The Ultimate NXT Draft: Picks 1-10

It has been three years since Jonah and I did an NXT Fantasy Draft to make our picks of who are going to be the next great superstars in the WWE. Then, about six months ago, we reviewed all of the picks to figure out what went right and what went wrong. We realized three things through this process. First off, very few wrestlers are in NXT from that original draft, and even the ones that are have changed dramatically over the last few years. Second, and more importantly for the strategy of this draft, is that we realized we cannot rely on WWE success to determine the strength of our selections as many of their creative decisions do not optimize their talent. So this draft is not predicting future success as much as it is drafting the wrestlers that we would want to build our organization around. Finally, we decided to be inclusive in this draft so not only will we have NXT and all of the wrestlers at the Performance Center, but we will include everyone over in NXT UK and even 205 Live since all of them are still working to progress in their career.

Today, we focus on the illustrious top 10 picks of the WWE developmental system.

1. Joe selects Matt Riddle

Joe: Jonah was very gracious as he allowed me to have the first selection in this draft. It was very obvious where I was going with this one since I thought he was the best independent wrestler out there since the first time I saw him three years ago at an Evolve show during a work trip. I have never seen any wrestler have “The IT Factor” on the level of Riddle. It’s tough to explain his charisma, but it’s born out of an incredible amount of confidence which helps give him an easy going attitude that somehow makes him feel like a star but incredibly approachable all at the same time.

And this doesn’t even get into his wrestling ability which is off the damn charts. Nobody has transitioned MMA into professional wrestling anywhere near the level of Matt Riddle. He has the striking and submissions down, but he also has a freakish level of strength which I am a total sucker for. I have been lucky enough to be with several different people when they saw Riddle wrestle for the first time, and everybody is blown away by this guy. He’s already the best guy in NXT, might be the best guy in the WWE, and hell, are we sure he’s not the best wrestler in the world? Either way, this is the franchise pick.

Jonah: A great pick, very deserving of the number one spot though I do think you could have gone a couple of different ways. There’s a few guys who are can’t miss prospects, I can’t wait to see how the WWE misses on them once they make it to the main roster. I also was lucky enough to see Matt Riddle at an independent show with Joe, he took on a pick that we will get to later on. It’s the best match I’ve ever seen live and I saw the Revival take on American Alpha. Riddle’s great, I can’t talk trash about this pick, the only thing I can say is I did think about trying to go first so I could take him and break your heart.

2. Jonah selects Velveteen Dream

Jonah: Move over Lex Luger because the Velveteen Dream is the real total package. His charisma is obvious, the guy is incredibly entertaining. His promos are fantastic in that he makes seemingly random feuds seem important. He’s also incredibly talented in the ring, capable of putting on fantastic matches. I know Joe loves Matt Riddle the most, but I think Velveteen Dream is the most complete wrestler in NXT, maybe in the whole damn WWE. Oh and he’s also 23 years old so he’s got a long, long time to continue improving. I already said that the main roster will find a way to screw everyone up, but they’re really going to have to try because Dream is so good on the mic and so good in the ring that he can’t help but get over.

Joe: For me, it gets very blurry after Matt Riddle for the second best guy in this draft. Velveteen Dream, along with a few others were in my mind about who I would want most, but it is clear that Dream is an absolute star. The charisma dwarfs just about anyone in the wrestling business, and as long as he stays away from singing, he’s great in every other aspect. It is amazing to see how fast he has progressed since starting in the WWE Performance Center. His in-ring talent is probably even more fascinating than his mic work since he is not a great professional wrestler in the way that we have become accustomed. He’s not a huge spot guy, but he tells an incredible story out there, and the contrast of what everyone else is doing makes his matches all the more fascinating. I think Jonah’s and my goal is to shit on each other’s picks, but Velveteen Dream is great, not even I can deny that.

