This weekend is a glorious time on the sporting calendar, and YES!YES!YES! (Sorry, force of habit) I'm considering Thursday night as part of the weekend! (Its like college all over again! LETS GO DRINKING!)
WHY is this weekend so amazing for those of us who obsess over the Sporting Arts? Major League Baseball is in full swing (see what I did there?) – NBA and NHL Playoffs are chugging along. Saturday will see a full slate of Premier League action, as their season winds down. If ball and puck sports aren't your thing? Crazy small and light people will mount equines and run for Roses. Plus a couple dudes named Manny and Floyd will slug each other repeatedly for our viewing amusement. BUT, we're not done yet. This weekend is DRAFT Weekend for the entertainment beast that is the National Football League. Roger Goodell (BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!) and crew will take over Chicago (CM PUNK! CM PUNK! CM PUNK!) for three days selecting the next generation of tackle football stars. WHICH? Brings me to this here column. Every year numerous prognosticators and "experts" set off in trying to decide WHO will go to what slot. Basically ranking the available talent. We wrestling fans are not unfamiliar with the draft.
Years ago Smackdown and Raw were separate brands, and with Smackdown's impending move to USA, AND with the NFL Draft devouring this weekend? I thought… What would happen if WWE decided to bring back the draft, but not some weird version of draft… not some:
Random generator that just highlights who is going where. But two creative teams responsible to make picks of the available WWE and NXT talent. So in this hypothetical world, I'll be playing the role of Todd McShay (Cuz Mel Kiper is the worst) … Here is Todd McsHAYES' Big Board!
#1 Seth Rollins.
SCOUTING REPORT: Best all around performer who is just coming into his prime. Has been the best heel in the company the last year. Has a move set that will easily transition him to the face side of things when the time comes. Can have great matches with anyone. Will be someone who gets love from both casual fans and diehards. Again his versatility and relative youth lands him in this spot.
#2 John Cena
SCOUTING REPORT: Face of the WWE for the last decade. Solid performer, who is underrated in the ring. Majority of the vocal crowd, namely us adult males 18-40, grow tired of his schtick. The man is a cash piñata. Every match he's involved in is regularly the best match from crowd interest and reaction. Plus the trump card of an eventual diabolical heel turn is a license to print money. He's only 38, too. He has another good five years plus… (I can hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth.)
#3 Randy Orton
SCOUTING REPORT: Similar to Cena in how long he's been at the top of the WWE's Universe. So much so that you double take the fact that he JUST turned 35. Has similar flexibility to Rollins in how he's used, but isn't as beloved by the "diehards". Not the most warm/cuddly WWE Superstar when it comes to fan interactions and Media obligations. Orton always seems to be the guy who prefers to work heel because there then he DOESN'T have to "shake hands and kiss babies"… so to speak.
#4 Brock Lesnar
SCOUTING REPORT: Some people think its controversial to put him this high… others this low. Basically he COULD be the face of the WWE, but? He won't. If you risk a high pick on him, expect to only see him occasionally, but when you DO? It'll be spectacular. Character flexibility, and legit fighting credentials put him this high. Its a total "Buyer Beware" situation. You never know when he'll again "have his fill" of sports entertainment and recede to the mountains of North, South, East, or West Dakota!
#5 Dolph Ziggler
SCOUTING REPORT: The man could have, and arguably SHOULD have won the 2015 Royal Rumble. He'll be 35, soon, and some question his love for the profession, but? The intangibles are off the charts. Crowds love him. He was the most popular guy in the WWE late fall, and early winter. His win over the Authority at Survivor Series SHOWS what "could be". Added intangible is a bit of a cool factor as he's a budding Stand Up Comedian, with a bunch of comedian friends.
#6 Bray Wyatt
SCOUTING REPORT: Bray Wyatt is a man who was, quite possibly, born for this industry. His look and mic skills are unmatched. He can have great matches, but his bread and butter is with a mic in his hand. Charisma is off the charts. So much so that despite the dark and evil nature of his character, crowds love him. There is potential there as a face. The crowd could be his cult.
#7 Roman Reigns
SCOUTING REPORT: He's basically a more athletic, much better wrestler than the cousin that he gets comparisons to, The Rock. He's also severely lacking in the "Electricity" his Hall of Fame bound box office bound cousin has. A former NCAA Football standout who got some looks from the NFL. Definitely the most RAW of the first seven names I've listed here, but that comes a LOT of potential. Some risk here, but some major reward for whoever is willing to take that risk.
#8 Rusev
SCOUTING REPORT: Big athletic guy who moves well. Looks different than most of the WWE Roster. Big, bruising, and physical there is a lot more potential for the "Bulgarian Brute" outside of being the "Angry Foreigner". Could be the monster a brand needs moving forward.
#9 Daniel Bryan
SCOUTING REPORT: One of the most supported WWE Superstars of the last five years. Kids and the smart marks love him. Can wrestle great matches…. and here's the thing… IF. HE. STAYS. HEALTHY. The last 365 days have been an adventure for Bryan. Injuries sidelined him for most of the year. He came back for a few months, and is now shelved, once again. Lot of risk if this is your pick. If his health isn't a question a lot of value. That's a BIG. IF. Still valuable though. Maybe in a tag team. Maybe keeping his work rate toned down, which potentially means protecting Daniel Bryan from himself.
#10 Cesaro
SCOUTING REPORT: In ring total package. Arguably the strongest, pound for pound wrestler in the locker room. I'll admit to a possible Scout bias here. I might like him more than others. You can't find a better in ring performer. Not the most amazing guy on the mic, but there are ways around that. His move set is super unique AND super over. His giant swing is something every crowd loves. There is a main event gem ready to be polished.
There is my Big Board. If you've enjoyed it check out my stuff here on Cheap-Heat. Let me know who I forgot or miss ranked. You can tweet me at @sirmhayesxiv See you soon!
