Some very perplexing WWE roster spots

[Radical]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately and I really don't understand.

There are a few Superstars who, based on the Superstars listed on the official WWE website, are apparently STILL employed by WWE yet remain there for seemingly very inexplicable reasons.

I want to make a few comments on them and speculate how this could be.

Then, please voice your thoughts on the following Superstars still employed by WWE.

The Great Khali - Seems like EVERYBODY is perplexed by how Khali could still be employed by WWE considering his laughably limited ability in the ring. The crazy thing is, unlike the Superstars I mention next, he is still a fairly REGULAR performer.

The sad thing is, for me, I actually understand and liked him as part of WWE back when he first debuted. I thought it was good. He is an eye-catching guy and his feuds with guys like Undertaker, Kane and Batista helped build up those Superstars. And, I'll argue with anyone who's willing that Khali leading us to witness the Punjabi Prison match was well worth his hiring. I know more could have been done with that but that match was quite a spectacle. Just look at how many views it has on YouTube (over 3 million).

I also agree with Khali being World Heavyweight Champion and the way he won it. He won it in a Battle Royal so he didn't bury anybody and he didn't hold the title for too long but just long enough to make his presence in the WWE 'credible'.

But, in my opinion, if I was in charge I would have looked at Khali as a 3-year investment. PERIOD. He comes in, is dominant, becomes World Champ, participates in gimmick/spectacle matches, loses the World Title to give someone(s) else a push and then sticks around for a year or two after so more Superstars can beat him and get that push from beating a giant "former World Champion".

I don't understand why he is STILL employed though. There are other giant wrestlers out there and enough in the WWE already without Khali.

David Otunga - For this guy, I do and I don't understand why he is still with WWE.

It is obvious why he was given a chance. He has an impressive physique. Unfortunately, he doesn't have enough ability and charisma to be wrestling in the ring on a regular basis. I know he is kept on with WWE because of his wife and her connection to another facet of the entertainment world.

I guess if he is the only guy who can be that 'in between' guy for the WWE then I see why he is still with them but I still don't see why they can't get someone else to fill that roll. Even though I don't like him, I thought The Miz is filling that roll anyway! And at least Miz is a regular performer.

Yoshi Tatsu - Personally, I like Tatsu. I think he can put on some really good matches. Watch him with Tyson Kidd a few years ago (that's the last time he was given ANY chance to really perform).

For Tatsu, I don't understand why WWE isn't giving him more time on TV. He is the only Japanese rep the WWE has and I don't think he is just popular in Japan. I think Tatsu would be great if WWE started doing more "World Cup" tournaments or created some more Nationality-based factions.

I saw Tatsu did a match in NXT not that long ago. But there was a gap of many months where he didn't appear in any WWE shows. Perhaps WWE gave him some time off for whatever reason, and that concept I DO support but after the guy gets time off WWE should give him a decent push back into WWE programming so people can get behind him and give him that last chance to get over.

JTG - Now we are getting to the real "I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND!" category.

JTG was great when he was part of Cryme Tyme! But how many years ago was that!? MANY! He doesn't serve any purpose what-so-ever. R-Truth basically has the 'cool rapper' gimmick and he can play a face or heel. So, for years now JTG hasn't got ANY push so why do they even keep him around?

I haven't seen him on any WWE show for months! Obviously he isn't needed. When he does pop up on TV he is getting squashed. A roll that can be played by MANY other regular WWE Superstars.

And I hate to say it but I don't see another gimmick or roll JTG could play at this time in WWE, and neither does WWE, apparently, so why would they bother keeping him on the payroll if they aren't using him?

Which leads me to ...

Ezekiel Jackson - This one is a big "WHY?" X 10000.

Ok, honestly, WHEN was the last time he was seen on ANYTHING related to WWE? I honestly cannot even recall. I heard that apparently he was at WrestleMania Axxess. Even if that is true, then it has been MANY months since he's done one single thing for WWE.

So... my question is. How can I get that freaking sweet deal? Sit on my ass all day, go to the gym JUST FOR FUN and not travel around the world with a crazy schedule yet still get a paycheque! Now, I don't know how much he gets paid but you GOT to think it is I dunno, at least $40-50,000 a year because if he wasn't making that much MINIMUM he would HAVE to ask the WWE to let him go so he COULD make money somewhere else. He's not getting any extra for appearances but he must be making some sort of living wage even without appearing or else he would have left.

So aside from having the easiest job in the world the issue is I still don't know why WWE IS keeping him on the payroll if there are not using him and seem to have 0 plans in using him anytime soon.

