Examining Titus O'Neil's Direction, Upside and Long-Term Potential

Titus O'Neil is more hammer than Swiss army knife.

He boasts two major assets—power and charm. That could well be enough to earn him some significant success, but on a roster so loaded with all-around talents, it will be a tough climb to the top of the ladder.

WWE, though, clearly believes in him for the moment.

After years of working in the tag team division as one half of The Prime Time Players, O'Neil is getting a legitimate chance to thrive on his own. WWE has quietly brushed the O'Neil-Darren Young duo to the side to make way for a push for the powerhouse.

O'Neil continues to pile on victories against low-level opponents in an attempt by WWE to build him up with these wins, a rarity in an era hampered by 50-50 booking. 

Per CageMatch.net, the Florida native hasn't lost a singles match since last November.

Opponent	Event	Result
Tyler Breeze	Raw, Feb. 1	Win via pinfall
Tyler Breeze	Superstars, Jan. 25	Win via pinfall
Stardust	SmackDown, Jan. 21	Win via pinfall
Stardust	Raw, Jan. 11	Win via pinfall
Stardust	Main Event, Jan. 5	Win via pinfall
Stardust	Raw, Jan. 4	Win via pinfall
Adam Rose	Main Event, Dec. 29	Win via pinfall
Tyler Breeze	SmackDown, Dec. 17	Win via pinfall
Stardust	Main Event, Dec. 1	Win via pinfall
Stardust	Main Event, Nov. 24	Win via count-out

During this streak, he's had repeated battles with Tyler Breeze and Stardust but not much of a narrative to work with. These haven't been feuds as much as randomly presented matches.

O'Neil's gimmick is paper-thin at the moment, too.

WWE has chosen to focus on his charity work. He's presented as a good guy due to his tireless, real-life efforts to better his community.

And the company has spotlighted his fatherhood so much that it's become a running joke of sorts. Wrestling Memes, for one, mocked WWE's continued mentioning of O'Neil's parenting:

These are nice add-ons for a character, but they can't be the centerpiece. For fans to truly invest in O'Neil, there has to be far more to his gimmick than this. Maybe he's the guy who stands for the underdog, coming to the rescue when heels attack. Maybe he talks up how he admired a certain champion growing up and now wants to follow in his footsteps.

Depth will be key to letting O'Neil's strengths shine through.

Strengths

O'Neil looks like the prototypical pro wrestler. He's 6'6'', 270 pounds and has a sculpted physique. That alone is highly valuable in the industry.

In the ring, he's a steamrolling force. He flings around his opponents with ease. He thunders on the mat and bowls folks over like a battering ram.

Credit: WWE.com

Beyond that, there is a likable quality to him that draws one in. As John Moore of ProWrestling.net wrote, "Titus O'Neil really has something! I know he's an older dude, but there's something there!"

In backstage segments with Young, he showed himself to be charismatic and funny. While he hasn't shown that he can verbally spar with the likes of John Cena yet, he has ample personality to stand out from all the other hulks around him.

And as WWE realized recently, he's a perfect fit as a company ambassador. Whether he has appeared at charity events or spoke with Jonathan Coachman on SportsCenter, he has been a fine WWE representative:

Each time WWE has let him sit with the announcing team, he's been a lively, off-the-wall edition. In a blog entry last summer, Jim Ross wrote of O'Neil's commentary work, "With practice Titus may find himself another home in the biz in the future."

That's a strong possibility. O'Neil is the right mix of personable, professional and boisterous to step into that role.

Obstacles

O'Neil is like a baseball pitcher who just has one elite pitch. Eventually, his limitations are going to be exposed.

The big man plays a limited character and is limited in the ring. While wrestlers such as Seth Rollins and Finn Balor can do just about anything one can dream up between the ropes, O'Neil has just one gear. He thrives in a hot-tag situation, where he charges at his opponent and hits them with an offensive flurry.

He hasn't proved, though, that he can pull of a full, complex match.

During O'Neil's recent streak, there hasn't been a single memorable bout in the bunch. He hasn't created the kind of drama one expects in a main event. He isn't a versatile enough performer to do much more than display his power. 

It's no surprise, then, that Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter, (h/t ProFightDB.com) hasn't handed out stellar star ratings for his matches. O'Neil's biggest bout to date—a clash with Young at Elimination Chamber 2014—netted just one star.

The big man's gimmick needs ample work, too.

The charity angle is a smart way to incorporate his real life, but how exactly does one use that in the context of a wrestling feud? O'Neil needs more to work with to move up the ranks. In a world of cult leaders, monsters, gladiators and lunatics, a really nice guy just isn't going to stand out.

Long-Term Potential 

Although he will struggle to sustain momentum, O'Neil has the skills to get red-hot for a short period.

Eventually, fans will tire of the sameness of his matches. Eventually, other more well-rounded Superstars will surpass him.

Credit: WWE.com

But a guy that big and with that much personality is bound to have a successful run. Count on him winning either the Intercontinental Championship or United States title. He has at least one good narrative arc in him.

At best, he will serve as a brief challenger for the world title as R-Truth did in 2011 or Hercules Hernandez in 1986.

O'Neil, though, is not someone WWE can lean on. He's already 38. This is his prime, and he hasn't yet tapped into his full potential.

With stars like Rollins rising, NXT wrestlers like Balor ready to make the jump to the main roster and newcomers like AJ Styles all competing for premier spots, O'Neil won't be able to stake a claim to center stage. His skill set has him poised to be more of a shooting star than a megastar.

Be sure to check out the previous edition of this ongoing series, featuring Kevin Owens.