Do you think Vladimir Kozlov will ever be WWE/World Heavyweight Champion one day?

[The Naitch]

http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/o/olegprudius/08.jpg

If so, how do you think it will go down? And how would YOU book your ideal Koslov run at the title? Heel turn on Santino? Or will he continue the comedy schtick?

One of my Top 5 favorite wrestlers right now. My favorite wrestler to play on SD! vs. RAW because of his big boot. If you've played the game, you know what I'm talking about. :cool: I made him cash his money in the bank, defeating Randy Orton. But he lost it in the championship scramble (mind you, I simulated the match. Bad mistake) :nono:

[Graveler]

No

[The Naitch]

:(

[Graveler]

I have nothing against Kozlov. I love this tag team of him and Santino. If you asked me when he premiered, I probably would've said yes. But as things are now, I see him staying a comedy wrestler.

[The Naitch]

There's always the chance for it to turn around and go the other way. Hell, Jeff Hardy even became WWE/WH Champion. Anything is possible in WWE. From what I gather, Koslov is getting good reactions, so I see no reason for him not to have a run with a title (albeit, a short run, transitional champ_style)

In this day of age, anybody has the chance to become WWE/WH Champion (ie. Swagger, Sheamus, Miz, Hardy) because the belt is just a prop nowadays.

[Graveler]

There's always the chance for it to turn around and go the other way. Hell, Jeff Hardy even became WWE/WH Champion. Anything is possible in WWE. From what I gather, Koslov is getting good reactions, so I see no reason for him not to have a run with a title (albeit, a short run, transitional champ_style)

I guess you're right. I mean, anything can happen. I never thought I'd see the Miz as WWE champion, but look where we are. If they did ever decide to give him a shot, I imagine that they would have him turn on Santino and revert him back to what he was like when he began

[Schlomey]

Vladamire could easily turn things around and be champion. However, isn't he already in his 30s? Anywho, the positives to come out of this comedy run is that we now have proof that Kozlov can talk and can actually be quite charming...we already knew he could be an angry monster foreign type who dresses in uniforms...but now that we have seen the goodie and the baddie in him I really think it opens him up for more down the road.

[Aguakate]

Nope

[glanville6]

now? no. when he loved double double e? yes

[Schlomey]

WHEN he loved?

[ooTin]

no way

[Juan]

No

[Juan]

No

[Xero]

For everyone saying no, I have but one shred of evidence which proves otherwise.

http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/pictures/d/dalipsingh/17.jpg

[Juan]

What are the chances of Kozlov being booked like khali was tho?

They tried it when he first showed up on Smackdown, but it failed.

[Xero]

If WWE wants to break into the Russian market, it will happen.

[Juan]

Yeah sure, but Yoshi Tatsu could be champion if that's what they wanted. The odds of it happening tho are slim to none.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Absolutely not.

And Khali is a horrible example since his reign happened before he became a happy-go-lucky baby face.</font>

[Xero]

Kozlov has the size. That's all Vince needed to see in Khali.

Previous pushes don't matter to WWE. You can be a jobber for years then, out of no where, be the flavor of the month.

I could absolutely see Kozlov being champion if WWE wanted it on him and it was a down month. Not a viable long-term champion by any means, but a one month run? Absolutely.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

If he was going to be champion it would have happened in that triple threat match at Survivor Series.

Kozlov and Triple H stunk the joint up for what seemed like forever and then Vickie came out to save the day and gave us the returning Rated R Sooouuperstar Edge for the title victory.

[Aguakate]

Yeah sure, but Yoshi Tatsu could be champion if that's what they wanted. The odds of it happening tho are slim to none.

I know of all the "Anything can happen in the WWE" stuff...but THIS...Kozlov becoming a WWE/World Heavyweight Champion? I'm pretty comfortable saying it'll never happen.

Same goes for Tatsu, by the way.

[Juan]

Kozlov has the size. That's all Vince needed to see in Khali.

Previous pushes don't matter to WWE. You can be a jobber for years then, out of no where, be the flavor of the month.

I could absolutely see Kozlov being champion if WWE wanted it on him and it was a down month. Not a viable long-term champion by any means, but a one month run? Absolutely.

Again, yes it's POSSIBLE, but what would you say the odds of it EVER happening are?

[Xero]

Better than Otunga.

[Juan]

I will bet you money that Otunga wins a singles title before kozlov.

[Aguakate]

Kozlov has the size. That's all Vince needed to see in Khali.

Previous pushes don't matter to WWE. You can be a jobber for years then, out of no where, be the flavor of the month.

I could absolutely see Kozlov being champion if WWE wanted it on him and it was a down month. Not a viable long-term champion by any means, but a one month run? Absolutely.

ANYONE can be Champion if WWE wants the belt on him. Chavo Guerrero could be Champion if the WWE wanted him to be.

But Kozlov has size, decent wrestling ability...yet no charisma...he doesn't "connect" with the fans. Any little connection he has with fans now, is only because of Santino. Khali doesn't have charisma either, but he's 7'4 or something.