The other thing is, Jackson's roll is being filled by Big E Langston who is younger and already more popular and successful than Jackson was in all his active time in WWE. I don't see any roll for Jackson in the near (or even distant) future in the WWE so what the hell is WWE doing keeping him around?

IT MAKES NO SENSE!


Sorry, I just had to get that off my chest.

Please share your thoughts.

 

[Softcore Holly]

Alright, I'm in the mood for a challenge

Khali - He's really big and literally stands out, so at the very least he's something that other companies don't have. Also maybe he sells a lot of merchdise to India?

Otunga - Uh...well he has a great look, he's a talented speaker and I personally think if given the chance he can draw heat pretty easily. Problem is his lack on-ring ability, but I don't know what if anything WWE is doing to improve upon that.

Tastsu - The talent is there, I can't for the life of me remember the last time he got the chance to speak though. Not to sound racist but part of me thinks that he's only there since he's the only member of the roster that looks clearly Asian. Not a good reason I know, but it's a reason.

JTG - Wow this is really get hard. Again the talent is there, I remember him being decent on the mic, but I guess he's not great enough in either to really succeed. But they do need face jobbers and JTG is a serviceable one to keep around for house show fodder for bigger heels.

Jackson - They probably love his look, but yeah I don't know where he is or what he's doing. He wasn't good on the mic, and he is quite limited in the ring. But I think they can find some use out of him either as a bodyguard(again, I know) or in a tag team where the smaller more skilled partner does most of the work. But really I think at this point they're just waiting for his contract to expire so he can go someplace else.

 

[Mr.Maikeru_Sawyer]

1. Khali is there to apease the sick freak that lives inside VKM and he is a HUGE Star(like Pitt and Jolie here) in India. he is on the roster for no other real reason.

2. Otunga is a licenced lawyer and is about to marry Jennifer Hudson an Oscar winner & huge Hollywood connection for WWE. I am sure he is an asset to WWE as a lawyer/counsel for the other stars while he gets better in the ring.

3. Yoshi is there because Tajiri is gone, plain and simple

4. JTG not sure why he is aaround maaybe Softcore Holly is right, house show cannon fodder for the stars

5. Jackson had been hurt I believe and refuse to bring people back to TV without a storyline to work them

i am not sure why but i am sure that everyone that is employed by them is there for a reason, whether it be from talent, look, or even ethnicity that is why ADR is consistently in the main event because Rey has been hurt and gone for so long

 

[lil bitch Kid]

Ok, so here we go:

Khali: he is employed because there are 1.3 billion people in India that think the big clumsy bastard is a GAWD

Otunga: He's a character that is unique that comes with a wife that gets him on main stream TV when they go somewhere important.

Yoshi: UMM, because he's actually pretty talented. b Eventually, this Network will get off the ground and there will be a place for a quasi-cruiserweight show where he'll get air time.

JTG: he's not likely costing them a lot, and goes on the road to work house shows. Plus, he's a jobber for when they need one. And, again, he's a pretty talented guy.

Jackson: He's built like a brick shit house, moves well, gets a crowd reaction, and well, is hurt right now or else he'd likely be on TV

 

[NegativeFeedback]

Khali is really big in India. That's why he's on the payroll. I don't get why they split his tag team with Jinder up though. I think they should try that again, it really builds Jinder's credibility to have a giant world champion as his back-up.

JTG and David Otunga are both house show fodder, but I'd put them together as a tag team. JTG commits crimes and David Otunga is his lawyer. The stories write themselves. "You can't touch me, I gotta lawyer!!" and he just points to David.

Ezekiel was great as Kendrick's muscle. I loved when he was reading Cat in the Hat upside down. Great stuff. He's a former ECW and IC Champion, but none of those were deserved. He needs to be sent down to NXT to hone his craft before being sent back up. I think he can be used as someone's muscle, but not necessarily as a wrestler. Bodyguards have gone out of fashion in WWE, but they're a great way to garner heat. I think putting him with Brad Maddox might be a good idea.

Yoshi Tatsu is great, but he can't speak English 100% and WWE is going to want him to make it better before he's pushed on TV. I'd like to see him work as a heel who wants to domesticate the WWE Universe so he brings out 10-12 Japanese fans to sit at ringside and show the crowds how they should behave.

All in all, they all have value as long as you have the right idea.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

Khali is a GOD in India... he is one of their biggest celebs and that is the sole reason he has an active roster spot. He is not someone who should be there, not through his talent but cos of his pit gland surgery 2 years ago... Big Show got it done early so he's ok, Khali clearly isn't and he is a major risk every time he wrestles and will continue to be so but "hey maybe he'll go in a hotel room and not in the ring".

