What do they need to get to the next level: John Morrison

[Mr. Nerfect]

I thought I would start a new thread concept, and see how it goes. Basically, we're talking mid-carders/upper mid-carders who aren't quite at that main event level yet, and instead of just whinging about how they don't get a chance, we'll talk about just what they need to really make them a force which cannot be ignored by the WWE brass.

Let's start with John Morrison. When he started off in Tough Enough 3, he got the attention of the small section of fans who watched that show, busting out moves like the standing shooting star press. He went on to be one of the two winners of that season (along with Matt Cappotelli). After a brief run as Eric Bischoff's assistant on RAW, "Johnny Nitro" formed a team with Joey Mercury, and the two captured the WWE Tag Team Championship on three occasions, defeating such legendary performers as Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, Batista, Road Warrior Animal and *cough* Heidenreich. After that team split up, Johnny Nitro took his valet and off-air girlfriend, Melina to RAW, where he performed as a singles star, winning the Intercontinental Championship twice.

After a short lived teaming with Kenny Dykstra, Nitro found himself drafted to RAW, where as the second most decorated man on the brand at that time, he found himself replacing the absent Chris Benoit against CM Punk for the then vacated ECW Championship at Vengeance: Night of Champions. After winning that match, Johnny Nitro would change his persona from being a Hollywood tag along, to becoming the man we know today -- John Morrison, Rock Star.

It is on ECW that Morrison developed some of his signature maneuvers, such as the Moonlight Drive (inverted swinging neckbreaker), Starship Pain (split-legged corkscrew moonsault) and the Flying Chuck (springboard roundhouse kick). He also formed a team with ECW Championship rival, The Miz, and the two captured the WWE Tag Team Championship and World Tag Team Championship, and would often appear on all three brands, due to talent exchange agreements between SmackDown! and ECW, as well as holding RAW titles. During this time, The Miz & Morrison hosted a WWE.com show called "The Dirt Sheet," which showed off their more satirical side.

When The Miz got drafted to RAW, "The A-Listers" disbanded with The Miz attacking John Morrison. Since then, JoMo captured another Intercontinental Championship by defeating Rey Mysterio whilst with the SmackDown! brand, and has since returned to his brand of origin on RAW, where he now is seemingly fluctuating.

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Although he has flirted with the main event scene on SmackDown! and ECW, on RAW the most important program Morrison has been involved with has been being one of Cena's recruits against the Nexus group -- a team of seven men all with less tenure in the WWE than Morrison himself. What does The Artist Formerly Known as Johnny Blaze need to do to permanently move up to the top of the WWE ladder?

Does he need to learn to play his new face role better? Does he need a better connection with the WWE crowds? Are his mic skills subpar? Is his ring work too flashy, and not fundamentally structured enough? Is the current John Morrison character played out, or untruthful to its roots? Does he need to change his wardrobe or ring attire? Would something as simple as a move to SmackDown!, where the matches are longer and the roster tiers are less stoic be of help to Morrison?

What are your thoughts?