Being the Champion, you are the face (or one of the faces) of WWE. When there are press conferences for big events, you're there. You make tv apperances, you deal with the media, etc. Kozlov doesn't work as Champion.

[Jeritron]

Otunga has a way better chance of being champion than Kozlov. Even if he's also horrible, he is way more in the company model.

[Schlomey]

Mike Mizanin from the Real World is champion of WWE. God love him he worked his ass off to get there....but did anyone ever expect this when he was on Smackdown or ECW? NOPE.

[Aguakate]

Mike Mizanin from the Real World is champion of WWE. God love him he worked his ass off to get there....but did anyone ever expect this when he was on Smackdown or ECW? NOPE.

Yeah, but he has charisma...he has "it".

[Schlomey]

Well he was green as green can be and didn't have a lick of proper mic skills at the time on Smackdown. He jobbed to Taker and I remember expecting him to be shitcanned the next day. SOME might say he had IT but I truly think that thru work and non stop practice he CREATED his IT.






cuz honestly I remember him sucking.

[SOCCER LEGS]

he was awful and extremely boring before they teamed him up with santino. now he's awesome and hilarious.

he'll never be a world champ but he could stay relevant for a long time.


SHEAMUS HATES YOU BECAUSE YOU BEAT HIM. BIGGEST UPSET IN DOUBLE DOUBLE E HISTORY.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Kozlov would have been great had he been in the WWF in the 1980s, but the era of the Russian bad guy is over. Now he is a face but teamed with the goofy Santino. I can only see him saving face by turning on Santino after they lose the tag team titles.

Then he might have a shot at being a solid midcard heel. He could then be a serious contender to the United States championship. Maybe the Russia as a bad guy could have a small window of success again since we aren't as strong as allies as we were in the 1990s. Also give him a different theme song and somebody with a little bit more Russian flare like something involving the Tetris theme song.

[Aguakate]

Well he was green as green can be and didn't have a lick of proper mic skills at the time on Smackdown. He jobbed to Taker and I remember expecting him to be shitcanned the next day. SOME might say he had IT but I truly think that thru work and non stop practice he CREATED his IT.






cuz honestly I remember him sucking.


You never saw him in them "Real World/Road Rules" Challenges where he already had "The Miz" character developed and down to a "T", huh?

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

I don't because I stopped watching MTV fully-time when they cancelled Remote Control for some new show they were calling the Real World.

I only watched MTV for Beavis and Butt-head, Daria and Celebrity Deathmatch.

[Schlomey]

I like playing as Kozlov on SD vs RAW 2010.



and also to deep a little deeper in regards to Kozlov being world champion some day. I liked him a lot at first. I really thought he was going to get over. I was pretty amped up for Kozlov vs HHH but the match was a trainwreck. I think the most exciting part of that match was a punch exchange after a 21 minute headlock. Perhaps if THAT ONE MATCH had been better it would have been easier for the big man.

More things:

1. He got traded to ECW which I thought was a GREAT move. His debut was AWESOME. he showed up in a Russian military uniform and threatened the world. However, that shit was dropped and within 2 weeks he was nothing more than a lackey for William Regal. Another chance he had and THEY dropped the ball....He should have ridden that new gimmick and become ECW champion.

2. He has standard WWE big man syndrome. He shows up and gets a monster push. Loses to a big star and then all of a sudden becomes jobber to the stars..and within months jobber to.......everyone else. The formula is tried and true and a lot of the WWE fans realized the formula was taking effect and just gave up.

3. I HATED Koz in the comedy gimmick at first as I feel that Santino's schtick has ran its course. However, the last few weeks/month they have been given more to do than just schmooze with a guest host and in return are slightly more appealing and somewhat charming on screen characters. Kovlov can pull off sympathetic babyface very well evidentally.

4. Monster heels rarely become the champ. IF they ever give him another go they need to work it totally different. They need to let his size be known but don't dumb him down to nothing more than a vicious monster. He needs to talk. He needs to be part of a group, even. He has the potential to be a big star but to get him there he very well might need a few high up friends and a mouth piece.

[Aguakate]

Well...when he was in The Real World and on the "Real World vs Road Rules" Challenges, he already had people call him "The Miz" and would act as he does now.

Just like The Rock. He didn't just "work on" being The Rock...you've got to have it.

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VJqzVtWEQRM?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VJqzVtWEQRM?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DRx57e54PGE?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DRx57e54PGE?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[Schlomey]

You never saw him in them "Real World/Road Rules" Challenges where he already had "The Miz" character developed and down to a "T", huh?


yes i have seen the real world and ALL of the challenges. Being The Miz on there and being the Miz approved on WWE tv being a rookie is totally different. Watch the interview from Fallon...he even talks about his old days.

[Rammsteinmad]

I don't see it happening. He's not THAT good in the ring, and he is getting on in age (nearly 40 I believe). His was crap until the comedy stuff with Santino, which has really helped him in a huge way, but I just don't see him being a World Champion.

