Booking Kaval

[Snowden]

So, Kaval and Chavo had a pretty solid match this past week on Smackdown, with Chavo picking up his first win in ages. I've got no problem with Chavo going over, as Kaval is still a rookie and it makes sense that he'd go through a "learning curve" when making it up to the big leagues. It seems like that's what they're running with, that he's exciting with a bright future, but he's not savvy enough to squeak out wins yet.

My question to you guys, is where do you think this booking leads to? Do we see Kaval keep on trucking and slowly climb the ranks? Or does Kaval get frustrated with his lack of success and turn heel?

[Next Big Thing]

I'm not sure I like it. Sure there's a learning curve, but he's also supposed to be your top rookie... the best and the brightest... so I don't see how having him lose to someone who at one point was jobbing to a midget and has been a joke the last year and a half does him any good. Del Rio is supposed to be a "rookie" too and look at where he's being taken.

I can understand him losing to some of the more established stars or even the younger guys with experience like Ziggler and to a lesser extent McIntyre. But Chavo? If the guy can't beat Chavo how the hell is he supposed to all of a sudden turn into a world beater and be viewed as a legit championship threat to anyone else?

[Snowden]

See, you bring up a good point...but I'm not taking this angle as a burial. He's being introduced specially as the NXT Season 2 winner, obviously putting a spotlight on him. His inability to win against just these type of guys could, logically, frustrate him especially because he's supposed to be "the best and brightest." That's why I'm leaning towards this eventually causing him to turn out of frustration...give his character a brutal edge (which would work, considering how stiff he works).

As of right now, Kaval is a...guy who won NXT who does fun shit in the ring. As a heel, he can be bitter about his lack of success, which gives him more dimension. I wouldn't write this angle off just yet, wait until it plays out.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Chavo Guerrero's booking on Superstars over the past few weeks has been interesting. He's picked up two wins against JTG and a win over Chris Masters (who himself got to look capable against Kane this week). The SmackDown! writing team has really been trying to wash away the comedy elements to Chavo's recent persona without exactly shoving him down our throats as "oh wait, guys, he's actually really good." The fans are responding to it, too. Chavo has gotten nice pops in his outings recently, despite still being a heel, and Matt Striker acknowledged this on SmackDown!.

I think we're looking at this with a smark's view. Marks are being reprogrammed to accept Chavo Guerrero. Maybe not as a World Title contender or anything, but he hasn't been a "joke" since he's ended up back on SmackDown!. He may not have won much on SmackDown!, but most of his matches there have actually been tag bouts.

The booking of Kaval does not worry me yet. If he is fed to someone, even if it is Kane, I may not like it. But Kaval is being allowed to get over on the merits that he is a good worker, and can kick the crap out of shit. If Kaval does forge a connection with the crowd, I think it will really push the WWE's backing of him further. If a guy can get pops from losing, he can surely get them from winning, right?

Kaval also has that title shot to keep in mind. I'd rather Kaval got broken in with some losses now, and not when he's in a position where he actually has ground to lose from them.

[Jeritron]

I see him going angry/intense heel. I don't care either way though.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I don't think this will lead to a heel turn, by the way. I think we're more likely to see a cocky heel mock Kaval, and then Kaval "upsets" them in a match later that night. They're just creating an underdog vibe for Kaval, which many of us may not like, but the WWE eats it up. With them being in a tag team role, at the moment, I could see this being Cody Rhodes -- leading to matches against both Rhodes and McIntyre (again) for Kaval, and perhaps even a dream team being formed between Daniel Bryan & Kaval to challenge Rhodes & McIntyre for the WWE Tag Team Titles at a PPV (not Kaval's title shot, neccessarily).

[Jeritron]

I really do want to see him feud or tag with Danielson in the near future

[Snowden]

I don't think this will lead to a heel turn, by the way. I think we're more likely to see a cocky heel mock Kaval, and then Kaval "upsets" them in a match later that night. They're just creating an underdog vibe for Kaval, which many of us may not like, but the WWE eats it up. With them being in a tag team role, at the moment, I could see this being Cody Rhodes -- leading to matches against both Rhodes and McIntyre (again) for Kaval, and perhaps even a dream team being formed between Daniel Bryan & Kaval to challenge Rhodes & McIntyre for the WWE Tag Team Titles at a PPV (not Kaval's title shot, neccessarily).

Yeah, that would be the logical face route to take things. Though I can see Ziggler being the one to goad Kaval at some point, and he ends up cashing in his title shot on Ziggs.

[Next Big Thing]

Classic U.S. and I.C. unification match would go down between Kaval and Bryan. The shit would be electric.

I actually kinda wish they'd turn LayCool face and keep the three of them together. They do spice up his personality. Plus they could do angles where Kaval steps in to defend them against a big bully like Kane or Cody Rhodes after he calls them ugly or something.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yeah, that would be the logical face route to take things. Though I can see Ziggler being the one to goad Kaval at some point, and he ends up cashing in his title shot on Ziggs.

Ziggler also crossed my mind, and he would work, too. The only thing is I don't want to see Kaval cash his shot in on Mr. Ziggles. Why not use it to try your luck at the World Heavyweight Title? I could see him and Kane having an Undertaker/Jeff Hardy-esque Ladder Match at TLC, for example. I would like to see Kaval vs. Ziggler, though -- but let Kaval earn his title shot the old-fashioned way.