3. Jonah selects Johnny Gargano

Jonah: It’s funny you mention Riddle as the best wrestler in NXT and possibly the best wrestler in the world, because Gargano is massively overlooked in the conversation for best in the world. His run of matches over the past three years is almost unbelievable. From DIY tag matches to his singles matches, you can argue that every Takeover match he’s had from Takeover II on is five stars. When you think back of the truly amazing matches in NXT he’s always one half of them. He’s one half of my favorite match of all time, his fight against Andrade at Takeover Philadelphia. He has also shown in this snarky current world of professional wrestling fandom that you can still get over as a pure whitemeat babyface. I’m very sad that he’ll probably be stuck on 205 Live instead of in the main event of RAW or Smackdown where he belongs once he’s eventually called up.

Joe: Johnny Gargano is great. He’s fantastic in the ring, and he’s built a phenomenal fan following. I think he might be the best NXT wrestler in the world, but best wrestler in the world? Eh, I don’t really see it. He’s built for NXT, and when you take him outside of NXT, he’s still great, but size does still matter. He had great runs in Evolve and PWG, but he wasn’t THE guy, so I do question how well his success translates outside of NXT. I’m one of his biggest haters, and I think he’d be really good in any organization, but there are other talents I would rather have when building a roster.

Jonah: Your deep burning hate for Johnny Gargano makes no real sense. The guy is a stud, he’s a star and an unbelievable wrestler. I’ll happily take him.

4. Joe selects Adam Cole

Joe: Speaking of guys better than Johnny Gargano, how about the one who just proved it at Takeover XXV, BAY BAY. I think this was a no-brainer pick as Cole is just as good in the ring as Gargano, but light years ahead of him (and most everybody) on the mic. Everybody loves yelling BOOM and BAY BAY, but you still want to see this guy get his ass kicked when he’s out there as he not only knows how to talk like a heel, but he also knows how to wrestle like one. I will say that his size is obviously just as big as a detriment, but it’s perfect for a chickenshit heel who breaks the rules every chance he gets in order to succeed. Adam Cole is a great pick, and that is undisputed.

Jonah: Adam Cole is a very good wrestler, but he’s not better than Johnny Gargano. Gargano is better in the ring, and while Cole is probably better on the mic, it’s much easier to play dickbag cowardly heel than it is pure babyface. Still, he’s talented and an obvious pick here. Can’t wait to see him and Gargano tear it up on 205 Live in front of hundreds of people.

Joe: I can’t imagine the WWE would try to screw up Adam Cole and make him a cruiserweight, but it does bring up an interesting thought. As far as I know, those NXT deals are three years, and he’s almost two years into his contract. Would it be totally shocking if he turned down a main roster spot to get out of his contract in 2020? Could Being The Elite resurrect him from the dead? Definitely something to consider.

Jonah: The WWE doesn’t try to screw up anyone, it comes completely naturally for them. Adam Cole as an Undertaker character in AEW does sound pretty awesome though.

5. Joe selects WALTER

Joe: And now for a guy whose size is most certainly not an issue, WALTER, a man so large you have to spell his name in all caps. WALTER isn’t going to do any high flying stuff because he doesn’t need to. He’s super clean technically, strong as an ox, and slaps a chest like he is trying to send his opponent’s sternum through their spine. WALTER is awesome. WALTER has stated that he has no interest in going to the WWE main roster as he wants to stay in Europe, wrestle, and have a comfortable life. It will greatly limit his success on a global scale, but for this draft, I don’t have to worry about his European demands and it’s impossible to build the best roster without making this guy a priority.

Jonah: I was definitely planning on ending up with WALTER, but Joe swooped in and took him at number 5 overall. He’s a great wrestler, fun to watch in the ring and his presence is something special. When you see him you think damn, that guy looks like a badass and carries himself like a badass. I will say the one complaint I have about him is that wrestling is supposed to look brutal, not actually be brutal, chopping the hell out of guys chests is impressive but it would be more impressive if it just looked and sounded like he did.

