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In professional wrestling jargon, getting a 'push' refers to being moved up the card, ie being pushed to the top. It is a seemingly endless topic of conversation for fans, critics, and journalists.
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Often times these conversations are quite biased by those making the arguments, but it is possible to look at wrestlers objectively and conclude that they deserve a bigger part of the show.
Pro wrestling promotions often have a quite daunting task. They must continuously build up new stars to replace those who are aging out or have gone stale, while simultaneously trying to honour their veteran talents and utilizing them to the best of their ability.
Much of the criticism against wrestling promotions is actually quite unfair and represents a lack of understanding on the part of the critic.
But on the other hand, sometimes it seems like the fans know something the promoters do not. Some particular wrestlers are much more over with the crowd than their position on the card would otherwise indicate.
Here are ten wrestlers--and a few tag teams--that definitely deserve a major push by the promotions they work for.
#1 Apollo Crews
Real Name: Sesugh Uhaa
Height and Weight: 6'1" 260 lbs.
Years in the business: 8 (journeyman.)
Apollo Crews cut his teeth working for the Dragongate promotion, which displays a fondness for strong style and is the previous home of numerous current WWE stars such as Daniel Bryan.
He worked for the promotion as well as various independent organizations under the ring name "One Man Nation" Uhaa Nation. He was a tag team champion in Dragongate and was voted the best rookie of 2011 by that organization.
Crews then joined the WWE and was very impressive in his two-year stint with NXT. Apollo came up short in a title match against Finn Balor.
He was elevated to the main roster and joined Raw, but since has done little of note, and occupies a low spot on the card.
Why he deserves a push: Apollo Crews is the perfect hybrid of power wrestling and high flying ability.
His standing moonsaults and shooting star presses are almost unheard of from a man his size. The only thing hurting Crews right now is his deplorable win/loss record, which a push would nicely eliminate.
#2 Heavy Machinery
Real Names: Nikola Bogojevik and Levi Cooper.
Height and Weight: 5'10" 310 lbs (Otis) and 6'2" 320 Lbs (Tucker.)
Years in the business: 6 (Otis, Journeyman) and 8 (Tucker, Journeyman.)
Both Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic were standout amateur wrestling champions. Otis was a medalist at the Pan-American games, and Tucker was an All American wrestler.
Both sought out careers in sports entertainment immediately after graduation. Otis worked for the regional promotions in the Colorado area, but Tucker was drafted right out of college by the WWE.
The team of Heavy Machinery was well-received in NXT, becoming one of the most popular tag teams seemingly overnight.
Their "Steaks and Weights" catchphrase was chanted from pillar to post. Then they joined the main roster and have quickly been lost in the shuffle.
Why they deserve a push: Simply put, the pair are amazing athletes, incredibly powerful yet displaying a grace that belies their bulk.
Also, their amateur wrestling background helps to legitimize sports entertainment in ways that are more profound than most people think.
Add in the fact that they both display a ton of charisma (especially Otis) and you have a team that could be mentioned in the same breath as the Midnight Express someday--if given a chance.
#3 Roderick Strong
Real Name: Christopher Lindsey
Height and Weight: 5'10 200 lbs.
Years in the business: 18 (Veteran.)
Roderick Strong began his career in the year 2000 and was trained for the ring by Jim Neidhart.
He quickly became a stand out talent on the independent scene, and also displayed a propensity for instructing others in the art of pro wrestling.
He joined the Ring of Honor promotion in 2003 and went on to spend many years with the company.
Strong is recognized as the second Triple Crown champion in that company's history, holding the World Title, Television Title, and tag team titles with Austin Aries. In addition to his ROH gold, Strong has held over twenty different regional championships and is widely regarded as one of the best wrestlers working today.
Many were shocked when he turned down an offer from ROH and wound up on the NXT brand. Strong had a 'strong' debut, but he quickly fizzled out and didn't get much recognition until he joined the Undisputed Era stable, and became one-half of the tag team champions by proxy when Bobby Fish was injured.
