Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Jaime Kennedy missing Jennifer Love Hewitt’s birthday, how the WrestleMania card is shaping up, or the Taylor Swift backlash, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
As some of you know, WWE NXT debuts tonight. The show pairs eight WWE “rookies” with eight seasoned mentors. It’s a fun concept that should lead to some cool storylines, but I’m super excited for NXT for one reason: Bryan Danielson (now Daniel Bryan). Here are three reasons Danielson will make NXT worth watching.
1) You might be watching a legend in the making. Danielson has been one of my favorite indie wrestlers for years. Whether it was with Ring of Honor or Pro-Wrestling Guerilla, his matches almost always delivered. His technical skills are amazing — as good or better than 90 percent of the current WWE roster — and he can fly a bit too. When it comes to pure skills, he’s already one of the best in the business and hopefully he makes the most out of his WWE opportunity.
2) He might be the second coming of Chris Benoit. Remember Benoit in his prime? He had the perfect blend of mat wrestling and charismatic aggression. Fans didn’t care that his mic skills were below average and that he wasn’t the biggest guy on the roster. He connected with fans through outstanding skills that were utilized in an appealing fashion. Danielson has similar qualities, though he’s slightly better on the mic. I’d love for the WWE to push a guy with excellent mat skills, similar to how it pushed Benoit and Eddie Guerrero.
3) Danielson and The Miz are the perfect team. The pairing is genius. Anyone that knows wrestling understands that Danielson can wrestle circles around The Miz. They also know that The Miz’s mic work is extraordinary and Danielson can learn a lot from it. It will be fun watching The Miz try to teach Danielson how to be a “star”. It’s a nice clash of styles and personalities that should lead to some great television.
I’m not saying NXT is going to be the best WWE show starting today. I’m saying that it will be worth watching because it will be a chance to watch a star-in-the-making from his first day in WWE. It’s a loose analogy, but it kind of reminds me of watching Derek Jeter in the minor leagues and following his entire career to this day. With a bit of luck, Danielson will go from The Miz’s sidekick to WWE world heavyweight champion. He’s certainly talented enough.
Are any of you planning to watch WWE NXT?
Edit: Here’s a bonus clip of Bryan Danielson vs. Jack Evans. Danielson puts Jack over and does some cool comedic spots at a PWG show.
I have to rant about something. I picked up Heavy Rain this morning but it was bitter sweet. I don't know if you guys have heard but there is some jerks going around to a lot of gaming sites and spoiling the ending and I saw it and it spoiled the story for me. This guy had a screen name that spoil the ending. His name was ________is_origami_killer and proceeds to spoil the ending with a comment. Even if I didn't read the comment he spoiled it by putting it in his name. Why? That's a new low. I will still play and enjoy this game but half the experience is gone now that I know who the killer is. Have any of you guys come across one of these jerks?
@RROD
that's pretty lame. I can't say that i've come across anyone who's done that but if i had i wouldn't go to that site anymore, just so i'll never run into that ahole again.
@topic
I'm not looking forward to NXT, it's like tough enough but with actual wrestlers this time instead of having "viewers" submit videos on why they should be on there. I like the old way of just seeing them in dark matches and a couple promo vids here and there. I'm not a fan of reality tv but i think the current/younger generation *sighs* (i'm not that old either) needs to know more about people before they can judge whether they like people or not. I guess they don't realize that reality tv is scripted as well.
@jamie kennedy
I can't believe he forgot her birthday. I would never forget that girl's birthday if i was with her.
@wrestlemania
I really like the matches so far except the Cena V. Batista match. I'm really getting tired of these two guys.
@RROD
syfy channel.
I have told my Brian Danielson bathroom story before. Needless to say this guy is a class act and just an amazing talent. I am def watching tonight!
@TheJediRevan I love your Danielson-bathroom story. When you first teased it, I imagined someone trying to get him out of a bathroom stall and him replying, "I have 'til five!!!"
@Everyone I updated the story with a funny Bryan Danielson vs. Jack Evans clip from PWG.
I would rather watch lost hope to find out what the sickness is
@tokz_21 I don't really see how it's like Tough Enough. This isn't reality television. It's totally scripted. It's about helping newer guys get over with the help of established talent.
@rpad
That's how the WWE is selling it as. see the link.
http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/wwenextsyfy
Tough Enough was a reality show where nobodies got chosen to train for WWE contracts with Superstars Al Snow, Tazz ( i think) and Jacqueline (was one too). I know what NXT is but i'd rather prefer the old school way of talent coming up.
I like the updated vid., this jack evans guy looks like a dick.
@tokz_21 Yes, but I don't think any rational fan thinks it's anything like tough enough. I don't see this as "new school" either. It's just a logical progression for the new guys. They used to toil in Smokey Mountain then OVW and now FCW. The developmental divisions had extremely limited TV reach. This just gives the new guys more exposure.
