Who will go further? pt 3

[Find'er Woo'er Ryder]

Ok anothe edition of my "Who Will Go Futher" thread. If you never read my series before, I'll give you a rundown. I give you two superstars from WWE and then we discuss who will have a better career in the WWE. Todays superstars are:

Spoiler

Kofi Kingston!

Spoiler

Cody Rhodes

OK WZ, so out of these two young superstars, who has a more promising career in the WWE?

Spoiler

My pick would have to be Kofi Kingston. He has had quite a big fued with Orton before moving to smackdown and since his debut he has held the World Tag team titles and the I/C title on more than one occasion while Cody Rhodes has held the World tag team titles a few times and was in the legacy, which was one of the highlights of his career.

 

[Disturbed]

At this rate, I really don't know. I thought Cody was going to be a star back when Legacy first started, then Cody began to hide behind Orton. Then everyone looked at Ted to be the future. Once Legacy ended, Ted didn't get shit and Cody got a good push with his Dashing gimmick. RIght now though, I think Kingston will go far. I never liked him when he first began and thought his gimmick was very cheesy but he seems better in my eyes now, as he doesn't speak with a Jamaican accent anymore. Kofi seems like he gives more in the ring too. I am not saying Cody doesn't give anything but it seems like Kofi just trys a bit harder. At the end of the day, Kofi has my vote though.

 

[Capitan Gringo]

Kofi for me. Cody is struggling as Smackdown is pretty heavy at the moment on mid card heels and he's struggling a lot because of it. Kofi meanwhile is getting more and more popular as one of the leading faces of the company. I think in terms of talent the two are very similar, but for me Kofi gets the nod.

 

[Rocky!Rocky!Rocky!]

Kofi Kingston for me...he is getting more and more popular as a face on a show full of heels. I hope he gets to participate in some really good matches with the likes of Swagger, Rhodes, McIntyre and what seems to be a little feud with Del Rio. I just wonder if a move to Raw would benefit Rhodes as there are more mid card faces to feud with and they could always tap in to a feud between him and DiBiase.

But as it stands, Kofi gets my vote.

 

[CleverName51]

I gotta vote Kofi: he had a high profile feud with Randy Orton that had him looking very strong. He's a current upper card player who can challenge and look good against any main eventer. Cody; he's not as far developed yet and he hasn't shown me much in terms of talent. Kofi really just needs one more solid feud and boom he will be a solid main player. If Kofi could feud with say, Kane or Barrett. Toss him a world title and some solid booking and he could be the next #2 or #3 face of the entire company behind Cena

I feel like right now; Cody is in Jack Swagger's position and he needs some more time to develop and if his push is handled wrong; he could end up like Swagger and be a huge bust.

 

[Terminal Sledgehammer]

I don't see the "dashing" gimmick take Rhodes past the mid-card. Right now he's facial injury thing doesn't really make him seem like a good fighter, rather a bit of a wimp. It is entertaining but so is Santino. Cody Rhodes needs another gimmick to go farther then where he is. Metrosexual is not a huge seller to the average wrestling fan and the kids just think it's wierd.

On the other hand Kofi has a few advantages over the dashing one. Having a Fanbase is a big one. He clicks with the profit fodder therefore he gets more exposure. Being a face is another advantage. Face's are easier to sell than a heel. Money= push.

Kofi is going further in the current shape of things, but that isn't to say the Dashing one is going out to pasture he still is in shape for a healthy mid card run.

 

[krazyd]

im going to go the other way on this..with CODY RHODES while im a huuuge kofi kingston fan i feel like becuz cody is a better talker he will go further...kofi reminds me of shelton benjamin...great performer bad talkever even tho i personally loved his 'fool's gold' promo on ECW he wasnt that great on the mic and becuz of that he was under utilized n asked for his release (mvp too) id hate for that to happen to kofi but i wouldnt be too surprised...i just believe that bcuz of codys pedigree (dusty rhodes n goldust) that he's just got what they need n they will use him more

 

[fenfool]

I'm going to say Kofi. Cody hasn't really shown much personality. I think the alignment with Legacy hurt both he and Ted Dibiase, because they were either jobbing for the group, or just there as backup for Orton...neither really was allowed to show any personality at all, it's difficult to suddenly develop some after having been around for so long now, I think both men are suffering from it.