Why he deserves a push: Roderick Strong is perhaps the best pure wrestler working for WWE on any brand.
While he can fly if he wants to, Strong's excellent technical wrestling and mat grappling game are second to none, and with all respect to Seth Rollins, Strong is the true Crossfit Jesus.
The biggest problem with Roderick Strong is that he would make a perfect babyface but every company he works for seems determined to make him a heel wrestler.
#4 Luke Harper
Real Name: Jonathon Huber
Height and Weight: 6'5" 275 lbs.
Years in the business: 17 (veteran.)
Luke Harper had one of the more unique roads to becoming a pro wrestling star; he cut his teeth in a backyard wrestling promotion.
He quickly got on the radar of the NWA New York promotion (formerly known as RCW) and held their world championship on three occasions.
He also worked extensively for the Chikara promotion, meaning he had to adapt his style to deal with the strong Lucha libre influence.
And adapt he did, wrestling more like a cruiserweight than a power wrestler despite his massive build.
Harper would join WWE in 2012 and moved through the NXT league quickly, making his main roster debut later that year as part of the Wyatt Family. Since then Harper has been a multi-time tag team champion and even held the prestigious Intercontinental championship for a time.
Why he deserves a push: Harper is an excellent wrestler, whether working as a tag team or as a singles star.
He can adapt to any size opponent, any style, and is much better on the mike than people give him credit for. While we love the Bludgeon Brothers gimmick, Harper could be a main event talent with only minor effort.
#5 Mark Briscoe
Real Name: Mark Pugh
Height and Weight: 6'0" 220 lbs
Years in the business: 19 (veteran on the cusp of being Ring General.)
Mark Briscoe, along with his more successful brother Jay, joined the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion after cutting his teeth on the indies.
Unlike a majority of CZW's stars, the Briscoes tended to use technical wrestling and high flying more than brutal weaponry which the promotion is more commonly associated with.
Less than a year after debuting, Mark and Jay would join the Ring of Honor promotion while that company was in its infancy. The duo were a smash hit and held the ROH tag team titles multiple times.
Jay Briscoe was eventually pushed to the main event, where he would enjoy over two years without being pinned or submitted and winning the ROH world championship. He would still occasionally wrestle with Mark, but there's no doubt which man the company valued more.
As well as ROH, the Briscoes have wrestled all over the world, and are recognized as international stars.
Why he deserves a push: Jay might be better looking and have a smidge more technical wrestling talent, but Mark Briscoe just oozes charisma.
His exciting Redneck Kung Fu striking and crazy high flying are often the highlights of any match he's involved in, and his mike skills are top notch.
Fans just want to like Mark Briscoe, and it's a shame he hasn't enjoyed the same success as his brother.
#6 Punishment Martinez
Real Name: Luiz Martinez
Height and Weight: 6'6" 251 lbs
Years in the business: 4 years (rookie.)
Punishment Martinez grew up in Dorado, Puerto Rico, giving him automatic American citizenship. He studied under his martial artist father, training in the Goju-Ryu school of karate, and even won two full-contact championships in that sport.
He made the transition to pro wrestling easily and was scooped up right out of training at the Monster Factory by Ring of Honor. He spent several years with that promotion, winning the ROH Television title quickly in his career. Martinez joined the WWE in 2018 and has been sporadically seen on NXT.
Why he deserves a push: Punishment Martinez reminds many people of Undertaker; A big man who has uncanny agility and an intimidating presence which belies his short term as a wrestler.
We could definitely see Punishment Martinez having a great reign as either NXT North American champion or carrying Goldie as NXT champion.
#7 Fallah Bahh
Real Name: Francis Flores
Height and Weight: 5'11" 425 lbs.
Years in the business: 13 (veteran.)
