Eva Marie
To quote Sam Beckett from Quantum Leap, “Oh boy”. Yep, I started the list with Eva Marie. I’m expecting some backlash .. but please, let me explain before you bite my head off. On the main roster, Eva did nothing to stand out. However, in NXT, where the crowd response is passionate, every time her music hits a chorus of boo’s follows. While It’s difficult to watch her in the ring, the confrontation between Bayley and Eva a few weeks ago had me glued. I was blown away by the hatred from the NXT fans; even Bayley found it difficult to hide her shock at their response.
I’m entertained because she’s so bad it annoys the NXT fans to no end, and that’s not a bad thing, it’s a good thing. She sucks, but she sucks in a way which gets a response. I wrote a small piece on heels lately, and how most heels today would love a response like the one she received. That’s the kinda reaction all heels should be getting. “But Kyle! She’s only getting that response because she can’t wrestle!!” Yes, while that’s true, it’s gold for WWE. Fans get so riled up when a wrestler with minimal ability is pushed, so why wouldn’t WWE play on that? At the end of the day, Eva distracted me for the first time in her career, and that’s the only reason why she’s here.
Kalisto
I’ve been nothing but impressed by Kalisto since his days in NXT. He reminds me of Mysterio, when he was in his prime in WCW. And he’s not afraid to talk either, he’s miles ahead of his Sin Cara in all aspects. I prefer his singles matches, but even when he’s in a tag team match, I can always rely on him to do some crazy aerial move fitting of Lucha Libre. And we ain’t seen the best from him yet. If there’s anyone who can represent Mexico and Lucha Libre after Mysterio’s leave, it’s this guy. LUCHA! LUCHA!
Bo Dallas
Again, I’m expecting some “are you dumb?” comments for including someone like Bo Dallas. To be honest, I’m not sure I can explain why I like him as much as I do with two paragraphs. I guess I’ve always seen him as the best troll in WWE history. He just sits in waiting, hoping for his next chance to troll someone with his inspirational gimmick. He reminds me of some of the commenters I come across in social media and forums. Ironically, I can sit through an entire Bo Dallas promo smiling from ear-to-ear, but I take hardly any notice of his real-life brothers promos.
He’s still young, so he could easily be repackaged when the time is right, but am I the only guy who sees potential in Bo? He’s lost himself in the Bo Dallas character, and he rarely ever makes mistakes; I’m waiting for the day he gets a break. Perhaps when he gets in better shape?
Dean Ambrose
Yep, he’s this low. I’m a serious fan of Dean Ambrose, but just lately he’s rarely distracted me. I guess it’s because he’s always playing the backup for someone else? I guess I want to see Ambrose as an actual lunatic? He’s very predictable, and his promos don’t grip me either. He has his moments, so I simply had to keep him in my “fave twenty”, but I do so reluctantly. C’mon WWE, give Ambrose’s character some depth. He’s starting to get a bit like Dolph Ziggler; fun to watch in the ring .. but not much else.
Apollo Crews
You’re missing out if you ain’t watching NXT. Apollo Crews is a future WWE Champion, that’s pretty much a guarantee. He’s got the athleticism, the wrestling ability, the smile, the finisher, the music, the entrance; he’s got everything you need to be on the main roster and he hasn’t been in NXT a year. I like watching him because he’s got passion for what he does. I’ve said this before, but once again I’ll say Crews is like Bobby Lashley .. except Crews is likable and has charisma. His career is going to skyrocket upwards in my estimation.
Baron Corbin
Again .. probably going to get some hate. While the NXT fans hate Corbin, all I see is $ signs (technically it would be £ signs for me) every time he makes an entrance. He has one of those faces; you know .. like the cool kid in school who bullies the geeks and gets all the babes. While his wrestling ability is questionable, it’s his demeanour which shines through for me; it’s like he really doesn’t give a flying pig what you think about him, and I love that.
He’s not one of these cool heels who plays to the crowd. He doesn’t try to “entertain”, he doesn’t try to “wrestle”, all he does is fight, and he’s not getting paid by the hour. His striking is great, similar to The Undertaker’s, and his finisher is devastating. He’s not quite ready, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he moves up in 2016.
Neville
I’m supremely biased on this one because I’m from York, and he’s from Newcastle. We grew up in the North-East, and as far as I know, no other English wrestler in WWE has hailed from the North-East before Neville. I watched him as Pac, when he had zero-limits and could truly show his gravity-defying abilities.
Out of respect, every time his entrance starts I stop what I’m doing so I can watch. Sadly that’s usually where it ends for me, as he’s got no one who can really push him in the ring on the main roster. He was amazing in NXT, when they gave him the time and the spotlight, but he’s lost in the mix, and it seems his small stature and ears continue to be used against him.