Kofi had that brief push where he went nuts on Orton, then it fizzled into thin air. He has made a comeback on Smackdown though, and the crowd always seems to pop for him...I don't know if he'll get a world title run, but I can see him keeping the IC title for a good length of time, hopefully bringing some meaning back to it, and at least getting some shots at the title.

 

[thephenomenalone2015]

I'd have to go with Rhodes. Kofi is alot better in the ring, and even though he has more titles in singles then rhodes, he just can't talk as well. Rhodes was lucky to have Legacy as a good building block for his mic talking cause now he can be a great heel against all faces. also i could see Rhodes as a face, but i couldnt see kofi heel. Think about it.

 

[Karaoke Superstar]

I'm gonna say Kofi. He's exciting in the ring, charismatic and has a unique and very marketable look. Most importantly he gets a reaction, he's one of the most popular current stars on the roster and if they didn't pull the feud with Orton early he would be a main event mainstay right now.

As for Cody he's good in the ring and has done a good job of making his own name. However, Kofi stands out in the crowd while Cody gets lost in it. I think Rhodes will be stuck in the mid card for a long time.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I see Kofi Kingston going further. Kofi Kingston is huge with the SmackDown! audience and always puts on great matches. He has a ton of energy and his matches always feel fresh and entertaining to me. I think the only thing holding Kofi back right now is his ability on the mic. The few times we've heard him speak, he's done a solid job but you could tell he was a little awkward and uncomfy. But, for someone that doesn't speak often, that's something to be expected and can be overcome. After all, look at Dolph Ziggler; he's been improving every week on the mic.

I think Kofi is ultimately ready to step up to the next level. He's been ready for a while now I believe and I think he's just in an overall better place now than he was with his feud with Randy Orton began.

 

[HBKistheHOF]

I know everyone is saying kofi and i can see why, great talent, great in-ring skills, extremly athletic, but i gotta go with Cody Rhodes! Everytime Kofi gets a big push he never goes anywhere with it. The Orton feud was great but since then he has been stuck in the same spot he was at before (Mid-Carder or Upper-Midcarder). Personally i see him getting stuck in a mr perfect situation and never getting the big one or at most maybe a rey mysterio deal where he gets the title at one major ppv(prob mania) and kinda just fades back into some more feuds and mid-carder status.

As for Cody Rhodes, i dont think hes amazing, but hes got the 3rd generation star thing going as well as a good gimmick/character that at the very least should land him as one of the next big heels on sd(or if he switches back to raw) in the upcoming year. Also if things go according to plan he should be in a semi-high profile match with rey at mania.(2nd year in a row with a semi-big match) while kofi will prob be in the mitb again, if they have it.(If vince is smart he'd put him in a singles match for the IC title and give him time to shine like savage and steamboat). So both have a good looking future but we all thought ted would outshine cody and we all got suprised, maybe he will suprise again.

 

[JGlass]

I want to pick Kofi, I want to pick his so bad. He's one of my favorite wrestlers right now and he has all the tools to make it big.

That said, I think Cody Rhodes is the one who's going to make it big.

Cody Rhodes has a lot of things going for him, starting with a great gimmick. Kofi has rarely been given the chance to show personality (and when he does it's a smashing success), so it's hard to say what his gimmick/character is exactly. Cody Rhodes is easy, he's an arrogant narcissist who cares more about looking good than winning, though he'd gladly take both.