The guys you mention from the lower card Holly, they are the Iron Mike Sharpe, Reno Riggins, Barry Orton of the day... The only one worthy of more is Otunga, he has charisma and a hell of a body, if he could only wrestle a lick he'd be a star...

The true "puzzlers" are guys many will say "what?" when I mention.

Orton: A man with a chip the size of a 20 foot Dorito on his shoulder, a propensity for bullying and drug abuse and a severe charisma shortage. Yet he is an "A+++ player" really? They genuinely should have fired Orton a year or more ago, when he had his last "let's not call it a strike cos it's his last one" moment. A year out, deciding whats important and he could truly have grown as a character and a man... but he continues to be indulged... I dread to think what he has on the McMahon's...

Dolph Ziggler - He is worse than John Morrison, Bobby Lashley and the like ever were. He truly HAD potential but it seemed to either disappear up his own arse or be a smokescreen from it. He has severely upset someone high up in WWE and is suffering far worse than Trips ever did. Maybe it's "tough love" but the reality is he has probably been found out as an overselling guy who cost the one they did want pushed (Barrett) his shot.

Santino - I get he is a "comedy" character, I get he is a damn fine worker when he is allowed to be. But at this point he is truly a waste of a spot, either for a top worker which he could be or a funnier guy of which there are many. Sad as it sounds it's embarrassing to see 3MB bumped from a show in favor of Santino.

Zack Ryder - Has always been adversarial to WWE, he did his youtube stuff to spite them remember. He has "paid the price" far too long for this to be punishment, this is "we don't rate you, but the kids pop, so we'll pay you peanuts and you'll take it". There is no yellow brick road/gold at the end of the rainbow for Zack Ryder, he is worse than the Brooklyn Brawler or Koko B. Ware, does he deserve that no...but to quote the Suede song...he's taking it time after time...

The Owen Hart Spot - Amazingly no one actually seems to have that spot Owen had in the roster... not a main eventer per se. but the best of the best of the midcard. A few have flirted with it and I am sure Vince knows who he wants in that position but Owen just fit there from that first Survivor match with his brothers... the closest they have had is Barrett and they are determined to fuck him over. It's bizarre that WWE hasn't settled on this role for someone... of course the moment the guy settles for it he is done but Owen never really did, he knew he was better than them all he just didn't need Vince's approval... imagine what a Cody, Wade or Ambrose could do with that mentality? "Push me, don't... I dont' give a fuck cos they are coming to watch me get my ass kicked either way". It worked for Owen and Rick Martel before him.

 

[JoeyJoeJoe]

I've read some second hand accounts from people in India who've made comments that run counter to the idea that Khali is really over with the WWE fans there. Essentially, he's been on a number of reality TV shows and some movies due to his size, which make him recognizable -- but my no means god status. My guess is that it's wishful thinking on the WWE's part, but having him on the roster probably doesn't hurt. Recognizably helps the WWE's brand, and the guy's certainly recognizable.

Otunga and Jackson are in similar boats. Otunga has other publicity ties with his wife, and the dude is ripped. Ditto Jackson. I've no doubt that a mantra around the WWE offices is "Go with the big muscular dudes and you won't go wrong." Otunga was recently in one of the WWE studio movies, and was on the cover of Muscle and Fitness. We may not value that because they're not in the ring, and we may not give a shit, but to execs in the WWE it brings a certain level of exposure and publicity.

Again, it's questionable how much these guys really get paid. They're probably making between $100,000 and $200,000 a year. Factor in health insurance (if they have it), or the cost of any surgeries or doctor's visits directly, and that probably takes a nice chunk out of that salary.

The other guys pull their weight being jobbers. It takes all kinds to fill a roster, and you still need punching bags.

 

[DietPepsiRocks]

Jackson is there because they're waiting for his contract to expire.
JTG is there because he's super cheap and they're also waiting for him to leave.
Ryder is there because his merchandise still sells, but he'll never be more than what he is now moving forward.
Khali is there because he is a big deal in India, he makes almost a million a year based upon his size alone, just like Big Show.
Hawkins is there because he can help the NXters to great matches and make them look good just like Tyson Kidd. Which is a great spot to be in because that means they believe in you to make stars even if you're not one yourself.

 

[A11oftheLights]

Most indians are about 4ft tall to 5ft 5 when Kahli walks in at 7ft and some change of course he's gonna be treated like a god