Who Will Have the Better WWE Career? Antonio Cesaro or Damien Sandow?

[WJDwjdWJDwjd]

Title says it all, folks.

Both of these respective talents debuted their characters around the same time during or around Johnny Ace's New Talent Initiative.

Damien Sandow is a thinking man's sports entertainer. A character who loves the finer things in life. He's our self-proclaimed intellectual savior who wants to rid the WWE of the garbage they put on our screen, and in the ring each week. So far, Sandow has been in a Money in the Bank match, fought with or teased rivalries with talents like Zack Ryder and Brodus Clay, and he's was beaten up by DX on the 1000th episode of Raw. The man behind the character, Aaron Haddad, trained by Killer Kowalski, and got his debut working in Chaotic Wrestling. He was originally signed to a developmental deal with WWE in 2002. Haddad has had a couple other names in the WWE (Aaron "The Idol" Stevens, and simply Idol Stevens), spent quite a bit of time in WWE Developemental territories, and had a unsuccessful previous stint on Smackdown that ended with him being demoted, and then released. After returning to OVW for a while, he was re-hired in 2010, repackaged as Sandow, had a rather successful stint winning multiple championships, and then the rest is history.

Antonio Cesaro is a former Swiss Militia man, and Rugby player who was banned from playing for excessive aggression. His debut came when he got a match tryout on television at the suggestion of his long time "friend", Aksana. It became clear that Aksana and Antonio were more than friends. So far, Antonio has had minor success on television. He's competed in a few matches with the likes of Tyson Kidd, The Great Khali, Christian, and Santino Marella. Cesaro even has a pre-show match versus Santino for the U.S. Title at Summerslam. Claudio Castagnoli, the man behind the character of Cesaro is a career journey man through the Indy Circuit of professional wrestling. Most notably, he's one half of one of the most successful tag teams in Ring of Honor with his former partner (and current WWE Developmental talent) Chris Hero (aka Kassius Ohno). The Kings of Wrestling were a tag team and at points a stable which also included at various points Sara Del Rey, and several other talents, were prominent, and extremely well known from 2005-2011. Castagnoli and Hero capture tag team gold in several different organizations including a nearly year long reign in Ring of Honor. Castagnoli was the first to sign a WWE Developmental contract in 2011. He competed multiple times for various titles over the course of his stint in FCW before making his debut on the main roster.

There you have it, people. Damien Sandow, almost a career WWE Developmental guy vs Antonio Cesaro, tag team specialist, and Indy Circuit journeyman.

Who will have the better WWE career?

 

[a member of wwe universe]

ill laugh at this thread very hard if one of those guys get fired or jobbed during 2012. Its too early to make comparison as their character have not come to fruition. Their past accomplishments and credential means nothing to the wwe. You can be tyson kid, a student of the dungeon and still floating in midcard. You can be a guy like sheamus, with no legitimate wrestling background except his affiliation with hhh as workout buddy, and still be the reigning world champion.

Chris master, tyler reks, kozlov, etc all came out strong within first 6 month but where are they now?

Sandow looks promising but he could easily be a one dimensional character if he continues to stick with the gimmick throughout 2013. Kind of like how alberto del rio is. He had this interesting character going on but he kinda got stuck with it and didnt progress anywhere.

 

[HBK/RKO]

I think this is a pretty easy choice and say Damien Sandow. I love his character and he is pretty decent on the mic so far. He is getting a good push and is doing well with it. I also like his aggressive style in the ring. There is no character in the WWE quite like him currently. To me, he is unique. I predict he will be a wwe/world champion sometime in the late 2013 or 2014.
Now just to comment on Antonio Cesaro, I honestly don't see him making it very far. I can see him jobbing by December. I will say his ring work is different and I like some of his moves in his arsenal. With that being said I don't think he can make it currently with the character he has. I also have no idea how good he is on the mic because he barely speaks and when he does he says one word in seven different languages repeatedly. His in ring ability looks good but his character is boring to me.

 

[xavyer]

At this moment it looks like Damien Sandow is doing much better than Antonio Cesaro, is too early to tell, it looks like both of them are starting feuds, so this is like their test to see how they do, Sandow is already prooving that he's good in the mic and can cut good promos, and Cesaro is showing that he's good in the ring, and what's good for him is that he has a manager/girlfriend with him, and of course, Sandow can handle himself in the ring too, but like i said, at the moment Sandow is ahead.......

 

[HBKistheHOF]

*Let me preface by saying I am huge fan of both and was fans of both "Idol" Stevens & Claudio before their respective runs.

