NXT's "Pro's Poll #1"
Written: March 31st, 2010 (Day after the first "Pro's Poll" on NXT)
iReason for this writing:i
While this entry is actually more of a "rebooking" (since this was written in direct response to the show after it originally aired), I felt like the "NXT" show as a whole had kind of lost its focus, and wanted to address some of the issues I had with what I thought was originally a genuinely interesting and entertaining concept.
The show began with the simple idea of eight WWE superstars mentoring eight "rookies"; it was similar to "Tough Enough" in its depiction of guys trying to "break into" WWE, though "Tough Enough" was more about guys who had never wrestled before learning the actual art of professional wrestling, while "NXT" was more about guys who had been wrestling for years on the independent scene trying to prove that they had what it took to be one of the "elite".
From the very beginning, though, it was clear that "NXT" was not a legit competition like "Tough Enough" was, but more of a fictionalized drama that simply PORTRAYED what a "reality competition" featuring all of these names and faces would be like. It was like "The Truman Show", a REENACTMENT of a documentary, utilizing actors and scripts. It was never a secret that all of the rookies were actually trained wrestlers, the matches were obviously pre-planned like any other wrestling match, Pros and Rookies were paired-up based on trying to establish certain dynamics between the two, and some guys were even seemingly being groomed as "winners" or "losers", in an effort to give each of the rookies a definable character and role.
While nobody really knew what to expect going in, the very first episode - featuring a verbal confrontation between Daniel Bryan (a.k.a. Bryan Danielson, one of the biggest names on the independent wrestling scene) and Mike "The Miz" Mizanin, in-ring competition that featured rookies AND pros, and a Bryan/Jericho main-event - was very well-received by wrestling fans and critics. What could have been a confusing mess with completely unknown commodities seemed to make for fun viewing as fans got into the "spirit" of the show, picking favorites and making predictions on what kind of future each rookie possessed.
However, as the weeks went on, the show seemed to "lose its focus". There weren't a lot of pro-vs.-rookie matches, lame "challenges" (such as pugil-dueling and obstacle-courses) were introduced halfway through, and - possibly the most grievous error of the show - there was almost no mention of the "mentoring" and "training" that the pros were supposedly helping their young charges with. What exactly was Matt Hardy doing to help Justin Gabriel? Did Chris Jericho and Wade Barrett spend time together outside the arena? Where the hell was Carlito most weeks? Pretty much all of the interaction between Pros and Rookies - the relationships and dynamics that, in my opinion, should have been the back-bone of the show - had fallen by the wayside.
In my opinion, the first "Pro's Poll" was a big red-flag in terms of the show losing its focus. If the show is to be framed completely in kayfabe, it made absolutely no sense for Daniel Bryan - a man whom not only lost every match, but also rubbed many of the pros the wrong way with his attitude - to be named #1 in a poll conducted by the eight WWE Superstars. In addition to that, no explanation was given as to why the pros voted that way.
Below is my attempt to "get into the heads" of the Pros, and deduce which rookies they realistically would have voted for and against. Simple rules apply: no Pro may vote for or against their own rookie, and, since this is all done in kayfabe, Pros are more likely to vote based on face/heel alignment.
While this entry is actually more of a "rebooking" (since this was written in direct response to the show after it originally aired), I felt like the "NXT" show as a whole had kind of lost its focus, and wanted to address some of the issues I had with what I thought was originally a genuinely interesting and entertaining concept.
The show began with the simple idea of eight WWE superstars mentoring eight "rookies"; it was similar to "Tough Enough" in its depiction of guys trying to "break into" WWE, though "Tough Enough" was more about guys who had never wrestled before learning the actual art of professional wrestling, while "NXT" was more about guys who had been wrestling for years on the independent scene trying to prove that they had what it took to be one of the "elite".