Joe: I disagree. Give me the BRUTALITY.

Jonah: Don’t work yourself into a shoot bro.

6. Jonah selects Montez Ford

Jonah: Montez Ford has been called a future star by both myself and Joe. He’s as good as Cedric Alexander in the ring and about 100 times more charismatic. He’s like a smaller, more athletic Velveteen Dream where you can’t wait to hear what he has to say. His physical chemistry is off the charts too, the dancing, the facial expressions all top notch. He deserves a legitimate main event run, hopefully the recent tag team title win is the start of a real push for him. He also seems like a really down to Earth guy as I watched a WWE exclusive where he pulled a cameraman who had been filming the Street Profits their whole career in NXT to the front of the camera and celebrated their tag team title win with him. Montez, I’m sorry that the best I can hope for is a great 205 Live run for you on the main roster because the WWE will probably want to turn the Street Profits into Crime Time 2.0 and you’re so much better than that.

Joe: Does this hurt? Yeah, it hurts. I love Montez Ford quite a bit, and I wish that I had him for my pretend organization (I should probably remind everyone that despite the way it seems, I am not 12-years-old and actually in my 30s). Ford is the total package, and the sky's the limit for him. As much as I love Ford, I couldn’t justify taking him with my first three picks since he doesn’t have a run as a singles competitor yet, so even though I have no reason to doubt him, I went for sure things where Montez is a whole lot of projection, but I can’t make a definitive claim that anyone has a higher ceiling than him.

7. Jonah selects Kushida

Jonah: So Kushida is one of the best wrestlers in the world, his only downside is that he’s 36 but when in doubt always go with talent. He killed it in New Japan for the past nine years and now he’s in NXT. He’s only had two televised matches so there’s not a lot to go on here, but his reputation precedes him. Besides his professional wrestling success in Japan, he’s also undefeated in MMA. Kushida will make a big splash soon, and in a few months we could be looking back and wondering if he should have gone even earlier.

Joe: I would not say that his only downside is that he’s already 36. He’s also undersized and does not speak fluent English which puts a ceiling on his charisma. Kushida is really good in the ring, but he’s not a guy I could ever fully get into. There are probably a half dozen guys in the New Japan Junior division who I would take over Kushida right now. He is very good, even if he’s not totally my cup of tea, but with WWE’s questionable utilization of Japanese talent, I highly doubt that we will think he should have gone above any of the people drafted ahead of him.

8. Joe selects Kyle O'Reilly

Joe: Here’s a hot take: Kyle O’Reilly is the most entertaining person in NXT. He’s great in the ring, and his promos make me laugh constantly. He doesn’t even have to be talking, and I will bust up laughing at whatever facial reaction O’Reilly is giving in the background. I have to watch Undisputed Era segments twice, because I lose track of all the great stuff being said as I am totally focused on what O’Reilly is doing. I will admit that since he has only been a secondary part of a team, does he have the star quality, or is he just the guy that you love to see who rarely gets to the main event level? I don’t care, because it is impossible to not be entertained by this man, and isn’t that what professional wrestling is all about? If you don’t love Kyle O’Reilly, you don’t love wrestling, and that is undisputed.

Jonah: Kyle O’Reilly has the douchebag persona down so pat I have to wonder how he actually is in real life. Him playing the belt like a guitar is amazing every single time. He’s good in the ring and I think he would be good as a singles star. His striking and submission game looks great, and he should do well. Good pick here, but the risk is he never gets to actually break out.

9. Joe selects Bianca Belair

Joe: This is where things got really tough for me as I think you could make a pretty compelling argument for about eight different people at this slot. I wasn’t totally sure if this was the right pick when I made it, but the more I think about it, the more I like it. Bianca Belair isn’t seen as the top woman in NXT, hell, she just dropped below Mia Yim in the championship pecking order, but nobody has anywhere near the ceiling of Belair. The most simplistic way of looking at Belair is seeing her as black Charlotte Flair. Her physical gifts put her head and shoulders above the competition, and even though she’s a little raw with promos, there are tons of things to love of what she has done so far. She’s still working through a lot of things, but if she gets anywhere near her ceiling, she’s going to be in the conversation for best women’s wrestler in the world. And to me, she’ll always be UN-DUH-FEA-TED.

