Lord Tensai: Breaking Down WWE Star's Upside, Direction and Long-Term Potential

Tensai entered the WWE to much fanfare a few months ago, but it certainly didn't take long for his momentum to come to a screeching halt.

He scored pinfall victories over both John Cena and CM Punk just weeks after debuting, and it appeared as though there were big plans for him. But Tensai has since gone by the wayside.

It hasn't helped that fans continually refer to his previous WWE gimmick of Albert and make it difficult for Tensai to get his new character over. Tensai looked to be on the verge of a main-event run almost immediately, but his push has been derailed. Now, it remains to be seen if there is anything he can do to reverse his fortunes at this point.

Keep reading for yet another installment of my 25-part series in which I break down the upside, direction and long-term potential of every superstar with room to grow. Today's edition will focus on how Tensai can get back into the WWE brass' good graces.

Origins

Tensai first broke into the wrestling business when he was discovered in 1997. He initially wrestled under his real name of Matt Bloom, but he was soon given the name Baldo.

He was signed to a developmental contract by the WWE and wrestled in Power Pro Wrestling, where he won the PPW Heavyweight Championship. Tensai made his WWE debut in 1999 as Albert when he came to the aid of Droz.

That marked the beginning of his long, winding road with the company. After teaming with Droz for a while, Tensai joined forces with Big Bossman. From that point, he would form alliances with the likes of Test, X-Pac and Justin Credible.

Tensai won the Intercontinental Championship in 2001, but he would hold it for less than a month. That accounts for his only title reign in the WWE to this point.

After teaming with Scotty 2 Hotty and finally Big Show, Tensai was released in 2004. He took his talents to Japan, where he worked primarily as a tag-team wrestler known as Giant Bernard. He had Tag Team Championship reigns in New Japan Pro Wrestling with two different partners and developed into a solid in-ring worker.

Tensai made his WWE re-debut in April as Lord Tensai, when he squashed Alex Riley.

Current Storyline

When Tensai debuted, he was billed as a former WWE wrestler who departed for Japan to hone his craft.

He had a few squash matches in which he thoroughly dominated his opponents and finished them off by using the claw. Tensai integrated the spitting of green mist into his arsenal when he defeated John Cena in an Extreme Rules match, and he went on to beat CM Punk in a handicap match soon after.

After two high-profile victories, Tensai seemed poised to have a major program with one of the top guys. That was quickly dropped, however, as he became absent from RAW and began appearing on Superstars.

In recent weeks, John Laurinaitis has used him in an effort to humiliate Cena and Sheamus, but they accounted for Tensai's first two losses in the company. After losing to Sheamus, Tensai viciously attacked his worshiper Sakamoto, so it will be interesting to see where the outburst takes his character.

Curiously, Tensai was once again left off RAW this week, so I can't imagine that there are particularly big plans for him at this point. The WWE tried to get him over quickly by allowing him to beat the top two guys in the company, but character development was tossed to the curb and resulted in his failure to be relevant.

Rather than pretending like the Albert chants weren't happening, the creative team should have addressed them, but it seems like the opportunity to do that has come and gone.

Strengths

The main thing that Tensai has going for him, in my estimation, is that he is one of the few big men in the company that can work a good match.

The go-to phrase among WWE fans is that Vince McMahon loves to push big guys, but aside from Sheamus and Jack Swagger, Tensai is probably the only one who can be placed in a marquee feud based on his wrestling ability alone. There have been complaints that the pace of his matches is too deliberate, but the actual substance is fine, as he has a solid, diverse move set.

Also, Tensai's experience in the business shouldn't be discounted. He has been wrestling for about 15 years and has done a little bit of everything.

He had a long run in the WWE where he found success as a singles and tag team competitor, and the same was true in Japan. He is trained in several different wrestling styles and is a very versatile competitor because of that.

While some may disagree, I also consider his gimmick to be a strength. The way his gimmick has been managed to this point is an absolute joke, but that can be changed with a bit of effort.

The idea of an American wrestler departing the United States for Japan and adopting Japanese customs is great. Rather than just hoping the fans eat it up, though, it needs to be explained better, and Tensai needs to get some time on the mic. If that happens, his gimmick could take him a long way.

Weaknesses

I do believe that Tensai needs to be allowed to cut some promos, but at the same time, there is no question that it isn't his strong suit. During his run as Albert, he was always used as the muscle, so he didn't really have any reason to speak.