From the very beginning, though, it was clear that "NXT" was not a legit competition like "Tough Enough" was, but more of a fictionalized drama that simply PORTRAYED what a "reality competition" featuring all of these names and faces would be like. It was like "The Truman Show", a REENACTMENT of a documentary, utilizing actors and scripts. It was never a secret that all of the rookies were actually trained wrestlers, the matches were obviously pre-planned like any other wrestling match, Pros and Rookies were paired-up based on trying to establish certain dynamics between the two, and some guys were even seemingly being groomed as "winners" or "losers", in an effort to give each of the rookies a definable character and role.
While nobody really knew what to expect going in, the very first episode - featuring a verbal confrontation between Daniel Bryan (a.k.a. Bryan Danielson, one of the biggest names on the independent wrestling scene) and Mike "The Miz" Mizanin, in-ring competition that featured rookies AND pros, and a Bryan/Jericho main-event - was very well-received by wrestling fans and critics. What could have been a confusing mess with completely unknown commodities seemed to make for fun viewing as fans got into the "spirit" of the show, picking favorites and making predictions on what kind of future each rookie possessed.
However, as the weeks went on, the show seemed to "lose its focus". There weren't a lot of pro-vs.-rookie matches, lame "challenges" (such as pugil-dueling and obstacle-courses) were introduced halfway through, and - possibly the most grievous error of the show - there was almost no mention of the "mentoring" and "training" that the pros were supposedly helping their young charges with. What exactly was Matt Hardy doing to help Justin Gabriel? Did Chris Jericho and Wade Barrett spend time together outside the arena? Where the hell was Carlito most weeks? Pretty much all of the interaction between Pros and Rookies - the relationships and dynamics that, in my opinion, should have been the back-bone of the show - had fallen by the wayside.
In my opinion, the first "Pro's Poll" was a big red-flag in terms of the show losing its focus. If the show is to be framed completely in kayfabe, it made absolutely no sense for Daniel Bryan - a man whom not only lost every match, but also rubbed many of the pros the wrong way with his attitude - to be named #1 in a poll conducted by the eight WWE Superstars. In addition to that, no explanation was given as to why the pros voted that way.
Below is my attempt to "get into the heads" of the Pros, and deduce which rookies they realistically would have voted for and against. Simple rules apply: no Pro may vote for or against their own rookie, and, since this is all done in kayfabe, Pros are more likely to vote based on face/heel alignment.
The Poll
The Miz
For: David Otunga - Otunga is being portrayed as the most charismatic of the "rookies", is smart, well-dressed, and has ties to the Hollywood-scene. Definitely the kind of guy Miz would vote for.
Against: Heath Slater - While it might be more logical for Miz to vote against the charisma-challenged Michael Tarver, Tarver's a heel, and Miz has never really had a problem with uncharismatic heels. I think Miz would be more likely to have a problem with Slater, who is the only other rookie that is being marketed on his supposed "charisma"; Miz would probably feel threatened by him, and want to eliminate him ASAP. Of course, the guy Miz would REALLY want to eliminate is Daniel Bryan, but the rules state that he can't vote for or against his own rookie.
His Rookie: Daniel Bryan – His thoughts are well-established: Bryan is a know-it-all that hasn’t been able to back it up in the ring. Miz would begrudgingly admit that Bryan has “some” talent, but would insist that he’s grossly overrated, and is still a big nerd.
Everyone Else – Young and Sheffield are inept idiots; Gabriel is too much of a milquetoast; Tarver is a loser with no charisma; and Barrett is extremely impressive, but doesn’t have the type of personality that puts him above Otunga (in Miz’s eyes).
CM Punk
For: Wade Barrett - Tarver hasn't shown any real up-side yet, and Otunga's partying is in direct opposition to Punk's philosophy on life. The only heel left is Barrett, and since Barrett is "quite obviously" an upstanding citizen with lots of personal integrity and respect for the pros, he'd be Punk's pick.
