This new wave of talent in WWE

[Supreme Olajuwon]

We here in the wrestling forum are often critical of WWE management for lacking both roster depth and the ability to create new stars. Yet I cannot remember the last time WWE has ever had this many new guys on the verge of becoming huge. As of now we've got 4 guys main eventing or on the cusp of the main event (Punk, Kofi, Dibiase, Rhodes) and 5 guys who have shown they can main event in the near future (Morrison, Miz, Swagger, Ziggler, Ryder). Every one of those guys except for Morrison have been in WWE for less than 5 years.

Has WWE ever had this many new stars waiting in the wings at the same time? Usually you have one or two at a time at most. And usually WWE just plucks a guy from another promotion. But with the exception of Punk, these are all guys WWE made on their own. Do we really have to credit WWE management for building new talent? That's CRAZY

[The Mackem]

They need a big storyline to pull it all together. Attitude esque storyline. The kind of thing where you don't necessarily know the matches but you are drawn in and watch them as a result of what is going on in general. I'm not watching at the moment but I don't get the feeling that there is a big thing going on in WWE. Unless the GM of Raw is considered to be this.

Dare I say they could have a New versus old storyline? Actually that would probably be horrible but they need something big to draw in the numbers to appreciate the new talent. Dunno, something missing for me.

[Dorkchop]

The last time they had this many new guys (hopefully) making it to the main event or being upper mid carders was 97/98.

It's really exciting seeing new people at least get pushed. I never thought Miz would be one of the reasons to watch Raw.

We have:

Cody
Evan
Kofi
MVP
Sheamus (possibly)
Dibiase
Miz
Ziggler
McIntyre
Escobar (Although I haven't seen him yet)
Morrison
Christian
Yoshi Tatsu
Zack Ryder


I know that's about a quarter or a third of WWE's current roster, but those are the guys WWE seems to be investing in. A guy like Christian is a vet, but still hasn't reached real main event status. A lot of these guys might not pan out, but it's nice to see WWE finally investing in some younger guys with talent and not just hosses that are shoved down our throats.

The attitude era was different for making new stars. Everyone left or was on the verge of leaving. That's why I loved late 97 and 1998. Practically everyone, except for the Undertaker, were new. Even the guys who were there for years got new gimmicks.

I wish HBK and HHH retired and Cena left for a year or two (possibly due to injury). I don't like when guys get injured, but WWE would have to do something if Cena was out for a year and DX retired. It won't happen, but it would be sweet.

[XL]

I don't think the main critism is in pushing new guys but in the actual payoff to the push.

It's one thing having Punk, Morrison, Mix, etc on the cusp of the Main Event scene but unless they get the big (and preferably clean) wins over the vets the push can mean nothing. The guys mentioned above need to get wins over the likes of Cena, HHH, Batista, Taker, HBK, etc to be put over as legit Main Event material.

They don't even need to win. Look at Matt Morgan in TNA. They put him on Kurt Angle's level just by having him hang with the guy in a match, without picking up the victory.

[Rammsteinmad]

I was thinking the same as XL. These guys are all potential main eventers, but how will they ever get in the main event with people like Triple H and Shawn Michaels holding people down. And yes, the HPD arguement is old but right now I feel DX are doing it more than ever.

Sadly, nobody would ever get the clean win because let's say Jack Swagger started fueding with Triple H. Swagger will get a win (probably by cheating), but then at the next PPV Triple H will win, getting his revenge victory. Instead of continuing the rivalry though, Swagger will go back down to the mid-card, leaving Trips the overall winner of the fued. Therefore not really putting Swagger over. Only himself.

Although I'm not a huge fan, I can tolerate Orton and Cena, but IMO right now I wish DX would fuck off and retire or be injured or something.

[Rammsteinmad]

On a related note, they should have brand-only PPV's again because half of those guys listed above don't even get any PPV matches.

[The Jayman]

On a related note, they should have brand-only PPV's again because half of those guys listed above don't even get any PPV matches.

:):y: I agree

[Johnny McNasty]

Funny how people say DX holds everyone down, but if it wasn't for them Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibiase wouldn't be on the the cusp of headlining Raw.

[Fignuts]

Only comparable time I would say, was the 80's, when you had Mr. Perfect, Ted Dibiase, Jake Roberts, Ricky Steamboat, and a host of other guys who could have held the title.

[HBPunk]

spot on johnny

[XL]

Funny how people say DX holds everyone down, but if it wasn't for them Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibiase wouldn't be on the the cusp of headlining Raw.
"On the cusp"? There's that saying again!

I'm pretty sure if DX hadn't picked up their "return victory" at HiaC then many would view Rhodes/DiBiase as far more legit.

I won't disagree that working with DX has done wonders for the team but - if I recall correctly - they managed a win on one PPV, where both members were needed to make HBK submit and then got beaten the following PPV.

This is the exact scenario I am talking about. The booking says to me "These guys are good, almost at that ME level, but not quite". WWE needs guys that are there, not just waiting to be there.

[DAMN iNATOR]

At the very least, I'd like to see Legacy somehow get the Unified Tag straps for a bit, and then, at a future PPV have Orton cost DiBiase the fall that decides the Unified Tag champions, causing DiBiase to go apeshit and finally turn on Orton and Rhodes. But that's just me.

[Dave Youell]

There's a difference between having a bunch of new guys, and having a bunch of new guys who are pushed properly

[Londoner]

I'll give credit where its due, they're doing a good job with some of the 'superstars' atm, but i'm going to wait before i praise too much, don't want to jinx it. ;)