He competed as part of a tag team much of the time, and his partner normally did the heavy lifting on the mic. Now that Tensai is on his own, however, he needs to add that dimension to his character even if he is supposed to be a Japanese convert.

Tensai's age is something that is a bit disconcerting as well. Guys often compete well into their 40s in the wrestling business, but there comes a point when the window closes in terms of becoming a main-event talent.

Tensai is approaching his 40th birthday and has a lot of tread on the tires to say the least. Large wrestlers in particular tend to have health problems as they age, so Tensai may not have many good, healthy years left in his body.

Although I feel like Tensai's previous WWE experience is a positive, the fact that he is synonymous with the Albert gimmick is obviously something that really holds him back. Had Kane been showered with Isaac Yankem chants when he debuted, there is no chance that he would have gotten over as the unstoppable heel monster he ultimately became.

The WWE was trying to accomplish something similar with Tensai, but he has yet to distinguish the Tensai character as something totally new and unrelated. 

Greatest Match

Tensai hasn't been in many lengthy matches during his second tour of duty with the WWE, but he put on an absolute firecracker against Sheamus on last week's RAW. Laurinaitis sent Tensai after Sheamus as punishment, and while The Great White ended up coming out on top, Tensai absolutely looked like a legitimate threat.

That match was the definition of what Jim Ross would call a slobberknocker, as the two big men went back and forth with hard-hitting action.

The bout proved that Tensai doesn't have to work at a methodical pace all the time. He and Sheamus went at it for the entirety of the match, and both of them came away looking very strong.

I thought that perhaps Tensai's impressive performance would restore the faith of the powers that be, but apparently that wasn't the case, as he wasn't utilized once again this week.

Many have been skeptical of Tensai since he returned, but I believe that his battle with Sheamus proved that he can be involved in high-profile feuds without faltering in the ring.

Whether or not he can carry his weight on the mic is a different story, but pure wrestling isn't an issue with him. He has improved markedly in that area since his foray in Japan, and I feel as though his match with Sheamus last week proved that.

Career Potential

At his age, it is hard to say how much potential Tensai has, but I suppose he should be looked at as a rookie in some ways, since his gimmick is a complete departure from what he used to be.

When Tensai initially came back, I thought it was a given that he would at least have some main-event programs, but that isn't a certainty any longer. I have no doubt that he can be an excellent mid-card heel if built correctly, but the real issue is whether or not that is his true ceiling.

If booked correctly, I see no reason why Tensai can't be a main-eventer, even if it is something temporary. Most people thought that Mark Henry was a career mid-carder, but when he was given the ball last summer and fall, he ran with it and developed into a legitimate main-event heel.

The top of the card is very light on good heels currently, so there is no reason why Tensai can't get to that level despite his recent struggles.

Tensai showed against Sheamus that he can be a menacing heel that provides a true threat against marquee faces in the company, so with a little character progression he should be able to go back on the ascent.

If that is going to happen, though, it had better happen soon, or else he risks toiling in obscurity on Superstars before he ultimately gets released. Tensai is too talented for that to happen, so hopefully the wheels are in motion for him in terms of getting a better spot on the card.

How He Gets There

The easiest way to get Tensai back on track would be to have him feud with United States Champion Santino Marella, as neither has much going on right now.

Santino's mini-feud with Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez isn't likely to lead anywhere, so he needs to get involved in something that forces him to defend the title. Santino essentially just walks around with it and never defends it, but Tensai would be the perfect opponent.

Giving Tensai the United States Championship would make him meaningful, and it could springboard him to greater heights. Tensai could get instant heat if he were to win the title and destroy it.

He is supposed to be an American who basically turned his back on the country in favor of Japan, so winning the United States Championship would be a great opportunity for him to desecrate the title and then explain why he adopted Japanese customs and why he has returned to the United States.

If he does that, then perhaps it will give the fans something to grasp rather than them constantly starting Albert chants. Once Tensai does that and gains a bit of traction, I wouldn't mind seeing him feud with Sheamus over the World Heavyweight Championship.

I doubt that Dolph Ziggler or Del Rio will beat him for the title, so Tensai would be a good filler feud at the very least. Even if he doesn't ever win a world title, Tensai has the look and the ability to be a solid main-event heel in spurts, provided the necessary steps are taken.

Check back daily for new entries in this WWE 25-superstar countdown. Here are the five most recent editions for your viewing pleasure:

18. David Otunga

17. Kofi Kingston

16. Jack Swagger

15. R-Truth

14. Santino

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