I think Cesaro could(should) win mid-card gold first & maybe even get some bigger matches/feuds first.

But I have said it from the first video package & his first live appearence on TV, DAMIEN SANDOW IS GOLD! Not money, GOLD!!!!!!!!!!
He is an AMAZING HEEL! And will be selling merch, dvds, tickets, PPV's. etc. in NO TIME! He also has TONS of potential to become a huge babyface for the company! Sky's the limit for this guy! (I'm just glad Vinnie Mac see's it too and is pushing him) As much as Sandow could make an EPIC! IC champion, I wouldn't mind seeing him in ANY world title picture soon, ESPECIALLY the much more secondary WHC.

Only thing holding him back is a SOLID FEUD! He keeps going back & forth, which is fresh and interesting to see him facing all different kinds of superstars. But he needs to stick with Brodus or whoever to establish intrigue & emotional investment. Not to mention with guys like Lesnar & HHH back for now, it seems to be keeping him from appearing on PPV regularly, which is a MUST!

Come on WWE, you love to force feed your talent to us fans, GIVE US MORE SANDOW! Both SHOWS! EVERY PPV!

SANOW IS GOLD!

 

[PRMETFAN]

I actually think these 2 guys can have a great future in the "E". But i think they should become a tag team with Sandow's intellect and Cesaro playing the "superior european" i think they can have a pretty cool "Euro/intelligencia" stable. They could rule the next 10 years of Wwe but i can see the geniuses of Wwe "dropping the ball" and having it disappear without explanation 3 weeks after they start like everything else they do.It seems like they just don't think long term no more (long term as in years not weeks).

 

[THTRobtaylor]

ill laugh at this thread very hard if one of those guys get fired or jobbed during 2012. Its too early to make comparison as their character have not come to fruition. Their past accomplishments and credential means nothing to the wwe. You can be tyson kid, a student of the dungeon and still floating in midcard. You can be a guy like sheamus, with no legitimate wrestling background except his affiliation with hhh as workout buddy, and still be the reigning world champion.

Chris master, tyler reks, kozlov, etc all came out strong within first 6 month but where are they now?

Sandow looks promising but he could easily be a one dimensional character if he continues to stick with the gimmick throughout 2013. Kind of like how alberto del rio is. He had this interesting character going on but he kinda got stuck with it and didnt progress anywhere.

You are so wrong about Sheamus... What exactly do you class as legit?
He was the closest the UK/European scene had to a bona-fide superstar for several years as Seamus O'Shaugnessy (SOS). Most wrestling fans in the UK and Europe knew who he was and were rightfully excited when he got signed. That he then "moved ahead of the pack" by working out with Triple H is a massive disrespect to the guy and the talent who put him over pre-WWE

As to the question, Cesaro seems a little further ahead at this point, but that's only cos I think Sandow is being saved a little bit. He has the kind of character, like the Genius that can get grating very quickly. So using it sparingly prolongs its impact. It also gets him over as a man who "picks his spots", like with the DX thing the other week, he knew he was gonna get battered going out there but knew it was worth it cos now he's on Summerslam... Cesaro is on the preshow... nuff said...

 

[H33LTurn]

Sandow but thats not saying much for his career anyway. I dont see neither of these men sticking around much longer in the WWE. Cessaro is great in the ring but is lacking that "it" factor thats necessary to make it past the midcard scene. And Sandow, on the other hand, was given a shit gimmick in the first place. All we have to do is wait until Sandow's gimmick gets annoying and the crowd is no longer amazed by Cessaro's finisher and we'll have an accurate answer to your question.

 

[byrnside]

Going to be hard to make that call with as "little" as these two have done so far. I can't help but think of Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase when they were in Legacy. EVERYONE thought DiBiase was going to be the next big thing, and so far, it's pretty much been the opposite. Not to say that Rhodes is the next big thing, but he's certainly done much better for himself since the split than DiBiase. I digress.. If we're just basing these predictions on what we've seen so far, I have to say Sandow will go further. He's already made a splash by starting a program with Brodus, who is more than relatively over. He consistently cuts good promos and is a solid in-ring performer. Cesaro, unless he wins the U.S. title this Sunday, has not done much more than feud with Teddy Long, and I think it's is as simple as that. Then again, we haven't seen much more than a handful of short matches and very little time on the mic.

