Bobby Roode Debuts
Alas, Bobby Roode is officially in NXT. After many months, he cuts a promo talking about talking NXT to the next level. He wants businessmen, presidents, vice presidents and the rich people to fill the arenas. He bashes the crowd and their oversized t-shirts, talking about how they are losers and that he dresses and looks like a superstar. He calls him and NXT glorious.
When you look at Bobby Roode, you see a superstar. I loved his time in TNA because he did a little bit of everything. He went from tag team champion to mid-level champion and then crushed it as World Heavyweight Champion. Bobby Roode looks and plays the part of a rich business man very well. I would love him to spin off of a somewhat JBL character from 2004, adding pieces of his arrogance and personality. I really think NXT is a great product, but sometimes “wrestlers” overflow the brand and there are not as many realistic “gimmicks.” This is a gimmick that seems believable and natural. Let Roode play the heel and get to the point where he fights his way into becoming NXT Champion. I can see Roode being the focal point of this brand come March.
Welcome Back Hideo Itami
It has been quite some time but the crowd certainly missed Hideo Itami. He makes quick work of a CWC competitor on NXT and shows flashes of what made us fall in love with him about 14 months ago. Am I concerned for Itami? Absolutely and here is why: there have been so many changes in NXT, so I wonder if guys like Roode, Joe, Aries, Dillinger, Jose, and especially Nakamura have surpassed him massively because of how they really own what they do. Itami could be lost in the shuffle and that has nothing to do with him personally in the ring. I want and need to see more of Hideo Itami’s personality.
We know his execution in the ring, but where is the “wow” factor with him? Time will tell what WWE does with him in NXT, but you have to worry that he could be an NXT guy for life. Maybe, just maybe, that would not be the worst thing. Or, time will come when WWE Raw will feature Cruiserweights and he can be a critical part of that division.
