What a year for professional wrestling! Ten fanless months. Both WWE and AEW have sort of figured it out but, still, what's pro wrestling without the fans? They have so much to do with the fate and fortune of the talent and can push the promotions in unexpected directions. That's not happening at the moment which made me start to wonder about which wrestlers have made the most from this fanless situation. the fans would have played a big role in elevating these performers to the next level.
So, for shits and giggles, I put together a list of ten wrestlers who have overcome this transformation of the sport over the past ten months who I think will be even more successful when the fans return.
ROMAN REIGNS
I have always been a fan and he is the franchise. He's taken a lot of abuse but has always handled it. I knew/hoped he would be better as a heel but, HOLY SHIT, this turn has been amazing. Add Paul Heyman to the mix, make it personal with his cousin, who is also kicking ass, and you have one of the best things in WWE for quite some time. You know when the fans return, they are going to cheer him. It took Reigns turning heel to become the best face in the business.
The quiet seething anger that Roman exhibits, the desperate need for validation by Jey and Heyman's facial expressions are all gold.
BAYLEY/GOLDEN ROLE MODELS
Like the above mentioned Head of the Table, turning Bayley heel has transformed her into one of the most entertaining performers in the biz and you know the fans are going to go along for the ride on this one. Who knew she was a talker, I mean "Ding Dong, Hello?" would be a call out by the fans.
Bayley and Sasha Banks had the phenomenal run as the Golden Role Models holding every Woman's belt. It ended too soon for me. This love/hate friendship has several more iterations so, at some point, the fans will chime in.
DREW McINTYRE
You really have to give him credit. He has been carrying the shitty brand on his shoulders. Drew has been waiting his entire career for this and cannot share the moment with the fans. More than any other wrestler on the list I wonder what the fan reaction will be when Drew performs before a live audience. He has delivered some exceptional matches in the fanless arena.
BIANCA BELAIRE
Simply put, she is the future of the Women's Division. Bianca possesses the three essentials of a wrestling superstar. She has the look with the braid, the outfits and the lips. She has the mike skills and the personality and she can wrestle. She truly is The "EST" of the WWE. Watching her this week in the ring with Charlotte Flair gave me a sense of her size. We're flying blind with her but she's the real deal and the inevitable heel turn down the road will take it to the next level.
KEVIN OWENS
It's KO, what else is there to say? Is he a face or a heel and does it really matter with him? Single handedly taking on the Reigns posse,, who else can do that? He's just the best and my favorite wrestler and has soldiered on through all of this.
MJF
The nice Jewish boy from Long Island. How can I not put him on the list? He has held his own with one of the all-time greats and he's been doing innovative storytelling. MJF and Jericho are the Crosby and Hope of wrestling right now.
RAQUEL GONZÁLEZ/RHEA RIPLEY
These women are behemoths, and this has been an exciting feud which feels far from over. This is the woman's version of the Keith Lee/Dominik Dijakovic program and props to Dakota Kai for helping put this over. Ripley will probably be called up at some point, but González has come out of nowhere to establish herself as a dominant heel and certain to get the strap soon.
ASUKA
Fantastic worker and the old "you be you but 150%" really works for her. They have called on her to carry two belts until the Charlotte turn and she will do the job.
PAT McAFEE
This guy should not be as good as he is and he's not even a wrestler. His match with Adam Cole was a revelation (props to Cole of course) and his mike work has been outstanding. I wanted to hate him but I have come to appreciate him and too bad there's no crowd reaction to this run.
DR. BRITT BAKER
Great heel and she's a real dentist. Excellent talker and has the look. She just needs to stay healthy, but she is definitely a future AEW champion. Crowd will hate her when they return.
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