Swagger & Cesaro As A Team

[Jack-Hammer]

I'll get to the point of the thread, I just think a little background might be needed.

This past Monday on Raw, Jack Swagger's manager, often called the "Founding Father" by WWE commentators, Zeb Coulter, was a guest commentator during a match between Sin Cara and Antonio Cesaro. It was highly unusual and unexpected to see Coulter out there as Swagger is out with an injury to his hand. During Coulter's commentary, he was putting over Cesaro's abilities even though Cesaro is a Swiss immigrant. Coulter's comments suggest that WWE has altered the gimmick so that Coulter is no longer against all immigrants, just those he believes are in the United States illegally. Initially, I thought he might be out there scouting Sin Cara, which could indicate a potential feud between Sin Cara & Swagger in the near future. The fact that Sin Cara lost the match, cleanly in fact, suggests that Coulter was out there, in fact, to scout Cesaro. This has generated some talk that Coulter could wind up being Antonio Cesaro's mouthpiece/manager soon.

Given Coulter's current character, the idea of him managing Cesaro comes off as a little weird. Somehow, I don't see Cesaro out there spouting anti-immigration rhetoric on how illegal aliens are destroying the United States when he himself isn't American. Even if WWE's plan is to shake things up by having Cesaro do just that by using the unique point of view of someone that's in the country via legal means, it'd still feel kinda weird. At the same time, however, maybe something as unconventional as a legal Swiss immigrant ranting about illegal aliens could breathe some new life into the angle.

Dean Ambrose is the US champ and Curtis Axel has a good chance of winning the IC title this Sunday. As these are two of Triple H's favorite guys, I don't see them dropping the titles anytime soon. As a result, it'd seem as though Cesaro would be spinning his wheels, as would Swagger, as singles wrestlers if they both had Coulter as a manager. As a result, I think they could be put to better use as part of the tag team picture.

Personally, I think Swagger & Cesaro compliment each other nicely. Both are a couple of big, ruggedly strong guys who can be both great brawlers and great technicians. While I certainly wouldn't expect Rollins & Reigns to drop the tag straps anytime soon, Swagger & Cesaro's stock can still be elevated by being built into a strong team. Cesaro has been labeled "boring" by some WWE officials and while he isn't the most charismatic guy on the roster, his matches clearly show that he's a strong asset to the roster. Even if he & Swagger don't become tag champs, as I alluded to, maybe this could be an opportunity to further demonstrate that Cesaro is someone who can be a long term benefit to WWE.

 

[The Butcher]

I'm all for it. Cesaro is rudderless and, for the time being, Colter is Swaggerless. When Jack gets back, they tag. When Jack feels jilted by the fact that Colter added Cesaro, they can have a break-up feud, and Jack can turn face. Or, conversely, Colter and Swagger could turn on Cesaro and turn Antonio face.

A legal immigrant hating illegal immigrants makes sense. He had to take an exam, pays taxes, and speaks English; they didn't and don't, so he's tired of them giving immigration a bad name and mooching off of his new home country. Plus a European being bigoted against brown people isn't unheard of-- ask Italian soccer fans.

Anything that results in more mic time for Colter is welcome, and Swagger and Cesaro need him, because on their own they just don't connect with the crowd. They're both good wrestlers, but without Zeb, the tag team would be called "The Un-charismatic Connection." And it makes sense for Colter to like Cesaro as well, as long as people ignore him once lumping Wade Barrett in with his targeted immigrants, which I'm willing to do if it keeps Cesaro from being future endeavored. Cesaro is white, he's a legal US resident who holds a job, and he's a smug asshole who thinks he's better than everybody-- he and Zeb are birds of a feather.

If they get a tag title reign, it shouldn't be at the expense of The Shield, unless The Shield turns face while still in possession of the titles. That's irrelevant, though. If the plan is to rebuild the tag team division, then you gotta have tag teams. Swagger and Cesaro with Zeb in their corner fit that bill to a T.

 

[Mustang Sally]

Personally, I think Swagger & Cesaro compliment each other nicely.

It's all chemistry, isn't it? Being a member of WWE's Creative department is all about putting people together based on their individual personal assets and the company's needs.

Plainly, Swagger and Cesaro lack something. Usually, you would think a pairing would be of the "opposites attract" variety; such as teaming Kane and Daniel Bryan. Sometimes, though, it's an advantage to pair two guys who seem alike, such as Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty during their Rockers' days. (When Shawn started "developing" his own personality, the result was the end of the team).

