#WrestlingArtisan Where To Go?: Matt Sydal (@stoughe)

Hi there folks, this is your friendly neighborhood Artisan welcoming you into the guild halls of wrestling. I wanted to try something new this week, try to spice it up and hopefully it will become a recurring theme. I want to focus on one specific in ring competitor in Impact, or any other wrestling organization, and try to figure out where to go with them. Impact has a talented roster, but they have been mistreated by booking, until now. This has caused them to appear somewhat directionless. Today I want to see where Matt Sydal might go.

Sydal was in TNA as early as 2004, where he spent a year in the promotion jobbing. He would hone his craft in promotions like Wrestling Society X, ROH, Dragongate and New Japan. He is probably most famous for the seven years he spent in the WWE. He returned to Impact in 2017 amidst excitement, but his time was initially underwhelming. After a lengthy feud with EC3 largely revolving around the fact that he could not win a title he has now become a double champion, holding the Grand Championship and the X-divsion title.

So where does one go with a wrestler like Sydal. For a long time he was just a good worker. Between his stint in Wrestling Society X and WWE adn even after his release he has not been known as a story line guy. His in ring work has always spoken for itself, but has he has gotten older he has downgraded his move set, just take a look at some of the things he did in WSX and compare it to his bout with Ishimori this past Thursday. Focus on Sydal in Impact has shown his flaws as an entertainer outside the squared circle.

In the new Sydal story line he has been hinting at some form of guru who has been guiding him. This would be in line with the new business model of Impact where the performers are more responsible for their own direction. In his episode of The Art of Wrestling, Sydal detailed his journey expanding his mind through various legal and not-so legal methods. Mind I have not been reading the Impact spoilers so I do not know where this is going.

There are two choices for Sydal here, one would think. Either his guru or mentor is part of the Desi Hit Squad. The yet to be seen Indian faction needs some star power and it would be odd if the Far East oriented Sydal was not connected with Gama Singh and his crew. Few fans know who Singh is, even of he is billed as a renowned Indian star and Sydal could boost his presence as an influence on him while also bringing up the rest of the group. Impact is in need of a faction and this could be the start of one, something to contend with LAX or The Cult of Lee.

An alternative is that Sydal goes at it alone. That this master only some form of spiritual guide we never meet, but what to do with him then? I have already discussed that Sydal might not be strong enough entertainment wise to be on his own. If he does he might have to turn heel, a move he seems to be doing already. Sydal’s move set does not lend itself to a heel, but his attitude might. In WSX he was a cocky jock character and now he could move on to be a cocky hippie. One who forces his beliefs on others and questions authority. It could be interesting to see where he goes and who he might feud with. It would almost have to be his direct opposite and at the time of this editorial I do not know who that would be.

There might be other avenues for Sydal and it will be interesting to see where he goes and if he can pull it off.

-C. Marry Hultman

 

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