A Few Good Men: Rise of the New Generation – By Andrew Smith
At Wrestlemania we witnessed an event, a spectacle, it was truly an end of an era. Now it’s time for the new era to begin, for the young rising stars to be elevated to the next level.
At Wrestlemania we saw two titans clash within the Hellacious Cell leaving behind a legacy like no other. Two icons battled it out to cement they’re claim as the greatest star the wrestling world has ever seen. Now the journey begins again. WWE will have already put pen to paper in who they wish to showcase at 29, a few names have already been tossed around and we can be assured the usual suspects will make an appearance. But amongst all that WWE must put in motion the wheels of the machine and begin the push for the next generation.
CM Punk has cemented himself as a main eventer, showcasing to the fans why he wears the T-shirt dictating that he is The Best in the World. The clean win over the first ever Undisputed Champion laid claim to the fact that WWE now trusts Punk as someone that they believe can get the job done.
Daniel Bryan’s fate is yet to be seen. After losing the title in just 18 seconds to the Celtic Warrior fans were up in arms, voicing they’re opinion throughout the night and continued with the verbal assault on Raw. Bryan’s Wrestlemania match may have been the shortest match of his career, but the backlash could very well lead to his security at the top.
Waiting in the wings are the likes of Dolph Ziggler, the former Spirit Squad member has a shawn michaels’esque about his in ring work, putting his opponent over as strongly as himself (see his selling of Brodus Clay’s head butt on Raw as evidence) Having already had a brief stint with the World Heavyweight Title another, longer run with the strap would do no harm in elevating this young star in the coming months.
Zack Ryder, he was the catalyst to his own stardom in 2011. His entertaining YouTube videos and stubbornness to get himself over even when WWE had no intention of doing it themselves led to his short, yet very much welcomed United States Title run last year.
WWE then dropped the ball not long after but this year needs to be the year of the Ryder revolution, picking up the ball and going for goal. The former Edge-Head has already been embraced by the fans and proved that he can get the desired response while getting the job done in the ring.
Cody Rhodes, the former Legacy member captured the Intercontinental Title last year and held it for almost 8 months. A brief feud with Booker T ensued during last December through to January, Rhodes went on to successfully defended his Championship against the 5 time Champion. Legends and previous Champions are regularly sacrificed to enhance upcoming talent, the fact that a lengthy programme ending with a win at a PPV proved WWE have big plans for the second generation star. At Wrestlemania a win would have been more beneficial for this young man, but if it means moving him away from the Intercontinental Title and onto the next level it will be eagerly welcomed.
Honourable mentions go to Brodus Clay. So far the Funkasaurus has been little more than a comedy act and is miles away from the beast he was on NXT. When he was announced as the runner up he cut a stellar promo which held more passion and charisma than most the dribble we see on our screens each week. Many hope that a return to the monster is at some point on the cards, but needless to say he has proved that he can run with any act creative give him.
Also Wade Barrett made progress in the last few months before his injury. Paired with Smackdowns top dog Randy Orton he was destined for good things until an unfortunate injury stopped him in his tracks. Hopefully WWE won’t renege on the young mans push and will continue his flight to the top through the coming months of his return.
WWE will bring in past stars and pay big money for the top names, but what good are the past without the future? Hopefully the dawn of the new Era has begun.
I hope this is a breakthrough year for Barrett and Ziggler. They have done enough in mid card and are being wasted especially Ziggler. Its time WWE pull the trigger on Ziggler and give one of the World titles.. Barrett was unlucky his main event push was derailed due to injury but it should resume this summer as reported.
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Great read Andy. It is heartwarming to see Punk in a position where he always should have been given his all round talent, at first it didn’t feel like they fully believed in him when they were busy hotshotting the title but he put in a real star making performance at TLC and his reign has become stronger ever since. I agree on Ziggler, Ryder, and Bryan being the future of the company though don’t see Rhodes as a main eventer despite being a fan. He doesn’t seem to have any distinguishing factors though to be fair hasn’t been given many opportunities to shine. What good are the past without the future? A great question and one that wwe creative certainly need to be asking themselves far more often.
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Great read, Andy.
I just doubt that WM 28 will be the last we’ll see of Taker and HHH. I think Brock/Taker will go at it WM 29. Anyway, I’ll reply on the points you made.
The only ‘clear cut’ star that for a fact will be a top star is CM Punk IMO, like he’s the safest. He should be on top for years to come. He can have exciting new feuds including Lesnar, Taker, HHH and even Cena again.
Bryan can get there but has to be booked correctly.
Ryder – I give him the Summer and he’ll be gone from WWE. Harsh I know but he’s getting boring.
Barrett, I’m a big fan of and hope he’ll get a huge push when he returns.
Rhodes – I can’t see him ever being world champ material.