In this case, both Swagger and Cesaro are technically proficient but ordinary on the mic. We can appreciate their work in the ring while not being particularly interested in them as personalities. If management wants to try them together, the writing is key; the situations created for them and how they blend in handling them.

It seems worth a try. Neither guy seems to be going anywhere and a fresh approach might help both of 'em.

 

[Clopin]

Cesaro is one of the greatest performers at the moment in my point of view. Teaming him with Swagger is storywise not a good idea. Anti immigrant vs a multi culture guy like Cesaro.

Let him team up with Ohno and reform their ROH team. Make them Heyman guys and let them win the tag titles and after a while let Cesaro break amay and go for bigger things. If Del Rio can challenge for the world title then Cesaro should as well.

Problem with Cesaro is that he is from the mainland of Europe and that is not interesting enough I Guess. Del Rio gets the Latin viewers, Sheamus the Irish ..and the Swiss market is not big enough I guess

 

[M]

It would take some work trying to get the contradictions between the two gimmicks out of my mind but I think it could still work. They'd both definitely benefit from more screen time and they're both using gimmicks with a common theme, America. I think that there's an easy solution to the "but swagger is supposed to dislike immigrants" and "cesaro's gimmick is to be against Americans" problems and that would be to alter swagger and coulter's stance on what makes a "real American".

Cesaro's been going on about how he likes America but not the lazy citizens who take everything for granted, so swagger and coulter could come on down and say that "real Americans" aren't lazy and don't take everything for granted, proceeding to insult the fans, calling them "unamerican" for being lazy slobs and taking everything for granted. That combo as a tag team would be very interesting to watch if nothing else.

 

[LSN80]

Unless the plan is to break up The Shield, what's the point?

What is needed right now are face tag teams, ones to challenge The Shield. Coulter and Swagger already have the Xenophobic gimmick going, and Cesaro did previously as an Anti-American. Oh, he loves the country, just not the people in it, which would work well with the gimmick that Swagger and Coulter have been using. However, it's only going to draw them heat, not bring them face pops.

Realized by most or not, the tag team division isn't hurting terribly for teams. It's teams that are over that can give the Shield a run for their money that's the problem. Why do you think WWE has used makeshift main event teams in 'attempts' to slow the Shield? Obviously, to get them over, which has worked in a major way, but also because aside friom Team Hell No, little has been done to build the tag division in any way.

It could work as a stable, with Colter coming up with some convoluted ideals as to why they're teaming together, but as a tag team? Heck, they good be a very good tag team, two guys who can go in the ring in a major way. The problem is, a GREAT heel tag trio is at the top, so the best they could hope to settle for is some personal, lower mid-card feuds. If given time to develop as team, over time, they may get a shot. But only once the Shield move on to bigger and better, which I don't imagine happening for some time.

 

[DarkLordFett]

On paper, this could make some sense. Gives two guys with not much going on a little freshness. However, Coulters anti-immigrant rants wouldn't work quite so much.

Swagger and Cesaro are both very good wrestlers, but have the combined charisma of a toothpick. Even as a tag team, they'll have a difficult time. Coulter will only get them so far. Even the best managers can only do so much to get their people over. You've got to be able to do some of the work yourself. Swagger proved time and again he can't get himself over. Cesaro hasn't fared much better.

 

[dman1373]

screw this. Swagger aint even on ceasaros level. If they want to put ceasaro in a team then put him with ohno.

 

[HBsam31]

I also think face teams are the key right now with The Shield being tag champs. On paper Swagger and Cesaro seem like they would be a good team. Zeb Coulter on Raw mentioned that Cesaro was a legal immigrant and he didn't have a problem with that so that kind of takes away the problem of Swagger being an anti foreigner guy. Honestly if they aren't going to do anything with either of them the tag division can always use the boost. I think there have been worse pairings, and honestly I think these two would prosper as a team, but like I said the problem right now is we have heel tag champs.

 

[Pedigree1]

Sure this pairing can work absolutely. On Raw Zeb was praising Cesaro saying he did all the right things. On Paper this is an awesome pairing it really is. They are obvously dropping the anti-immigrant angle (Which was brilliant but higher ups and people got sand in the vag and we all know how that goes). But why pair them now? There not taking the titles from the Shield so why pair them if there not gonna give them a tag team title run.

WWE has lost faith in Swags and Cesaro IMO is right on the cusp of being a main eventer IMO. Cesaro to me is the strongest pound for pound guy in the WWE and a legit badass. But for a short term pairing i have no problem with this.