Fallah Bahh has been a presence on the North Eastern wrestling promotions, including IWF where he is a multi-time tag team champion (teaming with other current Impact wrestling star Kongo Kong.) He eventually would turn his heritage into part of his gimmick and adopted the Fallah Bahh ring name.
His time on Impact has been more positively received than the company could have hoped for.
Fallah uses his bulk to devastating effect in the ring, and his charisma has gotten him over with the Impact fans to a high degree.
Why he deserves a push: Though his size somewhat limits his in-ring work, Fallah Bahh makes the most of what he has been given.
He can move with remarkable quickness for a super heavyweight and has a surprising amount of stamina which is unusual for men of his size.
Super heavyweight wrestlers are often forced into a monster heel role, but Bahh's natural charisma makes him a great candidate for babyface status.
#8 Taynara Conti
Real Name: Taynara Melo de Carvalho
Height and Weight: 5'5" 120 lbs
Years in the business: 3 (rookie.)
Taynara Conti is a former Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion, holding a black belt in the first art and a blue belt in the second. She was a fourth-place runner up in national championship.
Conti was originally a rhythmic gymnastics competitor but soon gravitated toward the world of martial arts. She was scouted by WWE and joined their performance center in 2016. She participated in the second Mae Young Classic and won her first round match. Conti has since made a few appearances on NXT, often in losing efforts.
Why she deserves a push: Conti is the first Brazilian woman to join the WWE, and the first Brazilian wrestler to appear at a WrestleMania.
Her martial arts and gymnastics background mean she can move with feline grace, and she offers something different than the vast majority of WWE's female roster.
#9 Kassius Ohno
Real Name: Chris Spradlin
Height and Weight: 6'4" 270 lbs.
Years in the business: 20 (ring general.)
Kassius Ohno has been in the pro wrestling business for over two decades and was trained by none other than the world famous Dory Funk Jr. He began his career using the ring name Bo Dacious but soon transitioned to his most famous alias, Chris Hero.
During his career as Chris Hero, he wrestled literally all over the world. He has held titles in PWG, Ring of Honor, Chikara, and had s brief stint in Impact wrestling.
He signed with the WWE in 2012 and lasted for a year before returning to the independent circuit.
Then he returned to the WWE and NXT in 2016, where he remains to this day. Ohno serves a lot of roles in NXT, including that of being a trainer/coach for up and coming talent.
Why he deserves a push: Kassius Ohno has forgotten more about pro wrestling than most talents will ever learn.
Despite his perceived out of shape build, he's actually incredibly athletic and has great stamina. While he has served as something of a gatekeeper in NXT, he would be capable of a lot more.
#10 Dolph Ziggler
Real Name: Nicholas Nemeth
Height and Weight: 6'0" 218 lbs
Years in the business: 15 (veteran.)
Dolph Ziggler has probably appeared on these kinds of lists more than any other wrestler currently signed to a major promotion.
He joined the WWE in 2004 right out of college, where he still holds numerous records as an amateur wrestler at Kent state. He initially appeared as Chavo Guerrero's caddy when Chavo was using the Kerwin White gimmick, but soon was repackaged as part of the Spirit Squad.
When the squad was disbanded, Ziggler returned to OVW for a time before making his main roster debut in 2008 in a losing effort to Batista.
Despite losing, Ziggler looked quite strong in his debut, noticeably dazing the world champion on several occasions.
From there, Ziggler would go on to hold pretty much every single championship available in WWE, including a very brief and unsatisfying stint as the world champion.
After his brief rise to the main event, he slid back down the card and is largely seen as the king of the mid-carders.
Why he deserves a push: Simply put, no one works harder at the craft of professional wrestling than Dolph Ziggler.
He treats every performance as if he were in the main event of Wrestlemania, and can work a great match with nearly any opponent.
Perhaps because Ziggler is so good at making others shine is part of the reason he has not been kept in the main event, but he could be a major star if WWE uses him right.
There you have it; Ten pro wrestlers who deserve a push. Questions or comments? Please leave them after the article and as always thanks for reading!