Plus, why should a guy like Danielson have to break in through dark matches? He has more experience and ability than a lot of the younger WWE guys on Raw and SmackDown.
Hope I didn't spoil anything for you guys.
Bryan Danielson is also not the origami killer.
@ topic
I really want to watch this too. As long as it doesn't come on at the same time as Lost, I'm good.
(Then again, I always get a recording of Lost anyway)
I have to post again to change my name back.
@rpad
I know it's not like tough enough to the "T". They're using up and coming talent to groom them for life in the WWE but the premise of the show is the same. I think my point is getting lost here. I'm just used to seeing talent grow the previous way. I really hope this NXT works out so they can do this and hopefully build more talent but i don't think it will be for me.
@N8R
i'm not sure what time this will be on for you on the west coast but for me it will not interfere with Lost. This will be on right after Lost. Lost airs 8p central.
@tokz_21 The premise isn't the same. In Tough Enough, participants had a chance to win a WWE contract. All of these guys are signed. It's not a competition for a prize.
Back to my earlier point, I don't think you've been following how talent was developed for the last ten years. Did you watch or read about Smokey Mountain, OVW, or FCW? To me, this is just the next step in that effort.
@rpad
I'm aware that they're already signed to contracts and it's all about having them develop in ring and mic skills; along with other skills to be a wwe superstar. I kept up with fcw and ovw more than smokey mountain.
I only like Benoit because he would jump from the top of a cage headfirst into someone. You can't convince that it doesn't hurt or take balls to do that. (not propping up benoit, he was a bastard who killed his fam and took the cowards' way out)
This thread topic has made me realize how angry I was when WWE Legends was a flop of a game. I bought that game on release day and was so disappointed with the final product.
@Smartguy Danielson also does the flying headbutt.
@smartguy
tell me about it but i haven't really been a fan of wrestling games since the last WWE game on the N64.
As a huge Benoit mark for well over a decade, I really haven't watched much wrestling since the murder/suicide. I just don't enjoy it like I used to.
Just ran across this link. Is this true! i'm curious to see what this tour consists of and where it takes you. I might be tempted to take this tour when i go to anaheim in mid april.
http://www.lagangtours.com/locations.html
On topic: I want to watch this. What channel will it be on?
@Ray
Awesome. I always laugh when I see someone do that move.
I think he did VERY well against Jericho tonight. That table shot looked BRUTAL!
@TheJediRevan Danielson was great in the ring — certainly much better than the other "rookies". His stumbled on the mic a few times, but that's something he has to work on. The other rookies were so sloppy in the ring.
Michael Cole's commentary was disturbing. He pissed all over indie wrestling, which is an insult to hundreds of people that actually matter to the business. CM Punk has an indie background. Does that mean everything he accomplished in RoH, PWG, CZW, etc. was worthless? Considering how badly Cole sucks at his job and the number of talented indie wrestlers that haven't gotten a break, I found his "character's" commentary disrespectful.
@rpad
I didn't watch NXT, the WWE website usually will have full episodes of their shows online but NXT isn't up yet. I click on the watch full episodes which defaults to Smackdown. Hopefully, they'll have it up later. I did watch the vid they had with Bryan Danielson. He seemed pretty nervous throughout the match that suicide dive was great but it looks like it may cost him some time. How is the Miz beating up Bryan going to keep their mentor/student storyline? I know you said this is all scripted too like the other shows but i'm not sure where they can go with this now? Will they just push Bryan to one of the brands and have him come up the ol' fashion way? Lastly, ( i know long post) I never liked Michael Cole and I heard that comment he made about Bryan, total disrespect for future talent and the indie circuits that help the WWE build them up.
I watched. Daniel Bryan was definitely the best in the ring but the worst on the mic. I think Wade Barret has the most potential. That look on CM Punk's face when his rookie lost was priceless.
@RROD
I didn't get to watch the whole show and the vid of Bryan's match was the only one i could find on the WWE site. The video of the Bryan match has me changing my outlook right now. (don't tell ray!)
@RRODisHere I loved Punk as a mentor. That's another excellent pairing.
@tokz_21 Ha! Hopefully the other guys are better. I know Danielson can bring it, but I was way unimpressed with everyone else. That Heath Slater dude reminded me of Brian Kendrick's retarded cousin. Otunga's finisher looked awful.
I'm going to add it to my DVR list mostly for Danielson and a little bit for Punk.
@rpad
I didn't want to admit it but CM Punk is starting to grow on me. His Straight Edge gimmick is working on me. I almost put my hand to the tv and pledged myself to the teachings of CM Punk and the S.E.S.
@tokz_21 I would accept straight edge into my life…except I enjoy wine, bourbon, vodka, rum, and beer too much.
@rpad
hahaha, yes we saw on the D.I.C.E. pix. too bad we couldn't see the drunk face.
I wish they would have made an ROH connection and teamed CM Punk with Danielson. I refuse to call him Daniel Brian just like I refuse to call Lord Steven Regal WILLAM Regal.