WNS Column: Studs & Duds 4

IWC, it’s been some time.  As I sit here listening to the gnarly tunes from WWF Forceable Entry, it’s inspired me to pick my lazy self up and pump out an article. How have y’all been after this week of what we call wrestling. STUDS & DUDS is back. Let’s do this. Enough chatter. 

STUD – Usos/Wyatt feud

This feud has panned out to give us some memorable matches. Most of their matches include a “THIS IS AWESOME” chant. Their last match had even stolen the show at Battleground (don’t try to dispute this, I won’t listen). Whatever their chemistry may be, it works and gives us incredible matches that captivate us, the WWE universe, as a collective whole. The styles that both The Usos and The Wyatt’s bring blend and work so well together that I hope it puts notice in the back that the tag scene doesn’t just flat out suck (yet). Very promising things are on the rise, as NXT teams look good. New factions are seemingly being made with Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston and Big E. It’s only a matter of time until Mark Henry joins and I’m intrigued about it and hope it succeeds. Xavier Woods looks like he could be a great, annoying pest that continually runs his mouth. He’s going to be a solid mouthpiece for that faction.

I honestly wouldn’t mind if we are only treated to their matches on PPV’s while continuing the feud for the later part of the year. Wyatt’s are deserving of holding the belts and I believe their break will come at Summerslam. Once they grasp those titles and the feud ends with the Usos, we may see them as a face team that gets targeted by the new, upcoming faction of Woods, Kingston and Big E who will be portrayed as the heels. 

DUD – The Miz 

The only thing AWWWWWWWWESOOMMMMMMMME about the Miz is when he’s not on camera. This guy is completely irrelevant and notice how every time he comes back he says, “I’m baaaaaaaaaaack” as if we’re anxious to see him back. Having him win the IC title makes no sense. Ziggler should’ve been the winner of that battle royal plain and simple. I’ve expressed my interest in Ziggler and how I continue to think he’s a top talent that doesn’t deserve to be where he is at the moment. But having bit the injury bug a couple times, puts him back down the totem pole as far as relevancy. Blah, I’m getting off track. 

Back to a man that epitomizes irrelevancy. I don’t think the WWE universe could care less about the Miz or anything he does. I can only hope we get Barrett/Miz 3 and we get to see a truly AWWWWWWWESOOMMMMMEE sight – bull hammer to that ‘Hollywood face’.

STUD – Luke Harper

Luke Harper is one of the next extraordinaire big men of wrestling. At his size, I’m sure more than most expect him to just use clubbing blows, a couple slams and size to intimidate his opponents. Aside from being a terrifyingly big, big man, Harper continues to wow us with his wide array of moves. Let’s get real, the last time you saw a man of Harper’s size perform a plunge like his is one that’s on his way to retirement (Undertaker). Luke Harper looks good on the mic and has a delusional, lunatic personality yet it’s a calming, intellectual personality. It’s very similar to promos that Kane used to make years ago. And let’s face it, WWE doesn’t have another Kane/Undertaker like character that’s a big man that can intimidate as well as captivate the audience by their presence. I’m not saying he will be as big as either Kane or Taker, but he’s going to be a significant player in the game as the year’s progress.

For a big man, what stands out is that he has a healthy balance between his wrestling skills and mic skills. I would like for him to get more mic time as he’s proven he can talk, given that brief stint (one week I think?) where Bray was absent and Harper was on the mic for a promo on Raw and Smackdown. The man can also sell a move. I remember him taking 2 superkicks from Jimmy Uso and on the 2nd kick he whipped back and sold it incredibly well. Harper also does little things in the ring that add to his character like the way he looks upon the crowd with some widen glazed look, or the way he flicks his hands towards the air like some lunatic.

JBL said it perfectly when describing him “What a deceiving athlete this Luke Harper is”.

STUD – Dean Ambrose

This guy is brilliant. Everything he does is brilliant and the feud with Seth Rollins (a former STUD from my first article) is great. I can’t wait for it to lead to a cage match between the two at Summerslam. I suggest that because it can tie in with Dean’s crazy style and suggest that he trap him like a ‘caged rat’ thus announcing a cage match. I see it panning out like that but I could also be very wrong. Ever since his departure from the Shield, I was concerned with how Dean will do after and he has not disappointed since. His wrestling is a brawler, hard-hitting style that sets him apart from other stars on the main roster and I could watch Dirty Deeds be hit on just about anyone all day. He, much like Bray, has his own style while delivering promos that raises the bar for others in the back to compete with. He’s a genuinely interesting wrestler to watch his work inside and outside of the ring.