Against: Justin Gabriel - Again, the person Punk would most want to eliminate would be his own rookie, but the rules forbid that. I'm going with Gabriel as Punk's pick, for the simple reason that he's being mentored by Matt Hardy, and Punk would find it deplorable for anybody to take life lessons from a member of the Hardy family. [Actually, that's something I'm very surprised the show hasn't touched on; I guess they're focusing more on the Punk/Young relationship, but it seems so simple to have Punk have a problem with Matt and Gabriel, and it would be easy to have Punk pick a feud with them, only to coerce Young into going after them.]
His Rookie: Darren Young – Win/loss record aside, Punk’s biggest problem with Young is his happy-go-lucky personality. Punk pretty much has a stick up his butt, and can’t stand that Young is always in a good mood, smiling at the fans and dancing to the music in his head. He’d readily admit that Young has promise, but would phrase it as Young being “worth saving”.
Everyone Else – Simply put, Punk would feel that “Straight Edge” could benefit just about all of the rookies, making bad things good, and good things great: Bryan has an attitude-problem and a terrible record; Slater and Otunga are good, but live their lives “too openly” and with “too many distractions”; and Tarver has the right attitude, but needs help with his wins and losses. He’d probably feel that Sheffield is such an idiot as to be a lost cause, however.
R-Truth
For: Darren Young - Being that Truth is a guy that has had to fight his way out of less-than-ideal circumstances, I can see him taking pity on Young for having to be paired with Punk. Just seems like the kind of thing the always-smiling Truth would do, giving his pick to a hard-working guy that is lower on the radar instead of giving it to one of the more "obvious" rookies (Bryan, Slater, or Gabriel). He’d be very proud of the way Young has stood-up to Punk and continued to be his own man, and give him props for his talent and attitude, though he’d concede that Young does have to learn to focus more on the task at hand than the shenanigans of the “Straight Edge Society” outside the ring.
Against: Wade Barrett - Again, based on Truth's background, I think he would be upset at a guy with an "easier" upbringing flaunting it in everybody's face. Truth would likely give him his due respect in terms of in-ring talent, but would think that Barrett would definitely need some sort of attitude adjustment before being held in higher esteem by Truth.
His Rookie: David Otunga – Truth would appreciate Otunga’s desire, and would likely try to portray his hot-headedness as Otunga simply being too hard on himself when things don’t go well. They may butt heads at times, but Truth would be completely dedicated in taking Otunga under his wing and helping him, sometimes in spite of Otunga’s actions or attitude.
Everyone Else – Truth would have pretty much nothing but nice things to say about everyone: Slater and Gabriel have great attitudes and work-ethics, and deserve the success they’ve had so far; Bryan is a really nice, talented guy, but does need to turn the ego down a notch; and Tarver and Sheffield have a lot of raw talent, but need to focus more in order to achieve success.
Christian
For: Wade Barrett - I see Christian as a guy who is very pragmatic, in that he wants to see results, and he realizes that sometimes cheating is the only way to attain those results. Barrett has a flawless record and the most promise of any of the rookies, which to Christian, simply means that he's the odds-on favorite.
Against: Michael Tarver - He has one of the worst records of any of the rookies, hasn't shown a lot of in-ring skills, and his lack of personality would be seen as a severe handicap by "Captain Charisma".
His Rookie: Heath Slater – Christian would give Slater props for his natural abilities and how well he is doing, but would also be blunt in explaining that not everybody is going to like him, and that some people will think he’s a big tool. He’d follow that by explaining that Slater shouldn’t allow that to bother him, as he has to be true to himself, and not worry about what other people think. As long as Slater continues to work hard and have a positive attitude, there’s nothing stopping him from reaching the top.
Everyone Else – Gabriel is in the same boat as Slater, a natural athlete with a good attitude, and if he keeps it up, he’ll also achieve greatness; Young and Sheffield are nice guys, but “not all that bright”, and would likely suggest that they actually try to develop a mean-streak in order to help them focus on their in-ring game; Otunga will be a star through sheer will-power (making-up for any negatives he might have); and Bryan has all the tools, but is too conceited to see that there’s still plenty that the pros could teach him.
