I would like to start this article by saying I TOLD YOU SO! In January I wrote an article titled ‘How to use Enzo Amore to his full potential in WWE’. In that article, I said Enzo should go to 205 Live despite being, for lack of a better term, a shit wrestler. Call me Vince Russo 2.0 bay-bay.
On a more serious note, this article will discuss a controversial opinion. I feel Enzo being Cruiser-weight champion is a great idea, and here’s why.
Popping ratings
Although he is an annoying little prick who gets chucked off buses, Enzo is a draw. Since his debut on 205 Live, the show has been doing better on the WWE Network, making top 10 more often than not. Furthermore, a show that usually has a dead crowd. (See the man in the front row of the Kendrick v. Tozawa Street Fight on his phone as an example.) Is full of energy when Amore is present.
Some may say that he is taking away from the other much better performers who should be in the ring but I feel he does the opposite. By virtue of Enzo being there, the crowd is more alive. This means they’re already buzzing and it’s been noticeable how much better they react to the amazing in-ring performances of the roster.
Furthermore, as Enzo is keeping butts in seats after SmackDown, it means he may convince people to become long-term 205 Live fans. These are the fans who would usually leave right after SmackDown, but decide to stay to see Enzo. However, once they actually watch the show, they’re hooked. Whether it be Mustafa Ali’s amazing in-ring ability or Gulak’s work on the mic.
Enzo being champion will only increase this effect. People will tune in to either cheer their new champion. Or they’ll tune in, in hopes he loses it soon. It’s a win-win for WWE. He’ll also bring casual eyes to the product, which certainly won’t hurt Vince’s pockets.
At the end of the day, what’s most important for the WWE is making money and getting Network subscribers. Enzo seems to be doing just that.
Getting talent over
Enzo is a tricky one. Sure he’s over big time with the crowd, but at the same time, he’s a heat magnet. Basically, he’s a knock-off Miz, but he’s still a unique commodity. The 205 creative team need to use Enzo the best they can to get both heels and faces over the best they can. So far they seem to be doing a pretty bang up job.
Enzo was already putting the whole roster over, simply because he can’t wrestle as well as them. Now that he’s champion, his reign is going to be a big boost to the division. This is as everyone in the division automatically can say they’re better than the champion and have already proven it.
Enzo being over will mean that when heels come out to beat the crap out of him, they’re going to get massive heat. Which in my opinion as an old school kind of guy, is what heels should be doing. Getting heat! Also having a face protect him will get the face over as being strong and someone the fans can trust.
Enzo being a heat magnet, will help faces, as when he cheats to beat them, the faces will get support from the crowd. The crowd will want them to beat him and get in the face’s corner. We’ve already seen this with Cedric Alexander. This will also help heels as they can either align with a cheating Enzo and get more heat, or have Enzo to cheat against them, to help initiate a face turn. This somewhat took place when Enzo low-blowed Neville, which was met with the ire of the fans.
Freshening up the Title scene and Neville.
These points are intertwined and so have become one point. Much like myself and Vince Russo. Since the Royal Rumble Neville has dominated 205 Live (bar the 5 days Tozawa held the belt, because why not?) On the one hand this has been awesome to watch such an amazing competitor grow. It has also made the title scene almost like the Universal Title, it’s kinda obvious Neville (like Brock) will retain.
Since the Royal Rumble Neville has dominated 205 Live (bar the 5 days Tozawa held the belt, because why not?) On the one hand this has been awesome to watch such an amazing competitor grow. It has also made the title scene almost like the Universal Title, it’s kinda obvious Neville (like Brock) will retain.
Now that Enzo is champion it brings a breath of fresh air to the scene. If he retains the title against Neville, we’ll see a new dynamic as at the top. Instead of there being a dominant force to topple, there’s a sly fox (that’s doing dis-service to foxes, I’m sorry) to out-smart. We’ve not yet seen this in 205 Live, and if done right, WWE can make some real starts of the boys on the roster.
Secondly, WWE could possibly do some amazing things with Neville if he doesn’t win the title back. In the short-term, he can do the ‘Crazy Neville’ thing he did when he lost the title to Tozawa. It may have been one night, but it was amazing to watch, and truly showed what an amazing performer Neville is.
However, down the line, he can challenge for other titles, most likely a mid-card title. Think about the prestige he would being to 205 Live if he showed up with the IC title! (Alternatively, he could hold both which would also be dope.) Or he could challenge for the UK Title! It’d be amazing seeing Neville and Pete Dunne duke it out! Two badass wrestlers vying for WWE’s best-looking belt? DAMN!
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