Who should get a push?

[Marc the Smark]

If you could pick 4 guys in the WWE (on any "brand") to get a push, who would you pick and what would you do with them? I'll list mine when I think of them.

[El Fangel]

Carlito, Benoit, Kevin Thorn, Kane.

[Marc the Smark]

Kennedy - World Title. I think this guy really has got what it takes to be a credible World Champion. He may not be a Chris Benoit in the ring, but he's spot on with everything else, and he'd be great as World Champ and future face of the company.

Matt Hardy - US Title. He's still pretty over, knows what he's doing in the ring and deserves at least a upper midcard push, in mind for a future main event push.

Chris Benoit - as a main event heel, or maybe even a longer title run.

Eugene - as a psycho heel on RAW.

[Jeritron]

Edge: Book him as whatever show he's on's top heel. Make him dominant. Hold the title for an actual impressive reign and win a few big matches for a fucking change before taking that title off him. Lengthy heel reign. Have him get some clean victories and be dirty a little, but actually good. Use him to put over a top face, and continue to book him as the top heel of his brand. Let him take a mic and run with it.

Johnny Nitro: Book him as a heel IC champion, really make him work and slowly evolve his gimmick from the papparazzi thing into a more straight forward persona based role. I'm really big on Melina as a valet/manager. I think shes the best woman manager since Chyna and she should be strongly featured in programming. She's interesting, can wrestle, and is a great character not to mention shes pretty easy on the eyes, at least from the chin down. Sorry Joey Mercury, but if they're not gonna make them a full time tag team and push the division, at least make Nitro and Melina work.


Kennedy: I'd start over with his booking. He's been so buried, so I say they go back to the basics. Not a re-imagining, but a fued with a top name. Repush him against someone who can get him back over. Then put the US strap on him for a lengthy reign. See where it goes from there. KEEP HIM HEEL. Then move into the main event, still as a heel, when and if the time is right and only then.

CMPunk: I realize he doesn't have much of a future as a top guy. He won't be a main eventer unless he defies the system by getting so over they can't deny him. So what must be done is to let him succeed in the midcard. He's doing fine now, but with no TV title in ECW, or chance of World title aspirations he needs to be moved off that sinking ship. He needs exposure on SD or preferably Raw. Move him to Raw and fued him for the IC title with heel Johnny Nitro. Allow him to get himself on the map. Then make him a heel. Have him wear the suit and cut promos about how he's better than everyone. Make him a cocky, arrogant heel who is pretty good but does use dirty tactics. I'd like to see him do segments taped at other locations, and do negative ad campaigns against opponents. Maybe even give him a sidekick who worships the ground he works on, like a Ralpus type thing. Solidly book him as so, and see where he goes from there. If ECW does introduce a TV have him win that and also push him on Raw as IC champion. Make him the first ever Intercontinental Television Champion. Have him play this up and do segments about how he's the first champion to be seen on televisions in all 7 continents. Have him adress his fans in antarctica and how he warms them happy feelings, and have him say some pretty racist shit. Make him a comedic heel.




And most importantly for all of these guys, let them cut promos that aren't completely scripted.


Honorable Mention:Kenny Dykstra: Not a huge push, I'd just like to see him given an actual identity and persona/gimmick to get him over, that isn't a joke. And I'd like to see him move up to the IC division.

[El Fangel]

Kennedy - World Title. I think this guy really has got what it takes to be a credible World Champion. He may not be a Chris Benoit in the ring, but he's spot on with everything else, and he'd be great as World Champ and future face of the company.

Matt Hardy - US Title. He's still pretty over, knows what he's doing in the ring and deserves at least a upper midcard push, in mind for a future main event push.

Chris Benoit - as a main event heel, or maybe even a longer title run.

Eugene - as a psycho heel on RAW.

I have no clue why Kennedy isn't World Champion, they push him like he should be

Hardy Has paid more then his dues, an IC, or US, or possibly a TV title should it come along be fitting.

Benoit - Yes. Heel, NO. It would not work, he is too well liked by the fans.

Eugene - That would be awesome, but loose the goofy psycho gimmick.

[HeartBreakMan2k]

Matt Hardy
Gregory Helms (the fact that I'm from Carolina has nothing to do with the above two)
Carlito
Shelton (bring Heymen back in as hit mouth piece)

[Jeritron]

I have no clue why Kennedy isn't World Champion, they push him like he should be


Haha, 3 or 4 clean losses to Batista. 2 or 3 clean losses to Lashley. And failing to put Lashley through a table with the help of Randy Orton in a handciap match. Booked like a champion.

