10 Most Improved Wrestlers On The Planet Today
5. Velveteen Dream
The Velveteen Dream isn't yet the finished article.
After his incredible WarGames debutante ball, in which he turned the head of even the stoic, immovable Aleister Black in an hermetic masterclass of content and character, Dream has entered very good, if slightly flawed performances on the TakeOver stage. Even discounting the unseemly botches that blighted his Philadelphia bout with Kassius Ohno, his largely excellent long match with Ricochet in Chicago was a bit...uneven. Disjointed. Lacking the build and inexorable waves of frisson that define the international standard, Dream did, at the finish, prove himself worthy of the stage and the plaudits.
This may have represented a slight regression, were it not for his awesome, continued ability to invite flattering comparisons to the legends of yesteryear. Dream doesn't cosplay; he triggers our memories in order to imprint his character alongside them. It never feels forced, nor cynical. The Dream, one day, will stand on his own on their footing.
Dream just has something that cannot be taught: a star quality that also cannot be ignored. He boasts a character that magnetises creativity. His NXT TV segments are wholly unique. His ascension is recognised by everybody; his opponents, his fans, and those who produce him so magnificently and enthusiastically.
A rough diamond is still a diamond, and Dream, given his age and limited experience, is sharpening all the time.