 

[GameOver]

as it stands at this point Damien Sandow is relevant, Antonio is not. Sandow i could see getting a IC/US title run, Antonio may be give on but it wont be deserved just on the short period they have been on the main rosters.

and yes b4 i get flamed i realise this is not the real "them" in ROH Kings of Wrestling were amazing in WWE they are just another person on the roster. Shame WWE for that they had a ready made Tag Team that would've gotten over and they ripped it apart and put both guys to the bottom of the barrel

as for Sandow well so far they have made a good start with him. but Antonio is the one that seems to be getting the early push, god knows why i find him boring and not overly impressive in the ring either atleast his WWE persona that is.

 

[Ethelion]

i'll laugh at this thread very hard if one of those guys get fired or jobbed during 2012

Yeah, this thread would be hilarious if either one or both of these guys get fired/jobbed.

Like what everyone has just said, it's too early to tell their fates. They haven't done anything memorable yet to peak my interest. But to answer the OP's question, like most people have said, Sandow will have the better WWE Career than Cesaro. The former already made decent starts by being laid down by DX and defeating Christian, while the latter only has a stupid Five-Language Gimmick and was defeated by Christian. While the latter is in line for a title shot at Santino's unimportant United States Championship this Sunday, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't win the title, because their match is the pre-show, making the prediction seem more likely that Santino's gonna retain. The former, on the other hand, seems to be in a feud with Brodus and a match between them may be added as a last-minute match like most filler matches have been at least since Extreme Rules.

Sandow's the real hare in this race. Cesaro's the tortoise.

 

[WJDwjdWJDwjd]

First of all, congratulations on Antonio Cesaro's United States Championship victory tonight.

As for my two cents, both these men can have outstanding careers in the WWE if booked correctly. They both have amazing potential. I was hoping many of you would discuss possibilities as opposed to what little we've seen. However, that's not how this community works I suppose.

Sandow has a great gimmick. But it's just that. A gimmick. More often than not do characters with over powering, character consuming gimmicks with no solid back story get over a certain bump in the WWE. Don't believe me? Watch how far Zack Ryder's career goes. Look at Santino Marella. In fact, the only real "gimmicky" characters that have won World Titles in the past 10 years have been Undertaker, Kane, JBL, Booker T under his "King Booker" gimmick, and Alberto Del Rio. So, from this point forward, it's going to be difficult for overly gimmicky characters like the Sandows, Ryders, Brodus Clays, etc etc to reach the next level, and attain World Title gold.

Cesaro, having a small gimmick being a former Rugby player, has a much more likely chance of reaching main event status, and holding World Titles than Sandow in his current gimmick's form. You can openly state his journey through the Independent Circuit as well. We've seen WWE love to use Daniel Bryan's, CM Punk's, and eventually Seth Rollins', and Dean Ambrose's respective careers in the Indy Circuits when building their credibility on television.

Despite what may seem like me putting over Cesaro as the person more likely to have a better career, I think Sandow is so much more versatile, has a flexible gimmick/character that he can be a great heel, and what I believe an even better face eventually. Both Sandow and Cesaro can go on to have many mid card title runs, memorable feuds, and moments we'll all remember in ring and out, but more importantly, Sandow will be the more entertaining of the characters, and thus will be able to be of more use to the WWE in the long run.

 

[kickinlikesally]

It's no contest. Sandow will have the better career. Better on the mic and better in the ring. They should've put the US title on Sandow. He could've restored some prestige to it. I don't see Cesaro holding it very long.

 

[RadicalCraig]

Sandiw. Only because Cesaro's gimmick is going to get old, and he doesnt really impress me. Sandow on the other hand, has a good shot at being one of the best. Hes in great shape, and has an original gimmick. I like them both, but I really belive that Sandow coild be a great.

 

[IT Factor]

Both Sandow and Cesaro are examples of how WWE fails to create true stars. These guys are easily forgettable and they don't really do anything to stand out. Neither would have made it in wrestling's glory days[aka the attitude era]. Maybe it's a perception and image thing. I dunno. WWE doesn't do anything to make these guys seem like real stars and when you compare them to guys like Orton, Jericho, Cena, Punk, etc they don't measure up. If this is the future of WWE, they are really in trouble[which I'm sure people will get bent outta shape about, but it's true].

 

[rge2010]

Sandow. Much better gimmick, much better on the mic, much better in the ring.

Cesaro is pretty much vanilla.

 

[SteveJobs]

Sandow, he impresses me everytime with how smooth his speaking is. I would fuck up so many times if I had to say all that lol. He must really rehearse and practice. He is a perfect PG villian

 

[refuses_to_job]

Antonio Cesaro, because he was in ROH. It's pretty much proven that any guy who signs with WWE from ROH will have success (ok yeah a few didnt). But look at Punk, D Bryan, and uh yeah thats it. You get the point though.

