10 Talents Vince McMahon Will Sign When He Buys TNA

I’m a “diehard” fan of the New York Yankees. So much, that there are times that I watch ballgames through the eyes of a wrestling fan. Emotionally invested in a particular team and its players, rooting for them on the road to the world championship and spitting on each arch rival who stands in their way!

How great would it be to see Alex Rodriguez run up to the mound and hit the pitcher with a foreign object? Or Derek Jeter clothesline a base-runner trying to steal second? Better yet, what if one day, George Steinbrenner came on ESPN and declared that he just bought the Boston Red Sox? And not only did he now own his enemy, but he’d be offering contracts to some of their best players and prospects. ”Dustin Pedroia, Josh Beckett and Kevin Youkilis – you’re getting signed to new contracts!…The rest of you jabroni’s…good luck going back to Triple-A!”

Luckily in Major League Baseball there are more teams and employment options available than there are in the world of professional wrestling. But it wasn’t that long ago when Vince McMahon bought out his rival competition and monopolized the business as we know it. With the current on-air product, I wouldn’t be surprised to one day see Vince McMahon’s face pop up on Spike TV claiming ownership of TNA Wrestling.

Should my Nostradamus-esque prophecy come true, here are the 10 TNA talents Vince McMahon is most likely to sign to new WWE deals:

10 – Awesome Kong & ODB:

Yeah, I know there are two talents occupying one position, but after my explanation, you’ll see that they are one in the same. The “problem” with TNA’s Knockout division is that these women CAN actually wrestle. Now in my book, that’s a VERY good problem to have. But when trying to catch the eye of the WWE hiring department, it’s not so much about your’re ability as it is your look.

So, why didn’t I pick some female talent more appealing to the eye? Well, because WWE prefers to expense a night at a strip club offering local hotties a life off the pole. They have no problem wasting millions on diva search contests, but have never invested a dime in a “butter-face” contest. I’m not saying the WWE needs to appeal to fans with lower self esteem. The point I’m trying to make is that every great hero needs a great villain.

Awesome Kong and ODB bring that vicious relentless heel factor that the current WWE diva division lacks. They would serve as the female equivalent of a heel Kane or Great Kali, and be recognized as the feared monsters in the women’s ranks –  which is in desperate need of a real anti-hero.

9 – Abyss

Speaking of monsters, Abyss fits the WWE bill. Unfortunately, the Abyss character is very limited in what you can do with him, and TNA may have already explored all the effective scenarios that would work before it got stale.

Like Awesome Kong, Abyss needs to be presented as a force (similar to what the original Undertaker was), psychologically pushing his opponents to find a weakness. Ironically, Abyss was offered a contract several years ago to come into the WWE and work a program with the Undertaker – which may have been more effective than it would be now.

The problem with a character like Abyss is that once you trade  his hardcore arsenal for a PG family friendly environment, you’re not left with much. That’s when thew writers come up with the genius plan of putting a monster in comedic routines. And at this point, it looks like TNA already beat them to the punch.

It’s bad enough the character is an over-sized Mankind knockoff. Pair that with a poor Snitsky-like  personality, and fans will be begging for you to put a mask over their head. Abyss needs to evolve and re-image himself as something more than human. As long as the Abyss character is portrayed as part of the comic relief, his value will continue to fall. By signing with the WWE, matches against Undertaker and Kane are no-brainers, but it will be the face off with the Big Show that will have the people talking.

8 – Desmond Wolfe

While most think that the WWE dropped the ball on this one, I personally feel that the former Nigel McGuiness had a better opportunity in TNA. Too bad TNA didn’t realized that.

The problem with McGuiness is that his look is very “cookie-cutter” to most young wrestling talent. Take his ring and mic skills out of the equation, and just look at him…Not much of a difference between him and someone like a Drew McIntyre or Dolph Ziggler is there?

TNA had the reputation of finding some of the best indy talent in the world and putting them on a national stage. It was a no-brainer that this is where the newly named Desmond Wolfe belonged. But like Eddie Murphy’s jungle wife Um-foo-foo asked, “Eddie, what have you done for me lately???”

Desmond/Nigel has yet to make an “impact” in TNA. Sure, McMahon may see a young guy with loads of talent, but fans will remember him as the glorified TNA jobber. Desmond Wolfe snarls potential greatness and if booked correctly on a WWE roster, it would easily put pressure on the  rest of the up and comers to step their game up!

7 – Matt Morgan

Here is one talent that has so much, yet not enough. TNA’s “BluePrint” has the size, strength and look – but he lacks charisma, promo skills and pure interest.

Back in the 80′s, Matt Morgan would have been over like fart in church. In those days, bigger was better – and the bigger they were, the more there was fear that he would be the heel to dethrone Hogan or be the second coming of Hogan if he got over as a face.

