Who Jumps Ship?

[mork83]

There is a lot of talk on this board about disgruntled WWE stars moving to TNA, but what about the opposite? With RVD and Sabu potentially joining (and maybe others) the roster will get pretty crowded with still only a one hour show. Who are the best candidates?

Bigger names: Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Abyss...

Midcarders hoping to move up (ala Jericho from WCW): Robert Roode, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin...

Or, someone doing nothing: Lance Hoyt, Ron Killings...

My thoughts
I thought AJ said he wouldn't, Daniels would get wasted away, and Abyss isn't needed with people like Kane and Umaga. I wrote this in another post, but I think Samoa Joe not only would do it, but get a huge push. Maybe feuding with Umaga at first, but definitely I can see Edge, HHH, Benoit, Undertaker, HBK. That would be cool.

I think Roode would be a great addition and would instantly be in IC title race. Shelley is small, but has a look and persona I think WWE would go for. Sabin has no reason to leave, but might be interesting (with a better haircut). Hoyt and Killings would be jobbers, but you never know.

 

[Shocky]

I peronally don't see Samoa Joe getting any kind of push if he joined WWE. Lets face it, Triple H and Steph are calling the shots and they want guys that look like He-Man carrying their company.

It took the popularity of a Time Man of The Year voting contest for Mick Foley to get him over as champion. If you don't know what i'm talking about, Time runs a person of the year, and in 1998 they had people do write in votes online. Mick Foley won it, and Time didn't honor their commitment to the internet fans, so it caused a whole big hissy fit. Couple that with Nash vs. Hogan coming up, the WWE had to do something to counter. This is why they put the belt on Foley, it was a popularity contest. This doesn't take anything from Foley at all, because I love the man to death, but the WWE doesn't push over weight guys to the top. They are feeder guys for roided up monsters like Hogan, Cena, Triple H.

With WWE going the direction it is going, I can't realistically see anyone in TNA seeing WWE as a viable alternative. WWE doesn't push it's cruiserweights, and most of the TNA heavyweights have been there, done that, or don't want to go there. The only people I could see realistically leaving are Road Dogg and Billy Gunn. TNA is an easy schedule, and still offers these guys to work independent dates if they want, with the exception of ROH.

 

[mork83]

Whatever you think of McMahon though, he is really good at taking people with potential, new, or who are underused and makes them bigger. Look at Jericho, Benoit, Guerrero, Big Show, Mysterio, even people like Regal and Finlay got over and couldn't in WCW.

Also, they seem to be good at realizing when people are getting older and letting go and moving on. Hogan, Savage, Hart in the past, Angle, Dudleys, Big Show, RVD, Sabu now. All of these people have more to give, but they are on a clock. People are going to hate me for saying that, but none of those people are/were in their primes anymore when they left.

Basically, when you look at McMahon's track record of pick-ups from WCW and ECW back in the day, it's something to consider.

 

[Shocky]

I would agree with that, if this were ten years ago. As much as some people like to complain about TNA, they are pretty open with their world title situation. It's a pretty fluid group and it's not just Hogan sitting on top. The guys in TNA feel that they can move up,whereas those guys you mentioned from WCW, the Jerichos, Benoit's, Regals, the list goes on and on, knew they weren't going anywhere in WCW. There was disdain in WCW from the fans and the wrestlers, you don't hear to much of that with the TNA guys.

This helps because you had all of those guys we mentioned from WCW busting their ass's at house shows every night, only to be buried by the Hogan's that didn't work a house show at all, once they got to TV every week. There isn't that animosity between the lower and upper card that you had in WCW.

I'm not saying someone won't jump ship, McMahon throws a lot of money at people. He's the devil pretty much. He appears to you and offers you promises of fame and fortune, when the reality is far from that. I'm not speaking for the TNA guys, but you can tell that those guys are passionate about what they do. They enjoy wrestling, and they won't get tthat opportunity in WWE. Look at guys like Carlito and Benjamin. Carlito has verbally blasted WWE because he wants to Wrestle, but creative hs nothing for him, guys see that stuff and they get turned off by it.

Someone will jump ship, no doubt, the lure of money is to great to a younger guy. I think the only people that probably want to go to WWE are older guys in TNA that have burned their bridges with WWE before, but are looking to go back for one last run.

