WWE NXT Profile and Scouting Report: Kassius Ohno

NXT's Kassius Ohno is a versatile, promising prospect who will eventually draw from his varied experiences to make a lasting impact in WWE.

A veteran of the independent circuit, the long-haired, bearded Ohno is the best overall wrestler in NXT. With a man of his skill waiting for his turn to bat, it's puzzling to think that Bo Dallas got his shot at the big time before Ohno.

The Dayton, Ohio, native is 6'4'' and 225 pounds worth of brutality and promise. His body isn't as chiseled as most of WWE's stars; instead, he's built like a taller, longer CM Punk.

Ohno's quickness and agility are doubly impressive considering his size. He is a mat wrestler, high-flyer, brawler and superb storyteller all in one. His wide-ranging experience will be just as important to his eventual WWE success as his physical gifts.

A Resume Both Lengthy and Diverse

Ohno has been wrestling for 15 years—a long, winding journey that may take him from indy rookie to WWE star.

Before becoming Kassius Ohno and even before wrestling under the name Chris Hero, though, he was known as Wife Beater. In an interview (reviewed here on PWTorch.com), he talks about the controversy that name stirred up. He also discusses his time in IWA-Mid-South, a promotion in which he grew as a performer and compiled valuable experience.

It was in IWA-MS that he wrestled men like Low-Ki (Kaval), Eddie Kingston and, most famously, CM Punk. A younger, less-in-shape Ohno showed flashes of his greatness in his classic TLC match with Punk.

Ohno would later form a partnership with the man now known as Antonio Cesaro, calling themselves the "Kings of Wrestling." The team won tag team championships in Chikara, Combat Zone Wrestling, Ring of Honor and Juggalo Championship Wrestling.

Ohno's long list of championship reigns speaks volumes about his adaptability. Being able to succeed in promotions as different as Ring of Honor and Garage Professional Wrestling and in countries with such differing styles as Mexico and Japan means he should have no trouble facing the varied WWE roster.

Ohno has looked great in the ring with William Regal at NXT, vs. Daniel Bryan and against Japanese star KENTA.

Ohno's profile on NXT's website describes his background and experience:

"

As a bonafide student of the game, Ohno has spent time training in Japan, Mexico and Europe as well as the United States. This amalgamation of those respective styles of wrestling is what sets this man apart from virtually everyone else in the world of sports entertainment.

"

Amalgamation is a theme for Ohno in style, skill and move set. His varied experience has led to an impressive repertoire.

In-ring Toolbox

One of Ohno's strengths is his ability to perform a wide variety of moves. He is as much a mat wrestler as he is a showman, as much a high-flyer as he is a powerhouse.

Ohno is excellent at performing moonsaults, cravate suplexes or back-roll twisting sentons.

His finisher, the KO, is a tribute to the late Mitsuharu Misawa. While no one may ever be able to make that spinning elbow look as graceful and devastating as Misawa did, Ohno's version is an excellent one.

This Ohno vs. Seth Rollins match shows off his technical prowess, speed and power. He also displays creativity as he pulls the ring skirt over Rollins' head and stomps on it.

Beyond just performing this impressive mix of moves, Ohno injects his ring action with intensity, energy and showmanship, leading one to assume that he will soon be providing WWE fans with engrossing matches.

WWE Comparisons and Projection

Ohno has grown as a wrestler over the years, adding intensity and getting in far better shape than he was in when he was taking on Punk in IWA-MS. He is now a great all-around wrestler capable of long, entertaining matches.

In terms of in-ring style, he will remind WWE fans of both Punk and Rollins. Like them, he is part of the new breed of wrestler: nimble, versatile, technically proficient and innovative. Ohno is not as good a mat wrestler as Punk and not as athletic as Rollins, but he resides somewhere between them.

Those skills, along with his improved mic work, have him ready to be called up now. Seeing him in an NXT segment with Regal makes it easy to imagine him making the transition to the main roster.

He is going to need a new finisher, as Wade Barrett's Bull Hammer is too similar to the KO. He will also need a story or a tweak of his persona to help him stand out. Those things aside, Ohno is a potential future world champion.

WWE fans need something to cling to, similar to the way the "Yes!" chants bridged Bryan to the audience, and Ohno's ability will carry him the rest of the way. 

Ohno belongs in a prominent spot in a WWE future, spearheaded by Dolph Ziggler, Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Bryan and others. Reviving his old feud with Punk or reforming his tag team with Cesaro are angles ready to be tapped into.

Ohno will eventually be knocking out WWE competition and adding WWE gold to his long resume.