Sid Justice/Vicious/Scissor Stabber was a prime example of the type of erection McMahon would get whenever he had a big man on his roster. But the problem with all big men is that they are limited to power moves. And in this day, where the flying plancha is used as every third move in any given match – the routine of punch, kick, powerbomb just doesn’t get the pop that it used to.

If Morgan were pushed more like Sid, he’d have a better chance with focus on his size and strength, as opposed to how he sells for smaller opponents. Rhino is a modern example of how a big man should work – like a runaway train screaming “f*ck the world” as it crashes into a school bus!

Morgan has many similarities to the late Andrew Martin (aka Test) and Kevin Nash (although Nash got over for his swagger). You wanted and expected so much more, but knew you were settling for a whole lot less.  Naturally, a feud against a heel Batista is inevitable. Perhaps they can headline Wrestlemania in a “Battle of The Spot-Blowers”.

6 – James Storm

There’s not much to say about James Storm that hasn’t already been said. He’s a tremendous athlete with a ton of potential. The biggest question regarding his ability is – can he find success as a singles wrestler.

America’s Most Wanted and Beer Money Inc. are hands down two of the best tag teams in the last decade. And it appears that James Storm may infact be the special sauce for both… or is he?

Prior to the AMW split, Chris Harris was being built up for singles matches against heavyweight champion Jeff Jarrett. But what was to be of Storm? After Harris’ departure from TNA, it was time for Storm to shine on his own, but he soon found himself paired up with his current Beer Money partner Robert Roode. Does that mean Storm is unable to carry the weight himself and needs a buddy to fall back on? Is it his choice to work as a team as opposed to working solo? He’s an absolute workhorse in the ring and cuts a hell of a promo on the mic, so what’s the hold up with his singles career?

The fear I have of seeing James Storm under the ownership of McMahon is what resulted in Braden Walker (aka Chris Harris). Vince might see a cowboy and think it’s time to create Smoking Gunns 2010. Another problem I see could be an issue of discipline. Storm’s a great guy, but not the easiest to work with. The minute he gets stuck in something he doesn’t agree with, you’ll notice it in his ring work. James Storm is a wrestler that is all heart, but you won’t get 100% if his heart isn’t in it.  He has all the tools to dance toe to toe with Triple H, Chris Jericho and Edge – but the minute he gets paired up in a short term feud with someone like Carlito or Shamus – all I can say is, “sorry ’bout your damn luck”!

5- Christopher Daniels

It amazes me how Christopher Daniels is constantly overlooked in TNA. He is just as capable as AJ Styles to carry the title in the main event. Daniels is a 15 year veteran who is still waiting for his BIG break. Sure he’s been with TNA since day one and appears weekly on TV and monthly on PPV, but when has he had the chance to really be the top dog?

Not only does Daniels have so much to offer the fans in terms of entertainment and showmanship, but he has so much experience to offer the younger generation in the locker room. It’s a damn shame how Daniels is becoming the modern day Al Snow when he has so much more left in him to offer.

Daniels is a pure bred intellect who shines with his performance in the ring and on the mic, yet he’s under-appreciated for his contributions to the authenticity of TNA as a major company. McMahon would be a fool to pass on Daniels, not only prime player on his roster but as a future investment in grooming the young and the hungry.

Daniles vs. Punk, Jericho, Kofi Kingston, Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio are just a few of the instant classics the WWE Universe could be cashing in on.

4- Hernandez -

Yet another larger than life athelete that would have given McMahon an instant boner in the late 80′s. While Hernandez brings more to the table than your average “big man”, the problem that I foresee is how this Latin sensation would be booked creatively. There’s a HUGE difference between the way Latino wrestlers were booked in the past as opposed to the way they are portrayed today. Not only were stars such as Pedro Morales and Tito Santana championship caliber competitors, but they were viewed as the pride of their nation. Yet somehow as time progressed it became more common to use comedic stereotypes while developing Latin characters. You can argue that the late Eddie Guerrero was a successful character who held the WWE championship, but you can’t argue that his “character” was a stereotypical vato thug with a deep accent, animated swagger and whose ethic was lying, cheating and stealing.

Latin stars have gone from proud ethnic figures to comedic immigrant morons. Hernandez would walk into the WWE one day steamrolling through the competition, then end up laying down for an opponent a fraction of his size in a gimmick “Green Card on a Pole” match…Then again, chances are we have a better shot at seeing that kind of match on TNA next week!

Hernandez is a big man who needs to be booked like a big man. His character works effectively as either a face or a heel, but runs the high risk of losing credibility and value by turning him on a constant basis. With a treasure like Hernandez, you’ll need a firm decision on his direction and stick to it. Matches pitting Hernandez against Batista and Undertaker would tear the house down and could easily headline any major pay per view.  Pro Boxing offers proof of the potential profits when building and banking on successful Hispanic athletes geared towards their geographical home targets.  A star like Hernandez in the WWE would command a third of the ethnic equality and its followings.

