I am changing it up a little this week on the Soapbox. The reason for this, is it has become apparent to me that more people are uploading episodes of FCW on Youtube (awesome for me since obviously I neither live in Florida, nor have a dish). But since having been exposed to FCW, it has if ANYTHING I think made me hate NXT just that much more! I really did not even think that was possible.
First of all in case any of you were wondering why the NXT “Rookies” look like they are deer in headlights it could be the fact that they aren’t even the same people in NXT, that they have trained in FCW as. The biggest most notable Sybil split being Lucky (The Purple Pimp) Cannon, and Conor O’Brian. Not that Titus O’Neil, is having any upgrade running around with Hornswoggle. All three have been pretty lack luster on NXT, and to the WWE Universe in general (notice the awkward audience responses),yet are all pretty over in FCW (which I guess explains why they keep showing up on NXT, leave it to WWE to not get what the REAL issue is).
I know what you are thinking, FCW is a smaller crowd they’ll love anything. On the contrary, this is generally not true. Now I gotta be honest, as a faithful indy fan convert—I can tell you first hand small crowds can be some of the most difficult to work with. First of all they expect A LOT, and they do not have the “herd mentality” of larger audiences in a dome like structure (with acoustics). Which is to say they can see everything and don’t just make noise to give those rafter perch, skyscraper height; nose bleed 30 dollar seats some meaning. Small crowds are also usually hardcore wrestling fans as well (cause ONLY a hardcore fan would put up with the squishy, too close, and “I am about to smell my neighbors arm pits” seats teeny local venues have).
So why does Lucky go over better as a heel in FCW? What makes Titus think that Omega Phi Psi work is so awesome? And what the hell is up with Conor O’Brian?
Very simple…….I don’t know WHO the bookers and writers are for FCW, but WWE should probably call THEM up to the main rosters. Lucky’s pimp gimmick works well for two reasons that NXT noticeably lacks. And those two reasons are named: Brett DiBiase and Bo Rotundo. Now don’t get me wrong, ring wise Lucky still could probably not wrestle his way out of a paper sack with a map, compass, GPS, and flashlight—but gimmick wise his gimmick is a better foil for put upon hero Rotundo. DiBiase and Cannon also have almost a Legacy like partnership, playing as these semi-delusional grand playboy studs. All the things that worked well for Legacy, are working for them. In addition, Brett is a little better in the ring as well which takes up for Lucky’s slack (and lord KNOWS there is a lot of slack in that respect!).
Next up Titus……
Now Titus with the Omega man barking is still kinda annoying on either show, however the tag teaming barking Omega man is a better fit. Titus was formerly tag champion with Damien Sandow (who has an “Anti-American Laziness” American gimmick (sorry you need to see it to understand), but the fact of the matter they work far better together. So what Titus thinks to accomplish now on NXT, with Hornswoggle who is more like a mascot than a trainer (insert your witty dog and dog whisperer midget jokes in right here) is beyond me. I really think WWE just has a sink or swim mentality (emphasis on the SINK part of the equation) with some of these guys.
But…….
By far the guy getting the greatest amount of disservice is the gimmick stripped Conor O’Brian. If you have noticed Conor, has hinted on NXT about his rat like features. I don’t know if he thinks he is reminding fans of what he does in FCW, or what. If it is I hate to tell brother man that this is NOT the case—most fans haven’t a CLUE what goes down in FCW (heck if I wasn’t writing this article and part time stalking Orlando Colón, neither would I). Anyway, if you haven’t guessed it yet, Conor O’Brian is the sewer rat of FCW. He really works the gimmick, tricking other talent under the ring (particularly 2nd generation wrestlers), as well as ambushing guys with his “rat trap”. As you can probably guess he makes his voice a nasal snivel and makes many references to cheese. Now yes the gimmick as gimmicks go is quite cheese ball in the extreme, but it’s the good kinda cheesy. It’s the cheesy that use to have fans cheer or boo specific talent (unlike the hodge podge inappropriate booking and weak gimmicking WWE has going on now that forces the confused audiences to chant in unison “Let’s go Cena/Cena Sucks” at a baby face wrestler.). In addition, his gimmick is simple enough and uses what Conor O’Brian already has at his disposal, HIS FACE. Far easier to play off of one’s own face and own it than to try and make up a sob story to force the fans to give a damn about your acting and ad-lib skills (which are possibly zero to none).
vs NXT Conor O’ Brian
So again I reiterate Make FCW a show! Especially with the rumors abounding that Superstars as a show is over. NXT week 4 had ARM wrestling as their stand out segment. Week 5’s stand out, “Hot Seat Trivia”. Though there was at least a wee bit more wrestling on Week 5 but the wrestling just was not very good. Conor O’Brian Vs Jacob Novak was like watching the paint dry. Darren Vs. Titus (aka the great brown hopes of the moment, since both are about the only two that can wrestle with any actual acumen, while getting the barest hint of audience response) was fair. Either way, the amount of a crap I did not give could have painted the Sistine Chapel. In addition, WWE’s new program (Pause. Question: Why does WWE keep making new fail shows?! Better question—why does USA networks keep saying, “Yea we’ll give you another timeslot to produce some garbage that will last one season tops.”) Tough Enough. This mess is not much better (HELLO FYI WWE when you eliminate people from a game/reality show you do not still hire them and give them a WWE contract anyway, and then expect fans to still hang in there for “suspense value”). I get that WWE wants to be an “entertainment” company but hell this crap is not even entertaining. Twenty Snooki appearances are not gonna keep fans for WWE. But maybe WWE doesn’t even care because at last count, NXT is damn near 40 minutes of WWE commercials and replays now, while Tough Enough relies on Stone Cold Steve Austin to be the Simon Cowell of the wrestling world. Yes, Simon (cough……I mean Steve) even has his own Paula (I meant Trish) and Randy (oops Booker T).
