What do you do with someone like Luke Harper?

[CyberPunk]

I am back! I haven't posted for sometime because of various work related things, but I've been observing discussions and honestly, it's been hot! Batista (or Boo-tista/Bore-tista, whatever floats your boat), Daniel Bryan, Punk walkout, Bray Wyatt, Shield, Roman Reigns etc. have completely overshadowed the discussions. I'd like to add to it. And this time, it's Luke Harper.

Luke Harper debuted on the main roster as part of the Wyatt Family. Ever since debuting, he's been working mostly tag team matches. With only handful of singles matches, it's difficult to tell what's in store for him when he breaks away from the Wyatt family. He's not really young (just turned 34 this December). Plus, I don't think there's much space for big monsters on the roster.

Having said that, he actually has personality and for a big man, he's surprisingly agile and athletic. For example, the Wyatts vs Shield match saw him performing moves like dropkick and suicide dive. He seems like someone who understands ring psychology and can actually produce compelling and engaging matches. I have not seen his indie or NXT work, but for me, he is a solid big man.

What do you make of him? Where do you see him going after the Wyatts? Bray Wyatt is the breakout star from the Wyatt family, but Luke Harper seems to have future after it. A monster heel, a psychotic character, something can be done with him.

What do you think?

 

[enviousdominous]

I think Eric Rowan is in the same boat. He might not have as much experience, but he's being type cast as a stooge in the same way as Luke Harper. If you take either of them away from the gimmick that made them famous, your safest bet is to keep them somewhat involved with the old gimmick instead of dropping it entirely.

It'll be a tricky evolution in that it wouldn't make much sense for either Luke or Eric to rebel against Bray, the only way I see that working is if Bray goes face. They're already pushing the gimmick of a lopsided team with The Real Americans, so it would just be redundant if Eric and Luke have a spat over one of them suddenly having profound success in the singles division.

They'd have to go balls out with kayfabe from what I can tell, even though they pretty much already do that to sell the Wyatts to us as they already are. Maybe Luke falls in love with a diva and it makes him less zealous toward Bray, maybe Bray suddenly stops wanting to hurt people as an abrupt paradigm shift and Luke and Eric lose faith and attack him.

Either way, while it's not unthinkable that he might be successful as a singles performer in spite of his age, they can't just one day decide that he's a singles performer for no damn reason like they did with Sim Snuka.

 

[ALIE]

Don't remember who's who.
But the one in the green cloth, Future endeavor or mid card Monter run followed by comedy act? The black beard, could maybe have a chance of being a steady midcard.
He's getting a little promo time, and it ain't terrible.

 

[NoHoldsBarred321]

Honestly, I don't think the Wyatt Family ever needs to split up. Harper and Rowan have their characters down to a tee. I think as long as Bray Wyatt is on the main roster, the Family should be in his corner.

 

[TheFrankStarkey]

The easiest way to turn Harper or Rowan, if they chose to break them away from Bray, is simply claim that they broke free of Bray's mind control. It's that simple. Then if they chose to repackage them, it wouldn't seem that weird, as they could simply say that's who they were before Bray brainwashed them.

 

[Tyler3750]

just have rowan and sheamus form a celtic tag team
, have sheamus grow a longer beard for full effect, thatd be sick haha

 

[haydo 434]

I feel that harper has got all the tools to be a success in the wwe, the massive size and the unique look is a huge positive to be successful. Being 34 years of age he has got years ahead of him, his in ring work is also very impressive and dominant ( that clothesline is great ) I would like to see him stick to this dark character for his entire career, if holding titles that being a bonus, if not I dont think it will affect him. All in all the future should be bright for harper! Yeah yeah yeah yeah.

 

[last.caress]

They probably won't need to demonstrate some big "breakup" thing; they (Rowan and Harper) may just transition from being part of Bray Wyatt's gimmick, to NOT being part of it, with not much change required. Like the Acolytes, maybe.

I love them as they are, but I don't know if they'll have too much to offer past the Wyatt family gimmick (though in fairness, there's no reason currently that the Wyatt Family thing can't run for the foreseeable future, really). Or, even if they DO have more to offer, I don't know if too many will buy into it. I think they'll do okay-ish, for a while, doing what they're doing. Like a sort of 21st century Godwinns, maybe. Then, they'll fade. Hopefully, before someone convinces them to go the babyface comedy route and tries to turn them into the Bushwhackers or the Oddities, or gets them dancing like bloody Tons of Funk.

 

[Rich the UK WWE Fan 2k14]

Both Harper and Rowan are fat guys who do 6 moves between them and neither of them have any form of mic skills IMO.

But I am not a Wyatt fan anyway.

