A LOOK AT THE SMACKDOWN BABYFACES AND THEIR CHANCES AT THE WWE HALL OF FAME
By Doug Brown on 3/21/2007 6:47 PM
Welcome to part three of my five part column looking at the current WWE superstars and the chances that someday they will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Some of you have asked about what criteria I use when deciding who to put in which category. The criteria includes longevity, title history, in-ring ability, mic skills, success rate, and whether or not someone is over with the fans. The babyface side of the Smackdown roster is filled with a lot of talent. Let's see where they fall.
LOCKS:
THE UNDERTAKER
Title History: 4 WWE Titles, 6 WWE Tag Team Titles, 1 WWE Hardcore Title, and 1 WCW World Tag Team Title
Summary: This one is a no-brainer. He's been at the top of the company heap for over 16 years now. He's certainly come along way since his days as Mean Mark Callous in WCW. His entrance is one of the best, if not the best, in the history of the industry. Whether as a babyface or heel, the character has stood the test of time. He's feuded with every major name in WWE during that time span. The Dead Man is still perfect at Wrestlemania, including beating Sid Justice for the title at Wrestlemania 13. It is not known how much longer he will continue to wrestle, but as long as he is around, he is the company's measuring stick.
KANE
Title History: 1 WWE Title, 7 WWE Tag Team Titles, 2 World Tag Team Titles, 2 WWE Intercontinental Titles, 1 WWE Hardcore Title, and 1 WCW World Tag Team Title
Summary: After starting his career off with such dopey gimmicks as Unabomb, Isaac Yankem DDS, and my personal favorite, the Christmas Creature, Kane has become a fixture of WWE programming. He is a dedicated big man, who has given it his all to WWE fans. How many times has he been set on fire, or set someone else on fire? In spite of being a pyromaniac, Kane has proven himself to be a very capable big man in the ring. He will probably be best remembered for his on-again, off-again partnership and feud with his storyline brother, the Undertaker.
CHRIS BENOIT
Title History: 1 World Heavyweight Title, 2 WWE Tag Team Titles, 2 World Tag Team Titles, 4 WWE Intercontinental Titles, 5 WCW/WWE United States Titles, 1 WCW World Heavyweight Title, 2 WCW World Tag Team Titles, 3 WCW World TV Titles, and 1 ECW World Tag Team Title
Summary: The reigning United States Champion is probably one of the most underutilized guys on the roster. Benoit is the best technical wrestler in WWE, and is capable of having good matches with just about anyone. If you place his ECW, WCW, and WWF/E runs together, he has been with a national promotion for over a decade. He got the biggest win of his career by beating Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a triple threat match to win the World Title at Wrestlemania 20. The scene with Benoit and the late Eddie Guerrero embracing after the match is one that I will never forget. His matches with Kurt Angle were among the best pure wrestling matches since Flair-Steamboat. What I think Benoit will probably be best remembered for is a guy that got himself over with the fans based on his in-ring ability rather than being an over-the-top character.
REY MYSTERIO
Title History: 1 World Heavyweight Title, 4 WWE Tag Team Titles, 3 WCW World Tag Team Titles, 8 WCW/WWE World Cruiserweight Titles, and 1 WCW World Cruiserweight Tag Team Title
Summary: In professional wrestling, who would ever have thought that someone Rey's size would ever be successful in the U.S.? His unique style and personality have made Mysterio a major superstar. He and Dean Malenko put the cruiserweight division on the map during their WCW days. Rey, who was not satisfied with being just a cruiserweight, began taking on the big guys, and temporarily was doing a "giant killer" gimmick with wins over Kevin Nash, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Scott Norton. He later came to WWE and had great matches with Kurt Angle, Matt Hardy, and his good friend, the late Eddie Guerrero. Mysterio's run in WWE was highlighted by winning the Royal Rumble and then the World Title at last year's Wrestlemania. If the injuries do not cause his career to come to an early end, Rey could be one of the company's most endearing performers for years to come.
MATT HARDY
Title History: 5 WWE Tag Team Titles, 1 WWE European Title, 1 WWE World Cruiserweight Title, 1 WWE Hardcore Title, and 1 WCW World Tag Team Title
Summary: Matt and his brother Jeff are one of the most successful teams in WWE history. Their feuds with Edge and Christian, as well as the Dudley Boyz, put them on the map, with plenty of highlight reel material. Matt now mainly works as a singles competitor. The talent to be a singles star is there as evidenced by his recent matches against King Booker and Mr. Kennedy. I am surprised that an Intercontinental or U.S. title reign has not come his way yet. He actually left WWE temporarily, because of the real life feud with Edge over Lita, which was later worked into the storyline. The storyline got so big that fans started chanting "You Screwed Matt," at Lita before Hardy even came back. Thankfully cooler heads have prevailed. Matt is back on Smackdown, and allowed to occasionally reform the Hardy Boyz tag team with Jeff. The future is very bright for Team Extreme.
LIKELY
BATISTA
Title History: 2 World Heavyweight Titles, 1 WWE Tag Team Title, and 2 World Tag Team Titles
Summary: Batista is about to headline his second Wrestlemania with the Undertaker, only this time he will be defending the World Title instead of chasing it. When healthy, Batista has been very successful in moving up the ladder. It was not that many years ago that he was the deacon for Reverend D-Von. He later became part of Evolution along with Triple H, Ric Flair, and Randy Orton. Batista's split with Evolution led to his first title match, and the feud that really put him in the spotlight against the Game. Things seemed very promising until he got injured in a house show match against Mark Henry. Batista had to take extended time off. While the loud pops for his ring entrance are still there, many feel he has not been the same since the injury. The injuries and his longevity are issues that might make one hesitant to make him a "lock" for the Hall of Fame. However, those doubts could be erased if he has the match of his life against the Undertaker on the biggest stage in the business.