Matt Hardy
For: Heath Slater - I think he and Christian would have a lot of the same criteria when judging the rookies, but whereas Christian is much more logical and cut-and-dry in his decisions, Matt is driven much more by his heart than his brain. With that in mind, I think he'd pick Slater, as I can see Heath reminding Matt of himself when he was younger; a smaller, less-built guy that loves the business and the fans. I can see him being inclined to pick Daniel Bryan due to his obvious talent, but would end-up agreeing with Christian that win/loss-record is important (though not to the same degree that Christian would think); he'd also probably have a soft-spot for Darren Young for the same reason that R-Truth would, but again, his win/loss record can't compete with Slater's.
Against: Michael Tarver - Here's where I think he and Christian would agree, in that Tarver's shown the least promise of any of the rookies, having a poor record and not showing much between the ropes.
His Rookie: Justin Gabriel – Matt’s thoughts on Gabriel would likely mirror Christian’s thoughts on Slater; that Gabriel’s win/loss record is proof of his ability and work-ethic, and that there’s no telling how far Gabriel could go. He’d leave out the stuff about self-esteem though, Matt’s too much of a softy to deride someone for their personality.
Everyone Else – Being a nice guy and the eternal optimist that he is, Matt would likely feel that Bryan, Otunga, and Barrett could all be huge stars WITHOUT having such big egos, and would try his best to help them see it; Young and Sheffield, on the other hand, would be praised for their jovial personalities and desire to entertain the fans. Matt probably wouldn’t say much about anybody’s athletic abilities, as he himself is a perfect example of a whole being more than the sum of its parts, in that he was never the most athletically gifted guy, but he has a better work-ethic and attitude than just about anyone in the business; he’d be a big believer in “mind over matter”.
Carlito
For: David Otunga - Carlito would probably insist on voting for Tarver, for the simple reason that, because he was trained by Carlito, he must be the best, but after being repeatedly denied by the producers and other pros, he'd finally come to a different decision. That decision? Otunga. Why? "He's cool." Yeah, Carlito doesn't have the most in-depth criteria.
Against: Daniel Bryan - Much like Miz, Carlito would feel that charisma is probably the most important aspect of being a WWE Superstar, and that a "nerd" like Bryan just doesn't have what it takes to become a star.
His Rookie: Michael Tarver – Again, Carlito would be egotistical to the point of being delusional, feeling that simply being mentored by him would automatically catapult his rookie to the front of the pack.
Everyone Else – Being the living epitome of “cool” that he is, Carlito’s thoughts would be very similar to Miz’s: Slater and Gabriel would only wish to be as cool as Carlito; Young and Sheffield are dorky idiots; and Barrett is mighty impressive (though not as “cool” as Otunga).
William Regal
For: Wade Barrett - Maybe the most obvious choice of all, Regal would be mighty impressed by his fellow countryman. Not that it's not warranted, he has all the tools and shows a ton of promise, but Regal would feel a special sense of pride in seeing Barrett succeed.
Against: Heath Slater - Much like Carlito, Regal would want an exception made to the rules so that he could vote against Skip Sheffield, but after settling down, I can see him having a tough time choosing between Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel. Why those two? Because they're two well-liked pretty-boys, exactly the type that Regal doesn't like. He would accuse them of being too big for their britches, getting a little too much of an ego, and would love to eliminate both of them. However, when push came to shove, Regal would pick the more in-your-face Slater than the shyer Gabriel.
His Rookie: Skip Sheffield – Regal would begin his appraisal of his rookie by complimenting him on his incredible physical attributes (physique, strength, agility), but it would quickly turn into a long diatribe of insults. Long story short, Regal sees Sheffield as having “a million dollar body and a ten cent brain”; he’d feel that, while Sheffield is one of the most athletically gifted, he’s virtually incapable of learning.
