What's next for Elijah Burke?

[Anybody Thrilla]

I guess I just don't get it. One moment, Vince McMahon himself was on television calling him the new face of ECW. After 45,000 clean loses to Charles Michael Punk, he seems to be a midcarder at best. It's an odd dynamic because it really seems like they WANT to use him...but perhaps they're not sure how?

If you were booking, what would you do with Elijah Burke? Anything?

I think if they want to run with his demeanor from this past ECW show, they should have Kane go over Chavo at Backlash and have him start a feud with Burke after that. Burke can talk about how he's sick of being overlooked and he's been in line for the ECW title for a while now, yadda yadda. I dunno, something along those lines.

What do you think about The Silver Tongued Pugilist's future?

[Mooияakeя™]

I would love to see more of him. I really do like the guy, but been as I'm so confused and just not interested with ECW, I really don't know.

Move him to SD and get him with the Cruiserweight belt. Get that nice and active again. Pfft, I'm wishing ona fucking star here....

[Destor]

Yeah, he's probably the most underused guy on the roster right now. No idea how he isn't getting TV time right now. But I imagine that he'll be drafted to RAW. RAW likes to keep all the guys who can work the stick on their program so it's pretty likely. My predictions for the next year will be pretty simple:he'll job on RAW until they release him.

:(

[Anybody Thrilla]

That really wouldn't be a terrible idea. He could believeably dominate the Cruiserweight division and make the title mean something whilst making himself look good. It still seems limiting, though. I'd rather see him with a higher tier title. How big is he, anyway?

[Anybody Thrilla]

Yeah, he's probably the most underused guy on the roster right now. No idea how he isn't getting TV time right now. But I imagine that he'll be drafted to RAW. RAW likes to keep all the guys who can work the stick on their program so it's pretty likely. My predictions for the next year will be pretty simple:he'll job on RAW until they release him.

:(

This would sadden me to no end.

Do you think the departure of Marcus Cor Von had anything to do with Burke's push halting? Maybe they planned on pushing them together, so to speak?

[Destor]

It looked like the plan, but they have had PLENTY of time to come up with someting else and havent. So dunno...

[Mooияakeя™]

Yup, I guess he's one of those talents that will go to waste. He'll end up being realeased and not seen by the most of us when he's in TNA.

I mean, really, where else is there to go? I really think TNA would use snap him up.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I would just hate to see him rehashing a Koko B. Ware gimmick or something else akin to TNA. The guy is pure entertainment.

[Mooияakeя™]

I agree he is entertaining. But then, that's where the WWE fuck up. Based on this, he will be wished well in future endeavours soon.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just hoping you are.

[Anybody Thrilla]

So for now, we'll just go ahead with my 'guy to dethrone Kane' theory.

Or maybe a face turn?

[Destor]

I wont argue

[Mooияakeя™]

He works so well as a heel. Maybe even put him with Benjamin as the "Gold Standard Express" or something. (Hey it worded for Rated RKO mashing together).

I reckon they'd be awesome to watch. In the ring together, on the mic (more Elijah) and taking bumps if needed (more Shelts). I for one would love to see this. SD! has practically a hashed together Tag Team division anyway.

[Volchok]

Burke is the man. I would love to see him in a fued with Jericho for the IC title. Promos and matches would be amazing.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Ohhhh, Burke/Jericho would be mighty tasty, but I think at the moment Jericho's on a level completely above Burke. Couldn't really buy Burke beating him at the moment, but perhaps after some time.

[The Optimist]

Much like Shelton Benjamin, only a little bit less so, he's underused. He'll probably be underused in the ECW midcard for several more months until someone gets a boner for him again and then maybe he'll get a title shot. I don't think he'll see any real success until 2009 at best.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I still mark for the Elijah Express every time, though I must say I loved the ending to his match with Nunzio on Tuesday.

[Johnny Vegas]

Yea, i definitely would like to see more of him in either cruiserweight fueds or IC fueds. Something like him and Kennedy, maybe some good matches w/ HBK. HBK may go over at first, but it'll give Burke that 'respect' factor, thus elevating him.

[Xerzes]

Next for Elijah Burke: absolutely nothing.

[RP]

I'd pull Ron Simmons from the " DAMN " gimick and have him get mad at the white man. Have him go around recruiting the black wrestlers and start the Nation of Domination again. Have Crymetime, Benjamin, Burke, Mark Henry, John Cena. And maybe put Burke in the " Rock roll " the guy who becomes real big and eventually too big for the NoD.

And have alot of people be outraged.

