TheWrestlingBabe
02-23-2004, 06:14 PM
Before Spanky handed his notice in to WWE management in January 2004, he and Paul London were seriously impressing as a tag team on Velocity. Many had hoped WWE would notice this and give the pair some SmackDown airtime eventually, but before it could happen, Brian headed back to his indy roots, leaving London again without a partner for a period of time.
And he’d been stuck in dark matches and/or on Velocity yet again ever since, before the idea of pairing him with Billy Kidman for a few shows came about. There’s also speculation of a feud between the two somewhere down the road; then again, there is also speculation of London being a WWE roster cut casualty as well.
So where does London from here? WWE clearly wants to fit him into a tag role, at least for now; that part seems obvious. With that in mind, the London and Billy Kidman idea could be the best match--possibly the “illegitimate brothers-on-an-SSP-feud” angle thrown in for good measure?
Both are around the same height and weight, have fan appeal and need something to do on SmackDown. Most importantly, both are very talented wrestlers. With the right push, London and Kidman could be a big tag-team for SmackDown and a very deserving pair to run with the Tag Team straps, provided the roster cut speculation doesn’t come about beforehand.
However, keeping past history in mind, they would be on Velocity and it would be the same fate as the team of Spanky and London. I wouldn’t want to see the Kidman/London pair wasted on Velocity, although it does spice up the show and make it more watchable. I would much rather see the WWE improve their Cruiserweight Division and elevate stars, in addition to London, such as Ultimo Dragon, Kidman, Moore, et al.
The WWE fails to realize that most of those bad injuries happen to the bigger, more stiff guys and not the dexterous cruiserweights who flow like water, such as London. WCW produced some classic matches involving ladders and things like that and I think it's time the WWE does the same.
On the other side of the situation, Paul London works brilliantly as a singles star and can hold a match against anyone. I would suggest that anyone watch his ROH and Japan matches, as well as his championship performance in the 2003 ECWA Super 8 Tournament. If I was WWE, I'd also push Paul London as a singles competitor, as he has the ability to become a great Cruiserweight Champion. He is such an innovative wrestler that he could breathe more new life into the Cruiserweight Division, which was getting a bit stale with only Tajiri, Mysterio and Noble in the title picture before Chavo’s recent win at No Way Out.
If he is kept as a tag team wrestler and the Kidman angle doesn‘t work out after all, then I could also see him forming a partnership with Shannon Moore. Moore is a good Cruiserweight and as it seems he is going nowhere as a singles wrestler so far. A tag team combination with London could revive Moore’s own career as well.
Others London could be paired with that may click:
Call up Nova or Johnny Jeter from OVW. Jeter is a good high flyer and popular with the crowds.
If I had the choice, I would also bring in Paul London's former tag partner Adam Windsor, whom he trained with at Dory Funk Jr.'s training school. Windsor, a young talented Englishman, had more chemistry with London than anyone else in pro wrestling, pre-Spanky. However, although WWE has noticed Windsor and sent scouts to watch him on a few occasions, I doubt they would put him on SmackDown. They would rather have him spend a few months in the Valley, due to his young age.
Paul London himself is actually one of the most talented young guys in wrestling today; when he first signed, I thought he would change how people view a main event star. Unfortunately, WWE hasn't done much with London and see him as only a Cruiserweight.
Because with the right formula in place, he could be huge.
And he’d been stuck in dark matches and/or on Velocity yet again ever since, before the idea of pairing him with Billy Kidman for a few shows came about. There’s also speculation of a feud between the two somewhere down the road; then again, there is also speculation of London being a WWE roster cut casualty as well.
So where does London from here? WWE clearly wants to fit him into a tag role, at least for now; that part seems obvious. With that in mind, the London and Billy Kidman idea could be the best match--possibly the “illegitimate brothers-on-an-SSP-feud” angle thrown in for good measure?
Both are around the same height and weight, have fan appeal and need something to do on SmackDown. Most importantly, both are very talented wrestlers. With the right push, London and Kidman could be a big tag-team for SmackDown and a very deserving pair to run with the Tag Team straps, provided the roster cut speculation doesn’t come about beforehand.
However, keeping past history in mind, they would be on Velocity and it would be the same fate as the team of Spanky and London. I wouldn’t want to see the Kidman/London pair wasted on Velocity, although it does spice up the show and make it more watchable. I would much rather see the WWE improve their Cruiserweight Division and elevate stars, in addition to London, such as Ultimo Dragon, Kidman, Moore, et al.
The WWE fails to realize that most of those bad injuries happen to the bigger, more stiff guys and not the dexterous cruiserweights who flow like water, such as London. WCW produced some classic matches involving ladders and things like that and I think it's time the WWE does the same.
On the other side of the situation, Paul London works brilliantly as a singles star and can hold a match against anyone. I would suggest that anyone watch his ROH and Japan matches, as well as his championship performance in the 2003 ECWA Super 8 Tournament. If I was WWE, I'd also push Paul London as a singles competitor, as he has the ability to become a great Cruiserweight Champion. He is such an innovative wrestler that he could breathe more new life into the Cruiserweight Division, which was getting a bit stale with only Tajiri, Mysterio and Noble in the title picture before Chavo’s recent win at No Way Out.
If he is kept as a tag team wrestler and the Kidman angle doesn‘t work out after all, then I could also see him forming a partnership with Shannon Moore. Moore is a good Cruiserweight and as it seems he is going nowhere as a singles wrestler so far. A tag team combination with London could revive Moore’s own career as well.
Others London could be paired with that may click:
Call up Nova or Johnny Jeter from OVW. Jeter is a good high flyer and popular with the crowds.
If I had the choice, I would also bring in Paul London's former tag partner Adam Windsor, whom he trained with at Dory Funk Jr.'s training school. Windsor, a young talented Englishman, had more chemistry with London than anyone else in pro wrestling, pre-Spanky. However, although WWE has noticed Windsor and sent scouts to watch him on a few occasions, I doubt they would put him on SmackDown. They would rather have him spend a few months in the Valley, due to his young age.
Paul London himself is actually one of the most talented young guys in wrestling today; when he first signed, I thought he would change how people view a main event star. Unfortunately, WWE hasn't done much with London and see him as only a Cruiserweight.
Because with the right formula in place, he could be huge.