Everyone Else – Gabriel and Young are talented, but have nauseating personalities; Tarver and Otunga are talented and have the proper “win at all costs” attitudes to get ahead; and Bryan is extremely talented, but his ego is out of control.
Chris Jericho
For: David Otunga – Being unable to vote for Wade Barrett, he’d have to pick the other “complete package” of the remaining heel rookies. Much like Jericho, Otunga is a larger-than-life celebrity with the body of a Greek God and an aura to match.
Against: Daniel Bryan - Jericho is big on respect, and with Bryan showing little respect to so many others (Miz, other rookies, Michael Cole), he'd be Jericho’s first pick to go; his poor record would just serve as easy justification to do so. Of course, Jericho would probably a little threatened by him, as well, but would never admit that.
His Rookie: Wade Barrett – “Let’s talk about Wade Barrett for a minute. He’s got size, strength, agility, intelligence, work-ethic, talent, class, a killer instinct… and that’s just what I bring to the table!” In all seriousness, Barrett is the obvious stand-out to Jericho; his size, athleticism, and talent are all there, and he has the “holier-than-thou” attitude that Jericho loves in people.
Everyone Else – Tarver, Sheffield, and Young all show promise, but have to learn to focus; Gabriel and Slater are very talented, but their squeaky-clean image doesn’t sit well with Jericho.
///
Final Scores
Positive Votes:
3 – Barrett, Otunga (Tied for First)
1 – Slater, Young
0 – Bryan, Gabriel, Sheffield, Tarver
Negative Votes:
0 - Otunga, Sheffield, Young
1 - Barrett, Gabriel
2 - Bryan, Slater, Tarver (Tied for Last)
///
Tie-Breakers
Winner – With Barrett and Otunga both getting three positive votes, it comes down to R-Truth and Matt Hardy (the only two pros to not vote for either rookie) to make a decision on which man is the winner. It doesn’t take long for them to decide that Barrett’s talent and record give him the edge over Otunga.
Loser – Bryan, Slater, and Tarver all received two negative votes, with only R-Truth and CM Punk having not voted for either of them. Truth feels that Slater has the best combination of talent and attitude, leaving it down to Bryan and Tarver for him. Punk would feel that Tarver is the only one with a good attitude, leaving it down to Bryan and Slater for him. With Bryan being the only common name, he is ranked #8 on the “Pro’s Poll”.
///
Final Tally
8) Daniel Bryan (Judged)
7) Michael Tarver (2 negatives)
6) Heath Slater (2 negatives, 1 positive)
5) Justin Gabriel (1 negative)
4) Skip Sheffield (0 votes)
3) Darren Young (1 positive)
2) David Otunga (3 positives)
1) Wade Barrett (Judged)
Final Thoughts – Daniel Bryan, the guy that was booked to be #1 in the “Pro’s Poll”, would actually probably do very poorly if the angle were booked in WWE canon – he’s a face while most of the pros are heels, and he’s displayed an attitude that would likely rub even the face pros the wrong way. Talent only goes so far, and if the judges don’t like you, there’s not much you can do to change it. Again, these are not my own feelings, just how I think those eight particular pros would vote for these eight particular rookies.
For: David Otunga - Otunga is being portrayed as the most charismatic of the "rookies", is smart, well-dressed, and has ties to the Hollywood-scene. Definitely the kind of guy Miz would vote for.
Against: Heath Slater - While it might be more logical for Miz to vote against the charisma-challenged Michael Tarver, Tarver's a heel, and Miz has never really had a problem with uncharismatic heels. I think Miz would be more likely to have a problem with Slater, who is the only other rookie that is being marketed on his supposed "charisma"; Miz would probably feel threatened by him, and want to eliminate him ASAP. Of course, the guy Miz would REALLY want to eliminate is Daniel Bryan, but the rules state that he can't vote for or against his own rookie.
His Rookie: Daniel Bryan – His thoughts are well-established: Bryan is a know-it-all that hasn’t been able to back it up in the ring. Miz would begrudgingly admit that Bryan has “some” talent, but would insist that he’s grossly overrated, and is still a big nerd.