PAUL LONDON AND BRIAN KENDRICK
London's Title History: 2 WWE Tag Team Titles and 1 WWE World Cruiserweight Title
Kendrick's Title History: 1 WWE Tag Team Title
Summary: They are getting closer and closer to having the longest tag team title reign in WWE history. It will be interesting to see if management allows them to surpass Demolition for the top spot. London and Kendrick have gotten away from the going nowhere fast cruiserweight division, and have formed an effective tag team. The only thing about the reign I have not liked is that the writers seem to always have London and Kendrick lose to their opponents in non-title matches, and then beat them in title matches. I guess the title matches are really where it counts as they have beaten teams like MNM, the Hardys, William Regal and Dave Taylor, K.C. James and Idol Stevens, and Deuce and Domino. The four way ladder match at Armageddon turned out to be the show stealer. Now imagine where they would be if WWE would actually push tag team wrestling. As I said in one of the previous columns, how the writers can put their valet Ashley on the Wrestlemania card, and not them is beyond me. By the way, does anyone know the signficance of the masks they wear to the ring?
DOUBTFUL
VITO
Title History: 2 WCW World Tag Team Titles and 1 WCW Hardcore Title
Summary: When Vito first debuted as part of the Mamalukes in WCW, I thought he and Johnny the Bull had a good thing going. Unfortunately, the brain trust split up what was a solid tag team. Vito went solo for a while and got himself over in WCW's fledgling hardcore division. After WCW folded, Vito went to the short-lived XWF and wrestled Buff Bagwell in their first match. Vito was originally supposed to be the heel, but the fans started cheering for him instead of Bagwell. I was later glad when Vito signed with WWE, because I had hoped that they would put the Mamalukes back together. WWE released Mr. Stamboli before Vito debuted. A short time later Vito was sporting a dress. With the exception of JBL's hilarious rants, the gimmick went nowhere. Fans were laughing at him instead of with him. Kennedy finally pulled the dress off of Vito, and he has not been seen since. It's a shame, because they could be doing so much more with him.
THE BOOGEYMAN
Title History: none yet
Summary: I give Marty Wright some credit. This is not an easy profession to get into at the age of 40. He first appeared as part of the Million Dollar Tough Enough sweepstakes, and was dismissed from the competition for lying about his age. He was later signed and sent to OVW, where the Boogeyman character was born. When he debuted for WWE, the fans took an immediate liking to him, because it was different. Then he got into the ring, and the mystique quickly faded. The Boogeyman started off well with victories against William Regal, King Booker, and JBL. Since then his stock has fallen drastically, and he has not been seen since being pinned by Finlay's sidekick Hornswoggle.
JIMMY WANG YANG
Title History: None yet
Summary: Yang has the talent, but he is in the death slot as part of the cruiserweight division. A couple of years ago, Yang was having some spectacular matches against Paul London on Velocity. Now he is a Japanese redneck cowboy. The gimmick seems to be getting him over, but with WWE not really pushing the cruiserweight division, how long could it last?
SCOTTY 2 HOTTY
Title History: 2 WWE Tag Team Titles and 1 WWE World Light Heavyweight Title
Summary: Despite almost never winning a match anymore, Scotty continues to stay a crowd favorite, which is probably why he has not been released yet, or repackaged with a different gimmick. He did have a successful run as part of Too Cool with Rikishi and Grandmaster Sexay. Scotty has had long periods of inactivity due to injury. He is currently part of the cruiserweight division, but his usual role is getting squashed by whichever talentless big goon that Vince wants to build into a title contender. If the Brooklyn Brawler makes the Hall, then Scotty might have a shot.
FUNAKI
Title History: 1 WWE World Cruiserweight Title and 1 WWE Hardcore Title
Summary: Much like Scotty and Val Venis, I am surprised every year when Funaki survives the round of roster cuts. He has been with WWE as the resident whipping boy for the bigger guys. That's not to say that Funaki is without talent, because he is actually very good in the ring. When he has squared off against his fellow cruiserweights, the matches have usually been competitive. Maybe if they go back to letting him be "Smackdown's Number One Announcer," he might have a shot. Because, that got him over with crowd more than anything.
SHANNON MOORE
Title History: 1 WCW Hardcore Title
Summary: Moore falls into the same category as Scotty and Funaki. He has talent, and if the cruiserweight division were pushed more, he'd probably be a bigger star. However, like the two mentioned above, he spends most of his time being squashed by the bigger guys. Maybe another run as Matt Hardy's faithful sidekick might be in order? Or maybe they could pair him back up with his old buddy Gregory Helms, provided he doesn't get fired because of this latest steroid scandal, and they could chase after the tag team titles.
ASHLEY MASSARO
Title History: none yet
Summary: I think Melina put it best. The only reason girls like Ashley, Torrie, and Candice are on the roster is because they like getting naked in public. Ashley has no charisma, and very little in-ring ability. WWE thinks that being in Playboy is the greatest thing in the world. They've done the girl-getting-naked-to-please-the-males-in-the-crowd-that-aren't-getting-any bit so often, that it has lost any meaning. She will be lucky if she is even still on the roster by the end of the year. I'd much rather see the title shot go to Mickie James or Victoria, who are more deserving.
Next time, we will look at the Smackdown heel roster. Then, in the final chapter, we will focus on the ECW roster.