Seriously though, thats the problem. Why should he be a world champion? So he can end up like Randy Orton or anyone who was made a champion too soon? I don't see it. He's got potential, but potential doesn't mean world title status. Piper and Dibiase were never world champions.
I never see the hangup on, "this guys awesome make him champ, he's the next ____"
Whats the hurry? Make this guy a US champion first. See how he runs with that strap for a few months before you give him the big one. Let him get himself over more on the mic and against credible opponents. Wait a while before putting him over as a champion, and when you finally do it make sure you keep him heel, or in other peoples cases keep them face. Don't change a good thing yet. And don't bury him immediately when he does win it. Even The Rock and HHH were a little shaky in their first weeks and even months as World Champs.

Everyone always is so fast to say put the strap on a young star that shows potential and excites fans, but look at Cena and Orton. They were supposed to be the next Austin and Rock in the demented minds of the IWC and now everyone hates them.

I say, chill out and book these guys strong in the upper midcard and when they're ready move them there and make it work. Not too much (Cena) not too little (Orton). Not too soon (Orton), and not too late (Booker)

Booking is so much more important than potential, and patience truly is a virtue. I hate to bring up comparisons but in any case, putting the title on a wrestler isn't always the answer to making them a star. At least not immediately. Imagine if they put the strap on Austin 6 months after his KOTR promo. Those 2 years of patience and development paid off more than anything in the history of the business.

[HeartBreakMan2k]

Kennedy is getting a fine push, he's been in the main event several times, drop him back and have him head up midcard/upper midcard. Give him the US strap, some credible wins and defenses, then in a year or two put him back in the main event. Not yet though.

[Jeritron]

For the record too, Benoit as a heel would work. So the fans love him. So what? If you can turn Austin heel in 2001 and Jericho a heel at the end of that year with the face pops he was getting, than you can say Benoit can't be turned heel? What about Hogan at Bash at the Beach? granted that was a swirve to end all swirves. How about Bret Hart in 1997? The fans shared the same sentiments for him prior to that as they do for Benoit, only stronger.
Again, it all comes down to booking. With the proper booking, you can make anything work. Well, almost anything.

All it takes is a heel mouthpeice, or some REALLY dirty heel antics. Or theres always the infamous shoot on the fans. The fans would still respect and like him the same, he'd just play the role and WWE fans are quite good at checking their preferences at the door and following the guidlines of face/heel, at least when they're in attendance.

[El Fangel]

I don't know man, I just see that as the way Edge is, too popular and liked by the fans to be a good heel.

[Jeritron]

Not quite. Edge is clearly a good heel. Because he can turn any acceptance into instant boos.

When I think of heels who were too popular to be faces I think of very few. If Austin and Bret Hart, and Hulk Hogan can all pull of heel turns and do them well then so can Benoit for sure.
It's not rocket science, its called one promo. Or one alignment with a true heel. It doesn't take much to sway the fans reactions. Their opinions may stand, but when they're in that seat they'll go with it. Thats why HHH gets boos.
If Benoit cuts a promo about how he works hard, sweats, bleads and tears for the crowd night in night out and gets no appreciation. How he's a legend and shit, and does one run in against precious Bats or Cena, that he won't get booed? Well we'd think it was great, but he'd be a heel. He'd get booed to high heaven by those fans.

With the proper booking you could have Jesus Christ himself return and walk out into that ring, and turn a pop into heat. And then you could have Satan himself come out to the pop of the night and beat up Jesus in the heart of the bible belt, and as long as you booked it right the fans in attendance would cheer.

[Jeritron]

I don't know man, I just see that as the way Edge is, too popular and liked by the fans to be a good heel.


That's what everyone who was in their right mind told Erich Bischoff before Bash at the Beach in 1996.

[Skippord]

Kevin Thorne - ECW title dominant heel
Elijah Burke - Move him to Raw and have him win the IC title and hold it for a bit
Paul London - Push him up to US title status
Edge - Dominant Smackdown World Champion

[AdrianM]

i think Carlito and Orton are te most promising guys "who can draw"
Benoit deserves another push

And a roughie would be Shelton Benjamin or Gregory Helms

[M-A-G]

Are we talking a push to main event status or a "Test push" where I make a guy look good for a while and then ultimately just forget about the whole thing?

[Rammsteinmad]

Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas, Carlito and Chris Benoit.