Everyone Else – Young and Sheffield are inept idiots; Gabriel is too much of a milquetoast; Tarver is a loser with no charisma; and Barrett is extremely impressive, but doesn’t have the type of personality that puts him above Otunga (in Miz’s eyes).
CM Punk
For: Wade Barrett - Tarver hasn't shown any real up-side yet, and Otunga's partying is in direct opposition to Punk's philosophy on life. The only heel left is Barrett, and since Barrett is "quite obviously" an upstanding citizen with lots of personal integrity and respect for the pros, he'd be Punk's pick.
Against: Justin Gabriel - Again, the person Punk would most want to eliminate would be his own rookie, but the rules forbid that. I'm going with Gabriel as Punk's pick, for the simple reason that he's being mentored by Matt Hardy, and Punk would find it deplorable for anybody to take life lessons from a member of the Hardy family. [Actually, that's something I'm very surprised the show hasn't touched on; I guess they're focusing more on the Punk/Young relationship, but it seems so simple to have Punk have a problem with Matt and Gabriel, and it would be easy to have Punk pick a feud with them, only to coerce Young into going after them.]
His Rookie: Darren Young – Win/loss record aside, Punk’s biggest problem with Young is his happy-go-lucky personality. Punk pretty much has a stick up his butt, and can’t stand that Young is always in a good mood, smiling at the fans and dancing to the music in his head. He’d readily admit that Young has promise, but would phrase it as Young being “worth saving”.
Everyone Else – Simply put, Punk would feel that “Straight Edge” could benefit just about all of the rookies, making bad things good, and good things great: Bryan has an attitude-problem and a terrible record; Slater and Otunga are good, but live their lives “too openly” and with “too many distractions”; and Tarver has the right attitude, but needs help with his wins and losses. He’d probably feel that Sheffield is such an idiot as to be a lost cause, however.
R-Truth
For: Darren Young - Being that Truth is a guy that has had to fight his way out of less-than-ideal circumstances, I can see him taking pity on Young for having to be paired with Punk. Just seems like the kind of thing the always-smiling Truth would do, giving his pick to a hard-working guy that is lower on the radar instead of giving it to one of the more "obvious" rookies (Bryan, Slater, or Gabriel). He’d be very proud of the way Young has stood-up to Punk and continued to be his own man, and give him props for his talent and attitude, though he’d concede that Young does have to learn to focus more on the task at hand than the shenanigans of the “Straight Edge Society” outside the ring.
Against: Wade Barrett - Again, based on Truth's background, I think he would be upset at a guy with an "easier" upbringing flaunting it in everybody's face. Truth would likely give him his due respect in terms of in-ring talent, but would think that Barrett would definitely need some sort of attitude adjustment before being held in higher esteem by Truth.
His Rookie: David Otunga – Truth would appreciate Otunga’s desire, and would likely try to portray his hot-headedness as Otunga simply being too hard on himself when things don’t go well. They may butt heads at times, but Truth would be completely dedicated in taking Otunga under his wing and helping him, sometimes in spite of Otunga’s actions or attitude.
Everyone Else – Truth would have pretty much nothing but nice things to say about everyone: Slater and Gabriel have great attitudes and work-ethics, and deserve the success they’ve had so far; Bryan is a really nice, talented guy, but does need to turn the ego down a notch; and Tarver and Sheffield have a lot of raw talent, but need to focus more in order to achieve success.
Christian
For: Wade Barrett - I see Christian as a guy who is very pragmatic, in that he wants to see results, and he realizes that sometimes cheating is the only way to attain those results. Barrett has a flawless record and the most promise of any of the rookies, which to Christian, simply means that he's the odds-on favorite.
Against: Michael Tarver - He has one of the worst records of any of the rookies, hasn't shown a lot of in-ring skills, and his lack of personality would be seen as a severe handicap by "Captain Charisma".
