WWE’s biggest scam is inviting Ring of Honor talent to tryout camps.
Why does Kevin Steen need to “try out”? Steen has been wrestling 13 years, frequently performing on TV. There is endless video on Steen.
Does Steen have to demonstrate he can work “WWE style?” Isn’t whatever value Steen has contained in his existing style? Will Sting have to learn “WWE style”? At 55, after a 28-year career? Will Sting have to “try out”?
WWE lets ROH talent “try out” mostly to put them – and ROH – in their place. For every ROH performer that makes it, others get sent back to the minor league.
Worse yet, they go to TNA. The (American) Wolves are just another tag team. Not even. They have been made wholly unmemorable through no fault of their own.
Steen is intriguing.
I previously said Steen reminds me of a fan who won a contest. But I admit, he grows on you. He has a certain earnest quality that radiates given benefit of repeat viewing. His Wrestling Observer Newsletter “Best Brawler” awards duly noted, Steen’s brawling is overrated (but good). Steen does, however, have an air of legitimacy, perhaps because he DOESN’T look the part.
Steen reportedly lost weight before his WWE tryout. That’s ironic on two levels:
*No matter how Steen looks, he’ll never look good enough by WWE standards.
*Steen is 29. He started wrestling when he was 16, and embraced the biz as his life’s work when he was 11. How did it take Steen this long to realize physique was important?
WWE is the only real company. That means anyone who wants a sniff has to participate in their dog and pony show.
But make no mistake, that’s exactly what it is.
On second thought, WWE’s biggest scam is not telling their employees what they get in lieu of eliminated PPV bonuses. Still no answers. That’s because not enough people are asking questions.
Evolution is back together. Another nostalgia pop. Evolution is so 10 years ago.
Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkMaddenX
