The Official WWE / NXT Discussion Thread *May Contain Spoilers*

[ampulator]

Why do I get the feeling that people think WWE wants the entire nexus to become Bret Harts or Steve Austins?

 

They still have Morrison, Punk, Miz, Dolph, etc who have shown that they can get over and go in the ring too.

 

In the end, the Nexus might get 3 world title reigns max (at least 2 from Barrett if this happens) but they will just be the next generation of midcarders with a select few (Wade, maybe Slater) doing anything major

Actually, Slater has the perfect skills to be an enhancement talent. The problem is... he just doesn't fit in the WWE. His skillset is entirely what WWE doesn't want or need. Why do you think they left him in development so long? To develop his in-ring skills? Other than his lack of pizzaz, he's solid, if unspectacular, in the ring.

 

However, the guy has the charisma of a piece wood, and he absolutely butchers a promo or a skit. The man is just not good at it. That's not to mention the guy doesn't do a heel well by himself.

 

Only Otunga (who's a natural at it) and Wade Barrett are comfortable on the mic. The rest, are, well, not bad, but not near ready for prime-time on the mic. I would have to say the "rookies" are all pretty solid in the ring... they just don't have the skills WWE needs.

 

WWE needs managers... but the pool of good managers have pretty much disappeared.

[ChrisKid]

Why do I get the feeling that people think WWE wants the entire nexus to become Bret Harts or Steve Austins?

 

They still have Morrison, Punk, Miz, Dolph, etc who have shown that they can get over and go in the ring too.

 

In the end, the Nexus might get 3 world title reigns max (at least 2 from Barrett if this happens) but they will just be the next generation of midcarders with a select few (Wade, maybe Slater) doing anything major

 

Only three i can see staying in WWE would be Barrett, Slater and Gabriel maybe Otunga but not Sheffield and Tarver i think Gabriel could be an Intercontinental Contender and Slater Tag Team, Barrett would be World Championship

[Self]

Barrett, Gabriel and Sheffield are my picks.

 

I think Sheffield has been consistently under-rated by internet wrestling fans since day one. He was doing a fun comedy gimmick that the internet usually hates, and he looks like he'd be terrible in the ring. You know, muscle-bound and Batista-ish. However, in the first match I saw him in on NXT, he was running all over the place, hopping over the turnbuckles, being surprisingly nimble for a guy his size. While Otunga and Young are bodybuilders who occasionally look awkward and clumsy, Sheffield is an athlete. I'm high on him. I'd be tempted put Gabriel and Sheffield together as the Nexus tag team, and give them the straps. Could be a nice combination of power & agility, and with Barrett as their mouthpiece could do something fun with the Hart Dynasty.

[Linsolv]

<p>If I had to pick a top 3... Barrett, Sheffield, Gabriel would have to be mine as well, I think.</p><p> </p><p>

I can't get past Justin Gabriel's versatility. I said before that I don't care about the 450 splash, and I meant it, but while he plays a great face, he also has these incredibly angry facial expressions he can apparently just put on all the time and look more heelish than anyone on NXT.</p><p> </p><p>

Sheffield, I haven't noticed any problems with and he's built like a Mack truck. Maybe I haven't noticed stuff that is obvious but Self said the same thing.</p><p> </p><p>

Barrett -- I like everything about Wade Barrett. Have since... maybe not day 1 but certainly day 7.</p>

[LoNdOn]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Linsolv" data-cite="Linsolv" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>If I had to pick a top 3... Barrett, Sheffield, Gabriel would have to be mine as well, I think.<p> </p><p> I can't get past Justin Gabriel's versatility. I said before that I don't care about the 450 splash, and I meant it, but while he plays a great face, he also has these incredibly angry facial expressions he can apparently just put on all the time and look more heelish than anyone on NXT.</p><p> </p><p> Sheffield, I haven't noticed any problems with and he's built like a Mack truck. Maybe I haven't noticed stuff that is obvious but Self said the same thing.</p><p> </p><p> Barrett -- I like everything about Wade Barrett. Have since... maybe not day 1 but certainly day 7.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I could see 6 of them doing something in WWE. The one who I think has no place anywhere let alone the WWE is Michael Tarver. Literally everything he does is crap.</p>

[RingofHonorGuard]

<p>I really like Wade Barrett, Skip Sheffield, and to an extent David Otunga. </p><p> </p><p>

Not really much into Slater or Gabriel, because they aren't very good heel characters.</p><p> </p><p>

I cannot stand Tarver or Young... </p><p> </p><p>

Barrett just has a natural aura about him. When I look at Wade Barrett, he's convincing enough looking to be a champion, albeit his wrestling ability could certainly improve. </p><p> </p><p>

Skip Sheffield has some serious intensity about him. His eyes and the way he carries himself walking reminds me of Sid Vicious in the 90s, and that's a huge compliment.</p><p> </p><p>

David Otunga can talk, but he definitely belongs as a tag team wrestler. He's just not competent enough in the ring to be a successful singles star.</p>

[Hyde Hill]

<p>To be fair Bisch's response to response to caldwell's BS he meant it as eaygrat pointed out. Lack of established stars not critique on youth movement.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Critical?<p> Wednesday, 18 August 2010 Eric Bischoff </p><p> “TNA consultant Eric Bischoff published a blog on ericbischoff.com yesterday critical of WWE's recent "youth push" based on low TV ratings on Monday's episode of Raw among adult males.”</p><p> </p><p> This was the opening paragraph on Wade Keller’s site posted by James Caldwell.</p><p> </p><p> Critical?</p><p> </p><p> Where exactly was I critical of WWE’s recent youth push? What harsh words did my blog utilize to critique the talent, scripting or strategy of building new stars?</p><p> </p><p> Hold on a minute, let me go back and read my blog again. Maybe I did.</p><p> </p><p> I will be right back.</p><p> </p><p> Nope. I was right. I was not critical of WWE’s current “youth movement”. What I DID do was point out the fact that established talent (and many of those over 40) rate well in the key demos (M 18-34 and M 18-49) and I used WWE’s current ratings and recent comments to Wall Street that support this fact.</p><p> </p><p> Now I know this may feel like a criticism to guys like Caldwell who find facts like these to be an affront to him and people like him, because it flies in the face of the lemming like dialog that is so popular among his readers, but I assure you there was no malice in my words.</p><p> </p><p> The fact (I am using this word a lot lately) is that I applaud WWE’s efforts to build a new generation of stars. They have done an amazing job developing the developmental territory in Florida and while I think NXT is a patchwork mess of “kind of a reality, kind of a wrestling show” from a creative and production perspective, I also applaud the investment and effort to showcase young stars there.</p><p> </p><p> But I also know that using established stars to help bring credibility, awareness and experience to younger starts is the correct formula to successfully target key male demos. History has proven it.</p><p> </p><p> The numbers don’t lie, they don’t have an agenda, and they don’t try to attract headlines on IWC sites in an attempt to gain favor.</p></div></blockquote>

[Self]

So apparently Skip Sheffield broke his ankle last night at a House Show in Honolulu, which... sucks. Really sucks.

[BHK1978]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="ampulator" data-cite="ampulator" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>WWE needs managers... but the pool of good managers have pretty much disappeared.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> They are to be blamed for that. Because they no longer use traditional managers, the rest of the industry has followed them (yes I know there are still managers but I am talking about how they were back in the 1980's).</p>

[SeanMcFly]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Self" data-cite="Self" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>So apparently Skip Sheffield broke his ankle last night at a House Show in Honolulu, which... sucks. Really sucks.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> WWE Storyline version - Nexus Kicks Sheffield out, he comes back months later and turns face and lays waste to Nexus... should they still be around since SummerSlam pretty much killed their momentum. <img alt=":(" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[SaySo]

<p>SeanMcFly, don't really see how SummerSlam killed their momentum. They were down to John Cena. And Cena is treated as the Hulkamania of our era. It wasn't like they were going to lose to a midcarder with a 2-1 advantage. That's why Cena had to win the match instead of Daniel Bryan. The match went 35 minutes. If it ended anytime sooner, then that pretty much killed their momentum. Their momentum dropped, but not killed imo. And it shows that when both sides have numbers, the veteran experienced teams normally prevail. Otherwise, their beatdowns the last couple of months have been outnumbering their victims.</p><p> </p><p>

Speaking of managers, the last notable WWE manager was Armando Alejandro Estrada. Natayla has been doing a lot of valet work these days.</p>

[Anderz]

Natalya needs a megaphone before I can take her seriously..

[RingofHonorGuard]

Yep, this Nexus angle is going to blow up and go nowhere at this point... Unless they add a few new guys to it. Skip Sheffield gone now, and that was probably their most intimidating figure.... They should bring one of the cut NXTS2 guys in to fill that spot. Husky Harris maybe?

