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How ironic is it that an entire division founded on the premise of sensational in-ring skills became a lot more exciting when arguably the worst worker in the company came to the brand?
Love him or hate him, Enzo Amore has made the Cruiserweight Division relevant once again. From the time when one could hear a pin drop when the purple ropes came on, the Cruiserweights have been booked in the main event segment of RAW, three weeks in a row.
Enzo Amore should have failed. The entire locker room hates him and his guts, seemingly. They've buried him on screen as well (remember the segment where Maryse announced her pregnancy and the ensuing match that Enzo had against The Miz?) and by all accounts, he shouldn't have succeeded.
However, there is an X-Factor in Enzo that has made not just him, but the entire 205 Live division extremely relevant. We bring you 5 reasons for his tremendous success. Let us know what you think of our assessments in the comments, right below.
#5 He truly lives his character
When Enzo calls himself the 'realest guy in the room', he does mean it. Many have said that he rubs people the wrong way because he is the way he is on screen, round the clock. Yes, we can imagine how annoying it must get backstage, but this is an example of him living his character.
How often is it that we see a disconnect between the character a superstar is supposed to portray and the way he/she comes across during the show? The biggest example of this is Natalya, who is a natural babyface but who has been cast as a heel on screen.
As a result of him living his character, Enzo's segments are fiery red at all points in time. He breathes fire on the microphone and never breaks character, even when he is in the middle of the ring. Just look at how much effort he puts into his wardrobe too.
Little wonder then that he was a top merch seller even when he was a part of the main roster on RAW.
#4 Exceptional gift of the gab
Knowing your character is a useless trait unless you can execute this talent and create compelling segments too. Enzo Amore is a man with impeccable microphone skills, even if his in-ring skills are a bit lacking.
His delivery is on point, and even when he goes up against a WWE Hall of Famer like Kurt Angle, Enzo Amore is a man that never falters at all. As a result of the same, he has inserted the 'entertainment' aspect of sports entertainment in a division that was just about the in-ring product alone.
The biggest matches become 'must watch affairs' when there is a compelling feud that makes people tune in and get invested. This can only be achieved through the microphone and through good storytelling.
With someone as talented on the microphone as Enzo Amore is, it is easier to tell stories and get people to tune in and watch the action that is unfolding.
#3 Big fish in a small pond
One look at Enzo Amore (preferably before you've seen him work inside the squared circle), and you know that he is a certified G. You cannot ignore a man with his charisma when he is in a room.
The same can be said for several superstars in the main roster. Because of the way the Cruiserweights have been booked, they are seen as interchangeable and alike. Enzo stands out like a sore thumb when he stands next to the entirety of the roster.
While he might have gotten lost in the shuffle in the WWE main roster, he is the cream of the crop in the Cruiserweight Division. As we've said time and again, he may be a step behind in term of in-ring work rate, but that matters very little to the majority of the casual fans.
Enzo was a big deal on RAW and is an even bigger deal in the WWE Cruiserweight Division.
#2 Looks like a star
Think back to the red and yellow of Hogan or the black and pink of Bret Hart. Superstars who live on through time have a very unique look indeed. Enzo is one of the few men on the present day roster who sets himself apart from the pack with his extremely unique look.
Compare him to the superstars of the 205 Live roster, or even superstars like Roderick Strong and Hideo Itami in the current NXT roster. It is not difficult to see why someone who looks like him, with his tattoos, his hair and his flamboyant attire is more over than the rest.
As much as the in-ring product has improved, it is disappointing to see how little importance is given to the look of WWE superstars. Let's hope Enzo inspires better ring gear for the entire Cruiserweight roster.
#1 A natural heel
Two different kinds of superstars sell tickets in the world of sports entertainment. You bought tickets to see Stone Cold Steve Austin knock down his next opponent. You also bought tickets to see Ric Flair get beaten and have his title taken away from him. Enzo naturally fits into the latter category.
He is a far better heel than he was a babyface. Because of his intensive knowledge of his character, he has transitioned his babyface character into heel mode, without losing the essence of what made his erstwhile character special.
An argument can be made for the fact that there is a vicarious pleasure that everyone derives from the sight of watching Enzo get beaten up. Maybe more so than any other heel in the history of the company.
There you have it, guys. These are five reasons why we think Enzo Amore is a one in a million superstar who's put the Cruiserweight Division on the map again.
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One of Samoa Joe's colleagues had harsh words for him HERE