Jonah: I’m a big fan of Bianca Belair, but I’m not sure if I would have taken her over Baszler. Everything Joe said about her is true, her athleticism and strength are off the charts. She also gives off charisma in her presence. She does need to work on her mic work, but hey she’s in a developmental league. So she’ll be called up next week and given 20 minute promo segments on RAW. Keep on playing to wrestler’s strengths, WWE.

Joe: WWE, I think you’re doing a great job. Now please hire me. Pay me well, do not expect me to move, and I’ve got a four-month old, so I’m only going to travel when I want to travel. But I am willing to get comped WrestleMania tickets this year since it’s 20 minutes from my house. Hit me up, uncensoredwriting@gmail.com.

Jonah: WWE, you’re not doing a great job, your ratings are plummeting and it’s not even football season. Please hire me if you don’t want to have to perform in North Korea to stay profitable.

10. Jonah selects Keith Lee

Jonah: Big dude, great wrestler, tons of charisma that’s Keith Lee. He’s arguably the best “big man” wrestler in the world today, but he also shows off a ton of athleticism inside the ring. He’s a good promo, but he also has that natural charisma where he just seems cool. He’s a face who tells people to bask in his glory and it makes sense coming from him. With his size, wrestling ability and charisma Lee could actually find the most success of anyone on the main roster.

Joe: Yeah, Keith Lee is great. Jonah summed it up pretty damn well, so I have nothing to add on this one. I apologize for not ending with a bang with my comments, but the good news is that it gives everyone extra time to bask in Keith Lee's glory.

The WWE Is Ruining... Ali

Let's start out with the positive. There is some good with how they have handled Ali. They finally brought someone from 205 Live to the main shows and actually gave him a push which was incredibly well received. It makes sense since Ali has just about everything you would want in a superstar. A good look, charisma, and some pretty incredible moves. The only thing that he is lacking is size, but he isn't so small that it puts a ceiling on his success.

Unfortunately for Ali, he got hurt at the wrong time, and momentum for Kofi Kingston took over, and he's had to mostly take a backseat since then. If he didn't get distracted by music, he could have won the Money In The Bank ladder match, but unfortunately, he heard Brock Lesnar's music and forgot that he was about five seconds away from winning the match, and Brock, although a physical freak, probably couldn't stop him in time.

So now he's in limbo, like most of the WWE roster. He's not really going for a title, not really getting wins, and just kind of existing to get RKO'd outta nowhere. If you want to exploit that he used to be a police officer, you could make him a Blue Lives Matter character, and I'm guessing that gets more cheers than boos, even though it may be the dumbest character in wrestling history.

Instead, all WWE really needs to do is lean in to the fact that this guy is a natural underdog babyface and put him up against monsters. Really, he should be treated like Rey Mysterio in that he is always an underdog at first glance but somehow can overcome the odds. He can feud against any bruiser. Samoa Joe is perfect for the role, and since Lars Sullivan just randomly lurks everywhere you turn, even if Ali couldn't give him his first loss, he could be the guy to test his limits.

I actually have faith in WWE to handle him well as they have already shown an interest in actually putting in the work for Ali. I know having faith in the WWE is a fool's errand, but they do occasionally get things right, so let's hope they can get Ali back on track.