Samoa Joe
Heel Joe is the best Joe. He wasn’t doing it for me as a face when WWE signed him away from TNA. He was close to being TNA World Champion before he left the company after many loyal years. I’ve watched Joe for a long time, and his match against Kenta Kobashi in ROH remains one of my absolute faves.
I also know Joe can talk, but only when he has the passion. If Joe was allowed a live mic with total freedom, he could easily deliver something reminiscent of Punk’s pipebomb. He was buried in TNA for a few years because of his attitude on the mic; they couldn’t trust him to deliver the promo they asked for so he was left on the bench.
Because of that, many fans won’t know how good he is on the mic, so when he’s handed some promo time, I’m always there to listen. He was a legend in the business long before he made it to NXT. Joe’s had some great matches around the world, and he’s not done yet.
Finn Balor
Such a creative individual. While he’s not the best talker, it never stopped guys like Jeff Hardy. He comes across as a humble individual, likable, a bit of a geek (but who isn’t right?), and a true professional. When he enters as “The Demon”, that’s time for me to watch. He’s got one of the best entrances in recent memory, and it’s going to be spectacular on a grand stage like Wrestlemania.
His program with Joe is heating up nicely, and I know they will deliver. Hate his finisher, I hope they change it as I always think of The Wolves .. or Low-Ki, or any other wrestler who uses the stomp move. Aside from that, Balor is a babyface who’s doing it right in NXT, and I don’t blame him when he says he’s in no rush to move up to the main roster.
Asuka
ASUKA’s GONNA KILL YOU! She’s just great, almost too great for WWE. I’m slightly worried because Asuka is a true wrestler, and she might be lost on the main roster. She’s a reason to take women’s wrestling seriously in 2016 and beyond. But she’s not just exceptional in the ring, she has everything else too. Asuka could easily dominate the Divas division when she finally makes it. I ain’t seen much of her yet, and she’s close to my top ten already, so that’s got to tell you something. If you ain’t watching NXT, then again you’re missing out considerably. Asuka is money.
Tyler Breeze
I’ve been watching Breeze for a long time in his current gimmick. Safe to say, he’s lost himself in that character. I wonder if he goes home for Christmas and takes his selfie stick with him. Recently read that Breeze took inspiration for his gimmick from Gorgeous George, which is pretty cool. For those who are unaware of the impact Gorgeous George had on professional wrestling, let me tell you. Gorgeous George was flamboyant in an age when it was controversial. In a time when wrestlers simply didn’t play to the crowd, he was doing it to perfection.
He was able to draw heat from that, and use it to draw fans in to ridicule him. He loved the attention, he loved the hate. He was an innovator, and that’s where Breeze draws inspiration from. He’s playing the part really well, and he complements it by being good in the ring. I’ve heard his wrestling ability being compared to Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho. Of course, he has some way to go before he could be considered THAT good, but you never know. Gorgeous George wasn’t a big guy, he didn’t look menacing, he wasn’t the best wrestler, but he still got over with the fans by playing the part. And that entrance .. wow, talk about arrogance personified. The NXT fans chant of “Breeze is gorgeous” was very fitting indeed.
Rusev & Lana
Really hard to place these two. All I know is, the last time they were together, they were a highlight of any Raw or Smackdown for me. Rusev on his own probably wouldn’t make my top 20, but put him with Lana and it just works. Maybe because everyone has the hots for Lana? Or maybe it’s because Rusev is exceptionally old school in his approach?
He really hates getting the wrong reaction from the crowd. Instead of just sitting there and letting the fans chant whatever, he will speak up and tell them to shut up. And having the crowd chant “We Want Lana” only frustrates him more. It’s a great dynamic which they never needed to break. I love to hate Rusev, and I’m sure everyone else does.
Bayley
How can anyone hate Bayley? She’s the greatest role model I’ve seen in a long time. She’s the epitome of a babyface wrestler in an age where it’s difficult to be one without getting a mixed reaction. She’s like a bunny rabbit, or a cute puppy, you simply have to like her cuteness. But she can wrestle too! And that’s the greatest part, because someone who’s so likable and cute is also a really good wrestler.
All you have to do is (BOlieve) watch her Ironwoman match with Sasha Banks, that’s enough to convince anyone she’s one of the best. When she eventually makes it to the main roster, there are millions of children around the world who will gladly board the Hug Express (yes I just made that up) and beg their parents to buy her merchandise. She’s colourful, she’s fun, and most importantly, she’s entertaining.
Braun Strowman
From one extreme to the other, look under the word “monster” in the dictionary, and the picture associated with it would be Strowman’s face. You know, I find it really difficult to watch or listen to Bray Wyatt’s promos anymore, but the second the camera pans to Strowman I’m glued. It’s like .. he stares right into your soul, I just can’t look away when he talks. He doesn’t talk much, but when he does .. wow, that voice is scary. And his ring work isn’t sloppy either, like most big men. Yes, he has a lame finisher, but that’s by design, it makes sense considering his gigantic stature.