[Gertner]

burke definitley needs to head up his own stable again

[Mr. Nerfect]

He won't get released. He's a solid talent that can talk up a storm. He'll be with the WWE for a good while doing nothing and getting hurt busting his ass for a company that doesn't care long before he finds himself washed up in TNA, that much I am sure of.

Burke has a very bright future. I definitely see him getting moved in the draft, as ECW and Burke are no longer the hand and glove they once were. RAW seems like the best place for Burke, at the moment, and I can actually see Burke being the guy to dethrone Chris Jericho for the IC Title. A good run with a mid-card title might put Burke's relevance into perspective. Burke and Jericho could have a very entertaining feud. Burke is a damn solid hand in the ring, and he could spar with Jericho on the mic. It'd be entertaining shit.

Apparently Elijah Burke is even better at playing a face character than a heel character, so when he does turn, it could be really fun stuff.

[Hanso Amore]

Burke should feud with Hardy for the US title after MVP drops it to move on up to the Main Event.

Or Burke/Benjamin feud with Jesse and Festus over the straps they win from Miz/Morrison to start a Miz Morrison Feud.

Burke can be the bel ringer to outsmart Jesse and Festus

[Londoner]

The fact that the writers keep getting lost and unsure with what to do with guys like elijah burke, really reveals the sad state wrestling is still in today.

I can see him jobbing to everyone on raw after the draft. Though i would move him to smackdown and feud for the us title mainly.

[NoRoolz]

I can see a bright future for him.

I think it's more the fact that I rate him as the best youngster in the WWE. But to mis-use a talent like his would be plain silly.

But, that's exactly what may end up happening with the 7 year old school-girl booking abilities of the WWE writers.

I can see him doing well in TNA if not much happens over the next 2 years for him/he's wished well in his future endeavours.

[Hanso Amore]

Burke would be great in TNA, but until Angle, Booker, Nash, VKM, Steiner, 3D, and the rest of the Old Guys retire, there really inst room for him in TNA (or anyone else for that matter). They have plenty of young studs already, so Burke needs to stay in the WWE.

[Hanso Amore]

Burke is still young, and he has only been in the WWE 2 years or so. A lot of guys don't start getting good pushes until a few years, with exception of the Throat Crammers and Early Load Blowers. Look at Edge, he won his first world title around 8 years, maybe a bit more. JBL took 10+.

I am just saying it is not too late. In 5 years HBK/taker will be retired, maybe Bats too, JBL, Jericho, HHH will all be retired or close to it. Hardy probably wont be around, and so forth. In 5 years Edge and Orton will be the top vets, with guys like Punk, Burke, Benjamin, Morrison, MVP will be the Main event guys (barring injuries and the such)

[NoRoolz]

Good shout. It could happen for him, the proper way like a slow push to the top, working his way up etc.

It's just it's hard to be optimistic about anything with the current writers in WWE.

[Johnny Vegas]

Is there somewhere we can write to these motherfuckers and tell them some opinions b/c Burke not being at least on SD right now is appauling

[Volchok]

Burke is the goods. I WANT HIM TO SUCCEED!!!!

[Mooияakeя™]

I doubt i am on this one (shock!), but it's my understanding we all thought the NEW BREED thing was good?

Either way, I fooken loved it. "Potential wasted" - can you say WWE catchphrase?

[Mr. Nerfect]

I don't see why they don't put The New Breed back together. Elijah Burke isn't really doing anything, Matt Striker is now without Big Daddy V, and Kevin Thorn is being made generic, so you might as well stick him in something that matters to flavour him up.

[HTrain90]

Burke is the damn truth. I wouldn't mind seeing him on SmackDown! to feud with Matt Hardy for the US strap (as mentioned earlier), but I think a jump to RAW would be disaster - that is where promising midcarders go to die (Carlito, Kennedy, Nitro, etc.) He could be a golden heel for a mid-level title, but just needs some credibility first.

I've never understood how the WWE hasn't gotten more from him and/or Shelton. But Burke definitely has a world more potential that SB because of his mic work. And the Elijah Express is the goods. And I've never heard of a jobber with so many nicknames.

In short - he doesn't need to change his character at all - just needs an opportunity. He's very entertaining, and could be the goods years down the road.

[Lux]

I agree

[Anybody Thrilla]

The New Breed was absolutely fantastic. Too bad it amounted to absolute fuck all.

[HTrain90]

Shelton and Elijah looked good tonight in that 8 man match. Think they could work something with those two? I mean at the very least give them a tag run, then they can split and have a mini-feud before going to separate shows to compete for the US and IC straps - I would prefer Shelton to SD! so his horrible mic work isn't exposed.

[The Optimist]

They basically have a whole line of guys that have good features that they don't use much or at all. Shelton, Carlito, Burchill all come to mind.