 

[Monkey_Mania]

Right now there is no one in IMO that will jump ship to WWE.

If you guys think Samoa Joe is mis-used in TNA it would be even worse in WWE. He would start off big like Goldberg and Scott Steiner did. He would get a few high profile matches and after that he would be delegated to being a curtain jerker.

A.J. Styles would never jump ship just because he is smart. He wouldnt want to risk his career to have it go down the toilet. WWE would never capitalize on the dream matches that could happen with Styles and Mysterio or Styles And HBK, Edge etc... Plus A.J. also said that he would never go back to the WWE and i simply believe him for the reasons I've stated above.

Christopher Daniels probably would jump ship to the WWE. He would probably go there thinking he would be led to greener pastures but really he would just be led to the slaughter house. By that I mean he would be the guy that they always have the monsters like Snitsky, Mark Henry, and Kahli face just to get them over as monsters. But maybe im wrong and Daniels doesnt even wan to Jump ship.

The WWE tried to get Abyss and failed. To me that shows that Abyss knows what he wants to do with his career. Maybe im wrong and TNA just offered him a better contract. I also think in the future you will see Abyss in a WWE ring. But not for a while. Abyss will only go there after he has made a huge name for himself. After he has done that he will just be looking to get a bigger paycheck.

As for the rest of TNA im sure they will switch between WWE and TNA multiple times with the exception of people like Eric Young, Robert Roode, Chris Sabin, and "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal.

 

[ratedrsuperstartoronto]

I think that good additions to WWE would be
Shelley (he has a little of a Jericho look)
Sabin (he could be a great Cruiserweight Champ and make the Cruiserweight Title more respectable or he could be a star on ECW)
Samoa Joe (he could be a huge star on ECW or on SD and could have great feuds with Kennedy, MVP, or Edge)
Rhyno (ECW needs more popular Originals that WWE fans know)
Raven (he could be a great manager or leader of a faction on ECW that brings up new stars such as Kevin Thorn)
VKM (they could be a dominant tag team, heel or face, on any show, but especially RAW) finally..
Christopher Daniels (I could see him as a great heel on ECW with his current gimmick without the Sting mask. Maybe him, Thorn and Raven in a faction)

 

[Afro-Ameri-Spawn]

Listen up people, cuz I'm gonna run down to you the way I see it.

The guys who I think could and should jump ship would be....... Matt Bently and Franky Kazarian.

Think about it. If these two guys ended up in the WWE, their potentil stock would shoot through the roof. They could play head games with DX and have quite the fued billing themselves at The Next Generation Degeneration. Bentley could be The NKOTB Shane Michaels and Kaz could tag along with im much like Trips did with Shawn back in the days. They could have a third or fourth in their little band to make it more menacing, but these guys should be must sign candidates when their contracts are up. Hell, you could even put Teddy Hart as their partner to further milk the "You Scrwed Bret" angle of the deal.

 

[noone911]

The guys who I think could and should jump ship would be....... Matt Bently and Franky Kazarian.

Kazarian yes, but he would be misused. As for Bently, I dont know. I like the guy, but he looks a bit feminine to me. Most TNA guys who go to WWE would simply be guys that want the cash, as almost none, if any would be used correctly.

 

[hatehabsforever]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Frankie Kazarian just with the WWE not too long ago, and either was released or asked to leave?

So why would he return to WWE, why would they want him, he'd just get lost in the mid-card, like before, so why would this happen?

I don't see any of TNA's big names jumping ship. They are big names because they are big fish in a little pond. If they were to jump to WWE, they'd get lost in the shuffle. Plus Vince has a history of not really pushing guys who are not home grown.

Possibly Tomko or someone like that, but no one of any greater significance, IMO.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Frankie Kazarian just with the WWE not too long ago, and either was released or asked to leave?

So why would he return to WWE, why would they want him, he'd just get lost in the mid-card, like before, so why would this happen?

He asked for his release. But he made a mistake. I'm aware of the fact that the Cruiser division is shit. But Kazarian would have surley got a run with the title at some point. He went from being a jobber in WWE to being a jobber in TNA. Personally I think it's better to be a jobber in the bigger wrestling company.

