BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
(FOUR) BRAD MADDOX
I watch FCW regularly and enjoy it. They have a lot of good talent down there grooming and preparing for their jump to “the big leagues”. I considered Leo Kruger, Husky Harris, Richie Steamboat, and Seth Rollins. When it was said and done, I just liked Brad Maddox more. He’s a great character and I love his mic skills. He could be a great weasel heel in the WWE. He’s pretty good in the ring so I hope they don’t brand him in a Santino-like comedy gimmick. A friend and I recently had a fantasy booking session and joked about how Maddox should debut as Undertaker’s son. There is a lot of cool ideas along with that, but it just goes to show how highly we think of him.
(THREE) DAMIEN SANDOW
Damien Sandow grew on me. When I first saw him I was bored. He came off as just another big guy who couldn’t entertain his way out of a paper bag. I was wrong and I admit it. Sandow has been one of the most consistent guys on the show. He gets your attention and he holds it more than most of the roster. He’s not an “indie darling” like the top 2, but he’s solid and can only get better. Since he started wearing the robe and sporting the bad ass beard he looks like a super star. He has something going for him that hasn’t been around in wrestling in awhile. I think he could have really strong success in WWE.
(TWO) ANTONIO CESARO
I never caught the dude in ROH. I missed the boat on that stuff completely. So when I saw him for the first time my mind was blown. He has a natural feel to him. He feels like he’s teaching and carrying anyone that’s in the ring with him. He is heads and shoulders above everyone else in terms of “natural presence”. The guy is good in the ring and is easy to get into. His old school grappler feel works. I can’t see Vince McMahon not going ga-ga over him and giving him a good run. The awesome thing is that I’m very confident that Cesaro will be able to firmly back up any push and attention he gets.
(ONE) DEAN AMBROSE
Some wrestlers have “it” and some don’t. Dean Ambrose does and then some. The dude is easily the best performer in FCW. He owns every second of everyone’s attention from the second he appears from the curtain until the time he’s exiting through the same curtains. He has a way about him that’s not like anyone else. He has a certain presence that’s not like ANYONE’s. He has a Jake Roberts meets Raven meets Rowdy Piper and Brian Pillman and all of the best mic workers type of appeal. His voice demands attention and his delivery is on the level of what I consider the best promo cutters of all time. He doesn’t go in and do a lot of high spots. His wrestling style fits in with the WWE style perfectly. This guy is going to be a HUGE star in the WWE. I can’t wait until they pull the trigger with this dude. Seriously, get on youtube and look. You see certain performers and you just know they’re going to be great. That’s what Dean Ambrose brings to the table.
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