His Rookie: Heath Slater – Christian would give Slater props for his natural abilities and how well he is doing, but would also be blunt in explaining that not everybody is going to like him, and that some people will think he’s a big tool. He’d follow that by explaining that Slater shouldn’t allow that to bother him, as he has to be true to himself, and not worry about what other people think. As long as Slater continues to work hard and have a positive attitude, there’s nothing stopping him from reaching the top.
Everyone Else – Gabriel is in the same boat as Slater, a natural athlete with a good attitude, and if he keeps it up, he’ll also achieve greatness; Young and Sheffield are nice guys, but “not all that bright”, and would likely suggest that they actually try to develop a mean-streak in order to help them focus on their in-ring game; Otunga will be a star through sheer will-power (making-up for any negatives he might have); and Bryan has all the tools, but is too conceited to see that there’s still plenty that the pros could teach him.
Matt Hardy
For: Heath Slater - I think he and Christian would have a lot of the same criteria when judging the rookies, but whereas Christian is much more logical and cut-and-dry in his decisions, Matt is driven much more by his heart than his brain. With that in mind, I think he'd pick Slater, as I can see Heath reminding Matt of himself when he was younger; a smaller, less-built guy that loves the business and the fans. I can see him being inclined to pick Daniel Bryan due to his obvious talent, but would end-up agreeing with Christian that win/loss-record is important (though not to the same degree that Christian would think); he'd also probably have a soft-spot for Darren Young for the same reason that R-Truth would, but again, his win/loss record can't compete with Slater's.
Against: Michael Tarver - Here's where I think he and Christian would agree, in that Tarver's shown the least promise of any of the rookies, having a poor record and not showing much between the ropes.
His Rookie: Justin Gabriel – Matt’s thoughts on Gabriel would likely mirror Christian’s thoughts on Slater; that Gabriel’s win/loss record is proof of his ability and work-ethic, and that there’s no telling how far Gabriel could go. He’d leave out the stuff about self-esteem though, Matt’s too much of a softy to deride someone for their personality.
Everyone Else – Being a nice guy and the eternal optimist that he is, Matt would likely feel that Bryan, Otunga, and Barrett could all be huge stars WITHOUT having such big egos, and would try his best to help them see it; Young and Sheffield, on the other hand, would be praised for their jovial personalities and desire to entertain the fans. Matt probably wouldn’t say much about anybody’s athletic abilities, as he himself is a perfect example of a whole being more than the sum of its parts, in that he was never the most athletically gifted guy, but he has a better work-ethic and attitude than just about anyone in the business; he’d be a big believer in “mind over matter”.
Carlito
For: David Otunga - Carlito would probably insist on voting for Tarver, for the simple reason that, because he was trained by Carlito, he must be the best, but after being repeatedly denied by the producers and other pros, he'd finally come to a different decision. That decision? Otunga. Why? "He's cool." Yeah, Carlito doesn't have the most in-depth criteria.
Against: Daniel Bryan - Much like Miz, Carlito would feel that charisma is probably the most important aspect of being a WWE Superstar, and that a "nerd" like Bryan just doesn't have what it takes to become a star.
His Rookie: Michael Tarver – Again, Carlito would be egotistical to the point of being delusional, feeling that simply being mentored by him would automatically catapult his rookie to the front of the pack.
Everyone Else – Being the living epitome of “cool” that he is, Carlito’s thoughts would be very similar to Miz’s: Slater and Gabriel would only wish to be as cool as Carlito; Young and Sheffield are dorky idiots; and Barrett is mighty impressive (though not as “cool” as Otunga).
William Regal
For: Wade Barrett - Maybe the most obvious choice of all, Regal would be mighty impressed by his fellow countryman. Not that it's not warranted, he has all the tools and shows a ton of promise, but Regal would feel a special sense of pride in seeing Barrett succeed.