 

[kumarjtk]

i dont think the wyatt family split. They are The Wyatt Family. If they split then they get released from wwe.

 

[enviousdominous]

Both Harper and Rowan are fat guys who do 6 moves between them and neither of them have any form of mic skills IMO.

But I am not a Wyatt fan anyway.

It's your opinion that neither of them have any mic skills? Their gimmick is that they're two taciturn big men who allow their savior to speak on their behalf, and you think that their mic skills are lacking. You're criticizing them for lacking in an area of skill when their gimmicks prevent them from utilizing that skill.

Have you noticed how they don't solve complex mathematical equations either? In my oh so humble opinion, they therefore lack if they'll ever employ a gimmick as math professors.

 

[Kris Benwa]

Honestly, I don't think the Wyatt Family ever needs to split up. Harper and Rowan have their characters down to a tee. I think as long as Bray Wyatt is on the main roster, the Family should be in his corner.

I agree with this. I don't think anyone would benefit from them being split up. The other two wwon't go any higher than they are as Bray's lackeys and if they split up its gonna be tough to leave that gimmick and then go to another one. I think Bray benefits from having them because (at one point) it made his getting in the ring more special and he's a cult leader guy and two huge guys like that are who you want ro lead. I think this is a stable that needs to stay together for as long as possible if the other 2 will succeed and I don't think Wyatt os being held back by them either.

 

[JoeFromTomsRiver]

I get it when people start projecting career paths for the Shield since their breakup seems to be on the horizon. But the Wyatts?

The Wyatts debuted less than a year ago, and we're already projecting what "can be done" with Luke Harper? Why? Just for the sake of conversation?

Who is to say that the Wyatt Family doesn't stay intact for a couple more years? There is nothing to suggest a Wyatt breakup at any point in the forseeable future, they are still on an upward climb. Just let them be.

Can Luke Harper be a monster heel on his own? I don't see why not with some more character development, but don't fix what isn't broken.

 

[Reflection]

I think that we shouldn't be thinking so far ahead that what will happen when he breaks up from the Wyatt Family... Right now he is doing a great job in the family and the character suits him perfectly, so the family should be together for as long as the crowd doesn't start getting bored, which I don't see happening anytime soon... Upon his split from / disbanding of the Wyatt Family, I would like to see him as a part of some team or stable, because I don't think he will last long in the main roster as a singles superstar, since his competition will be against other big guys, monsters and giants, resident main eventers, and rising youngsters.

 

[Dagger Dias]

As of right now? Absolutely nothing needs changing. Perhaps in the long term future after the Wyatts have split up, but right now Bray needs both of his underlings. Having them in his corner adds to the intimidation factor of his character. I do see potential in each of the two underlings. I like Rowan more than Harper personally, although I can see them both seeing some success outside of the Wyatt Family. Maybe a midcard title win or two for either of them? The group should stick together for now though, it will help them establish themselves more for if and when they do split.

 

[salopstick]

You cry out for good factions

Wwe give you them

then you start planning the break up and future careers.

The Wyatt family are great, no reason why they can't stay a faction for a long time.

They are greater than the sum of the individual parts as Rowan and young are pretty poor with out bray, and bray wouldn't work as well on his own

 

[Sheltonguy]

Yeah, is agree that his age is probably his biggest downside, but he's definitely a great worker, in his tag matches and the few singles bouts he has it really shows, he has a pretty decent moveset and plays his role well. His best days are definitely behind him though, his indie matches are pretty great performing moves like suicide dives,dropkicks as you mentioned I even saw him do a hurricanrana once. (seriously look it up) He has matches against a few guys currently in WWE (Ambrose, Rollins:they were also in a stable togegher, Cisaro, Bryan, ect.

I can see him and Rowan mayby having a great run as tag champs, eventually breaking away from wyatt, with a storyline that'd be great, Rowan is much less expierenced though but Harper is a little decent on the mic and would be able to carry that fued. I don't see much more than that for them though possibly a great run or two with IC/US title for Harper(when they unify them) but I don't see Rowan as a singles competitor at all, hopefully they don'turn him into some sheep mask wearing goofball comedy guy it's the only reason he's over






YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH

 

[CyberPunk]

I may have phrased myself wrong. I am not really trying to track a path for Luke Harper. I am definitely not trying to say, "hey he's great...let's push him." I enjoy the Wyatts and I know that this is perfect role for Luke Harper and for that matter, Erick Rowan at this point and for the immediate future.

When we discuss Shield, almost everyone feels that all three of them are capable of making it as singles star. Whether they'll make it or not, only time will tell. Wyatts, on the other hand, have been built differently. They clearly see Bray Wyatt as a future star. Their booking shows that.