[Wolfpack423]

So, Kaval and Chavo had a pretty solid match this past week on Smackdown, with Chavo picking up his first win in ages. I've got no problem with Chavo going over, as Kaval is still a rookie and it makes sense that he'd go through a "learning curve" when making it up to the big leagues. It seems like that's what they're running with, that he's exciting with a bright future, but he's not savvy enough to squeak out wins yet.

My question to you guys, is where do you think this booking leads to? Do we see Kaval keep on trucking and slowly climb the ranks? Or does Kaval get frustrated with his lack of success and turn heel?

It was a good matchup, though Kaval can wrestle circles around Chavo. I don't know why everyone is so high on him. He is one of the best Cruiserweight Champions in the history of that title though, definitely in the top ten. I personally think Jericho and Kidman were the two best. I don't just include the WWE reigns. Rey Mysterio's reigns were great as well. I know I am not allowed to like Rey, but he has always been a favorite of mine. Anyway, Kaval will pick up a big win eventually. In fact I see him somehow being the unified IC/US champ. On that note, they also need to make one more title as there would only be four.

[whiteyford]

I actually kinda wish they'd turn LayCool face and keep the three of them together. They do spice up his personality. Plus they could do angles where Kaval steps in to defend them against a big bully like Kane or Cody Rhodes after he calls them ugly or something.

I can actually see this as a reason to have LayCool more involved, they made reference during his debut that he'd told them not to come out for his match as he wanted to go it alone, made the losses will have him letting them come to ringside and get him a few wins.

[XL]

Ziggler also crossed my mind, and he would work, too. The only thing is I don't want to see Kaval cash his shot in on Mr. Ziggles. Why not use it to try your luck at the World Heavyweight Title? I could see him and Kane having an Undertaker/Jeff Hardy-esque Ladder Match at TLC, for example. I would like to see Kaval vs. Ziggler, though -- but let Kaval earn his title shot the old-fashioned way.
The only way that it makes sense for Kaval to cash in his title shot on the IC rather than World title is to make it a personal issue between him and Ziggler. Have Ziggler mock Kaval for not winning, have him goad with Kaval but never face him. Ziggler has to make Kaval want to "waste" his championship shot on him.

[Troelar]

Instead of turning Laycool face in order for them to join Kaval, how about Laycool turn Kaval heel? Have them support him in spite of his losses, and then slowly they turn him/he is turned (it doesn't have to be Laycool actively trying to turn him). They distract his opponents, he realise that their distractions are paying off for him. Thus we get the trio together again, and we get a heel Kaval ripe for a feud with Bryan.

[Next Big Thing]

Instead of turning Laycool face in order for them to join Kaval, how about Laycool turn Kaval heel? Have them support him in spite of his losses, and then slowly they turn him/he is turned (it doesn't have to be Laycool actively trying to turn him). They distract his opponents, he realise that their distractions are paying off for him. Thus we get the trio together again, and we get a heel Kaval ripe for a feud with Bryan.

You're idea isn't necessarily bad, it's just that I think Kaval's character could go so much further if he were a face. He could really be a replacement for Rey Mysterio in my opinion.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I agree with NBT here. I don't think Kaval will turn LayCool face, but I think they will remain this little niche relationship where face/heel lines don't matter unless they are in the ring -- eventually leading to Kaval calling one or both of them bitches, going out on his own, and being more over because of it.

[Destro 2.0]

I await Low-Ki vs Punk and I can't wait you could have Punk doing the usual SES gimmick then Have Low-Ki come out and say I don't do drugs but I don't think I am better then everyone else but I know that I am better then you. That would be an awesome feud plus they have worked together before so you are guaranteed a perfect match.

[Troelar]

I agree with NBT here. I don't think Kaval will turn LayCool face, but I think they will remain this little niche relationship where face/heel lines don't matter unless they are in the ring -- eventually leading to Kaval calling one or both of them bitches, going out on his own, and being more over because of it.

The idea wasn't that Kaval turn Laycool face, but that Laycool turn Kaval heel.

I do however still see the point in what NBT is saying. And I would have to agree :)

[Mr. Nerfect]

I await Low-Ki vs Punk and I can't wait you could have Punk doing the usual SES gimmick then Have Low-Ki come out and say I don't do drugs but I don't think I am better then everyone else but I know that I am better then you. That would be an awesome feud plus they have worked together before so you are guaranteed a perfect match.

This is my favourite post you have ever made. I'd love to see Punk try and recruit Kaval, as someone with the discipline to live the straight-edge lifestyle, only for Kaval to deny Punk, but still preach a good message.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The idea wasn't that Kaval turn Laycool face, but that Laycool turn Kaval heel.

I do however still see the point in what NBT is saying. And I would have to agree :)

Oh, I got that. But I think the opposite was mentioned in passing somewhere, too. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm too lazy to check.

[XL]

Instead of turning Laycool face in order for them to join Kaval, how about Laycool turn Kaval heel? Have them support him in spite of his losses, and then slowly they turn him/he is turned (it doesn't have to be Laycool actively trying to turn him). They distract his opponents, he realise that their distractions are paying off for him. Thus we get the trio together again, and we get a heel Kaval ripe for a feud with Bryan.
So, LayCool is The Emporer to Kaval's Anakin? I think I kinda like that.

[Volare]

Layla and the dark side, has a nice ring to it.