Against: Heath Slater - Much like Carlito, Regal would want an exception made to the rules so that he could vote against Skip Sheffield, but after settling down, I can see him having a tough time choosing between Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel. Why those two? Because they're two well-liked pretty-boys, exactly the type that Regal doesn't like. He would accuse them of being too big for their britches, getting a little too much of an ego, and would love to eliminate both of them. However, when push came to shove, Regal would pick the more in-your-face Slater than the shyer Gabriel.
His Rookie: Skip Sheffield – Regal would begin his appraisal of his rookie by complimenting him on his incredible physical attributes (physique, strength, agility), but it would quickly turn into a long diatribe of insults. Long story short, Regal sees Sheffield as having “a million dollar body and a ten cent brain”; he’d feel that, while Sheffield is one of the most athletically gifted, he’s virtually incapable of learning.
Everyone Else – Gabriel and Young are talented, but have nauseating personalities; Tarver and Otunga are talented and have the proper “win at all costs” attitudes to get ahead; and Bryan is extremely talented, but his ego is out of control.
Chris Jericho
For: David Otunga – Being unable to vote for Wade Barrett, he’d have to pick the other “complete package” of the remaining heel rookies. Much like Jericho, Otunga is a larger-than-life celebrity with the body of a Greek God and an aura to match.
Against: Daniel Bryan - Jericho is big on respect, and with Bryan showing little respect to so many others (Miz, other rookies, Michael Cole), he'd be Jericho’s first pick to go; his poor record would just serve as easy justification to do so. Of course, Jericho would probably a little threatened by him, as well, but would never admit that.
His Rookie: Wade Barrett – “Let’s talk about Wade Barrett for a minute. He’s got size, strength, agility, intelligence, work-ethic, talent, class, a killer instinct… and that’s just what I bring to the table!” In all seriousness, Barrett is the obvious stand-out to Jericho; his size, athleticism, and talent are all there, and he has the “holier-than-thou” attitude that Jericho loves in people.
Everyone Else – Tarver, Sheffield, and Young all show promise, but have to learn to focus; Gabriel and Slater are very talented, but their squeaky-clean image doesn’t sit well with Jericho.
///
Final Scores
Positive Votes:
3 – Barrett, Otunga (Tied for First)
1 – Slater, Young
0 – Bryan, Gabriel, Sheffield, Tarver
Negative Votes:
0 - Otunga, Sheffield, Young
1 - Barrett, Gabriel
2 - Bryan, Slater, Tarver (Tied for Last)
///
Tie-Breakers
Winner – With Barrett and Otunga both getting three positive votes, it comes down to R-Truth and Matt Hardy (the only two pros to not vote for either rookie) to make a decision on which man is the winner. It doesn’t take long for them to decide that Barrett’s talent and record give him the edge over Otunga.
Loser – Bryan, Slater, and Tarver all received two negative votes, with only R-Truth and CM Punk having not voted for either of them. Truth feels that Slater has the best combination of talent and attitude, leaving it down to Bryan and Tarver for him. Punk would feel that Tarver is the only one with a good attitude, leaving it down to Bryan and Slater for him. With Bryan being the only common name, he is ranked #8 on the “Pro’s Poll”.
///
Final Tally
8) Daniel Bryan (Judged)
7) Michael Tarver (2 negatives)
6) Heath Slater (2 negatives, 1 positive)
5) Justin Gabriel (1 negative)
4) Skip Sheffield (0 votes)
3) Darren Young (1 positive)
2) David Otunga (3 positives)
1) Wade Barrett (Judged)
Final Thoughts – Daniel Bryan, the guy that was booked to be #1 in the “Pro’s Poll”, would actually probably do very poorly if the angle were booked in WWE canon – he’s a face while most of the pros are heels, and he’s displayed an attitude that would likely rub even the face pros the wrong way. Talent only goes so far, and if the judges don’t like you, there’s not much you can do to change it. Again, these are not my own feelings, just how I think those eight particular pros would vote for these eight particular rookies.