Wrestling wise I give the edge to Kofi, but that doesn't mean Cody is a slouch. Cody Rhodes has gotten much better since his Legacy days, and has really carved out a style for himself. Kofi is definitely much more unique than Cody, and his style definitely stands out much more than most of the WWE roster, let alone Cody Rhodes.

When it comes to charisma, I'd say they break about even. Kofi interacts with the crowd while wrestling more than any other wrestler as far as I can tell. Between his boom boom claps, his punches in the corner, and his fast paced offense, it seems like he does a lot of stuff for the sake of the crowd. But then again, so does Cody. There's few things more amusing than Cody Rhodes interrupting a match to make sure his face isn't damaged, and he really has the audience eating out of the palm of his hand when he uses those antics.

The reason that I think Cody is going to go farther than Kofi is because of his pedigree. He's the son of Dusty freakin Rhodes. That's right, it's not like his dad is IRS, his dad is one of the most legendary wrestlers to ever lace up a pair of boots. Whether or not that makes him any better a wrestler is irrelevant because fans will always see him as Dusty's boy, and that's a big draw. Furthermore, Kofi's last high profile feud was with Randy Orton back in 2009. That's a long fucking time ago. Meanwhile, Cody is about to enter a program with Rey Mysterio, and Cody will probably go over Rey due to Rey's injuries.

Like I said, I wish I could pick Kofi here, but all signs point to Cody being the superstar of the two. Kofi's talents won't be pronounced enough if the WWE doesn't give him a solid push, and they haven't since his feud with Orton. I hope they do, but until then, it looks like Cody is going to be the more successful one.

 

[Sparky]

Right now, I would have to say they're tied. on one hand, you have Kofi's gimmick wich is better and more of a ME style gimmick and Cody's gimmick is only holding him back. On the other hand, you have the fact that Cody has been under Ortons wing, Dreamers and he is about to launch into a fued with Rey, where Kofi don't really have a fued going with somebody that can help him.

If Rhodes stays in this gimick for the next few years it will be kofi, but if Rhodes loses the gimmick he has the potential to be one of the next big things.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Tough choice, it really is.

I prefer watching Kingston, I find him alot more entertaining in the ring, but I cannot see him as a World Champion with that gimmick, it just screams "Mid-carder" to me.

Rhodes on the other hand, he bored me in Legacy and I saw DiBiase as the breakout star of the team, as everyone did. However, the "Dashing" gimmick has really impressed me, as Cody is not living off his Dad's gimmick ,as Ted has been doing. I do think that given time Cody Rhodes could become a big star, and he has the benefit of learning from his Father when it comes to mic skills, as Dusty is one of the all time greats on the microphone. I personally see Cody as a main event level wrestler rather than Kingston.

However, Kofi is really over with the fans so this could result in him getting further than Cody, as he is kid-friendly, exciting and high-flying. He could be a big star in this era.

So I would rather it be Cody, but I think it will be Kingston.

 

[Theo Mays]

Wow tough choice between the two here. Always been a fan of both Rhodes and Kofi. Each guy has their strengths and weakness, much like any other midcard talents in the WWE. Right now Kofi would be the obvious choice, but I think I'm leaning towards Cody Rhodes if we are talking long term. The thing that put Rhodes over for me is the fact that it is clear as day what his gimmick is. Rhodes is a pretty boy who cares solely about his looks. Kofi is just a happy go lucky guy who isn't from Jamaica anymore. Don't get me wrong I love Kofi Kingston and I believe he has all the tools to make in the WWE and if he could be that African-American superstar that WWE wants to push as a legit guy and make a star out of. Cody has all the tools as well. Cody managed to miss out on his father's looks (good thing eh?) and he managed to get some of his father's charisma. Cody looks like he belongs in the ring and has improved since his starting days. Cody can work a crowd better than a lot of guys, can work the mic, and can go in the ring with the best of him. Like JGlass said, Cody's pedigree is really gonna help him out here and is really the boost that edges him over Kingston in my mind.