 

[The Gribbler]

I don't know about the pairing, sometimes it is impossible to know what will work until you give it a try. Although as I have stated and so have many others in the past, I hate makeshift or thrown together tag teams.

I think this could work well with Coulter and Swaggers schtick, even add another element, it isn't xenophobia, they aren't afraid of foreigners, they are afraid of what George Carlin tongue in cheek called 'brown people'. It would throw up a lot of interesting questions, and oddly enough for a wrestling broadcast, ask some questions of the public (i.e. what are you really afraid of).

So normally I would say no to this pairing, but I think it would have some interesting potential.

Just My Opinion.

 

[MCMG]

The tag team division has taken a slight dip in terms of depth in recent months. I would think this tag-team would certainly help rectify that especially if Team Hell No split.

All Coulter would have to do is slightly alter his promos. He would have to focus on those who come in and disrespect the country; whereas Cesaro loves it. He works hard for a living etc. I don't see any problem there and Coulter is good enough. My only problem is that I like both as single competitors and they would be missed.

 

[BLeonard]

All Coulter would have to do is slightly alter his promos. He would have to focus on those who come in and disrespect the country; whereas Cesaro loves it. He works hard for a living etc. I don't see any problem there and Coulter is good enough. My only problem is that I like both as single competitors and they would be missed.

Pretty much hit the nail on the head... For whatever reason, this won't embed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy08elCZ1EA

Colter's promo, as usual, was very good and made sense for his character.

Another part of this that I liked was the commentary during the match. Cole and JBL's back and forth on this was great, especially Cole referring to them as "sellouts" and "hypocrites."

Perhaps even more importantly, it gives Cesaro a mouthpiece and it gives Colter a reason to remain on camera while Swagger isn't available.

Personally, I'm not a big Cesaro fan, or a Swagger fan for that matter... But, the two of them being associated with Colter gives me a reason to want to see both of them.

-Bill

 

[rerun406]

Just glad to see Cesaro back in an angle for the time being. After losing his U.S. Title it seemed like Just glad to see Cesaro back in an angle for the time being.

the Team of Swagger-Cesaro does seem a bit make shift, but for the time being it should be okay. And worst case if it flops, have Cesaro move on to becoming a Paul Heyman guy

**Swagger I'd have to think is on a real short leash, especially with that guilty conviction. So if Cesaro-Swagger can't hit it off, the pairing might not last long

 

[JustAnotherJames]

I'm not a fan of Cesaro but he is amazing at what he does and I can respect and appreciate that. I think this is a good thing for Cesaro that's for sure. He really needs something big to do rather than job every week.

It could work, just need to see.

 

[The Eighties]

This seems like the best direction for both guys right now, the only problem is the tag team champions are heels as well and I don't see them dropping the belts any time soon.

In an ideal world Cesaro and Swagger could feud with The Usos while Rollins & Reigns feud with Kane & Taker over the summer but I'm not sure the dedication to revitalizing the division would stretch to having two featured tag feuds on TV.

 

[Hard Hit Prince]

I'm not into Antonio Cesaro joining this stable - I don't know why, but I just can't see Colter defending him. Jack Swagger came back a lot more intense, he's turned into on of my favorite wrestlers in the WWE. I like his theme song, his looks and most important his connection with Colter, they seem made for each other. Swagger has always been the "All American", so his transition to "Real American" was logical and interesting - if I remember correctly, he was probably one of the guys most talked about in the Road to WrestleMania this year.

Now Antonio Cesaro can't get an erect.. I mean, a reaction from the crowd. He does not have a single drop of charisma in him and he's the complete opposite of Jack Swagger. I can't see any chemistry there, one is always serious, the one is trying and failing to grin. I get it, IWC loves him, he's an independent wrestler alumni but he isn't made to be in the WWE. He says he puts the "W" in WWE, well I say he forgets that the "E" is also important. He's just an awful actor and he lacks a reason to be at the side of Colter and Swagger. They need to work on that, in order for me to get really invested in Cesaro, because if they don't do it, I'll only see Cesaro as a guy that isn't helping the team at all. They'll be a tag team for now, a not relevant one I might add due to the lack of competition, but they'll be there, until the day WWE sees that one of them isn't helping the other at all - in fact the only thing I want to see with those guys, is a match between them, nothing more.

Swagger would be a great opponent for either Sheamus or John Cena, just because their gimmicks would collide very well. Well, we'll see... Last night's Raw just proved to me that Cesaro isn't good for that role, in fact Cesaro, should just wear a mask and go at it.

 

[nomarksallowed]

Definitely worth a run-out together- and then feed Swags to the Yodle egg