However, it's been rumored that the WWE had five names in mind when all the talk about signing ROH talent began a week or so before Danielson inked. While ROH contracts may be easier to get out of than, say, a WWE contract, it seems most guys are willing to honor their commitments before jetting off. While the next wave may not happen for awhile, something inside me says that it'll happen. So, who are the names? I have a few:
Claudio Castagnoli
Pros: One of the very few indie stars who has size enough to compete, a competant worker in all styles, unique gimmick and talking ability
Cons: Was with the WWE before and they dropped him before doing anything with him, may not accept again because of his status with the Chikara Wrestle Factory
To be honest, the WWE would be quite stupid not to have Double C on their radar again. Whatever happened between him and the brass before should be filed under "letting bygones be bygones", especially when you're talking about a guy with as much talent as Castagnoli. Double C could be an effective heel for years to come in the States while being one of the few who could draw internationally because of his affinity towards the continent of Europe (remember, he's not "Very Swiss", he's "Very European", and Switzerland is sort of a crossroad country with connections to France, Italy and Germany).
Chris Hero
Pros: Another rare guy who's big enough for the WWE to take seriously, good worker, has ability to provide good material for promos
Cons: Looks goofy at times, has potential to look awkward in the ring, promo delivery not as crisp as better talkers in indies
If I were going to put money on the next person to get snapped up by Titan, it's Hero. Yes, I think he has more negatives than Double C (and to be honest, if size weren't an issue, I'd be looking at El Generico, Austin Aries, Human Tornado and Kenny King before him too), but he wouldn't be going straight to the bigs anyway. He'd be given time to work on his negatives down in Florida, and I think a little work in the WWE main event style would do wonders for a guy like Hero who looks a bit out of place at times. You can't teach size, you can't teach innate ability, and Hero has both.
Austin Aries
Pros: Fantastic talker, great worker, very expressive and can exude charisma without talking
Cons: Current gimmick based on being a "sports entertainment-style" heel is hit-or-miss, might be too small for WWE to consider
Apparently, the New Double A's (Arn Anderson will always be the original Double A to me) heel schtick, which KILLED at the tapings I went to in June, isn't going over so well in other cities. A shame, because Aries can just make a sidelong glance at someone and show more character than most people can with a prolonged heel promo (looking at you, Randy Orton). Still, Aries has enough charisma to succeed majorly at the next level. He's also a very good heel worker who can get over very easily to a WWE audience. He's the kind of cheap-heat heel who not only can get himself over, but get a bland face over just by association. The main problem though? Well, he's 5'9" and that might be an embellishment. However, Rey Mysterio is (was?) a credible face draw for them at 5'6". He's the same billed height as Evan Bourne. The difference, though, they're both faces. Underdog shrimpiness works for faces. For heels? Well, it is uncharted territory. The WWE could stand to try out the Napoleonic heel, and Aries is perfect for that role. At this point, it's hard to see whether he'd be considered at all, but if he was, I think he'd kill at the next level.
Davey Richards
Pros: Good worker, has rapport with Danielson
Cons: A little whitebread in personality, on the short side
DR seems to be the guy that the indie fans think will be signed next. I honestly don't see why he'd be an immediate want, but then again, I also don't get heel Randy Orton or intense face Triple H (as opposed to DX Triple H, which is amusing at times). Still, it's hard to deny DR's cred. He's over wherever he goes, and he seems to have the look of a typical WWE superstar if not the size. I can't shake the feeling that the AmWolves are more of an indie act based on their workrate. Time will tell.
Eddie Kingston
Pros: Good promo, can attract Latinos (especially if Rey quits and goes back to Mexico because of his suspension), good brawling skills
Cons: If Nick Dinsmore was too fat for the WWE, then Kingston might have problems, needs to work on ring presence
That's a name you probably didn't expect, eh? Honestly, I think Kingston is a guy that the WWE has on their radar specifically because of demographics. Rey Mysterio is such a draw for the Latino community, which is more receptive to wrestling than most other ethnic/racial groups. Why not try to capitalize on it further with a better-talking, better-working, better-everything version of Savio Vega? The only things that hold Kingston back are his body type and his ring presence. While works fine enough, I get the feeling sometimes that Kingston has the tendency to be boring in the ring. Even against Team Uppercut at King of Trios, I had a hard time really getting into the match because of Kingston. I'm not sure if it's just a problem I have or if other people notice it too. Could be the former, since Kingston is one of the most widely praised wrestlers in the indies by crowds who follow him. Also, he isn't muscular by any means, so he has to work hard to keep his weight down. The WWE has a thing against "fatties" unless you're Samoan (in quotes because their standards are like those of an anorexic teenager). Still, don't be surprised if Kingston goes to the bigs at some point.
As an aside... separated at birth?
PAC
Pros: Best high-flyer in the indies
Cons: Size
Finally, there's PAC. He's not on ROH's roster and has only worked 2 shows for them, but who said that the WWE's indie scope was limited to ROH? Titan LOVES them some high-flyers, noted by the pushing of guys like Jeff Hardy, Mysterio, John Morrison and Evan Bourne over the last decade. For them to pass up a guy like PAC would be insane. He can do some incredibly jaw-dropping stuff, including 630-degree sentons, insane rotations on the SSP, impossible-looking corkscrew moonsaults from the standing position... if Bourne can get over despite not getting as much exposure as other guys because of his SSP, how do you think 'E crowds will react to PAC? No-brainer, I think.
There are other guys who could be considered (Generico, Tornado, King, Kevin Steen, Tyler Black, Necro Butcher, Colt Caba... oh wait, they already tried him), but these six to me seem to be the kinds of guys the WWE would go after for whatever reason. Whether they succeed at the next level or not would mean factoring a lot of other things into the equations, but to me, these guys have the most potential, looking at it from a strictly objective... okay, maybe partially objective point of view.
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