 

[ctln4rko]

I think Cody Rhodes will go farther. He has mic skills, gets easy heat, and to me is a good wrestler in the ring.
Kofi is a fantastic wrestler and gets the crowd really behind him, but he does not have mic skills and to be a success in WWE, you need Mic Skills. So for one key reason, that being that Cody has Mic Skills, i see Cody going further.

 

[NWannabe]

I think Cody will. Kofi appears to have all the tools, but creative saddles him whenever he gets near the ME. On the other hand, Cody just got hand picked by Rey for a program, had Cena singing his theme, carries himself physically well, and has been getting heat at a decent clip for months, while ingratiating his character to the audience. The last point is what really tips the scales. Kofi's cool, but lacks depth of character.

 

[Zangash]

I'm gonna say Rhodes. Unfortunately, Kofi is going to be mid-card for life. His in ring style is just TOO fitting for the mid-card. He might get a world title or two, but for the most part... he's going to be chasing that mid level gold his entire career. His in ring style is just that kinda style VKM likes in his Mid-carders, and Kofi is such a good draw at that... But on a positive note, Kofi will probably be around the title hunt for a very long time.

Rhodes, on the other hand... is the son of THE Dusty Rhodes... He's got the mic skills, the wrestling skills, fits firmly into the YOUNG side of the youth movement, has already made himself known through Legacy, is making one of the worst gimmicks ever entertaining, and is on a fast track to Main Eventing. Give him ten years and he'll be where Orton was during his tirade against John Cena. He's not getting much push right now, as there's an over saturation of heels at the moment, but when these heels start going face and start disappearing Cody will have his chance to shine.

 

[Dave]

Kofi Kingston and it is not even close.

The problem with Cody Rhodes is that the WWE do not even have confidence in him and that leads to a lack of confidence in yourself. That mentality really becomes transparent in your in-ring work and leads to the performances given by said wrestler being useless to some degree. That is the main hindrance for Cody Rhodes. He needs to be more confident that he can pull it off. Superstars will never be big unless they believe that they are the biggest thing since sliced bread and you will hear that from many superstars of the past. If you don't think that you deserve to be on top, then you wont be, it is that simple.

Kofi Kingston suffers from the same syndrome but in a different respect. The WWE has not given him any credit since day one. He has never had a gimmick and he has never really had any faith from the top brass of the WWE. Sure, he had his moment in the spotlight with Randy Orton but just when people were getting into him and his character, he was taken to Smackdown and left to rot. What is the point of getting him up to that level just to take him all the way back down when he messes up one spot? Pointless.

So, with that in mind, I think it needs to be judged on talent and Kofi Kingston just has more of it. He is more athletic and can get the crowd involved in the match a lot better than Cody Rhodes can. Rhodes is arguably better on the mic but his last gimmick is about to fold, by all accounts. Where does he go from here? At least Kofi has been steaduly looked over in recent times. I say Kofi will go further.

 

[Hulk Hogan's Brother]

I see Kofi going a lot further than Cody Rhodes. Kofi is very underrated on the microphone. He is certainly above average and his expressions are awesome. Just check him out when he was feuding with Randy Orton or when he just won his IC title match against Christian on Smackdown and Drew McIntyre came out with a letter from Vince McMahon stating that Drew had to be given back the championship. On each occasion his expressions were awesome.

All of you here are talking about how awesome Cody's gimmick is but truth be told, only HBK has gone on to main event with that type of a gimmick. Guys like Rick Rude and Rick Martel were saddled with similar gimmicks but remained midcarders throughout their careers. So it is certainly doubtful if Cody will do the same. He will probably be pushed hard though considering that he is a third generation superstars. I do feel though that Kofi has more chances of suceeding than Kofi firstly because he is more skillful and secondly because despite his mishap in his feud with Orton, WWE holds him in higher esteem than Cody who is said to overact on occasions.