WWE is a massive conglomerate in today's wrestling world. It's promoted as a haven for many aspiring wrestlers who seek out the bright lights, big cities, and the important word: "chance." "Chance." That's a funny word, isn't it? "Chance." Because as lofty and aspiring it may be to be labeled a WWE Superstar at one point in your career, there are many people who will tell you being a WWE Superstar did little to nothing in their career. Likewise, there are others who will tell you WWE may have ruined their careers. Shane Douglas was a hot heel in ECW before he came to WWF. How did WWF treat him? They made him Dean Douglas. That's right: Dean Douglas (Side note: God, I HATE 1995 WWF; the one year that almost ended my love for the industry.). Colt Cabana is another example of someone that got saddled with a bad gimmick and fizzled in WWE. And then there's the NXT talent that have been called up. For every Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins that ascends to equal heights they enjoyed in NXT, there's The Ascension, No Way Jose, Adam Rose, "Mighty Mouse" Neville, Tye Dillinger, Sanity, Authors of Pain, Hideo Itami, Bobby Roode, The Revival, Finn Balor, Asuka, and (yes, I'm putting him with this group) Shinsuke Nakamura. These people all saw their stock go tumbling down faster than Facebook on the main roster upon their call-up. One could argue a couple of them are climbing back up somewhat (Heel Nakamura for example). But it's fair to say their rise to the bright lights led to their fading relevance. Yes, the paychecks must be nice. But let's not pretend Finn Balor is smiling completely when being told to have a promo next to a playhouse.
Outside the WWE, however, the wrestling landscape has not been this great (the ability for talent to still make money and succeed outside the corporate structure and "unique work environment/Vince problems" that is WWE) since WCW closed. Do I need to say "Bullet Club?" Really. I'm asking: Do I really need to say it? They are the talk of the wrestling world and have sold out a 10,000 seat arena in 30 minutes. ROH and NJPW, likewise, just announced a WrestleMania weekend show at Madison Square Garden, which would set a record for any event held outside of WWE in America since AT LEAST the end of WCW. ROH and NJPW both have large streaming services that allow for greater profits and distribution availability to current and new fans across the globe. Impact Wrestling seems to finally be steering the ship in the right direction with The Jackal Don Callis at the helm. The NWA is likewise trying to rise from the dead. And, if you work for any of those companies and worry about merchandising, Pro Wrestling Tees has opened up the possibility of getting more profits with a highly successful business. The point of this whole paragraph is that while the WWE is still the top of the wrestling food chain, there is more than plenty for the rest of the companies and the workers in the industry to get their fill and then some.
All that being said, there are several performers that I believe need to look at the cold reality: going to WWE could actually be harmful to their bottom line than if they stayed out. For these wrestlers, going into the WWE has too high a risk that could (for the moment) ruin their brand and cause them to actually lose money in the long run.
5. Cody- This one is a little unique since he formerly worked for the company. But honestly, how can someone look at Cody (RHODES, DANG IT!) and not say he's in a MUCH better place now than he was in 2016? He was straddled with a terrible Goldust ripoff gimmick and not allowed to reach his full potential. Since leaving the company, he has expanded his character, become a world champion, joined the hottest faction in wrestling, wrestled all over the world, made 7 figures in one year (for the first time according to Cody himself), guest starred on Arrow several times, has been part of a hot YouTube series, and co-promoted the aforementioned All-In coming in September. While going back to WWE to try to reach further stardom might be tempting, let's be honest: 1) WWE would likely not know what to do with him or just flat out not use him, 2) they'd straddle him with yet another bad gimmick or midcard storyline, and 3) Cody would lose a lot of the opportunities he's had outside the company and lose the "hip factor" that comes from being involved in what is in essence (though has never been fully described as) a rebellion against WWE in the wrestling world. Cody needs to ride the waves as much as he can (pun to Jericho's cruise that Cody is booked on unintended), and if he never returns to WWE to be a midcarder, I think he'll find himself in a better position.
4. Zack Sabre Jr.- Sabre did indeed wrestle for WWE briefly during the Cruiserweight Classic a couple years back, but after seeing what WWE did with 205 Live, I am thankful that Sabre had the sense to not sign a contract with the company. (Anyone watching that tournament knew Ibushi and Sabre were far above the actual finalists on that show.) Sabre's style of wrestling would get the type of treatment that a Lance Storm had received in 2003. Remember that Lance Storm? Well, let me fill you in and remind you how Lance Storm was treated...