Other Wrestlers WWE Is Ruining
Alicia Fox
Andrade "Cien" Almas
Apollo Crews
Bayley
Big E
Big Show
Bo Dallas
Bobby Lashley
Bobby Roode
Braun Strowman
Brock Lesnar
Carmella
Chad Gable

Charlotte Flair
Curt Hawkins
Curtis Axel

Dana Brooke
Dash Wilder
Ember Moon
Epico

Goldust
Gran Metalik

Jey Uso
Jimmy Uso
Jinder Mahal
Kane
Karl Anderson

Kevin Owens
Killian Dain
Kofi Kingston
Konnor

Luke Gallows
Mickie James
Mojo Rawley

Natalya
Nia Jax

No Way Jose
Peyton Royce
Primo

Randy Orton

Ruby Riott

Rusev
Scott Dawson
Shane McMahon
Sheamus

Shinsuke Nakamura
Tyler Breeze

Viktor

Zack Ryder 

AEW and the Transition from Marks to Plants

AEW's inaugural event, Double or Nothing, was a massive success. Not only did they put on a hell of a show, but they also had an estimated 100,000 PPV buys which is incredible in a market where the two most dominant brands, WWE and NJPW, will give you everything for less than $10 a month. They showed a variety of styles, and the crowd was into it from start to finish. It makes all wrestling fans wonder how they can build on this in the future.

The most amazing part of Double or Nothing is they built up the entire card with almost no wrestling. Instead, they utilized YouTube shows to not only build up the matches but set the framework for future feuds as well. It's amazing how they changed the game, and I think they are ahead of the curve on the future of pro wrestling.

The best example of this is Cody. Cody is beloved by fans of AEW, because he is a huge reason that it even exists. Between The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and him, they are setting a path for where the organization goes, and Cody definitely seems like the leader out of those wrestlers as well. But here's the thing with Cody, he's not a babyface. He's the most heel heel that has ever heeled in wrestling. Cody has never smiled in his entire life; he's only smirked. I love the guy, but I also totally want to punch him in the face.

So you have Cody who is easy to hate but he is providing you with what wrestling fans have been craving for years, so you also kind of love him. He cheats in his matches but gets cheered at the end of the show. No matter what people say, wrestling is still built on faces and heels, and that is where AEW needs help from a character that is often overlooked in the grand scheme of pro wrestling, the fans.

The fans that are already supporting AEW are not your traditional wrestling fans, but they are almost reverting back to what fans used to be. WWE fans cheer the guys they like and boo the guys they don't. That seems logical, but it runs into problems when clear babyfaces like Roman Reigns get booed out of the building. 30 years ago, things were much simpler in professional wrestling. The chosen good guys always got cheered and the chosen bad guys always got booed. It was a more innocent time, and even though we have lost our innocence, the fans of AEW seem to be reverting back to those simpler times.

But instead of AEW fans being marks, I think they're closer to plants. Magicians famously used plants to make the audience think anything was possible. It would look like they were picking a person at random, but really, that person was in on the trick to make sure everything went according to plan. This is what wrestling fans have become. We're all a bunch of plants, and we are in on what is supposed to happen. So we can love Cody as an executive but boo his every move in the ring, because he's the bad guy, and it's fun to be in on the show. Look at a guy like MJF, who is objectively hilarious, but you have to boo him, because that's what makes the show better and more enjoyable.

AEW realizes that wrestling fans want something different. We don't need to be tricked, because it's more fun to be in on the trick. Fans pay to see a WWE show; they pay to be a part of an AEW show. That sure sounds like a lot more fun to me.

The WWE Is Ruining... Gran Metalik

Gran Metalik is one third of a tag team. I think that pretty much sums up WWE's creative process better than any other sentence. This isn't six-man tag matches that he's participating in, and it's not even the Freebird Rule where guys sub in and out. No, they just go 3-on-2 and still lose which isn't the best way to get a guy over. Hell, even when they win, it's not like you can really be impressed by it.

Gran Metalik really reminds me of the old WCW Cruiserweights. He's basically a nondescript Mexican Luchador, and it reminds me that it took a very long time before I could tell the difference between Psicosis and Juventud Guerrera. There really wasn't any difference between them until Juvi lost his mask. But what really set them apart was giving Juvi a real personality.

