Bold prediction...

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Bold prediction...

Ezekiel Jackson will be either the WWE Champion or the World Heavyweight Champion before 2012, barring injury.

I know it sounds crazy, but I've really been thinking about it lately and it makes sense to me. Especially considering the recent face turn they have given him. The monster heel gimmick he had was fine, but that can't really work without a manager since he is limited on the mic and we all know the WWE hates managers these days. For him to get over as a face, he doesn't need to be anything other than an unstoppable force in the ring and win matches in dominant fashion. Think Goldberg or something along those lines.

He was the last ECW Champion in history and was all set for a big push when he suffered that quad injury earlier this year and missed six months. His work in ECW was vastly underrated and the guy can work a match when given the opportunity. Don't believe me? Watch his ECW Championship match against Christian at the Royal Rumble earlier this year.

Plus, given all of the work the WWE has put into this guy they really must see something there. Between him being the final ECW Champion, the fine tuning they've given him down in FCW and sticking with him through his injury, I truly believe they are still going to give him that big push he was due to receive earlier this year.

If, and that's a big IF, he can get over with the fans, I could see him being at least a transitional champ by beating someone like Sheamus or The Miz (if he ever cashes in) on Raw or someone like Swagger or Del Rio over on SmackDown next year.

All this guy has to do is get over and the sky is the limit...

I think that Jackson has a good upside and felt the same way since he has returned. He has improved quite a bit and his match against Christian at the Rumble was a good match. That guy has some huge traps, it scares me when he flexes. LOL!

[OSUFan_88]

Re: Bold prediction...

I could maybe see him beating a smaller champion like a Daniel Bryan, Miz or someone else only to have it end with a David and Goliath type setup. Other than that, I think he's destined for a Kane like career. If you can wrestle, he'll make you look awesome. If you cannot wrestle, he'll look out of place and highly mediocre.

[Streets]

Re: Bold prediction...

I kind of like Ziggler with the belt, but I wish they could give him a good feud. So far, to me, his feuds have been bland.

Dolph is amazing in the ring, which I know is enough for most here, but even as a heel (who get more creative freedom), and with the most overly hated manager/girlfriend in the biz, he is still kind of boring. They are putting all the right pieces around him, but outside of wrestling Ziggler is only so talented. Because of that I don't know if I see him holding a major.

I like him a lot, think he's got a lot of potential, but he's never going to be a major champion unless he turns uber heel and alligns himself with a group. Just doesn't have it alone to be the "big guy" and hold a title.

To me, it's rare for the lower guy on the totem poll on the face side to win the title. Where heels can get away with it by simply just being a heel. If that makes sense.

Now if he flips to a heel, and destroys say a major face like Orton, then we're talking. Just don't see it happening, nor see how it would happen.

I agree with this. You have to be ubuer-over as a face for the most part to be a first time champion now, like Jeff Hardy over. But as a heel, your first run can be on some B.S like cashing in on a weakened opponent, having a John Cena in your corner as a referee, "stealing" a pin amidst chaos, and on down the line. As a face, you are looking at winning clean against an established guy which is harder unless you are mega over. Again, as a young heel, you don't have to win to go over. Sheamus is the perfect example of this. He destroys people regardless of whether or not he wins or loses and is over because of that. Three things Zeke has against him...

1. His mic skills (they are god awful)
2. The show he is on (the line is much longer on the "A" show)
3. His face turn

He's got a great look, Sheamus-like intensity in the ring (maybe more), and is decently skilled (though I haven't seen him in a non-squash since returning), but that's about it. Thinking about it more, I don't know if I ever see it happening, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did.

My much less bold prediction is Del Rio will be both your king of the ring and future WWE champion. To be more bold, he'll be the next new guy to win it after Barrett/Miz. If not him, I see Morrison as next on deck, but he'll definitely be one of the next two.

Del Rio has all the tools. Establishing himself RIGHT NOW by taking out Smackdown's top talent, not just meaningless squashes. Is a heel with the right look and ring skills. Has a great, well-flushed out character, including an awesome entrance and personal ring announcer. He has amazing charisma. Has a catchphrase and signature "wink". Compare all of this to Zeke and I think you can see the difference between a future World Champion and a dominate mid-card guy.

[55]

Re: Bold prediction...

Well, I did say it was a bold prediction after all...

[Segagendude]

Re: Bold prediction...

Up until this past Monday, I'd never heard of this dude.

Yeah, it was a joke match when he took on the Brooklyn Brawler, but he's a big MF'er. Reminded me of Lashley.

Is he a regular? Or does he show up occasionally like he did Monday?

[55]

Re: Bold prediction...

Up until this past Monday, I'd never heard of this dude.

Yeah, it was a joke match when he took on the Brooklyn Brawler, but he's a big MF'er. Reminded me of Lashley.

Is he a regular? Or does he show up occasionally like he did Monday?

He's been under contract with the WWE for about four years now. He spent the first two years down in FCW training and getting in ring experience and then was promoted to SmackDown in 2008 as Brian Kendrick's personal bodyguard. He wrestled here and there but Kendrick's time with the WWE was over by early 2009 and Zeke was sent to ECW.

He formed a stable with William Regal and Vladimir Kozlov in ECW to try and help Regal win Christian's ECW title. After several attempts by Regal to win the title were unsuccessful, Jackson was then given the chance. He wrestled a good match against Christian at the Royal Rumble but came up short. However, on the final episode of ECW, Jackson defeated Christian in an Extreme Rules match for the title to become the final ECW Champion in history.

He was then sent to SmackDown after ECW folded (which paved the way for NXT) and put in a few squash matches where he destroyed his opponents. In early April, he tore his right quad in a match with Kane (which Jackson was booked to win) at a house show in Europe. He has been out with the injury ever since and came back to the WWE last month on the episode of Raw before Bragging Rights.

So yeah, he's been around for a while now. You just haven't been paying enough attention.

[DJ]

Re: Bold prediction...

Guy reminds me so much of Ahmed Johnson. Not sure if he's WWE Championship material but Vince does prefer bigger guys to (usually) hold the strap, so he's got the look going for him.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Bold prediction...

Guy reminds me so much of Ahmed Johnson. Not sure if he's WWE Championship material but Vince does prefer bigger guys to (usually) hold the strap, so he's got the look going for him.

Only by look. Zeke is much more talented.

If you want to compare someone to Ahmed Johnson, it would be David Otunga.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: Bold prediction...

Only by look. Zeke is much more talented.

If you want to compare someone to Ahmed Johnson, it would be David Otunga.

Damn man, Ahmed was much better than David Otunga. And a lot more hilariously terrible on the mic.

/ahmedfanrant

[55]

Re: Bold prediction...

Damn man, Ahmed was much better than David Otunga. And a lot more hilariously terrible on the mic.

/ahmedfanrant

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I don't even know what language that is...

[55]

Re: Bold prediction...

Don't forget part four:

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[CaptainZombie]

Re: Bold prediction...

Only by look. Zeke is much more talented.

If you want to compare someone to Ahmed Johnson, it would be David Otunga.

Jackson blows Johnson out of the water big time. Another guy with a similar body build, but much smaller that had potential was Monty Brown. It's a shame that he had family issues to attend to or else he could have been fun to watch in WWE hunting for the IC or US title(s). I think he had to leave because his sister passed away so he became the guardian to the kids.....can't remember.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Bold prediction...

Damn man, Ahmed was much better than David Otunga. And a lot more hilariously terrible on the mic.

/ahmedfanrant

LOL, true.

I only meant by in ring. Ahmed Johnson was pretty much known that on any given night he could cripple whoever he was wrestling...not because he was soooo good, but because he's soooo sloopy.

Otunga is nearing that same reputation.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: Bold prediction...

LOL, true.

I only meant by in ring. Ahmed Johnson was pretty much known that on any given night he could cripple whoever he was wrestling...not because he was soooo good, but because he's soooo sloopy.

Otunga is nearing that same reputation.

While they both suck at wrestling, Johnson at least has a few matches that were decent *his match with Jeff Jarrett is my favorite.*

Otunga is going to be lucky to have a bad match. Dude is straight up AWFUL in the ring.

[rangerrick012]

Re: Bold prediction...

Somebody mentioned Ahmed Johnson, so it's obligatory that I post "YOU CRUSHED MY ENZO!"

Fun w/ Ahmed part 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2zLJxDeW4U

As for Big Zeke, I really do hope he gets a push, just for his theme music alone. A Zeke/Sheamus feud would definitely be intriguing,and could be the thing to put him to that main event scene.