[LoNdOn]

Yep, this Nexus angle is going to blow up and go nowhere at this point... Unless they add a few new guys to it. Skip Sheffield gone now, and that was probably their most intimidating figure.... They should bring one of the cut NXTS2 guys in to fill that spot. Husky Harris maybe?

 

Good shout! I have a feeling they might try and rope Danielson back in though.

[Slagaholic]

If Danielson turns heel again so quickly it would be a horrible mistake.

[The Shape]

Gutted for Sheffield, he was basically second in command. Expect to see Husky brought in, makes a lot of sense, just hope it doesn't mean we see Otunga step up a bit in their little hierarchy.

[LoNdOn]

If Danielson turns heel again so quickly it would be a horrible mistake.

 

Hey, I don't want to see it.

 

I think they should say that Husky beat the crap out of Sheffield to prove how badass he is and got recruited in his place.

[RingofHonorGuard]

Cottonwood would also be another possibility for replacement. He's kinda slow and so therefore easily manipulated. Nexus needs someone by Monday night to be that "enforcer" style role or they're going to quickly start looking like Wade Barrett & The Small Fries.

 

I mean you have a barely middleweight ginger guy who they basically buried while plugging Wendy's at the same time. A guy that is really only getting any recognition for his 450 splash... Tarver can't do anything worthwhile, and just genuinely looks stupid with his little half-mask. Otunga just isn't big enough to be doing half of the big man moves he tries to do, like Faarooq's standing spinebuster.

 

It's just going to turn into a joke if they don't get someone bigger in there that can make something happen.

[FlameSnoopy]

Just to create some discussion from SmackDown.. so SPOILERS..

 

I liked the debut of Dos Caras Jr, they made him look like a decent athlete in just one night. Not THAT awesome, but decent. He really has the potential to be a World champion, face or heel.

[ChrisKid]

Gutted for Sheffield, he was basically second in command. Expect to see Husky brought in, makes a lot of sense, just hope it doesn't mean we see Otunga step up a bit in their little hierarchy.

 

I always thought it was

The Nexus Hierachy

Barrett

Gabriel

Sheffield

Tarver

Otunga

Slater

[The Shape]

I always thought it was

The Nexus Hierachy

Barrett

Gabriel

Sheffield

Tarver

Otunga

Slater

 

I dunno...obviously Gabriel's been made to look good but in terms of who you'd expect to voice an opinion, Sheffield often gets handed the mic second. Gabriel seems like someone who doesn't care if he's in charge, he just wants to 450 splesh people. Agree on the rest though they're fairly interchangable...definitely the bottom three so long as Otunga doesn't get any big ideas.

[ChrisKid]

I dunno...obviously Gabriel's been made to look good but in terms of who you'd expect to voice an opinion, Sheffield often gets handed the mic second. Gabriel seems like someone who doesn't care if he's in charge, he just wants to 450 splesh people. Agree on the rest though they're fairly interchangable...definitely the bottom three so long as Otunga doesn't get any big ideas.

 

I think if Nexus was just the top three it would be a lot better

[LoNdOn]

he just wants to 450 splesh people.

 

That was either a very witty remark, or just a genuine spelling mistake. I laughed my arse off regardless.

[LoNdOn]

Couple of thoughts on Smackdown....

 

Kane's promo was enthralling. The music really added to the overall experience.

 

Mysterio is really playing the Spanish angle as of late. I'm guessing this is WWE's way of gaining a stronger footing in the Latin community.

 

Who knew Rene Dupree was Mexican!

[Candyman]

I dunno...obviously Gabriel's been made to look good but in terms of who you'd expect to voice an opinion, Sheffield often gets handed the mic second. Gabriel seems like someone who doesn't care if he's in charge, he just wants to 450 splesh people. Agree on the rest though they're fairly interchangable...definitely the bottom three so long as Otunga doesn't get any big ideas.

 

Otunga's the guy that gets the mic second IIRC, but Sheffield definitely gets to talk too along with Tarver. But Sheffield was always made to look strong in the beatdowns too...I think it's safe to say he was second overall to Barrett, both in terms of how they were booked and the potential they have. If it's indeed a broken ankle, that really sucks for him.

 

I don't know how I feel about replacing him...it really depends on the long term plans for the group, which we don't know obviously. But if they do decide a replacement is necessary. I wouldn't complain about Husky Harris being the guy.