So let's give Gran Metalik a personality. I know nothing about him and what he would be comfortable with, but I already have the perfect idea whether he likes it or not. What does Gran Metalik rhyme with? Freak. So let's turn Gran Metalik into a modern-day Big Poppa Pump and have all his freaks come out with him. Steiner cared about his freaks and his peaks, so Metalik could care about his freaks and his mystique, because keeping his mask is the key to that mystique. The better option would be his freaks and his antiques, and if Gran Metalik starts assessing WWE collector items while surrounded by scantily clad women, I AM ALL THE WAY IN. God, the feud he would have after telling Zack Ryder that his action figure collection is worthless would be the most heated rivalry of 2019.

I've had a lot of great ideas to help save WWE superstars, but this is the one that I am most passionate about. Please, WWE, make Gran Metalik a ladies man/antiquarian and just enjoy counting your money, because this idea is priceless.

Other Wrestlers WWE Is Ruining
Alicia Fox
Andrade "Cien" Almas
Apollo Crews
Bayley
Big E
Big Show
Bo Dallas
Bobby Lashley
Bobby Roode
Braun Strowman
Brock Lesnar
Carmella
Chad Gable

Charlotte Flair
Curt Hawkins
Curtis Axel

Dana Brooke
Dash Wilder
Ember Moon
Epico

Goldust
Jey Uso
Jimmy Uso
Jinder Mahal
Kane
Karl Anderson

Kevin Owens
Killian Dain
Kofi Kingston
Konnor

Luke Gallows
Mickie James
Mojo Rawley

Natalya
Nia Jax

No Way Jose
Peyton Royce
Primo

Randy Orton

Ruby Riott

Rusev
Scott Dawson
Shane McMahon
Sheamus

Shinsuke Nakamura
Tyler Breeze

Viktor

Zack Ryder 

The WWE Is Ruining...Sheamus

With The Bar splitting up, Sheamus is left without a tag team partner and really without much direction. According to Wikipedia, he also suffered a concussion, and even though a head injury is never preferable, some time away for Sheamus may help fans' hearts grow fonder.

I feel like I repeat this on nearly every post, but "(Insert Wrestler Name) is great." And Sheamus is pretty great. If Sheamus had never made the WWE, he would have been one of the most loved Gaijin in New Japan history. He's built for strong style, but that hard hitting style does seem to be taking a toll on his body at this point.

Really, it's probably a little late for a huge Sheamus push. He had multiple great runs, so there is no shame that he is now on the downside of his career. I do still think he could have value if put with the right guys.

He's a big guy who hits hard. I don't think he needs to have a title, but instead he just picks guys to beat up. It's the kind of thing where he needs to win a good portion of matches, but even if he loses, his opponent feels the pain of that beating. This would be where WWE needs to make the real change and actually have guys hurt for more than one night. If they actually sold injuries for more than one night, it would make it far easier for upsets to happen and be explained away that a guy was coming in with broken ribs, a bad back, or a weak leg. Sheamus could be the precursor to hurt guys and let others benefit with victories because of injuries sustained.

Of course, this whole idea relies on coherent storyline, so I guess it probably won't work. I guess just have him going back to stealing cars and farting in them, I guess?


Other Wrestlers WWE Is Ruining
Alicia Fox
Andrade "Cien" Almas
Apollo Crews
Bayley
Big E
Big Show
Bo Dallas
Bobby Lashley
Bobby Roode
Braun Strowman
Brock Lesnar
Carmella
Chad Gable