Boring!
Now, having seen more than a few Sabre matches now, I can tell you that Sabre's facial expressions are anything but boring. But that's not how Vince would have seen Sabre. Now, you may be thinking "Oh, wait, C Dub. Sabre worked for WWE in the Cruiserweight Classic? Vince surely paid attention to that." My response would be "You think he even watches NXT?" Bottom line: Sabre would be buried in WWE. I have no qualms in saying that and will defend that against anyone who argues otherwise. Vince would see him and go "Damn, pal. Eat a steak. Next." So, yeah. The great technical wrestler that is Zack Sabre Jr, the master of Orienteering with Napalm Death and the reason Taka Michinoku is relevant in 2018, should ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY UNEQUIVOCABLY NEVER work for WWE on a full-time contract. To quote Taka, if Sabre has any plans of doing so, those plans should "JUST TAP OUT!"
3. The Young Bucks- Take a lot of what I wrote about Cody and put it here. The Bucks are INSANELY over without having been in WWE. Bullet Club, Being The Elite (The The Elite, just had to say it), ROH, NJPW, Hot Topic, All-In, and so much more. Why in the world would the Bucks want to trade all that away to work for a company where they'd see 1/4 of what they are getting and without the creative freedom that has made them what they are? It'd be the biggest blunder since Jeremy Piven promoting SummerFest 2009!!!!
2. Kazuchika Okada- This one is probably one people haven't really thought about, but it is one I wanted to mention because there's a historical reason why Okato... I mean, Okada should NEVER ever want to permanently work in America. Okato... Seriously
Yeah. That's Okada in probably one of the most insensitive gimmicks you are ever going to find someone shoehorned into. (Well, there's a guy in PA who's probably #1 in insensitive gimmicks at the moment, but that's another story.) If TNA could do that to Okada, imagine what they would do to Okada. Oh, you still don't believe me. I know what you're thinking. "Oh, C Dub. That's 2011. Okada in 2018, the 7 star match Okada, The Rainmaker Okada, would NEVER EVER be treated badly by WWE. Because WWE is a major corporation who treats all wrestlers of all nationalities greatly on TV." I give you Exhibit B on why Okada needs to stay away from WWE. Remember this?: Jinder's Racist Promo on Nakamura. That's right: It's Jinder Mahal cutting a racist promo on Shinsuke Nakamura on Live TV, a promo he repeated for 3 weeks. At one point, the fans even chant "That's too far." It was humiliating to anyone with any small bit of decency. Oh and for the record: The racist won the feud. That's WWE for ya.
Then, there's the third reason Okada should stay away from WWE: Vince McMahon doesn't give a crap what you do in NXT, let alone Japan. Look at Asuka. She was built as an absolute monster in NXT, having an undefeated streak 2.5 years long! After coming up to the main roster, she loses to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania and hasn't stopped losing big matches since. She's not even on TV at the moment on SmackDown Live. The Empress of Tomorrow became "Just Another Employee on My Roster" to Vince. Gallows and Anderson were monster heels in Japan. In WWE, they're doing bad comedy sketches, calling people nerds, and jobbing on the 2-3 times they're on national TV every year. And Finn Balor.... do I need to say anything more than the Constable Corbin storyline?! Or how about that epic, awesome, unparalleled delight that was The Demon vs. Sister Abigail?! If Bray Wyatt hadn't come down with the mumps, we'd have that match stuck in our heads forever the same way The Shockmaster can never be truly forgotten.
For all these reasons and more, Okada should continue to be The Rainmaker in New Japan, be the poster child for the company, grow his legend, and maintain his credibility that he helped establish with his legendary matches. I don't want to see Okada having to wrestle Sister Abigail anytime soon. (You and I both know Sister Abigail will be back eventually.)
1. Kenny Omega- This is basically a scenario of the greatest hits of many of the previous entries on this list. Kenny Omega is the talk of the wrestling world for many reasons. He's the leader of the hottest faction in wrestling. He's a member of The Elite (The, The Elite). He's New Japan's hottest global star. His shirts fly off shelves at Hot Topic and at Pro Wrestling Tees. He's broken Dave Meltzer's match rating system to the point of further proving its irrelevance. Kenny Omega is the King of the Underground when it comes to Independent Pro Wrestlers. And here's the thing, folks: If you haven't seen him before, take it from me: He lives up to the hype. He's that great.