 

[5star]

I personally would like to see someone like Raven or Petey Williams in WWE. Raven could feud with MVP, or Santino for the title for awhile, and williams would be a jobber for awhile, then move up, possibly into the tag division

 

[mork83]

"Plus Vince has a history of not really pushing guys who are not home grown."

This just isn't true though. Look at people like Jericho, Benoit, Guerrero, Big Show, Dudleys, Booker T, Mysterio, etc. They were stars elsewhere and received big pushes while in WWE. I'm sure there are examples of the opposite, but there are probably circumstances to go along with them. For instance, Taz has back problems which forced him to retire.

I still think Vince had a good track record of picking up people misused or passed by others. Look at most of the people above and others like CM Punk and Mickie James who were both in TNA and did nothing.

 

[Afro-Ameri-Spawn]

Kazarian yes, but he would be misused. As for Bently, I dont know. I like the guy, but he looks a bit feminine to me. Most TNA guys who go to WWE would simply be guys that want the cash, as almost none, if any would be used correctly.

I gave you the way he would be used. I mean you put Trips and Shawn together and then Shawn brings in his nephew, Shane, under his wing. Shane turns on Shawn and brings in Kazarian and the fued begins. As I said, you could mix in Teddy Hart as well for the whole "U Screwed Bret" angle to put it over more. It think that alot is being lost in translation here. There are guys who were with WWE and were misused and came back and were used correctly and got over. Take for instance Glen Jacobs. Through being Isaac Yankem and the New Deisel, he still came back and then when he got the Kane gimmick, he got over, right? Kazarian is a naturlally cocky guy and just oozes "prick" with his facial expressions and look. Plus both Kazarian and Bentley have good mic skills, so having a mic off with Trips and Shawn would not make them weak. Think fo the angle guys, not the fact that Kazarian has been there before. Cuz if that was the case, then there are many a guy who WWE brought back with much more success than when they first appeared. It's what the business is about.

 

[Afro-Ameri-Spawn]

I personally would like to see someone like Raven or Petey Williams in WWE. Raven could feud with MVP, or Santino for the title for awhile, and williams would be a jobber for awhile, then move up, possibly into the tag division

Raven is past his prime. I like the earlier idea of him coming into ECW and managing a young group of newcomers. it would keep the spooky Sci-fi Channel demographic while helping push youngers guys over with a guy who is famous on the mic.

Petey Williams a jobber? OMG. How dare you insult this guy with such a moniker. He has the look and the athleticism that WWE lacks in it's current cruiserweight division makeup. He would be so over! Unfortunately, you are right. He would be a jobber. The one thing that gets him over every time is the Canadian Destroyer. And that move would be banned in the WWE. So he would get lost in the shuffle like Jimmy Yang. No more Yang Time for you there buddy! lol

 

[Suzymbc]

I can't see anyone from TNA going to McMahon-Land right now and finding any sort of success. First, with the exception of Abyss, none of the guys are big enough for Vince and Steph, both of whom will push any "monster" with or without ability. Not to mention that many of the moves that make these TNA stars appealing to the audience would be banned. Without the moves that make them special, they would become watered down jobbers for the WWE. The Canadian Destroyer would be dead and buried people! Finally, some of TNA's best mic guys would lose their edge when they would be forced to read the crap that creative writes for WWE promos every week. Christian Cage and AJ Styles are great together on the mic when they can play off each other. This would never happen in a WWE promo. While some guys might be happy to take a bigger paycheck to be a jobber or spend most of their time sitting at home, it would be career suicide for them in the long run.

 

[rockofhysteria]

If there were any Tna wrestlers I would like to see possibly Jump ship its the following

AJ Styles- He could help bring back the U.S or IC title to where they actually mean something.


Petey Williams - Same reason as AJ Styles

Lance Hoyt somehow I see him being a contender for one of the world titles and could be in a really nice feud with someone like Edge

Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin Sonjay Dutt, Senshi, Austin Starr and Jerry Lynn could all make the cruiserweight Division Great again.


AMW they could be one of the greatest tag team in history and they could very well prove it in WWE I would love to see them in a match against the Hardys, or London and Kendrick, or Deuce and Domino, or WGTT, or even Cade and Murdoch,

VKM just cause I liked the New Age Outlaws Gimmick

Robert Roode, Based on his talent alone he could be one the of best wrestlers in WWE I would love to see him and Benoit go at it or Him and Regal

Traci Brooks She would make a great Diva/Manager

Raven He got the shaft the first time He should have been wwe champ at least once but i would like to see him back in wwe.

