NXT's "bonafide G and certified stud" may seem to be a long-shot on this list, but in having the heart of a lion in the ring and a truly next-level gift of gab, there's elements of Piper's legacy very strongly at play in the developing NXT performer. As well, similar to Piper, Amore's an undersized loud mouth who finds a way to get the job done. Maybe not so similar to Piper in his WWE days, but check out some of Piper's very early work in the Los Angeles territory, and the irascible Hot Scot definitely bears a close resemblance to Amore. Is Amore watching those tapes? One certainly hopes that this is the case. There's tons there that would allow him to further enhance his developing persona and in-ring work.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
