Post by Mclovin on Apr 7, 2020 21:26:16 GMT -5
In May of 2013, the former Michael McGillicutty re-debuted as Curtis Axel. He was managed by Paul Heyman and had a feud with Triple H, which is huge for establishing a new character. (Here's a personal story, I stopped watching WWE after Ryback got completely ruined, but I came back because my cousin told me about Curtis Axel.) The third generation superstar would win the Intercontinental Championship at Payback 2013 in a triple threat match against The Miz and Wade Barrett. He would hold the title for 156 days, having great pay-per-view title defenses with The Miz (Money In The Bank 2013) and R-Truth (Battleground 2013). The Axe Man was involved in the CM Punk/Paul Heyman feud which was one of the biggest storylines of the year. He would go on to lose the Intercontinental Championship to Big E Langston on a November episode of RAW. Then he lost Paul Heyman's managerial services, teamed with Ryback, joined the Social Outcasts, became one half of the Miztourage with another former Social Outcast Bo Dallas, Axel and Dallas won the RAW Tag Team Championships in 2018, then lost them and have done little to nothing since.
Where did it go wrong? From the very beginning, Curtis Axel is a combination of his father's first name (Curt Hennig) and his grandfather's nickname (Larry "The Axe" Hennig). But much like Rocky Maivia before him, the name just didn't work. Axel's real name is Joe Hennig, that's a badass name with a badass legacy. His first seven months in WWE as Curtis Axel was perfect. But here's where the rebooking starts. Ok, have him drop the IC title to Big E Langston. Ok, have him lose Paul Heyman. But here's what WWE should have done. Have him and Ryback become a babyface tag team by turning on Heyman and siding with CM Punk. At Survivor Series 2013, instead of Luke Harper and Erick Rowan vs CM Punk and Daniel Bryan. It's the entire Wyatt Family vs Punk, Hennig, and Ryback. Daniel Bryan should have some involvment in the main event WWE Championship match between Randy Orton and Big Show (special guest referee, guest commentator, something). Now we take you to the 2014 Royal Rumble Pre-Show. Cody Rhodes and Goldust lose the WWE Tag Team Championships to the New Age Outlaws. Have the New Age Outlaws lose those belts to Ryback and Hennig the next night on RAW. Have Ryback and Hennig hold the titles through Elimination Chamber, WrestleMania 30, Extreme Rules, Payback, Money In The Bank, and Battleground. At SummerSlam 2014, Ryback and Joe Hennig lose the WWE Tag Team Championships to Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. Then Hennig turns on Ryback, there's a feud to carry to WrestleMania 31. Let them trade the IC or US Championship back and forth. I'll leave off there.
There are so many wasted talents from the early to mid 2010's that I might cover some other time (Ryback and Cesaro are the biggest examples).
Update: Joe Hennig was released from his WWE contract on April 30th, 2020.
Where did it go wrong? From the very beginning, Curtis Axel is a combination of his father's first name (Curt Hennig) and his grandfather's nickname (Larry "The Axe" Hennig). But much like Rocky Maivia before him, the name just didn't work. Axel's real name is Joe Hennig, that's a badass name with a badass legacy. His first seven months in WWE as Curtis Axel was perfect. But here's where the rebooking starts. Ok, have him drop the IC title to Big E Langston. Ok, have him lose Paul Heyman. But here's what WWE should have done. Have him and Ryback become a babyface tag team by turning on Heyman and siding with CM Punk. At Survivor Series 2013, instead of Luke Harper and Erick Rowan vs CM Punk and Daniel Bryan. It's the entire Wyatt Family vs Punk, Hennig, and Ryback. Daniel Bryan should have some involvment in the main event WWE Championship match between Randy Orton and Big Show (special guest referee, guest commentator, something). Now we take you to the 2014 Royal Rumble Pre-Show. Cody Rhodes and Goldust lose the WWE Tag Team Championships to the New Age Outlaws. Have the New Age Outlaws lose those belts to Ryback and Hennig the next night on RAW. Have Ryback and Hennig hold the titles through Elimination Chamber, WrestleMania 30, Extreme Rules, Payback, Money In The Bank, and Battleground. At SummerSlam 2014, Ryback and Joe Hennig lose the WWE Tag Team Championships to Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. Then Hennig turns on Ryback, there's a feud to carry to WrestleMania 31. Let them trade the IC or US Championship back and forth. I'll leave off there.
There are so many wasted talents from the early to mid 2010's that I might cover some other time (Ryback and Cesaro are the biggest examples).
Update: Joe Hennig was released from his WWE contract on April 30th, 2020.
