Irrational Confidence In The "Internet Darlings"
Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe, CM Punk, Austin Aries, AJ Styles, these are the names of the men that went from "Internet Darlings" to world champions in their respective companies. Why? There's lots of reasons that I could list as contributing ingredients, but at the end of the day they have the "x-factor" that a talent needs to have to transcend to main event glory.
I get a little annoyed by the "smarks," or whatever they want to call themselves these days, when they get their collective panties in a bunch over "Internet Darling X" getting a WWE tryout, then WWE isn't interested in signing them, followed by internet outrage. "Vince and HHH don't know talent when they see it." "They just lost a potential main-eventer!" "They just lost the next Daniel Bryan!"
I, myself, keep tabs on the young guns on the independent scene. I cheer like crazy every time one of them get to TNA or WWE and proceed to take the company by storm. However, you have to look beyond your own personal biases, and at the big picture.
The whole genesis of writing this came when I was reading that Roderick Strong got a WWE tryout, and of course he wasn't what WWE was looking for. Now whether this even happened or not isn't the point. The smarks' reaction is. Re-read what I wrote in paragraph two, and you get the idea.
Before I get pelted with rotten eggs, I will mention that I am a fan of Roderick Strong, and some of my favorite ROH matches involve him, but I will confidently tell you that I'm not at all shocked by WWE's decision. Not because I'm cynical about it, but for one glaring weakness Roddy has: HE'S THE WORST MIC GUY EVER! Is that an over-exaggeration? Honestly, I don't think it's a very big one if indeed it is. The second Roderick opens his mouth he loses a little credibility with me. I don't care how good in the ring he is, (and he is, no denying) he was only going to get so far with no personality.
Now I know you're screaming "THAT'S WHY THEY'LL GIVE HIM A MANAGER!!!!" OK, that it is true. But, how many guys with a manager are totally mute? The manager says 99% of the promo, then the talent usually says the go home line. Whether that was Yoko screaming, "Banzai!" or whatever. I truly don't think Roderick is capable of this. Like I said, the second he opens his mouth, you can see the lack of confidence in his eyes, his chin turns upward in the reactionary defensive posture of insecurity. And his voice... I may be biased in this aspect because I remember people by the sound of their voice more than any other characteristic, but Roderick's voice is quite annoying. He has no bass and sounds like, well sort of nerdy. (I'm no super-cool guy myself, nor could I cut a promo, but stay with me.) How are you supposed to take that seriously? WWE wants to market guys, and the best way to do that is with personality, and the best way to show personality is talking.
There are very few talents who have a charisma without talking. Jeff Hardy and Rob Van Dam come to mind immediately. Both were innovative in the ring, and were average promo guys. (Jeff wasn't any good start with, but by the time he was main event level, he was decent.) You can get by with average mic skills if you have that "x-factor," and Roderick doesn't have that "x-factor." I think where the smarks go wrong is they confuse great in-ring skill with personality. Daniel Bryan's ascension does nothing but reinforce this to them, but it's not the case. D-Bry's in-ring skill, or amount of moves he does, isn't why the fans loved him pre-YES Movement. He makes the fans feel him in the ring, he's ferocious, he's technically sound, yet still an underdog. They give him stupid gimmicks (like anger management, which in actuality should have been terrible, or even screaming "Yes" for that matter.) and he makes it work. Not just anyone could do this, and unfortunately neither could Roderick Strong.
Yes, they could have signed him anyway, and left him at the bottom of the card. Would you really want that? Seeing him get squashed by Rusev every week? Or worse yet, Khali? (Ask Cabana about that one.) Best case scenario for him probably would have been a Zack Ryder-type. And honestly that is probably a pipe dream.
This isn't "pick on Roddy day" either. The same outrage was given to Ricochet and his treatment after his tryout. The argument was they hired Andrian Neville (Pac) so why not Ricochet? The obvious answer is that Neville is freakin' jacked. No cruiserweight has ever been that ripped before. It's amazing seeing him fly through the air. Ricochet on the other hand is ripped, but still pretty scrawny. Ricochet is also pretty awkward on the mic. Definitely better than Strong, but awkward nonetheless. Neville is no CM Punk by any means, but I feel he is passable, and obviously so does the WWE. Also, at the end of the day, the two are very similar in-ring wise. They both are probably two of the greatest high-flyers ever from an athletic standpoint, and I'm sure WWE only wants one, to make that one seem more special. And for the reasons I've already listed, it's obvious why they picked Neville.
Could either guy have a better shot in TNA? Of course, but looking at TNA now, why would you? Now I am being cynical because they are on national TV after all, and the pay would be much better than anything they are looking at now. And honestly, throw them in the X-Division and it wouldn't matter if they could talk or not. But again, I don't think that is the argument. I think that the overly biased smarks think that all of their "boys" are going to turn into Daniel Bryan. And that simply isn't the case. He is special talent. A transcendent talent. Sure you can love the other guys, like I do, but realize the "big leagues" is a different animal, and amazing matches isn't always the criteria of success. At least not the success that you're dreaming of for those men.