Samoa Joe I could see him in a match against Shawn Michaels

and My Final pick and know there is no chance in hell of this happening is Sting cause my Dream Feud is the Crow Version of Sting vs The Lord Of Darkness Version of The Undertaker that could Possibly be one of the best feuds in wrestling History,

Those are my picks

 

[Capt. Charisma]

I can see Cage going back there soon WWE need someone like him there, and apparantly he is on good terms with everyone there still. Although i love Cage I dont feel he suits TNA certainly not atm he doesnt get enough time on the mic and I duno something is missing from him in TNA- thy arent getting the best out of him. He has improved quite a bit in the ring tho since he joined TNA, hes had a few good PPV matches in his time. Other guys that might leave are maybe like you said LAnce Hoyt, or even Shelly. Realistcally tho Christian is th eonly 1 i can see going.

 

[sevastra]

cage won't be going unless he buys out his contract. He just resigned with TNA for 3 years...

 

[Afro-Ameri-Spawn]

I can see Cage going back there soon WWE need someone like him there, and apparantly he is on good terms with everyone there still. Although i love Cage I dont feel he suits TNA certainly not atm he doesnt get enough time on the mic and I duno something is missing from him in TNA- thy arent getting the best out of him. He has improved quite a bit in the ring tho since he joined TNA, hes had a few good PPV matches in his time. Other guys that might leave are maybe like you said LAnce Hoyt, or even Shelly. Realistcally tho Christian is th eonly 1 i can see going.

Cage just re-upped for another 3 years. So he obviously knows where his bread is buttered. The thing is that in WWE, he was a small fish in a big pond and nobody cared about lil Christian. Even when he had his problem solver. The biggest push he got was when he showed up on Smackdown and was layed out by JBL in the elimination match for the world title. They would never let him run with the big ball in WWE, even though he makes a great heel.

 

[Mackdaddy]

I would like The WWE to consider the following talent

The Naturals (have alot to offer in the tag team division)
Austin Aries (wants out of TNA in a bigway)
XPac (would be great to see him back)

 

[DHallY2K6]

I Would like to see homicide and hernadez move over to the WWE. I feel that the tag-team divisions within the WWE are being totaly misused and a well established team should be brought in to spice up the tag team scene, at least to start with.

If you were to split up the team homicide would be a great cruiserweight champion, my only concern would be that the Gringo Killer would be banned and that is a sick move. Hernandez has the right size about him to be given a push and the good thing about him he can actualy wrestle.

 

[Shocky]

By watching more and more of TNA, this is what I think now of guys coming to the WWE.

1. Abyss: Apparently WWE has made an offer in which he has refused. Abyss is someone you know Vinnie Mac would love to get his hands on to feud with either Kane or the Undertaker right away. Depending on whether Chris Parks owns the name of Abyss is another issue. I feel the character is over enough that Vince might actually leave it alone, but that's a long shot.

2. Hernandez: Again, another huge man. Not necessarily overwhelming in height, his muscle mass is something you know that Vince has a hard on for. The man is uber-strong. Vince obviously loves the big muscle bound guys, and you know he would do something with him, like feed him to Cena.

3. Christian: I'm not sure if this was supposed to be guys that never were in WWE, but I'll go with Cage. With the injury problems in the WWE and lack of main event heel talent that know how to turn on a microphone, let alone use one, is clearly evident. The WWE was thinking of bringing Goldust back as a main event heel, that's how bad it is getting. Christian would have fit that role perfectly, and I feel that some in the WWE realized the mistake they made in releasing him.

4. A.J. Styles: Not so much for his in-ring ability, because he would be useless in a WWE ring. Triple H's fear of anyone making him look bad in the ring has left most of Styles' moves on the banned list. I think the WWE would take Styles, bury him, and send a message by saying, "We took you're franchise, we buried him, and we can do it to any of you."

I really don't think the WWE has an eye on anyone else. Maybe Lance Hoyt, but besides that, everyone is too small in the WWE world. The style of WRESTLING that TNA uses makes the WWE guys look big and slow.