Examining Darren Young's Direction, Upside and Long-Term Potential

Trading obscurity for oddness, Darren Young finds himself on TV again, suffering the berating coaching style of WWE Hall of Famer Bob Backlund.

The Prime Time Players reunited last year after Young had been on WWE's bench for months. The partnership didn't last long, though. He and Titus O'Neil quietly separated before Young again endured a long absence from the limelight.

He has since resurfaced, repackaged as a wrestler striving for greatness with the help of a life coach. Backlund is that coach, and he has promised to "make Darren Young great again." 

As Vaughn Johnson of Philly.com pointed out, Backlund's personality gives this angle potential:

At the least, WWE is trying to do something new with Young. It's taking a shot by giving him a unique story to work with—a method far preferable to just letting him collect dust on the sidelines as he had been doing.

This is a chance for Young to make a lasting impression, but it won't be easy.

This angle is as hit-or-miss as you can get. And Young's best assets still don't allow him to compete with WWE's best. 

Strengths

If WWE held an NFL-style combine, Young would be one of the standouts of the event. He's quick and agile, and he's learned a thing or two about footwork from playing football.

Young is an explosive athlete who perfectly executes moves like the Northern Lights Suplex.

Overall, he's solid in the ring. While part of The Prime Time Players, he often carried more of the load in the ring, providing the foundation of the bout, while O'Neil infused energy and intensity when needed.

Like O'Neil, Young has a positive impact on WWE's public relations.

He's a good spokesperson and representative. The company noted on his WWE.com bio, "Young has also made history outside the ring, spreading the gospel of tolerance while also lending his star power to the efforts of the LGBTQ community."

And although he's been wrestling for 14 years now, he's still young at just 32 years old.

He doesn't have as much wear and tear on his body as one might expect for having been in the business that long. That's because WWE has used him so sparingly. Per his CageMatch.net profile, he wrestled in less than 50 matches in 2010, 2011 and 2014.

Obstacles

The obvious joke to make about the "Make Darren Young Great Again" slogan is that Young was never great to begin with.

He is a good worker but below average on the mic. Young is likable but not charismatic. He's a dependable performer, not an outstanding one.

His lack of masterpiece matches is a testament to that. Young has battled everyone from CM Punk to John Cena, yet it's hard to put together a list of five favorite bouts. When he and O'Neil feuded, giving each man the biggest singles match of their careers at Elimination Chamber 2014, the result was underwhelming.

Credit: WWE.com

Writing for Wrestling News Source, John Canton flatly called it "a boring match."

With that in mind, it's hard to imagine WWE making him a priority with a roster full of excellent talkers, top-notch ring workers and guys who can get great matches out of a mannequin. 

And while the current storyline with Backlund as his life coach is Young's best hope to catch fire, it's also far from a sure thing. So far, the dynamic between the two men hasn't been electric. It's also an angle that could easily fall apart.

Screenwriter and wrestling fan Max Landis poked fun at the shtick:

It will take excellent execution to pull off this narrative. And WWE Creative has a history of inconsistency. Young's partnership could be a door of opportunity as easily as it could be a brick wall.

Long-Term Potential

Should the angle with Backlund take off and WWE find the perfect foil for Young, the former Prime Time Player could get hot enough to be in contention for one of the midcard titles. He has at least one memorable feud in him.

Beyond that, the lower midcard is destined to be Young's residence. He doesn't have one amazing attribute to lean on, something that will help him stand out in a crowded, talented field.

Count on the New Jersey native occupying a spot much like the one Zack Ryder does now. Ryder often plays the prey for a rising predator; he gets thrown into Battle Royals and every once in a while gets a flash of spotlight. It will be hard for Young to achieve much more than that, Backlund at his side or not.

The more WWE welcomes the New Era and introduces NXT stars into the mix, the more likely Young will get pushed out of the frame.

Be sure to check out previous editions of this ongoing series:

• Charlotte
• Emma
• Enzo Amore
• Aiden English