I get a little annoyed by the "smarks," or whatever they want to call themselves these days, when they get their collective panties in a bunch over "Internet Darling X" getting a WWE tryout, then WWE isn't interested in signing them, followed by internet outrage. "Vince and HHH don't know talent when they see it." "They just lost a potential main-eventer!" "They just lost the next Daniel Bryan!"
I, myself, keep tabs on the young guns on the independent scene. I cheer like crazy every time one of them get to TNA or WWE and proceed to take the company by storm. However, you have to look beyond your own personal biases, and at the big picture.
The whole genesis of writing this came when I was reading that Roderick Strong got a WWE tryout, and of course he wasn't what WWE was looking for. Now whether this even happened or not isn't the point. The smarks' reaction is. Re-read what I wrote in paragraph two, and you get the idea.
Before I get pelted with rotten eggs, I will mention that I am a fan of Roderick Strong, and some of my favorite ROH matches involve him, but I will confidently tell you that I'm not at all shocked by WWE's decision. Not because I'm cynical about it, but for one glaring weakness Roddy has: HE'S THE WORST MIC GUY EVER! Is that an over-exaggeration? Honestly, I don't think it's a very big one if indeed it is. The second Roderick opens his mouth he loses a little credibility with me. I don't care how good in the ring he is, (and he is, no denying) he was only going to get so far with no personality.
Now I know you're screaming "THAT'S WHY THEY'LL GIVE HIM A MANAGER!!!!" OK, that it is true. But, how many guys with a manager are totally mute? The manager says 99% of the promo, then the talent usually says the go home line. Whether that was Yoko screaming, "Banzai!" or whatever. I truly don't think Roderick is capable of this. Like I said, the second he opens his mouth, you can see the lack of confidence in his eyes, his chin turns upward in the reactionary defensive posture of insecurity. And his voice... I may be biased in this aspect because I remember people by the sound of their voice more than any other characteristic, but Roderick's voice is quite annoying. He has no bass and sounds like, well sort of nerdy. (I'm no super-cool guy myself, nor could I cut a promo, but stay with me.) How are you supposed to take that seriously? WWE wants to market guys, and the best way to do that is with personality, and the best way to show personality is talking.
There are very few talents who have a charisma without talking. Jeff Hardy and Rob Van Dam come to mind immediately. Both were innovative in the ring, and were average promo guys. (Jeff wasn't any good start with, but by the time he was main event level, he was decent.) You can get by with average mic skills if you have that "x-factor," and Roderick doesn't have that "x-factor." I think where the smarks go wrong is they confuse great in-ring skill with personality. Daniel Bryan's ascension does nothing but reinforce this to them, but it's not the case. D-Bry's in-ring skill, or amount of moves he does, isn't why the fans loved him pre-YES Movement. He makes the fans feel him in the ring, he's ferocious, he's technically sound, yet still an underdog. They give him stupid gimmicks (like anger management, which in actuality should have been terrible, or even screaming "Yes" for that matter.) and he makes it work. Not just anyone could do this, and unfortunately neither could Roderick Strong.
Yes, they could have signed him anyway, and left him at the bottom of the card. Would you really want that? Seeing him get squashed by Rusev every week? Or worse yet, Khali? (Ask Cabana about that one.) Best case scenario for him probably would have been a Zack Ryder-type. And honestly that is probably a pipe dream.
This isn't "pick on Roddy day" either. The same outrage was given to Ricochet and his treatment after his tryout. The argument was they hired Andrian Neville (Pac) so why not Ricochet? The obvious answer is that Neville is freakin' jacked. No cruiserweight has ever been that ripped before. It's amazing seeing him fly through the air. Ricochet on the other hand is ripped, but still pretty scrawny. Ricochet is also pretty awkward on the mic. Definitely better than Strong, but awkward nonetheless. Neville is no CM Punk by any means, but I feel he is passable, and obviously so does the WWE. Also, at the end of the day, the two are very similar in-ring wise. They both are probably two of the greatest high-flyers ever from an athletic standpoint, and I'm sure WWE only wants one, to make that one seem more special. And for the reasons I've already listed, it's obvious why they picked Neville.
Could either guy have a better shot in TNA? Of course, but looking at TNA now, why would you? Now I am being cynical because they are on national TV after all, and the pay would be much better than anything they are looking at now. And honestly, throw them in the X-Division and it wouldn't matter if they could talk or not. But again, I don't think that is the argument. I think that the overly biased smarks think that all of their "boys" are going to turn into Daniel Bryan. And that simply isn't the case. He is special talent. A transcendent talent. Sure you can love the other guys, like I do, but realize the "big leagues" is a different animal, and amazing matches isn't always the criteria of success. At least not the success that you're dreaming of for those men.
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