I think at the moment Ken Kennedy is nice and slowly making his way to main event status. Not rushing him straight into a title run, but not dragging it out too long. I see him being World champ either end of 2007 or next year.

[Jura]

I don't want to see someone get a push but then nothing becomes of it. My picks would be Kennedy, Orton, Benoit and Elijah Burke.

[Londoner]

RVD- Sick of seeing him out of the running for the ECW title, one last title run would be fitting.

Edge- I wouldn't mind a longish title reign from Edge, I feel it's what he really needs to firmly establish himself, yes he's been a top heel for a while now, but I still feel that he needs a longer title run for me to take him more seriously. he just doesn't look like a proper threat to Cena atm and I think that's the problem.

Carlito- I don't buy this 'lack of passion' crap they're throwing on him as he was showing a lot lof passion in the weeks leading up to this storyline, but atleast he's getting some sort of push, however I would have him defeat Umaga for the IC title while Flair is still managing him.

Shelton: Have him and Charlie Haas win the tag titles from Cena/HBK, then later have Shelton beat Carlito for the IC title.

[The One]

Benoit, Orton, Punk, RVD.

[Impact!]

Kevin Thorn
Rob Van Dam
CM Punk
Ken Kennedy

[hhhtab3:16]

Edge. Give him the WWE strap back and let hiim keep it for awhile. Let him get some clean wins and keep him the top heel on RAW.

Kennedy. Give him the US strap for a long time. Push him against all the top names on SD, althought that list is a short one, build him up for a World title reign beginning at SS or Cyber Sunday.

Johnny Nitro is one of my favorites on RAW. Let him be the top IC person for awhile and fued with someone else but the Hardy's, that is getting old. Shelton Benjamin perhaps, Carlito?

Umaga needs to be in a title hunt, maybe all of them. They built him up as unstoppable then lwt him loose to Cena at NYR. Then kinna slowed down on him. Why??

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'm going to take the guys on the undercard with the most difficult getting pushed to main event levels.

Val Venis - Yeah, so what, I'm a mark of his. If Hardcore Holly is deserving of a main event push, Val Venis is. The guy is a better worker, better on the mic, more consistent and he's not a dick. Give him a few fluke wins, then have him start wearing suits around the place. Fuck, just him act really big because he has his own WWE.com feature. If/when they decide to cancel it, have him go on a rampage. A solid run in the IC Division is definitely deserving of Mr. Venis.

Matt Hardy - The WWE dropped the ball with Matthew badly in 2005. He's quite the brilliant worker really, and if the WWE got behind him, he could go places. A return to Mattitude would be some sweet shit.

Eugene Dinsmore/Rob Conway - I think they may be going this route. Vince McMahon mentioned him so many times on SmackDown!, and how his psyche is bound to be altered by his new bald state. It doesn't really make sense, but I see a personality make-over for young Eugene. I'd love to see Rob Conway return as his tag team partner. Together those two could really kick ass.

Elijah Burke - He's my favourite of the New Breed, followed by Kevin Thorn, Matt Striker and Marcus Cor Von, in that order. I think all the guys have bright futures, but Burke is the guy I would push sooner. Move him to RAW, stick him with Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas in kind of a "World's Greatest" stable. That would kick ass.

[Kane Knight]

Haha, 3 or 4 clean losses to Batista. 2 or 3 clean losses to Lashley. And failing to put Lashley through a table with the help of Randy Orton in a handciap match. Booked like a champion.

I know it's sarcasm, but he is being booked like a champ. Unfortunately, that champ is Rey Mysterio. ;)

[Road Warrior]

Edge: Book him as whatever show he's on's top heel. Make him dominant. Hold the title for an actual impressive reign and win a few big matches for a fucking change before taking that title off him. Lengthy heel reign. Have him get some clean victories and be dirty a little, but actually good. Use him to put over a top face, and continue to book him as the top heel of his brand. Let him take a mic and run with it.

Johnny Nitro: Book him as a heel IC champion, really make him work and slowly evolve his gimmick from the papparazzi thing into a more straight forward persona based role. I'm really big on Melina as a valet/manager. I think shes the best woman manager since Chyna and she should be strongly featured in programming. She's interesting, can wrestle, and is a great character not to mention shes pretty easy on the eyes, at least from the chin down. Sorry Joey Mercury, but if they're not gonna make them a full time tag team and push the division, at least make Nitro and Melina work.


