How's it going everybody? Wait—no, that's Brian Alvarez's signature line. Geeze Louise, I need to figure this out fast. What's really good in the neighborhood wrestling fans? It's your buddy Mark Adam Haggerty, back in the swing of things on this beautiful summer day. It's one on a Monday here; I'm smoking weed and drinking beer. As you've all gathered by now, I love lists! Maybe it's because I'm sort of obsessive compulsive, and find them to be calming in a completely calamitous world. I've recently compiled several different lists of varying length, and figured maybe I'd knock out another VIDEO countdown, in the hopes of mixing things up. I rummaged around my folder of unfinished projects and I was hit with an idea! This is a list of 7 former WWE Superstars who've made the most of their time away from the "Leader in Sports Entertainment." I feel that each of these individuals could—if positioned correctly—make an immediate impact upon return. I've included two videos with each name—the first is an example of how the WWE booked them, the second is a behind-the-scenes look at who these guys really are.
- Luke Gallows
- Brian Meyers
- Shelton Benjamin
- Trent Baretta
- John Morrison
- Chris Hero
- Bobby Lashley
Most of his stuff with CM Punk was pretty cool, but Luke Gallows was very rarely ever given the chance to speak for himself while working for WWE. Once the Straight Edge Society disbanded, the WWE seemed at a loss for what to do with "The Artist Formerly Known as Festus." Just for fun, here's a video of Luke at his
worst
, opposite Glen Jacobs. It's Kane versus—
FAKE KANE!
Now catch this hilarious-yet-heartwarming video—courtesy of
Wrestling Road Diaries
—featuring the "Good Brother" at his finest.
Brian Meyers debuted for the WWE as one-half of the Major Brothers, alongside current WWE Superstar Zack Ryder. Their remarkable resemblance to Edge gave the WWE a reason to repackage both individuals, and Curt Hawkins was born. Check out the debut of the Major Brothers, against ECW's Matt Striker and Marcus Cor Von.
This is one of my favorite videos on the list. An inside look at Brian riding from show-to-show in the first episode of his very own YouTube series, "Making Towns."
Okay I'm already breaking the format. Here's another video of Brian on "The Best Friends Show."
Shelton Benjamin could make the biggest impact if he ever returns to the WWE in a prominent role, but I felt compelled to list him at number five, and with good reason. Shelton came into the WWE out of Ohio Valley with John Cena, Brock Lesnar, and Randy Orton; he spent eight years with the company, and helped pioneer the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Shelton was a three-time WWE Intercontinental Champion and the 5
th
longest-
single
reigning United States Champion of all time. It's hard to say the WWE dropped the ball with Shelton, but he never seemed to grab the proverbial "Brass Ring." I mean the WWE has
never
had a black WWE World Heavyweight Champion [the "world title" does not count], so I'm not sure Shelton ever had any
real
control over his own destiny within the WWE. I ranked him 5
th
, because while Shelton Benjamin could be the
FACE
of World Wrestling Entertainment, there's a 70-year old man from North Carolina running the show. Here are a pair of Shelton Benjamin clips—his match against Shawn Michaels from Monday Night Raw, and an interview from 2014.
There was this
phenomenal
tag team in the WWE called the "Dude Busters." You heard me. Trent Baretta and Caylon Croft were a couple of douche bags with greasy hair. I guess this was the prototype for Seth Rollins. Trent is currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling with independent icon Rocky Romero, where they are IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. Check out the Dude Busters debut during the "ECW New Superstar Initiative." And before anyone says anything, yes. That's Taryn Terrell as Tiffany.
Not much has changed with Trent; he's a little older and a little wiser, which shows inside the squared circle. I think he's definitely the sort of guy that could take advantage of this new "Samoa Joe" type deal, and potentially take NXT by storm. Here's Trent—featuring New Jack, I guess—talking about life after the WWE.
I was a fan of John Morrison AKA Johnny Mundo as early as the MNM Days with Melina and J&J Security's Joey Mercury. Morrison was the
ECW
Champion, and was a three-time intercontinental champion as well. But Morrison became something of an afterthought when the WWE went PG, and the "Shaman of Sexy" suddenly became outdated. Here's how Johnny Nitro
became
John Morrison.
Now enjoy this Lucha Underground video, all about Johnny Mundo and his workout routine. Spoiler: If you want to look like Johnny—you can't.
"I'm going to keep those things until I'm 45 years old." –
Johnny is very specific about
when
he's going to lose his abs and oblique's.
Number two is another guy that didn't quite click, and could perhaps make the best use of his time as a part-timer with NXT. Chris Hero had a
very
short run in the WWE as part of NXT in its current form. Despite longstanding success on the independent circuit and around the world, he was renamed Kassius Ohno. He was released from his contract in 2013, and has since said that "the door is always open for a return." Here's Kassius Ohno versus William Regal from April 2013.
Now for all of you Kevin Owens fans out there—here's a clip from an episode of "The Kevin Steen Show," with Chris Hero talking about "Razor Revolution."
People in the wrestling community have called him "The Black Brock Lesnar," and don't think for one second that thought is lost on Vince McMahon. Bobby Lashley debuted for the WWE before he even finished in developmental—or started for that matter. Vince McMahon saw him and immediately put him on television. Lashley's WWE run was similar to what we're seeing with Roman Reigns. Kids and casual fans cheered him because they were supposed to, but hardcore fans scoffed at his United States and ECW title wins. He worked an extensive program against Vince and Shane McMahon, and even had a main event moment at Wrestlemania when he shaved Vince's head with Donald Trump! Lashley left the WWE due to personal reasons that don't seem applicable any longer, so who's to say there isn't room for a return? Here's Bobby at the "Battle of the Billionaire" contract signing.
I think Bobby has come into his own as a professional wrestler and a performer since working with TNA and Bellator. Here's Bobby Lashley describing himself as a "wrestler that fights."
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