He’s needing a secure victory at some point soon because having him lose continually will hurt his character over time. Could very well do the opposite and get a Daniel Bryan scenario where he gets more momentum with losses. Where he goes after the feud with Seth is left to my imagination and imagination of those within the WWE universe. 

HONORARY MENTIONS

DUD – Seth Rollins attire

What in the BLUE HELL is he wearing? Great wrestler but c’mon man. That outfit doesn’t look like it suits him AT ALL. He’d be better off with going back to his wrestling tights where it was just the underwear with kneepads and boots. 

STUD – Dean Ambrose’s attire

Jean Ambr-I mean Dean Ambrose’s attire suits him/his character to a T. Brawler style so why not wear street clothes. Or maybe that was just from the budget cut and it was done on accident. Who knows but all I know is that I’m a fan of it.

STUD  - Luke Harper/Eric Rowan’s theme music

I feel as if I’m alone when I express my genuine enjoyment in the theme. The twang-y, southern banjo style-like theme works for their personalities and it also just generally excites me for when they approach the ring.

DUD – Cesaro

Sad considering the amount of talent this man has. More work on the mic, along with making himself become relevant again by the end of the year will save his stardom. I’m not saying he will go down to job level, but I’d hate for him to turn into a Del-Rio like star.

Stud - Heath Slater eliminating Cesaro at Battleground battle royal

Not going to lie, I lost my damn mind when I saw Slater toss Cesaro over the top rope. Tampa Bay marked out for Slater and you know what, for a guy that’s job is to job for others, I’m happy that he got an ovation like that. He’s an entertaining superstar. The IWC lost their mind in a negative way, moaning and groaning how “Slater doesn’t deserve that and neither did Cesaro.” Multiple wambulances were called for all the butts that were hurt by that elimination. Really though, Slater and Cesaro are on two entirely different spectrums. Slater won’t achieve what Cesaro will so why not give Slater something he can hold on to for his career. 

Other Goodies:

This week also featured a shocking appearance of STING at comic-con that nearly everyone and their grandmother marked out for coming out in his full costume, signature face paint and bat that would have Michael Cole screaming “VINTAGE STING”. I have ideas of where they could put Sting in so that his first WWE run is a memorable one, but I’m interested in being surprised as well. I’m intrigued with WHEN he also debuts. My guess is that it happens at the start of the New Year. Maybe the Raw after Royal Rumble, maybe AT the Royal Rumble, the possibilities are endless!

Regarding my question from my last article on which feud I’m most excited for, it’s a tie between Rusev/Swagger and Ambrose/Rollins. Both feuds offer something familiar themed feuds (former friends, betrayal, patriotism, honoring a country) and it works for me.

What I thoroughly about the Rusev/Swagger feud is that this revitalizes Swagger’s character and brings him back into relevancy again. Considering this is the first time we’ve seen a face Swagger, I’d say he’s playing it off well. If this feud is done correctly (although it’s considered being pulled) both stars could benefit from it.

Ambrose/Rollins make for great television. Having such a great chemistry during the Shields 2 year tenure, it’s bled into this feud and makes it incredibly interesting to watch. Ultimately this has to end with Rollins on top, but have Ambrose look huge also. The sky is the ceiling for these both and I see future WWE champs in both of them.

One new addition is the beginning of a new faction that features Xavier Woods as a mouthpiece, Kofi and Big E (and soon to be Mark Henry I’m sure). This could be a faction that launches both Big E and Kofi into more of a main event status rather than their current mid-card status. I’m not saying it most definitely will, but seeing a new attitude from Kofi where he’s more pissed than anything will be interesting to see it pan out. I’m a stickler about faction names so I’m intrigued to see what name is brought out for this group.

Question time!
Given that we are on almost the eve of Summerslam (having it be 3-weeks away) where do you see the product and what it has to offer within the next 6 month. Who’s on top in the WWE? What feuds will there be/what one’s would YOU WANT to see?

Be vocal, be heard!

Thanks for the hangs, IWC.

As always, stay classy

Quinn