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WWE is the pinnacle of the wrestling business. Like the NFL or NBA, an athlete has "made it" once they sign with the worldwide leader. They've made it to the big leagues.
Most wrestlers start their careers with the end goal of joining WWE. It's seen as the culmination of sometimes a decade or more of work for some like AJ Styles. While making it to WWE is usually the goal of many, for some, it isn't the be all end all regarding their careers.
Wrestlers like Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks have stated that they are perfectly happy with where they are currently wrestling. Some enjoy the freedom of making their schedules while others like the ability to have their own creativity with their characters. Some enjoy the unscripted nature they're provided with for their promos.
While signing with WWE might be a goal for some wrestlers, it's not always the best place for them. Here are three wrestlers who should sign with WWE and three wrestlers who should abstain from signing with the WWE.
#3 Should sign: Eli Drake
Eli Drake is one of the few wrestlers remaining from the time before Impact wrestling went through a transitional period a couple of years ago. Anthem Sports purchased the company from Dixie Carter. Carter had basically run it into the ground after making many poor decisions as President of the company.
Since the change, the product is immensely better. The wrestling is better. The storylines are better. One of the wrestlers who has been there through all of it is Eli Drake.
He was formerly a part of NXT back when it was called FCW. He was close to the Rock and it's easy to see how the Great One impacted Drake.
If you haven't seen him, he's one of the best promos in the business today. He can talk circles around a lot of people. He's sort of like Enzo Amore if Amore could wrestle and not be an obnoxious presence.
Drake is great in the ring and even better on the mic. If they pushed a guy like Amore because of his mic mastery, then surely they would push a guy like Drake, who, you know, can actually wrestle.
Drake also had a good run with the Impact Heavyweight Championship and it could be said his title reign was the bridge between the bad times and the good for Impact. If they'll sign EC3, Eric Young and others from Impact/TNA, then surely Drake could be a great fit.
#3 Should Not: Hiroshi Tanahashi
Yes, Tanahashi is one of the greatest pro wrestlers of the last decade. Like Okada, his name has been synonymous with NJPW. And I'm sure you've heard the comparisons of how he is NJPW's version of John Cena. It is true. Both were/are the franchises of their respective promotions.
I'm just afraid that he would get lost in the WWE shuffle. Nakamura isn't on Smackdown every week and he's the United State Champion. Nakamura's circumstances were special. He was the first major native Japanese star to sign an exclusive contract with WWE after his success in NJPW.
Guys like Tye Dillinger, Andrade 'Cien' Almas, Sanity and Bobby Roode were all red hot when they were called up but have since been left sitting on the back burner in regards to pushes/storylines.
Tanahashi has had even more success in NJPW than Nakamura and perhaps that is partially why Nakamura joined the WWE.
Tanahashi does have charisma but it's a lot different than that of Shinsuke's. Tanahashi's comes off to me at least like a guy who's been on top forever and is the man. It's not as organic to me as Nakamura's.
Nakamura could charm a nun to swear in church. Tanahashi is a great wrestler, but he's already 43 and his opportunity to join WWE might have already passed him by.
They probably offered him a deal, but it's likely just to pry another top wrestler from the competition.
#2 Should: Ivelisse Velez
Ivelisse Velez has been wrestling on the independent scene for most of her wrestling carerr.
Velez was on an early installation of Tough Enough. She was eventually signed to FCW but left due to the Bill DeMott controversy and other things. She revealed a lot during an interview with WrestlingInc in 2016.
She even had a tryout match on air with Impact, winning her match over Lei'd Tapa. They should have signed Velez but instead signed Tapa. What a mistake. Velez has been honing her craft in Puerto Rico, Mexico and with many West-Coast independent promotions.
Her biggest exposure has perhaps been as a member of Lucha Underground. She's been with the show since the beginning and is a fan favourite for her willingness to fight anybody. Seriously, she's fought Pentagon Jr., Mil Muertes and Matanza Cueto. Those are akin to Alex Bliss fighting Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley or Drew McIntyre.
She was turned off with how women wrestlers were portrayed when she was with FCW, but a lot has changed since then. Signing her would be a sign that WWE recognized she was talented but maybe came across as a little too outspoken. She was also very close with Paige when both were in FCW, so maybe she'd reconsider signing with WWE.
If there was a time for her to sign and vice versa, it would be now.
#2 Should Not: Jay Lethal
Just as Drake has been with Impact through the transitional times of late, Lethal has done the same with Ring of Honor.
Lethal held the belt for over 400 days during a time that saw names like Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Mike Bennett, Kyle O'Reilly and Lio Rush leave the promotion.
He's one of the best pro wrestlers on the planet and is good on the mic. He's also a two-time ROH Heavyweight Champion. Of the 24 champions in the promotion's history, only Lethal, Jay Briscoe, Austin Aries and Cole have had multiple reigns.
That means that they clearly view Lethal as one of the top, if not the top, wrestlers in the company. My fear, however, is that like Tanahashi, he would get lost in the shuffle. Guys who are great at wrestling aren't usually pushed unless they're well over 6 feet and 220 pounds. He is charismatic but i don't think he'd be booked the greatest.
His ceiling would likely be mid-card like that of Nakamura so far. Sure, Nakamura got a few WWE Championship title shots, but he lost three consecutively. He'd be treated like a semi-big deal but wouldn't be given the push he would deserve.
He's doing great work in ROH and he should probably stay there and in NJPW.
#1 Should: Pentagon Jr.
Pentagon Jr. has been treated like a big deal in every promotion he has wrestled in.
He's a former Lucha Underground World Champion and Impact World Champion. His work in Lucha Underground since its beginning is what has helped build that promotion into a believable, alternative outlet for those looking outside the WWE.
He's like the Mexican Stone Cold, not caring what anyone thinks or wants. He'll fight one guy or 10 guys and is willing to fight in any match.
Seriously, watch his Grave Consequences match, Ciero Miedo match with Vampiro or his Gauntlet Match with the likes of Kairi Sane and Io Shirai before they signed with WWE. They are amazing.
He's also an amazing tag wrestler. My only hope is that if he signs, it's as a singles wrestler. He and Fenix are likely going anywhere together, so they need to be signed as singles wrestlers.
When feuds necessitate them being a tag team, then they can tag together. He's one of the most popular wrestlers on the planet, has a built-in character and could be another anti-hero for WWE if booked correctly.
WWE is still looking for its next big Latino draw, and if signed, he needs to be treated as big as AJ Styles eventually. He's that good.
#1 Should Not: Cody Rhodes
Personally, I was never a huge fan of Cody. He's a perfectly fine wrestler and good on the mic. He just doesn't do anything so well that he should be considered a main-eventer.
Of course, he's been treated like a main-eventer because he was a former WWE guy. Guys like Damien Sandow, Alberto Del Rio and lots of others have been given pushes because of "former WWE guy" status. He was good as a mid-card heel when he was with WWE. He did good character work as a heel but left when they wouldn't offer him the creative freedoms he desired.
He wished to put the Stardust character to rest, but WWE didn't let him. Since he left WWE, he's wrestled in every other major promotion like Impact, NJPW and ROH. He did a great job, along with the Young Bucks, in putting on the biggest independent show in All In. That was awesome.
I just think resigning with WWE would be a mistake for him. He might be treated the same or worse than he was. Kenny Omega is light years better than he is, but would be booked much better if both signed.
He should stay outside of WWE and continue to help build other promotions in efforts to compete with the global power.
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