Charlotte Flair
Curt Hawkins
Curtis Axel

Dana Brooke
Dash Wilder
Ember Moon
Epico

Goldust
Jey Uso
Jimmy Uso
Jinder Mahal
Kane
Karl Anderson

Kevin Owens
Killian Dain
Kofi Kingston
Konnor

Luke Gallows
Mickie James
Mojo Rawley

Natalya
Nia Jax

No Way Jose
Peyton Royce
Primo

Randy Orton

Ruby Riott

Rusev
Scott Dawson
Shane McMahon
Shinsuke Nakamura
Tyler Breeze

Viktor

Zack Ryder 

The Chicago Bears Go International With Stephen Denmark

With the Bears final pick of the 2019 draft, they went international, and took Danish superstar, Stephen Denmark. Over in Europe, all people take the last name of where they are from, kind of like Jesus of Nazareth. Denmark played at Valdosta State which I believe is one of the premiere European "Clubs" (they don't have teams over there). Since over there, they don't have games, they have "matches" I couldn't find any film against one specific opponent, but I did find a highlight reel that was published by the man himself.

Although he was not invited to the combine (international travel was likely too expensive), he did put up a 4.46 at his pro day, and the speed is evident on the field. That's the good news. The bad news is his 7.40 3-cone drill number would be the fifth worst that has been recorded at the combine in the last 20 years. That's a greater indication of his ability to change directions and definitely hinders his upside. Still, there are plenty of positives with his film.

This is a bold move, Stephen.

Sure, pushing a receiver out of bounds is something that is going to happen, but taking him directly into his own bench is the work of an absolute mad man. I'm guessing that his opponents are Swiss as they chose to stay neutral during the conflict. But physicality was the thing that showed up over and over in his highlight tape. When he is in press coverage, he looks to take his opponents out of the play, and he doesn't look to tackle, he looks to hit when somebody has the ball near him. I was very surprised by this since he was a receiver his first three years and just switched over to the defensive side of the ball for his senior season. You would assume good footwork but afraid to hit, but the latter is certainly not an issue for Denmark.

That physicality in press coverage pays off on this play.

He gives the quarterback nowhere to throw this ball, but the quarterback throws it anyway, and Denmark makes him pay by making the interception with those wide receiver skills and then using his speed to cross the field into the endzone.

He gets lucky here.

He misses on his press, and the receiver creates good separation. Denmark's speed helps somewhat, but the quarterback underthrowing the ball is what really saves him on this play.

Another thing I was impressed by is his ability to diagnose plays.

He is dropping into a zone here, and immediately recognizes that the quarterback is looking deep so instead of staying shallow, he sprints back to undercut the deeper route and breaks up the play.

I know with these foreign players, it's a little tough to evaluate with their level of competition. I would probably compare it to Division II football in Georgia. At 6'2" and well built, he is a big defensive back who can definitely make plays. He has the speed, but the quickness isn't quite there for me to really trust him as a consistent defensive back. I do think he has all the traits to be very good on special teams as that size, speed, and willingness to lay the hammer could get him a roster spot even without the potential to ever start at defensive back. Welcome aboard, Stephen, or as the Danish say, Velkommen ombord.

Chicago Bears Scouting Reports
3rd Round - David Montgomery, Running Back, Iowa State
4th Round - Riley Ridley, Wide Receiver, Georgia
6th Round - Duke Shelley, Cornerback, Kansas State
7th Round - Kerrith Whyte Jr., Running Back, Florida Atlantic

The WWE Is Ruining... Bo Dallas

Bo Dallas deserves so much more. Did you know Bo Dallas has been with the WWE for almost 11 years and he's only 28 years old? Dude started at FCW when he was 18 and was winning titles after just turning 19 years old. He was making appearances in dark matches and house shows in his early 20s. He was a wrestling phenom.

Still, he paid his dues in developmental and was integral in NXT becoming a major brand. Although he was the third person to win the NXT Championship, he was the first champion that really belonged to NXT. Seth Rollins won the title as a babyface and immediately became a heel in The Shield. Big E did the exact same thing when he joined up with Dolph Ziggler on the main roster. They never had a chance to feel like they belonged to NXT. But Bo Dallas belonged to NXT. He was a champion that the crowd absolutely despised, and that may make him the only true heel to win the World Title in NXT history.