When Strowman finally goes out on his own, he’s going to be a huge star. I just hope they don’t ruin his aura by turning him babyface. His monster image is cooking up really nicely, and he looks set to take over from The Undertaker and Kane when they finally retire.
Chad Gable & Jason Jordan
Who? I’ll tell you who. They are probably the best technically gifted tag team in WWE. Gable’s already been compared to Kurt Angle and Daniel Bryan. The team has been compared to the World’s Greatest Tag Team. While I admire Jordan’s work, it’s Chad Gable who impresses me the most. I’m not going to explain why he’s so good, you should already know that! If you don’t then get watching NXT so you can see these two future stars blossom. I love watching their matches.
Sasha Banks
THE BOSS! Do I need to say more? She’s 23 years old and light years ahead of many current and former Divas in terms of wrestling ability, marketability, mic work, and entertainment value. In NXT she proved how great she was, and while she hasn’t seen much success on the main roster yet, she’s starting to get more airtime with Team BAD and The New Day.
She needs to get some heat, she could do with some of that. Fans chant “We want Sasha!”, while I’m sat there thinking .. “isn’t she a heel?”. I want to see super heel Sasha, but I know it’s going to have to wait while Charlotte and Paige do their thing. It’s not like she doesn’t have time on her side.
Those Damn Dudleys!
Dudleys and tables are a guilty pleasure of mine. I’ve seen them back in ECW, I watched them in WWF/WWE, I continued to watch them as Team 3D in TNA. Somehow they never get old, even though they clearly are getting old. Bubba was an exceptional heel in TNA as their World Champion, and I’m hoping WWE lets him do that at some point. He could actually be WWE World Heavyweight Champion; he’s that good!
But yeah, this is WWE, and The Dudleys are always together so it probably won’t happen. Bubba could have the entire world wanting him dead by next week if he was given the creative freedom. But regardless of their face status, I’ll continue to be entertained by The Dudley Boyz promos, and their use of furniture.
Kevin Owens
Here’s the guy who should be WWE World Heavyweight Champion right now. Of course, he hasn’t been around long enough for WWE to make it feel natural, but he’s getting there. I hate when fans cheer him, because he’s playing the bad guy right now and really needs those jeers. He’s so smooth on the mic, on commentary, in the ring, pretty much everything he does is crisp and to the point.
That’s why I listen when he talks, because I know he’s going to say something to make me laugh out loud. He’s been waiting a long time to show his talent, and I’m enjoying it. In my humble opinion, he’s the most entertaining singles wrestler at the moment. He’s come a long way in less than a year.
SAWFT
Another guilty pleasure of mine. Perhaps it’s because I grew up with The New Age Outlaws and I’ve been waiting for someone to fill their shoes? Enzo and Big Cass entertain me to the fullest every time they make an entrance. I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again, SAWFT should be on the main roster and fighting for the Tag Team Championships already. I’m often met with criticism when I say that because apparently “they ain’t ready”, despite the fact they’ve been in NXT for OVER TWO YEARS as a tag team together. How can they not be ready after two years!?
SAWFT is a franchise waiting to happen. I know they ain’t the greatest wrestlers of all time, but when it comes to entertainment, they’re well up there. How can you not go along with Enzo during their introduction? How can you not spell SAWFT when Big Cass does? Again, if you ain’t watching NXT, you’re missing out. Kapeesh?
The New Day
If someone told me a couple of years ago that The New Day would be carrying Raw & Smackdown, and topping this list, I would have told you to shut the hell up. I just cannot wrap my head around how entertaining these guys are right now. And it’s not just one or two of them, it’s all three working together.
You either love them, or you hate them, and that’s as beautiful as a unicorn. They spark emotion from everyone, and I can’t help but laugh at their antics. Xavier Woods with his trombone, Kofi with his impressions, Big E with his dancing, it’s just perfect. For a long time I was saying Kofi wouldn’t amount to anything, but he’s finally proven me wrong.
I remember Xavier Woods when he was in TNA as one half of Lethal Consequences with Jay Lethal. He was super entertaining back then, so I always knew he had it in him, and we’re finally seeing it. I wasn’t watching NXT when Big E was there, but apparently he was really charismatic on his own.
WWE must allow some creative freedom, because there’s no way everything they say is material written by the creative team. No way. They must have some input in their promos, because they sound so natural in their delivery.
It’s almost like everything they touch turns to gold. Seth Rollins. Sheamus. Team BAD. Anyone who rolls with The New Day is automatically more entertaining. The New Day is pushing the envelope on creative freedom, and I hope it continues because we need more colourful characters these days.
And that’s it from me. I hope I ain’t bored you with my biased opinions. As you may have noticed, NXT is the show I look forward to the most. Have a good day, and a good night, and I’ll see you again after I write Wrestlemania 26 for the series. Before I go, I just need you to remember one thing … NEW DAY SUCKS! and that’s cool. Thanks for reading.
