WWE Is in Desperate Need of a Big-Money Babyface
WWE is in the midst of a low point in terms of main event talent. While fans are well aware of this, they may not be aware of just how bad it is, because all of the focus is on Sheamus and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, not the assortment of top babyfaces that will challenge him.
The truth is there's no assortment of top babyfaces that will challenge him. WWE needs more protagonists in the mix, and it needs a big-money guy to lead the charge.
That role was played most recently by Brock Lesnar, who very well could have been the most impressive big-money babyface the company had seen in quite some time. The guy that so many fans criticized for his less-than-part-time schedule and reputation for caring only about the payday became the most popular star in the locker room.
He was physically menacing, legitimately tough and more athletic than so many others on the roster. It's no secret that Lesnar was a natural, and the fact is he's missed right now. He left a hole that has not been filled, and the talent left behind is not ready to do so.
Roman Reigns is the obvious choice, as WWE continuously seems to be in his corner. Despite negative fan reaction and overall apprehension toward him being elevated, the company is persistent.
Reigns may indeed be the next top guy.
But he's not there yet. Replacing Lesnar is no easy task in the first place, and using a guy that has not achieved half his success is not the answer. Reigns may be on his way to bigger and better things, but he's not the man right now.
WWE needs someone who can step in immediately, who can challenge Sheamus and any other heel that gets in his way. He must be believable, he must be relevant and he must be a viable option. Fans must feel he's on his game and that he's a threat to win any match he's booked in.
More importantly, he must be able to draw.
The Rock is the perfect example of a Superstar that can slide in and make an immediate impact. He doesn't need to work hard in order to get over, the company doesn't need to prep the crowd for his arrival and storylines do not really need to change in order to accommodate him.
Rocky can come in, get over and get to work. No one could do it like he could.
But if The Rock is not an option, then WWE must look to someone else. Chris Jericho was a great choice at one time, but he has taken a beating as of late thanks to his penchant for doing the honors to younger stars. His willingness to elevate the next generation is admirable, but it may have hurt his credibility when it comes to being a main event contender.
Daniel Bryan is still on the shelf, of course, and it's impossible to know if or when he will be back. Had it not been for his medical situation, Bryan would have been a great choice to step right in and make a difference.
Randy Orton is still out as well, and though he's arguably better suited to be a heel, there's no denying his ability to get over as a face. He's a veteran with experience on the main event level, and he's always ready for the bright lights. He's also not available.
John Cena will be back eventually, and common sense says the spot will fall right back to him. This is good for WWE; Cena is still the top earner and as such, he is always ready to carry the ball. When the time comes for him to return, there's no doubt he will once again be the leader WWE needs.
But in the meantime, there's no one. Cesaro is a possibility, but he's injured. Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler all have potential to be that guy but are not ready. WWE has opportunities right in front of them, but either the time has not been invested in them or there's not enough time now.
Without a prime-time protagonist, Sheamus will die a slow death as champion. Even if he were to heel out like no one has ever seen before, it will mean nothing if he has no top babyface to push him and challenge his place in the company. Sheamus is not a compelling champion because it's a hard sell, and that could change if his level of competition rose.
WWE is ill-prepared to move forward with anyone right now because other than Cena, no one is really ready. Everyone else is a work in progress and ordinarily, that would not be a problem. But the company needs a big-money babyface, and it needs him in the worst way.
Tom's work can regularly be found on Bleacher Report, and his podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here
