10 Non-Wrestlers WWE Or AEW Should Sign
Where in the world is Lucha Underground's Dario Cueto? Get him to WWE or AEW...
There's a lot more to professional wrestling than professional wrestlers. This is a form of entertainment after all, and it just wouldn't be the same without the managers, announcers, mentors and trainers. Teamwork makes the dream work, or something along those lines.
WWE may have largely shunned the art of the manager or standout interviewer, but you don't need to rewind the tape too far until you're back in the times of Bobby Heenan, Gene Okerlund, the Stooges and others. There is plenty of value to be found outside the squared circle.
If anything, AEW has gone in the complete opposite direction. Dynamite is chock-full of managers and mentors, a veritable who's who of legends looking to shepherd the men and women of tomorrow. The benefits have been clear and it is somewhat surprising that WWE hasn't learnt from them, although old fashioned McMahon stubbornness is probably the reason for that.
Despite WWE and AEW building an ever-larger monopoly on talent in the pro wrestling world, there remains plenty of quality outside the respective mitts of the two promotions. Managers, announcers, trainers, valets, business associates and actual doctors (of style, no less); who should WWE and AEW be on the lookout for?
10. Karlee Perez
Everyone comes back to WWE eventually, even if to see that they were lucky to get out in the first place. Keep that in mind when CM Punk returns, by the way. This world is cyclical.
Everyone except Maxine, it seems. Real name Karlee Perez, she first came to the attention of WWE fans in 2010 as part of the third season of NXT, the all-female season that was eventually won by future Divas Champion Kaitlyn. Not a whole lot of anything happened during that season but Maxine returned for season five, starring alongside Derrick Bateman (EC3), Johnny Curtis (Fandango) and Kaitlyn in the best part of a quite terrible show.
With all that in mind, why would WWE or AEW make a play for Perez? You only need to look at the work she did in Lucha Underground. Cast as Catrina, Perez was one of the focal points of the early seasons of that show, magically portraying an ethereal yet imposing valet for Mil Muertes. Perez really came into her own in Boyle Heights, showing confidence and ability that was only hinted at in NXT.
Karlee Perez hasn't been seen in the wrestling world for a while but that is only to the detriment of the industry.