 

[BaraaTZK92]

Both Cesaro and Sandow are great , but I think Damien's character is more interesting as I always enjoy his work either on the mic or in the ring.

I can see Sandow winning the IC title sometime soon.

As for Cesaro I think they are doing good with him , but he just have to feud with someone more serious than santino because he is way more talented than to work with santino.

 

[GrandSword]

On Smackdown this week, Cole pointed out that Sandow was trained by Killer Kowalski. Killer also trained.... HHH. Is Sandow one of "Triple H's guys"? If so, then I think he'll have a great career. So far he has done a good job with what he has been given to do.

I'm a fan of Cesaro and he has obviously worked hard in the gym. I hope both guys do well.

 

[Christian Faith]

Antonio who? Was he even on Smackdown last week?

Damian Sandow has a good gimmick and has the look of a future main eventer.
Out of the 2 in my opinion Sandow will go further.

 

[CMPunk#RESPECT]

At this moment it looks like Damien Sandow is doing much better than Antonio Cesaro, is too early to tell, it looks like both of them are starting feuds, so this is like their test to see how they do, Sandow is already prooving that he's good in the mic and can cut good promos, and Cesaro is showing that he's good in the ring, and what's good for him is that he has a manager/girlfriend with him, and of course, Sandow can handle himself in the ring too, but like i said, at the moment Sandow is ahead.......

Cesaro has already won a title, Sandow is not even going for titles, he's just attacking smaller talents.

 

[Mustang Sally]

I'm still trying to figure where this love for Antonio Cesaro is coming from. Watching his match with Santino last night on Raw, I found him to be bland, gangly and rather uncoordinated. His movements in the ring are awkward and often stunted (he seems to slow down two steps before being whipped into the corner ringpost). His punches lack authority and his clothesline is delivered in slow motion.

Several of you seem to think this guy's got a great future, but I'm just not seeing it. If the best thing he's got going for him is Aksana, I can't say much for his future in WWE.

As for Damien Sandow; I like what he's doing now and am enjoying his ring repertoire. Still, it might be tough for Creative to keep coming up with fresh angles for him....and they'll need to because his "intellectual" schtick won't last forever. Already, they seem to be edging him out of "talking" and into more ring action.

For Sandow's sake, it's a good thing actions speak louder than words.

 

[SRSB]

This is difficult to choose who will have the better future, as both should have very bright futures. I'm more familiar with Antonio Cesaro's career before starting up with WWE than I am with Damien Sandow, although I do know of his past.

Both are the same in that they're both really talented, but in their own way. They both have mic skills, charisma, personality, and even in-ring ability, yet showcase it in different ways. The difference in the two right now is how they're used. Damien Sandow, even though he's not a champion, is getting more airtime and focus. While Antonio Cesaro is the U.S. Champion and barely getting any love right now. Damien Sandow, as of right now, has the brighter future due to the character he portrays. That's the main factor in this: character (or gimmick, I guess would be the proper word to use). He's been given a character that he had time to adjust to and found out that this character fit him like a glove. Antonio Cesaro, on the other hand, was saddled with some Swiss militia turned Rugby player? That's NOT Antonio Cesaro. Maybe it is, but I mean not a character he portrayed before. Antonio Cesaro, as Claudio Castagnoli was a straight up snobby foreigner, who was all about being "Very European". He's shown little traits of that, but the whole Rugby gimmick is kind of like "WTF?" to me. If we're eliminating the gimmick, these two are almost identical, except Antonio is better in the ring while Damien is better in delivery (in terms of mic skills). For me, Antonio's gimmick isn't clicking with me and seems like it's holding him back on the mic and the ring. That's why I'm giving Damien Sandow the nod here.

Wish them both the best in their future. Both have bright futures in the WWE. Definitely two very good-great heels that WWE can build onto in the near future.

 

[Ashw825]

Damien Sandow has a brighter future because of his gimmick and his talent not only in the ring and on the mic. My opinion however may be a little of though as to me it seems as if Antonio Cesaro has been ultra limited since coming in. We have only seen him wrestle in short bursts and we have heard him say a few words in multiple languages. I don't have a problem with going slow with a character so whether there planning on revealing Cesaro's talents as he continues his path in the WWE I don't know. Once I see Cesaro's full potential then I think I can make a solid opinion.