Kennedy: I'd start over with his booking. He's been so buried, so I say they go back to the basics. Not a re-imagining, but a fued with a top name. Repush him against someone who can get him back over. Then put the US strap on him for a lengthy reign. See where it goes from there. KEEP HIM HEEL. Then move into the main event, still as a heel, when and if the time is right and only then.

CMPunk: I realize he doesn't have much of a future as a top guy. He won't be a main eventer unless he defies the system by getting so over they can't deny him. So what must be done is to let him succeed in the midcard. He's doing fine now, but with no TV title in ECW, or chance of World title aspirations he needs to be moved off that sinking ship. He needs exposure on SD or preferably Raw. Move him to Raw and fued him for the IC title with heel Johnny Nitro. Allow him to get himself on the map. Then make him a heel. Have him wear the suit and cut promos about how he's better than everyone. Make him a cocky, arrogant heel who is pretty good but does use dirty tactics. I'd like to see him do segments taped at other locations, and do negative ad campaigns against opponents. Maybe even give him a sidekick who worships the ground he works on, like a Ralpus type thing. Solidly book him as so, and see where he goes from there. If ECW does introduce a TV have him win that and also push him on Raw as IC champion. Make him the first ever Intercontinental Television Champion. Have him play this up and do segments about how he's the first champion to be seen on televisions in all 7 continents. Have him adress his fans in antarctica and how he warms them happy feelings, and have him say some pretty racist shit. Make him a comedic heel.




And most importantly for all of these guys, let them cut promos that aren't completely scripted.


Honorable Mention:Kenny Dykstra: Not a huge push, I'd just like to see him given an actual identity and persona/gimmick to get him over, that isn't a joke. And I'd like to see him move up to the IC division.I like the idea for Punk. I was thinking that maybe you could also use Matt Striker as Punk's mouthpiece. Espically playing off of the "Straight edge" thing.

[Jeritron]

Why would you make him his mouthpeice, especially when Punk doesn't need one?
A sidekick who kisses his ass is more fitting. I don't know who it'd be though, either a non wrestler or a low card wrestler.
It'd be funny if they had someone like Todd Grishiam quit his job to become a follower of CM Punk.

[McDoogle]

Cena should get a proper push, off the fucking roof of a 20 story building.

[Dorkchop]

Benoit
Eugene
Shelton
Helms

I don't know if Helms can cut it in the upper mid card, but at least let him try.

[CYCLOPTERSAURUS]

Benoit
Shelton
Punk
Helms

[Marc the Smark]

Val Venis has said time and time again that he doesn't like being in the spotlight and that he's happy with his place on Heat.

So why push the guy? Only for them to crap all over him again? I remember the EXACT moment he blew it with the WWE. They were giving him a nudge to near main-event status right after they repacked him to be more intense.

He went freaking BALLISTIC on Vince in a promo and Vince looked like he broke Kayfabe and was actually shocked. That night on Raw, Val wrestled Austin, and was beat. And rode a steady slide down to the bottom, even lower than when he started.

I don't think they'll ever do right by Sean Morley. I hope that they release him, but I know they won't. Val Venis is the type of guy who will REALLY make the WWE regret it if they let him go. He's got it all, the size, speed, skill, look, charisma, he's got it all. TNA gets a hand on him, he'll make more out of his push than anyone released to them before.

[Rammsteinmad]

Reading that makes me wanna see Val get signed to TNA now.

[Marc the Smark]

He has tremendous amounts of charisma and his work ethic is solid. In fact, I'd say he's one of (if not the) most misused talent in history of the WWE. He could easily have a good feud with guys like Carlito, Edgo, or anyone else on the roster, and why he's a jobber is beyond me.

[Afterlife]

I heard that Val's one wish was for a World Title heel run. And I heard that quite some time ago. Could've been bad info, but it makes more sense. After all, if the guy doesn't like the spotlight, why be on a televised program?

[Afterlife]

Oh, and by the way....

S2H is overdue for a good push. I was under the impression he was going to have the first full-on feud with Evil Helms, but then they turned it into Gregory Lesnar, Super Cruiserweight and just had him destroy all the cruisers, week by week. I'd say it's about time Scotty either got a serious new tag partner, or got a cruiserweight/US title run. The man came back from fucking cancer, dammit. A little appreciation, if we could.

[KingofOldSchool]

That's what everyone who was in their right mind told Erich Bischoff before Bash at the Beach in 1996.

If you're referring to Hogan, then you must have forgotten that fans HATED Hogan from the second he debuted in the company.