I thought this could an interesting discussion. So who could TNA elevate (over a period of time) to make a legitimate World Champ. I'd prefer we not discuss anyone who's already held the belt, or someone signed with another major company. In other words, let's keep it somewhat realistic. Here's a couple of the prospects I've came up with:

Monty Brown - Obviously headed in that direction. Could definitely draw viewers, but will probably only be hot for a short period of time.

Samoa Joe - Seems like just a matter of time. While his look / character will not gain new viewers, his ring work will. He should get a slow build to the championship, then let him do for the NWA title what he did for the ROH title.

Chris Harris - Something about him makes me think he could get over as a heel. I guess we're about to find out. He has a good look, and his ring work is better than average.

Bryan Danielson - Seems like a long shot right now, but if he could get his weight back up to about 210lbs, his ability in the ring makes him more than believable. This is one of the remaining few guys that I want to see in TNA, and I think he could make a huge iMPACT! (ummm....sorry)

Frankie Kazarian - Another long shot, but if he comes back to TNA, within a couple of years I have no doubt he could be made into a legit contender. I've yet to hear much of his mic work, but his look and ring work are great. He was always one of the bigger X guys, and as young and lanky as he is, I'm sure he could pack on more weight.

Kevin Nash :P



Okay, now I'm being serious... I think Abyss would work out well.

Ditto for Lance Hyot, though I wish they had a secondary heavyweight title to test some of these guys out with.

Yeah, most of the guys I listed would have to get the right push for the right period of time for it to work, so Abyss and Hoyt may fit into that category as well. I don't know if I'd buy Abyss's character as a World Champ without some tweaking though.

As far as Nash goes - I must admit, I kinda got excited when he walked out Saturday night. I've hated him for years, but he's huge, was a World Champ in both WWE and WCW, and is an actual movie star now. ANY long term planning with Nash would be a bad idea, but having him destroy Jarrett at the PPV, only to give the rub to the next chosen one, could be just what TNA needs.

I'd love to see Danielson brought in as a Regal-type heel, but I really doubt it's going to happen soon, especially with him saying he wasn't going to TNA or WWE when he won the belt though. Going to TNA would make him an awesome heel in ROH, though.

And that is pretty much the problem for TNA in scoping out indy heavyweights. Most of the guys in the indies just aren't very big. Thus the reason they're bringing in guys like Nash, Rhino, etc.

Possibilities:

Charlie Haas
some of the guys who are awesome in AJPW right now (A-Train, Palumbo, Stamboli, etc.)
D'Lo Brown

Nice topic WMD....

Here's a few of my choices

Samoa Joe - After not having him win the three way at Unbreakable, it would be a REALLY smart idea to push him to the moon. This could be the first time that TNA could use a guy in the title picture that's pretty much been out of the eye of the "general wrestling fan" and it would appear that TNA MADE their own star (even though Joe has wrestled in various other companies and was basically an ROH guy upon arrival)

Abyss - Seriously, the guy has been owed two title shots over the course of the last year and he was passed up both times. He REALLY deserves a shot.....

Hoyt - I don't think Hoyt would be considered a top contender now or anytime soon, but over time if he continues to improve.........he's a shoe in. His popularity with the TNA crowds would eat it up.

AJ Styles - I know that he's the x division champion and all, but nobody EVER does a champion vs. champion deal anymore.........so why not?

Nash - Of course this would be the last person I'd want to see Jarrett wrestle...............but it'll probably happen.

Rhino - He could still be used in the main event picture........they just need to rebuild him up to world title status again.

Killings - It's been said time and time again, why is he constantly used as a tag wrestler and nothing more?

Oh yeah, Rhino for sure. It really wouldn't take much, as he hasn't been on WWE TV in so long, and was only on there for a short time, the stigma is probably gone. I'm a huge Killings mark, but apparently someone doesn't like him. Personally, I'd like to see a slow turn for him while Monty Brown wins the title. Then, rehash the early angle they tried where Killings comes out and talks about how Monty ought to be ashamed of himself...etc.

