Cena.

In fact here's a fantasy booking idea ripped off from 1993, Once Cena beats Miz, Cole is going to be pissed and hopefully post-Mania he will be off commentary, so he becomes an agent ala Heyman and brings in Russel Walker to take out Cena!

 

[C.K.O.]

So, VKM has found yet another blundering, oversized monkey to come in a deminish the quality of actual 'wrestling' (he must still be taking lessons from Russo). While I can see the logic of needing to replace Kane, Undertaker and Khali within the next yr to 2, I'm not convinced this guy from the film I've found is the answer.

This man brings everything Kane & Undertaker brings to the ring, plus the fact he's a actual Kickboxing athlete. He reminds me of Nathan Jones. Let's just hope he's not as worthless as he was.

To bring him in as The Son of Kane in almost the same matter Kane was brought into the WWE as Undertaker's brother would give him a great start to a future and give Kane one last great fued in the WWE before he retires.

 

[yur_momma]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bo0WNS2M38

this is what his wwe career will be...slamming against the glass ceiling and failing....


i just watched a few of his matches and he isnt impressive...he isnt unimpressive either...just "meh whatever"...he definitely needs training but my overall prediction is this guy wont be around long, IF he ever makes it to tv...

 

[C.K.O.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bo0WNS2M38

this is what his wwe career will be...slamming against the glass ceiling and failing....


i just watched a few of his matches and he isnt impressive...he isnt unimpressive either...just "meh whatever"...he definitely needs training but my overall prediction is this guy wont be around long, IF he ever makes it to tv...

I just have to mention that was the funniest thing I've ever seen lmaooooo

I've looked thru clips of him too after my previous post and I agree, I've yet to see a WOW factor yet about except that he's extremely big and and can move.

 

[PowerHouse]

To me he looks like a mix between Kane and Nathan Jones. I miss Nathan Jones I think he had HUGE potential. This guy has the strongman backround like Jones i guess we will see down the line when he is brought up just how good he is.

 

[AK2V8]

This is awsome. I am kiwi (NZ native for u yankies) myself. I hope WWE dont make him a "New Zealand Stereotype" they way they did with the likes of Drew McIntyre, Sheamus and Santino with them being stereotypes for their respective nationalities. He would definitely be like a more white version of Khali and similar to Kane. But I believe kiwi talent like Vinny Dunn and Dal Knox have more potential. I have seen this man in IPW and he was an absolute monster. Maybe have him debut in NXT by interupting a NXT "main event" and destorying everyone and display as a monster heel.