Here's another fact about Kenny Omega: He WAS originally in WWE's developmental system when it was Deep South Wrestling back in 2005-2006. But, according to Ringside News (via Wikipedia), Kenny Omega left due to not receiving the proper training in his opinion. Omega is the Golden Goose (or Lover, in Kenny's case) who got away. And wrestling has been all the better for it. Omega's career trajectory would have been completely different had he stayed. He may not even be wrestling period. I think Omega's smart enough to see how WWE would treat him upon signing a contract. He has to see what others in his position have dealt with. For every A.J. Styles, there's a Finn Balor and Gallows and Anderson. Coming in from Japan, once again, means absolutely nothing to Vince McMahon. Triple H can sell Kenny Omega the biggest pitch of all time. Vince McMahon can take a look at Kenny Omega and say "Damn, pal. Get a hair cut, Jerry. It's been 20 years already. Move on." "Vince, that's not Jerry Lynn. This is Kenny Omega." "Well, I'm The Alpha Vince McMahon, damn it. Get a hair cut and lose 30 lbs. We'll put you on 205 Live. (walks away and yells.) Glad to have you back Jerry!"
Plus, let's be real here: Kenny Omega is a LEGIT mega-star in New Japan Pro Wrestling. He's the guy who beat Okada for the championship after 2 years. He speaks both Japanese and English and can move fluently from one to the next even after wrestling for 30 minutes. He probably gets a hell of a lot of money from merchandise and appearances. He gets to dictate his schedule. And more so: You can tell Kenny is having the time of his life. He's at the top of his game and part of a massive upswing for wrestling in the world. Why take the chance by going back to a company that's shown a complete inability to capitalize on incoming talent? For Kenny, it would literally be insanity since he's already been there once. Kenny needs to stay out for a few more years, at least.
Before anyone says "Well, he'll be too old." I give you this to ponder: The Phenomenal Example . The one guy who gives Kenny Omega any hope of success in WWE either now or later: A.J. Styles. AJ was 38 years old when that debut happened. Today, he's 41, WWE Champion, and legitimately one of WWE's biggest stars. The formula is there for success. Unfortunately, it's far from a guarantee. Omega has to hope the conditions are right for him to receive even a part of the success Styles has had, but it is possible. (It's also possible that I could win the lottery, but I'm not holding my breath about that either.) Odds are WWE would mess it up. WWE should be seen as a retirement plan for Omega. He can go there anytime to gradually move towards retirement. That's not to say Kenny just goes there and meanders through to retirement. This isn't WCW, after all. Still, that's in the future. Kenny should stay out of the company and protect his brand.
But here's another thought to burst that WWE bubble: the path less taken. Omega stays out of WWE for the rest of his career and finishes with New Japan. He becomes an instant legend in Japan, regardless of whether this global notoriety lasts or doesn't. He is already seen as one of the people in that country. He has been vocal about Japan being home to him. In this scenario, Kenny stays until retirement and is treated on the level of some of their other retired stars. That's IF the bubble bursts on this new wrestling environment being formed here. It's still a very fluid process. Who's to say it ends in a year or so? This could keep going for the forseeable future, and if Omega continues to stay relevant in the years ahead outside of WWE, his brand continues to rise even up to retirement. He'll be seen as the trend setter who helped make the business a better place for working wrestlers around the world, not someone who sold out to get a good few retirement checks. (We all know how fickle us wrestling fans can be.) What's his whole mantra? CHANGE THE WORLD. You aren't changing WWE from within. The only changes that can be made are outside of it and when, and only when, the McMahons decide to get with the program to meet the demands of their corporate partners and their stockholders. Kenny, The Bucks, Cody, and others can do much better for the industry on the outside than on the inside of the WWE.
So, yeah. I never want to see Cody, The Bucks, Okada, Sabre, or Omega step foot in Stamford (unless it's for some cross-promotional NJPW v. WWE show which will never happen). They can help the industry much more with their other compatriots like Naito, Ospreay, Scurll, and others. Through this, they can honestly CHANGE THE WRESTLING WORLD.
And with that, I think it's only fair to say...
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