That's wild, but Kevin Owens was a cool heel who got cheered, Samoa Joe was Samoa freakin' Joe, and I guess the closest would be Andrade Almas, but even he never came close to the heat that Bo Dallas had. He was so hated that the fans turned their back on him, meanwhile he was showing a slideshow of his trip to BOlivia. He even beat the most beloved babyface in NXT history, Sami Zayn, by nefarious means. What I'm saying is I hated him, and he was absolutely fantastic.

And then he went to the main roster and everything went to shit.

So the way to save Bo Dallas is to let this man live in the past. Let him bring up his accomplishments in the most petty ways possible. I want him feuding with Seth Rollins by pointing out how much better he was as NXT Champion. I want him to feud with Daniel Bryan, because Bryan couldn't even win a match when he was on NXT. I want him to feud with every single wrestler by just pointing out how much better he was than them in the minor league WWE system. It would be so stupid and aggravating which makes it perfect for Bo Dallas. The good news is he never has to win, and it will still work, but the great news is he will get it over, and he will at least be worthy of a short run with a secondary title.

This may not be what the WWE Universe wants, but it is what the WWE Universe needs. All we have to do is BO-LIEVE.

Other Wrestlers WWE Is Ruining
Alicia Fox
Andrade "Cien" Almas
Apollo Crews
Bayley
Big E
Big Show
Bobby Lashley
Bobby Roode
Braun Strowman
Brock Lesnar
Carmella
Chad Gable

Charlotte Flair
Curt Hawkins
Curtis Axel

Dana Brooke
Dash Wilder
Ember Moon
Epico

Goldust
Jey Uso
Jimmy Uso
Jinder Mahal
Kane
Karl Anderson

Kevin Owens
Killian Dain
Kofi Kingston
Konnor

Luke Gallows
Mickie James
Mojo Rawley

Natalya
Nia Jax

No Way Jose
Peyton Royce
Primo

Randy Orton

Ruby Riott

Rusev
Scott Dawson
Shane McMahon
Shinsuke Nakamura
Tyler Breeze

Viktor

Zack Ryder 

My Favorite Wrestling Match of 2019

So a lot of you are probably going to be disappointed with this post, because this is likely not the wrestling that you are expecting. Today, I'm not talking Indy Wrestling, I'm talking International Freestyle Wrestling.

A few weeks ago, the Pan-American Championships took place, and the USA dominated, winning all ten freestyle weights. But nobody dominated more than J'Den Cox dominated "The Pride of Paraguay," Diego Ramirez Florentin. Usually you have to use video to show an entire wrestling match. Not this time.

To be fair, J'Den Cox is the #1 guy in the world at 92 kg (about 203 pounds). He's an incredible wrestler and nearly impossible to beat. That being said, it looks like Diego's most wrestling experience was going to the singlet store to have one made. But I love Ramirez Florentin's confidence. He is the aggressor as he takes a step forward before legitimately going for a snatch single. He doesn't come anywhere near completing it, but he at least attempted it. I admire that.

The biggest thing that you avoid in freestyle wrestling is going to your back. There is really no reason to go directly to your back on this low single, but Ramirez Florentin does just that. He tries bridging with his head, but Cox quickly scoops it up. Then he squirms before trying to bridge with his legs, but even before the pin is confirmed, he basically gives up on that too as his right leg flattens out. It was officially a 10-second match, and I absolutely love every second of it. They didn't even have time to change the graphic in the upper left corner to show who was wrestling.

For some reason, I love the aftermath of the match even more.

That look on his face as he stands up with his less-than-chiseled physique. He knew what was going to happen, but he took his beating anyway. His other match lasted only 26 seconds, so it was a quick exit for Paraguay's Proverbial Son.

But if you feel bad for Diego Ramirez Florentin, then the joke is on you. Because this man is still a winner.

That's our boy, who lasted a total of 36 seconds in two matches with a bronze medal around his neck. Yep, there were only three people that entered the weight class. God bless this man.