However, as others have said, anything can happen.

[Swish]

No because he's shit... Like this thread

[RiX1024]

How about.....no. I don't see Kozlov as world champion material...has the look but not 'it'.

[Fignuts]

No. And comparing him to Khali is fucking stupid.

Doesn't matter if Khali was shittier in the ring.(and the gap ain't very wide, folks) He was a main eventer, and a champion because of his sheer size, and presence.

[The Jayman]

anything can happen in the World Wrestling Federation

[MoFo]

Na, once you go from monster heel - comedy jobber theres no coming back. Heidenreich, Snitsky, Khali etc.

[The Naitch]

If WWE wants to break into the Russian market, it will happen.

Bringing the Russian Leg Sweep back to the masses

[XCaliber]

Not in the very near future but I wouldn't count him though in fact I could envision this happening around the same time the Winter Olympics are held next though seeomg as their being held in Russia.

[Joesgonnakillyou]

I'm only here because I couldn't believe a thread about Kozlov went to 2 pages...

[Swiss Ultimate]

How about Joe's weight-gain, huh?

[Schlomey]

read somewhere recently that nobody in WWE even wants Joe.

[Joesgonnakillyou]

Joe's in TNA, you can't blame him for a bit of comfort eating. One day with Russo and we'd all go on a krispy kreme binge.

[CSL]

Na, once you go from monster heel - comedy jobber theres no coming back. Heidenreich, Snitsky, Khali etc.

This basically. If they had faith in him being 'the guy', they'd have maintained his push when they tried it first time. Of course things can change but I doubt they go back to him with the guys that are clearly ahead of him now. In fact I'd be surprised if he was still employed in 18-24 months.

[Jeritron]

No. And comparing him to Khali is fucking stupid.

Doesn't matter if Khali was shittier in the ring.(and the gap ain't very wide, folks) He was a main eventer, and a champion because of his sheer size, and presence.

Yea seriously. Kozlov is only slightly bigger than HHH and Cena. It's not like he's a sideshow attraction on his own.
Khali and Yokozuna are different stories.

[XL]

There's always the chance for it to turn around and go the other way. Hell, Jeff Hardy even became WWE/WH Champion. Anything is possible in WWE. From what I gather, Koslov is getting good reactions, so I see no reason for him not to have a run with a title (albeit, a short run, transitional champ_style)

In this day of age, anybody has the chance to become WWE/WH Champion (ie. Swagger, Sheamus, Miz, Hardy) because the belt is just a prop nowadays.
Oh Naitch you poor, poor mark. The belt has always been a prop and always will be because it is a pre-determined "sport". Anyone that thinks otherwise is no better than the kids that think Cena is the greatest wrestler ever.

As for Koslov, no I don't think he will ever be a World Champ. Nor should he be.

You can use the "Well Jeff/Miz/Khali/Sheamus/etc managed it" angle or you like but it means jack (just like the "If Koko is in the HoF, anybody can be" argument). Hardy was one of, if not the most over guy in the company at the time. Sheamus and Miz are worlds better than Koslov on the mic, in the ring and in their past accomplishments/achievements. Kahli is a spectacle, you could put the belt on him any day of the week and people would buy it cos he's a fucking giant.

Koslov might be imposing but he lacks ANY "x factor". The guy comes across devoid of any personality. He is a fantastic "straight man" to Santino's comedic foil and long may he stay that was - it's the only time he's been interesting.

Honestly, I'd rather see Santino "get serious" and win the title.

[The Naitch]

What I meant is that the title doesn't mean as much as it did, let's say in 2000. Winning the belt back then actually meant something. It gets passed around like HBPunk's cornhole at SlickTrickDemon's sausage party. By prop I meant they just give it to a guy to help them get over ie. Jack Swagger (especially true ever since there was 2 belts, mainly in the past 5 years or so)

When they crown a new Undisputed Champ, it will mean something again

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

If they have an undisputed championship they will do what they usually do. The champion will stick to one show and then the other brand will be essentially without a legit main event for their ppvs.

They aren't going to have a superstar do a show on Monday and then do another tv show on Tuesday every single week. One brand (cough) smackdown (cough) will suffer.

[Nightwing]

I can see it. Theyve done alot worse.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Things going for Vladimir Kozlov:

* His nationality

* His legitimate background

* His size

* He is getting over with the crowd as a face

* He appeared in The Wire

Things going against Kozlov:

* He's not the best worker in the ring

* His mic skills aren't exactly top-notch

* There are so many more captivating choices

Honestly, I think it comes down to timing. If everyone in the WWE worth a damn is injured and they need somebody, Koz might get a shot. Other than that, I can't see it unless his popularity really swells up.

[The Naitch]

Yeah, I'm not saying that he's gonna be that "Franchise Champion" where he's all over the media doing interviews and such, if he's a heel, I see him more like a Yokozuna-esque Champion. Something short term

As a comedic face, I doubt they'd have him as Champion, nobody would take it seriously