Who is in your Fave Five right now?

[Anybody Thrilla]

Heath Slater is an interesting pick. He's been a solid hand in the ring as of late, but I'd really like him to start doing more with this rock band gimmick than just say the words.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by Anybody Thrilla Heath Slater is an interesting pick. He's been a solid hand in the ring as of late, but I'd really like him to start doing more with this rock band gimmick than just say the words.

I don't know why, but I really like the guy. As you said, he's solid in the ring, but he's not overly flashy. Slater's capable of running up the corner and powerslamming a Samoan off it, but he doesn't so that every match. I really want the guy to succeed. Personally, I hate the "The One Man Rock Band" stuff. I think it's tacky, and it's really got nowhere to go. Unless they somehow tie musical genius to genius in the ring.

I'd rather him be labelled as "The Savant" or something like that, though, if it were the case. Also, "Ginja Ninja" was a much better tagline to him than being a "rockband without the instruments." He's been stepping up on the mic lately, too. In FCW, he apparently played a manager role for a while. I'm sure the guy's got a lot more to offer than he is, and I hope he gets the chance to show it.

EDIT: Actually, after thinking about it, I wouldn't mind it if Heath Slater addressed Booker T's comments on commentary, and told him to stay out of Slater's way, etc. Maybe not necessarily a feud, although I wouldn't mind a one-off match between the two. But I wouldn't mind it if Slater and Booker had a "thing" where they just didn't like each other -- or even if Slater earned Booker's respect somehow. It could be a nice little way to get Slater more over.

I'm hoping for a Daniel Bryan & Justin Gabriel vs. Heath Slater & Tyson Kidd tag team match next week. That would be all kinds of awesome.

[KIRA]

Originally Posted by Noid I don't know why, but I really like the guy. As you said, he's solid in the ring, but he's not overly flashy. Slater's capable of running up the corner and powerslamming a Samoan off it, but he doesn't so that every match. I really want the guy to succeed. Personally, I hate the "The One Man Rock Band" stuff. I think it's tacky, and it's really got nowhere to go. Unless they somehow tie musical genius to genius in the ring. I'd rather him be labelled as "The Savant" or something like that, though, if it were the case. Also, "Ginja Ninja" was a much better tagline to him than being a "rockband without the instruments." He's been stepping up on the mic lately, too. In FCW, he apparently played a manager role for a while. I'm sure the guy's got a lot more to offer than he is, and I hope he gets the chance to show it.

Its so weird I used to hate that guy I mean really hate him but his grown on me but youre right about the "one man rock band"thing I think even booker T pointed out the stupidity of the moniker, but yea hes shown himself to be more than capable in-ring and fair to good on the mic.

One of my picks Barrett I just see him floundering and its Jarring to see him go from Nexus mastermind heat machine to SD! afterthought I really hope the have big things in the works for this guy he's to big a prospect to just be in the midcard with the likes of big Zeke

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by KIRA Its so weird I used to hate that guy I mean really hate him but his grown on me but youre right about the "one man rock band"thing I think even booker T pointed out the stupidity of the moniker, but yea hes shown himself to be more than capable in-ring and fair to good on the mic. One of my picks Barrett I just see him floundering and its Jarring to see him go from Nexus mastermind heat machine to SD! afterthought I really hope the have big things in the works for this guy he's to big a prospect to just be in the midcard with the likes of big Zeke

Here's an idea I have for Heath Slater:

Next week, do Daniel Bryan & Justin Gabriel vs. Heath Slater & Tyson Kidd (because that match would rock, and it plays off what they did this week). On the way to the ring, as he has been doing, Heath Slater says something like "cut my awesome music," and then directs a promo at Booker T. "Last week you said I have the charisma of a bowl of turnips. At least, I think that's what you said -- I find it hard to understand you on commentary. Book, you don't have to like me, it's okay to be envious of my youth and talent, but you need to show me the unbiased respect an impartial announcer should. Or else."

Booker T is obvious rattled by this, but he confesses on commentary that he likes that Slater had the balls to say that. Daniel Bryan & Justin Gabriel win the match when Bryan gets Kidd in the LeBell Lock, and Gabriel takes out Slater.

The next week, the SmackDown! commentators are just discussing the goings on of the WWE (maybe something from RAW), when a video starts playing on the titantron. It's done on a hand held cam, and it becomes apparent it's Heath Slater. "Hey Booker T, can you guess where I am?" Slater reveals that he's at Booker T's training facility. He goes inside and offers to spar with some of the kids there. Slater beats the living shit out of them, while looking at the camera he's placed with a perfect view of the ring, asking Booker rhetorically things like "Do you teach them how to be charismatic here, Booker?" He then does a Derrick Bateman, and calls out the names of some of the moves he does on them. "This here is called a Michinoku Driver." Splat. That sort of thing.

Booker T is obviously distressed by this, and doesn't say anything, but throws down his headset, as Josh Mathews & Michael Cole discuss in their sombre tone what they have just seen. You could have Matt Striker come out and do commentary with them, replacing Book, but it's not necessary.

The next week, Booker T enters the ring and says that he has a tremendous amount of respect for this show, and his new position as an announcer, which is why he has gotten into the ring to say this. "Heath Slater, dawg, what you did last week proved some things to me. It proved that you have no respect for me, no respect for this business, and that you stooped to a level like that -- it proves to me that you have no respect for yourself. But if there is any ounce of manhood in you, dawg, come to this ring right now and come deal with your issues face-to-face."

Heath Slater does come out, doing his cocky walk thing. Slater gets on the mic and does a promo tearing down Booker similar to his one on Daniel Bryan: "Booker, you constantly remind everyone that you're a six-time World Champion, but four of those runs were in the dying days of WCW. Honestly, I question the legitimacy of them. I mean, what did you do when you showed up in the WWE? You failed at destroying it, got your ass kicked all over a supermarket by Stone Cold Steve Austin, lost to Edge over a shampoo commercial, and then failed to win the World Heavyweight Title from Triple H even after he insulted 'people like you.' Booker, I'm better now than you ever were in your prime. What? You're angry at me, Booker? You want to do something to me, Booker?" Booker gets a cold smirk on his face and says something like "Yeah, sucka. I was kinda feelin' that, dawg." Slater gets on the ring apron and says "It's a shame, because unlike other wannabe Superstars around here, I don't waste my time with announcers."

Slater walks off and Booker is fuming.

Of course, this leads to a match between the two. Possibly even at SummerSlam. It wouldn't be a marquee encounter or anything, but just Booker getting into the ring with a young guy and trying to get people to care about him. Also, since Slater seems to struggle with finding a finishing move (his Sweetness has been about three moves already), you could have Slater finish off Booker T with the Bookend, which can become his new Sweetness.

It'd be an interesting dimension to Heath Slater's character, and would give people more of a reason to hate him other than "he's cocky and he used to be in Nexus." Slater reveals himself as a guy with a massive chip on his shoulder, and talent, but a self-conscious hatred for himself that causes him to act out in cowardly ways, despite putting up a front of confidence and ego. A real jerk.