3 – Kurt Angle

There’s not much to say here regarding Kurt Angle, considering he’s already been a key player and headliner for the WWE, and those credits are what helped catapult TNA into a position to challenge Vince’s monopoly on Monday nights.

Kurt Angle is arguablly the best wrestler in world. He’s a ring general, a proven locker room leader and a valued mentor to young stars in the business. His intensity and ability to design a flawless match is a gift rarely seen in this business. So what is there left to accomplish by returning to the WWE?…Absolutely nothing. The biggest winners in this aquisition would be the fans who would get an opportunity to see dream matches against a more seasoned Randy Orton, Edge and John Cena and technical clinics against CM Punk, John Morrison,  Ted DiBiasie and Bryan Danielson.

The problem is – would Kurt be able to once again endure the grueling WWE schedule? And how long would it be before he burnt himself out…again?

2 – AJ Styles

AJ is easily one of the most gifted performers I’ve seen in quite some time, but there is something about him that makes me believe that Vince isn’t a big fan of AJ’s “style”.

Sure he fits the bill like every other young acrobat coming out of the WWE developmental factory. But AJ has put plenty of time into this business, and while some say he’s adapting, others may say he’s not growing. After all this time and effort, AJ needs to be the veteran journeyman and not the new kid on the block.

His mic skills and promos prove his lack of character maturity. When he’s not challenging for or defending a title, AJ becomes part of a forced comedy routine that exploits his weakness of being slow with the wit of his tongue. AJ’s innocence is his downfall, as he lacks the character to evoke dramatic emotion as a main-eventer – yet the quality of his matches are worth the price of admission.

Sure AJ holds the TNA world title and headlines pay per views – but is it his face on the posters and promos that carries the weight? AJ has been rewarded for his loyalty to TNA since day one and he rightly deserves to be their world champion, but can AJ do the same for the WWE?

AJ could earn millions for the WWE just by competing in show-stealing dream matches against Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio and Chris Jericho. But given the WWE’s track record of dropping the ball with certain stars that come in with an established style and fan base, AJ could easily get lost in mid card purgatory with meaningless feuds against Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne. AJ Styles in the WWE would be the equivilant of Rob Van Dam’s run – which was less than memorable. Vince has trouble seeing the qualities that fans love in characters like AJ and RVD because he is out of touch with the “in-crowd”.  AJ Styles in the WWE is a ball that cannot afford to be dropped.

1 – Robert Roode

Some of you are scratching your head wondering why I chose Robert Roode as the number one free agent in Vince McMahon’s buyout. Some of you may even feel that Roode hasn’t proven anything in all his years on the TNA roster, and that his success in Beer Money comes from being paired with James Storm who has an established track record of success in tag teams. The truth is – I firmly believe that Robert Roode is single handedly the best pound for pound prospect TNA has on their roster  - and TNA doesn’t have the slightest clue how to use him…but I did.

During the final days of NWA Cyberspace/Shockwave in 2006, I chose to crown Robert Roode as our heavyweight champion. I saw potential in him that I have only seen in few.

At the time, Roode was stuck in the ensemble group of Team Canada, where he pretty much played second fiddle to Petey Williams’ finisher, The Canadian Destroyer. Once the group parted, Roode was given his Wall Street makeover as he donned the robe of Terry Taylor. Now I don’t know if Taylor’s robe gave him the Red Rooster jinx or if TNA creative was clearly that blind that they couldn’t develop his character as a main event player – but I couldn’t help but cringe when I heard of the formation of the Beer Money tag team.

Granted, Beer Money is the best tag team in the world today – but they shouldn’t be. Both men deserve to conquer success as singles competitors. Roode has the tools to be one of the greatest of all time, yet the creative geniuses with the power of the pencil prefers to waste away his prime years as one half of a duo in an age where tag team competition is obsolete.

Robert Roode looks like a man who was constructed from some of the greatest athletes of all time. If you look closely, you can see attributes of Curt Henning, Bret Hart, Hercules Hernandez, Ted Dibiasie, Paul Orndorff, Rick Rude and a young “Stunning” Steve Austin. He exudes confidence, eagerness and devotion. A true student of the arts, Robert Roode is a wrestler’s wrestler who belongs in an environment protected by kayfabe where he is recognized as an athlete rather than an entertainer.

Working with Robert Roode was one of the  better experiences I had as a booker. I was proud to see him wear our championship belt and only wish that the company had lasted long enough to make his reign a significant one.  If given the opportunity, Robert Roode could be the future of the business – you can quote me on that.

I really hope that TNA is able to effectively compete against the WWE for the sake of the business. But should they fail, these are the names that deserve a chance for rebirth within the WWE Universe.

So what do you think of this top ten list? Agree? Disagree? Wondering why some names were left off? Feel free to post your comments. Let the discussions begin!