Out With The Old, In With The New (Whose WWE Days Are Numbered?)
Last night's Raw showed that there is going to be a crop of new NXT talent over the next few weeks. I found it pretty fascinating, due to there usually only being one new young talent debuted the night after WrestleMania. With these new faces (plus the returning RVD) obviously somebody has to be moved out the way. Whether they are fired, (unlikely) quit, (possibly) or get demoted to NXT (most definitely). Here's the guys who I think has limited time left on WWE main programming.
(I'm only including guys that have had a decent amount of TV time)
Alberto Del Rio
They've given this guy the moon in his short career, and he has honestly been average at best. When I look back, I don't think he was ever truly over, it was his association with Ricardo Rodriguez that got him over (WWE misses him sorely in my opinion.) He's sporadically on TV as it is, so I foresee his days to be numbered. I would also say he is the most likely candidate to quit. He was fairly successful in Mexico, and I could easily see him following the original Sin Cara back to his homeland for greener pastures.
Quick thought. I've thought for months that they should make Del Rio a "Real American." Have him denounce his Mexican heritage, saying it got him no respect from the WWE Universe. Zeb would say he is a good legal immigrant, therefore a "Real American." With Cesaro now gone, it makes even more sense to bring him in. To me, this makes sense.
Rybaxel
Again, these fellas are barely on TV as it is. Ryback's one dimensional character was fun for a while, but his heel turn a year ago has started a wicked downward slide for him. In true WWE fashion, they will probably work out a new gimmick for him in NXT were he comes back as a dancing guy or some ridiculous comedy gimmick that they give every big man who can't get over.
Curtis Axel will definitely get repackaged at some point. His "better than perfect" gimmick could only work on the right guy, someone who is indeed a near-flawless performer, i.e. his dad back in the day. He was too young and inexperienced for this gimmick in the first place, and was given too much of push too fast. He's still young though, and has time to right the ship. To me, he is a lock to get the NXT demotion.
Kofi Kingston
This one might be a bit of a long shot compared to the rest of the list, but I wouldn't see it's impossible either. Kofi has done nothing for a long time. I personally like Kofi and wish they would use him other than the goofy Royal Rumble Spot guy. There kind of turning him into Shelton Benjamin the last few years of his WWE career, and that isn't a good thing. Who knows, maybe he may even get fed up an ask for his release, this is a shot in the dark for sure, but the guy has to be frustrated.
Brad Maddox
I don't watch NXT, so he may already be there, but seriously when this guy shows up on Raw you think: "Holy crap I didn't even know he was still employed." That's pretty bad for the supposed GM of Raw. He isn't needed, and definitely needs some retooling if it isn't happening already.
Brodus Clay
This one may not even count since he has barely had any TV since he went heel. In keeping the theme going, he will more than likely get some sort of repackaging- just not as a big dancing guy...
Damien Sandow
People think Dolph has it bad, look at Sandow. He's sort of a cult favorite, but since losing to Cena on his cash-in last fall or whenever it was, he has been on TV about 3 times. He has been repackaged numerous times at this point, maybe he will be let go?
David Otunga
Another guy that is miraculously still employed. After showing up at WrestleMania, when was the last time you thought about this guy? He's 34, and I can't see him being around much longer.
Zack Ryder
I never understood the appeal of Ryder, but he was really popular a few years back. He's on Raw just a tad more than Sandow, so that's not a good thing. Would the fans be grateful for a roaring Ryder comeback? Honestly, at this point I would say no. I do see him being the next Alex Riley or Albert, in being a commentator/panel guy.
3MB
I could see all 3, or 2, or 1 in this case. If it's 1, I'm saying Jinder Mahaal. Most likely it will be Mahaal and Heath Slater (fired or NXT bound) due to the fact that Vince once was infatuated with Drew McIntyre and may want to repackage (the word of the day) and try to jumpstart his career.
Who did I leave out? Who do you disagree with? Why isn't Sami Zayn getting bumped up to the main roster? Let me know what you think.
(I'm only including guys that have had a decent amount of TV time)
Alberto Del Rio
They've given this guy the moon in his short career, and he has honestly been average at best. When I look back, I don't think he was ever truly over, it was his association with Ricardo Rodriguez that got him over (WWE misses him sorely in my opinion.) He's sporadically on TV as it is, so I foresee his days to be numbered. I would also say he is the most likely candidate to quit. He was fairly successful in Mexico, and I could easily see him following the original Sin Cara back to his homeland for greener pastures.
Quick thought. I've thought for months that they should make Del Rio a "Real American." Have him denounce his Mexican heritage, saying it got him no respect from the WWE Universe. Zeb would say he is a good legal immigrant, therefore a "Real American." With Cesaro now gone, it makes even more sense to bring him in. To me, this makes sense.
Rybaxel
Again, these fellas are barely on TV as it is. Ryback's one dimensional character was fun for a while, but his heel turn a year ago has started a wicked downward slide for him. In true WWE fashion, they will probably work out a new gimmick for him in NXT were he comes back as a dancing guy or some ridiculous comedy gimmick that they give every big man who can't get over.
Curtis Axel will definitely get repackaged at some point. His "better than perfect" gimmick could only work on the right guy, someone who is indeed a near-flawless performer, i.e. his dad back in the day. He was too young and inexperienced for this gimmick in the first place, and was given too much of push too fast. He's still young though, and has time to right the ship. To me, he is a lock to get the NXT demotion.
Kofi Kingston
This one might be a bit of a long shot compared to the rest of the list, but I wouldn't see it's impossible either. Kofi has done nothing for a long time. I personally like Kofi and wish they would use him other than the goofy Royal Rumble Spot guy. There kind of turning him into Shelton Benjamin the last few years of his WWE career, and that isn't a good thing. Who knows, maybe he may even get fed up an ask for his release, this is a shot in the dark for sure, but the guy has to be frustrated.
Brad Maddox
I don't watch NXT, so he may already be there, but seriously when this guy shows up on Raw you think: "Holy crap I didn't even know he was still employed." That's pretty bad for the supposed GM of Raw. He isn't needed, and definitely needs some retooling if it isn't happening already.
Brodus Clay
This one may not even count since he has barely had any TV since he went heel. In keeping the theme going, he will more than likely get some sort of repackaging- just not as a big dancing guy...
Damien Sandow
People think Dolph has it bad, look at Sandow. He's sort of a cult favorite, but since losing to Cena on his cash-in last fall or whenever it was, he has been on TV about 3 times. He has been repackaged numerous times at this point, maybe he will be let go?
David Otunga
Another guy that is miraculously still employed. After showing up at WrestleMania, when was the last time you thought about this guy? He's 34, and I can't see him being around much longer.
Zack Ryder
I never understood the appeal of Ryder, but he was really popular a few years back. He's on Raw just a tad more than Sandow, so that's not a good thing. Would the fans be grateful for a roaring Ryder comeback? Honestly, at this point I would say no. I do see him being the next Alex Riley or Albert, in being a commentator/panel guy.
3MB
I could see all 3, or 2, or 1 in this case. If it's 1, I'm saying Jinder Mahaal. Most likely it will be Mahaal and Heath Slater (fired or NXT bound) due to the fact that Vince once was infatuated with Drew McIntyre and may want to repackage (the word of the day) and try to jumpstart his career.
Who did I leave out? Who do you disagree with? Why isn't Sami Zayn getting bumped up to the main roster? Let me know what you think.
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