As far as guys to bring in:

Matt Morgan: Morgan can be a star with the right kind of push. The guy can talk and he's an average inring guy. He's got a great look and just the kind of heavyweight TNA could push to the top.

Charlie Haas: Good mid-card guy for them. I wouldn't put the title on him but he'd be a useful tool to make the other heavyweights look good.

D'Lo Brown: He'd be a good guy to bring back.


As far as who they have:

Abyss: You could easily put the title on the guy for a few months and be ok. He's proven he can bring it against anyone in the ring.

Monty Brown: They have the right idea with him. Put him in squashes and do what got him over last year. Just this time around give him the belt.

Rhino: I wouldn't put the belt on him but he's a useful upper mid-carder.

Jeff Hardy: He's a good upper mid-carder to bump and make the other heavyweights look good.

Except, he has that stutering problem.

If Jeff wants to keep making money being a wrestler he has to repackage himself. All that grunge crap went out in the mid-90's. I'm sure they could come up with something to capitilize on his name/ fanbase, but the JNCO's and body paint gotta go. Oh yeah, wash your hair Jeff.

He said in his WON interview that it magically cleared up when they fired him.

Hmm. Musta just been nerves.

Maybe it was similar to Dustin Rhodes problems before he got let go.

Who? I remember Goldust having a stuttering thing, but....

Hey what about lil' Dust as a heavyweight contender?

I think he has to prove that he can stay clean before TNA puts any stock into him.

What about Vampiro. He doesn't suck too bad and he could be a useful mid-card heavyweight.

He's a legit psycho.

Dude, how much of Vampiro's TNA stuff have you seen?

Sting and Lesnar would fit right in, but apparently neither is interested...

There is NO reason to bring Sting in these days and they couldn't afford Lesner if they gave him 50% of the company.

I saw his CMLL stuff from last year and he wasn't too awful.

Vampiro was drizzling shit in TNA. His biggest match (vs. Raven) barely crawled past "watchable", which isn't the most flattering thing to say. I haven't seen any of his CMLL except from back in the day, so you probably are a better judge than I am.

If Sting ever came back (prays), just put A.J. Styles over him clean to further push Styles as the next big star in professional wrestling (I mean on a level of... you know, not Indy's). Hell, anytime some old guy comes around, Styles should beat them in 5 minutes or less.

Maybe that's working with some talent in CMLL then, because everytime I've seen him since WCW he's been absolutlely unwatchable.

Nah, he's usually stuck with slugs like Pierroth. I'm not saying he's good or anything. Just not totally awful like most of the heavyweights wandering around the WWF right now.

I would love to see Samoa Joe as the Taz of TNA. It would be FUCKING AWESOME.

I would also love to see Rhino get a mad push.

And I would like to see Raven treated like an actual competitor. He doesn't get much respect from someone in this company.

What would you guys think about maybe bumping Shocker up to the heavyweight division?

Well, I don't think he fits in with the X division. I wouldn't mind a little nudge for Shocker, just to see how the crowd responds.

It would work well, he's a good worker and could carry the guys in the HW division. I just don't see it happening.

I was going to chime in with "Shocker" as well. He's a little pudgier than the typical X division guys. If AJ can be a certifiable HW champ, I don't see why Shocker can't.

Of course, if I had the book.... Shark Boy.

I don't think anybody has mentioned Bobby Roode. I'm really starting to like him. Something about him reminds me of Arn Anderson.

Does he do a sweet spinebuster? :D Seriously, I don't find him as bad as some people make him out to be, but he would be more suited for a midcard title. Too bad all TNA has is the World and X-Division for singles, and Roode doesn't fit either.

Yeah, most everybody I've mentioned would be in the distant future. He'd definitley have to improve some and be pushed properly. Just saying I see potential.

I will say that apparently they are building Roode as Team Canada's main singles competitor, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a shot eventually on Impact or something................when JJ isn't the champion anymore.