10 Most Drastic Differences Between Wrestlers In And Out Of WWE
Sheepherders? That's a funny name. I'd have called them Bushwhackers!
The thing about WWE is that they don't know how to promote talent to the public because they are so removed from them.
This disconnect from reality stretched to the MACS0647-JD galaxy last week, as WWE asked its audience whether Edge Vs. Randy Orton in an empty Performance Center could end up being the "greatest match ever". Hilariously, this was framed as more of a question than a balls-out declaration; that way, WWE can say "Hey, we were only shooting the sh*t, guys, it's your fault for getting your hopes up!"
Vince McMahon hasn't yet lost it entirely, but he has, let's face it, because his version of promoting a talent nowadays is Austin Theory, who we're meant to receive as a prodigy but is in fact a rubbish mute orphan.
The company is capable of course correction - Smilin' Finn Bálor is closer now to his old Bullet Club leader self, even if a page from a Vince Russo script got stuck in the telepod that transported him from the main roster to NXT - but the stark, glum truth of it is that you're probably best off intentionally botching your indy run.
That way, there will be no abject frame of reference...
10. Jon Moxley
Outside of WWE:
Actually cool. Jon Moxley is a John Carpenter protagonist in his never say die persistence and, literally, an eye patch. His threats of violence A) sound cool and B) are substantiated in awesome matches that sent the wives of prominent wrestling journos reaching for the smelling salts. Most recently, he promised to rain down a "hailstorm of violence" on Brodie Lee in what was a tremendous badass babyface threat so effective that it pumped the blood ahead of a fairly mid World title programme. Moxley is a swaggering warlord self-effacing in the face of danger, a one-liner machine, and, in New Japan Pro Wrestling, he's even better. Swearing isn't automatically cool, but it is when Moxley refers to Zack Sabre, Jr. as a "human f*cking udon noodle". Moxley gets the wit, bravado and rhythms of the strong style standoff - it is the perfect stage for his expressive facial expressions, body language and tough guy schtick - which is rather a lot more compelling than the wacky line.
In WWE:
A heel who wasn't fond of the fans because they smell.