What I really wanted to discuss that out of Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, Luke looks like he can actually have a mildly successful singles career. It's not just his size or looks, his mannerisms, his ring psychology, even the short promos he does, just seems like he has the potential to be more than just a henchman. May be 2-3 years from now, may be earlier, may be later.

I just want to discuss if you really see any potential in Luke Harper. If you want to add Erick as well in this discussion, by all means.

 

[L@RISANO]

Personally I believe that Bray Wyatt will need the Wyatt family to stay together for a long while in order for his character to stay relevant as the Big Top Heel(which is what the WWE seems to be pushing him towards).

Thus, Harper and also,Rowan, would have to remain as lackeys with him for a while, probably longer than even the Shield have.
At the end of the day, this Wyatt family is all about Bray Wyatt as the cult leader, with Rowan and Harper as his basically loyal bodyguards who go by what he says. Also, Bray shouldn't be complete solo until he is established fully and respected by everyone as the character.

Right now, he is doing a super job in his character and with longevity(8-10 years perhaps) he can then go solo due to his standing by that time maybe with a tweak in character but still the eerie, whack job type with the Darkness entrance. I see him doing the Taker supernatural role of this era,lMO.

On topic about Harper; I see potential in him as a future midcarder but being repackaged. Nothing more from what I have seen thus far. He'll probably be similar to Curtis Axel,tbh.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

At this time, I'm not really sure about what happens to Harper after The Wyatt Family. As of right now, frankly, I wouldn't worry about it. They've got a good thing going with The Family, Harper's contributed very well in his role and I think he's much better than everyone was expecting. The Wyatt Family is still extremely fresh and Harper & Rowan are doing well as Bray's enforcers/followers. Harper is the more talented than Rowan, in my opinion. He's crisper inside the ring and he's able to use his look, character, facial expressions and body language to help tell a good story.

Harper is clearly in Wyatt's shadow right now, as one would expect, as Wyatt's just plain better on the mic and his character is very unique. I'd ultimately have to see what Harper is able to do on his own, if he's able to progress further than being just another big, scary looking guy.

 

[CharlesKane]

Harper has all the tools to step into Kane's spot as an uncontrollable monster tweener. Given the little bit of chance to show mic skills, he's probably better off than Kane ever was.

 

[sabataged]

I think Harper is extremely talented big man. Plus in a year or two when the gimmick has ran its course I could easily see him shave the beard, cut the hair, and put on some wrestling trunks. He would look like a whole new wrestler.

He has been putting on great matches with Bryan, Punk, Shield, and even Cena. Rowan on the other hand I can't see working out. I feel like he is sloppy and doesn't work fluid in the ring. He is your prototypical big man that is going to need to be stuck in a tag team or just fed to babyfaces .

 

[LuckyLouie]

Ever since there two came out with Bray, I liked them x!00 more then him. These two, Harper especially, are amazing wrestlers for their size.
I really hope they stay together for a long time to develop some sort of back story. I HOPE they will build them like Undertaker and Kane. ( They even match in colors )
Big men, who have a very dark side to them, yet the crowd cannot get enough, fantastic wrestlers.

 

[RedRegan1005]

I feel like the OP is getting a little unnecessary heat. He never said he thought the Wyatts should break up tomorrow or that he think they will. He was just wondering what people thought could be done with Harper when he is no longer with the Wyatt family, even if it is two years from now.
That said the first idea that popped into my mind, is that i wish William Regal was still with the WWE. I think if they did some segments with Regal trying to turn the twisted and sick Harper into a sophisticated and proper gentlemen it could be hilarious. Some may want to punch me for proposing a comedy gimmick for him but that's just me. Regal has had some funny stuff in the past and i think this would turn out as one of the wrestling related comedy angles that would actually be funny.

Harper has all the tools to step into Kane's spot as an uncontrollable monster tweener. Given the little bit of chance to show mic skills, he's probably better off than Kane ever was.

Didn't think of this till i read this guys post. I like the idea and think he could definitely fill the role of a Kane kind of character. He would be a good psychopathic big man who you never know what will do next. You thinks he's big and slow, until he's flying through the ropes for a suicide dive. That was probably my favorite spot from Wyatts vs The Shield. I could watch that on repeat over and over. You know what? I will. here's the think if any of you want to join me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83jz1aXYKLE

 

[closet_fan]

i dont think the wyatt family split. They are The Wyatt Family. If they split then they get released from wwe.

Your posts are so comical because they never make any sense God foreigners are funny when they post on American sites.

Anyway, if the WWE is going to wind up doing anything with Harper, I can see them changing his look. If/when the Wyatts split, I see a big character change like the one JBL went through from the long black hair and beard to the clean cut Wall Street guy.

He'll be reinvented.