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How is Ryder “boring”? I think he’s just in a holding pattern.
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What’s he done lately? Apart from being a bitch to Eve.
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More than he was doing a year ago.
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I’m being harsh on him but I don’t see him going anywhere higher than where he’s at now
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When HHH debuted, how many knew he was going to be as big as he did? He’s still got youth on his side. He’s got plenty of time. And if all he ends up as is a mid-carder, he has the potential to be a mid-card for a long time.
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I really hope the “new generation” rises soon, like this year would be great, but seeing all the returns of former stars is a bit worrying. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great that The Rock, Brock Lesnar, and Chris Jericho are back, and helping the company, but I also hope they help the young guys. More importantly, I hope WWE takes advantage of the attention the big names pull in, and position the new stars well to get them over.
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Cheers guys.
Punk is one man who in a year has broken the mould and managed to get himself to the top of the ladder.
Next WM will have the big names to get that BIG draw WWE aim for, hopefully the guys I’ve mentioned have a more prominent role on card.
I think Rhodes just needs the right push, his character has seemed to change a bit in the last year, but when he finds his niche he could have a good chance.
Ray I hope your wrong about Ryder, given the right material and the right people to work with (where he doesn’t come across as a complete dufus) I believe he has potential. The fans love him, he has great charisma and his in ring work admittedly isn’t the best but works the fans well.
Obviously other names could be added to the list but most have suffered WWE’s stop/start effect so many times its difficult to invest in them
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I’m digging the mix we currently have.
Old: Rock, Brock, Austin?, Taker, HHH
Established top stars: Cena, Punk, Orton, Y2J, Christian, Henry, Big Show
New top stars: DB, Sheamus, Del Rio, Miz
Rising mid-card: Cody, Kofi, Ziggler, Barrett, Swagger
Solid mid-card: Santino, Truth, Clay, Ryder
The influx: The debuts from FCW.
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I watched FCW past episode and by ‘gawd’ do they have talent. The problem us making them interesting outside the ring. Their character/mic skills/look need working on.
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Well, they should have different characters when called up.
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Im loving the fact we have chris hero, caudio castagnoli, tyler black and Britani Knight all in the pipeline.
Im just waiting for Ziggler to get a real title run
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I’m just waiting for Ziggler to get the F-5! He’ll sell like crazy!
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They never should have rush-turned Truth back face. He’s dropped way down the pole in my opinion and is back being used as filler
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Shut up, Little Andy!
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I’m a big fan of R-Truth. I am as sure as the sunshine he’ll be a main eventer by 2013! Just watch! And that’s the TRUTH!
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Might be too old.
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Wish Zack would bring back the “Clap it up” WWWYKI 🙂
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I honestly don’t see Ryder going any further. He’s a midcard talent and he’ll stay there. Nothing wrong with that as he was a jobber a year ago.
I’m concerned with the way they’re booking Ziggler at the moment, but hopefully he and Rhodes will have those World Title reigns we at TTR suggested they would at the start of the year!
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I never personally thought that Ziggler was main event material. Barrett neither. Cody Rhodes and Daniel Bryan to me are the future for the main event with Punk for the next 3-5 years or so.
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Brodus Clay is going to turn onto heel on Santino I think
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I hope not. They’re too much fun.
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Nice write up! I can’t ever see Zack Ryder in the main event myself, but the fans like him so I’m sure he will be pushed there. I just can’t get behind him and he’s a bit stale to me.
I can totally see Ziggler as main event…no one sells like him right now, no one emphasizes as much as him. He makes things look absolutely great.
Rhodes, I still struggle seeing as a world champ ever. I mean he’s got the ring talent, and his personality is slowly growing nicely, but I just struggle seeing him as a main event kinda guy. I really figured Ted DiBiase would have been the star out of those two.
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With regards to to the many times mentioned Ryder, I dont necessarily see him as a top guy competing for one of the World Titles, BUT, I do believe he has the talent and charisma to get himself over and be person the fans WANT to see.
He deserves to have a decent US/Intercontinental title run and admittedly his character could do with a few adjustments. I’d like to see a heel turn with the guy, let him explore some boundaries and see what happens.
Woo Woo Woo… You Know It! (sorry, caught in the moment)
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Yeah, you don’t have to be a top star to be HOF-worthy. Tony Atlas, Junk Yard Dog, Hillbilly Jim, Perfect, Rude, etc.
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Exactly, you know those guys they list who are some of the greatest takenl never to hold the World Title.
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takenl: talent (sorry)
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Yeah, as soon as somebody gets over with the smark crowd, people instantly see if the person has the potential to be a “main event guy”. They need to see if the person has the potential to fill a role for a long time. Few people ever get to be “main event”, but you can still have a worthwhile run.
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