WWE Interested In New 'Shooters' Stable For Smackdown?
Creative want amateur standouts to band together?
Some time ago, before he made his way to the main roster alongside American Alpha teammate Jason Jordan, there was talk of Chad Gable fronting a stable of 'shooters' down in NXT. The concept was that he would lead a group of guys with amateur wrestling or pro fighting experience against the rest of the hopefuls in Florida.
The idea was ultimately nixed because Vince McMahon wasn't keen on it and felt as though it would hurt everybody involved.
Now, however, there is talk of doing something similar on WWE Smackdown with Shelton Benjamin (once he recovers from rotator cuff surgery in about six months time), Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger. The feeling is that it would be similar to WCW's 'Varsity Club' stable in the 80s, which featured Rick Steiner, Steve Williams, Mike Rotunda, Kevin Sullivan and Dan Spivey.
Benjamin is a former University of Minnesota standout and teammate of Brock Lesnar. Following his collegiate career, he transitioned into the role of a coach and contemplated training for the 2000 Olympics before deciding to try his hand at pro-wrestling and inking a WWE developmental deal.
Ziggler was just this week inducted into the Kent State University's Varsity 'K' Hall of Fame for his impressive amateur wrestling exploits while attending the school between 1999-2003. The Show-Off began wrestling as an amateur at the age of 5.
Swagger, meanwhile, set the University of Oklahoma single-season record for most pins in the 285 pounds (129 kg) weight class (30) and was an All-American.
Clearly, all three guys have the legitimate pedigree to pull it off and make it believable, but it remains to be seen whether Vince McMahon is on board. As always, he has final say on all creative matters.