Why Lack of Charisma Could Hold Cesaro Back in WWE

Cesaro is a Superstar on the rise in WWE.  Over the past couple of months, he has risen in the eyes of fans who truly respect his work and appreciate what he brings to the ring every time he steps through the ropes.

From a distance, he appears to be a man on the verge of accomplishing big things in Vince McMahon's company.  But his lack of charisma is something that must be addressed at some point.  And it could very well be the one part of his character that holds him back in WWE.

Today's WWE is obviously not yesterday's WWF.  Colorful characters, outlandish gimmicks and over-the-top antics are not necessarily required for a Superstar to get over today.  So there is more than enough hope for Cesaro to eventually succeed in WWE.

But the keyword is "eventually."  

Patience may be a virtue, but for some WWE fans, it's somewhat of a foreign concept.  Fans want what they want, and they want it right now.  So while they may like Cesaro and are currently very high on him, the truth is that they may not be willing to wait for his career to evolve to the point that he actually becomes a main event performer.

However, they may not have a choice.  Because even though Cesaro has the physical tools to succeed in WWE, he is lacking in charisma, and that does not bode well for his immediate future.

Basically, Cesaro's character consists of his ring work, teaming with Jack Swagger and being managed by Zeb Colter, who usually acts as his mouthpiece.  And that is the extent of who Cesaro is as a WWE Superstar.

But the issue is how far can that take him?  How much can be done on the back of the character mentioned above without a charismatic edge eventually being added?  And if it is added, how will it play out for WWE fans?

credit: wwe.com

The truth is that despite how good he is in the ring or how much he is respected for his work, there is just no fire to Cesaro's promos.  He is not robotic as much as he is plain; he's a guy who essentially just laces up his boots and goes to work.  That work is outstanding and is putting him on the map, but at the end of the day, there must be something to make Cesaro appeal to the masses.

This is nothing new for WWE fans who have seen their fair share of very good talents who come through the company, have a modicum of success, then eventually disappear.  Their matches were good, their techniques were solid, but a lack of charisma caused them to reach one certain point then go no further up.

Two good examples of this are Dean Malenko and Lance Storm.  Both men were celebrated for their hard work in the ring, for their dedication to the business and for their willingness to go all out to give the best match possible.  Even today, Malenko and Storm are remembered as two exceptional workers in the ring, but also as two workers who perhaps could have gone higher up in WWE.

A lack of charisma, of a fire in their eyes and in their voices, was perhaps the one thing that held them back more than anything else.  Fans liked them, they appreciated their skills and individual move sets, but without the connection to the crowd, their WWE careers did not reach the main event level.

credit: wwe.com

Does that mean that Cesaro must be a main event star in order to truly succeed in WWE?  No.  But does that matter to fans who want to see him on the fast track to that level right now?  Again, the answer is no.

But in order for him to get there, then he must have charisma.  He must have that one intangible that makes fans want to pay good money to see him perform.  Being good in the ring may not be enough.  For that matter, being exceptional in the ring may not be enough.  Cesaro must have a hook, a way in with WWE fans.

And there is no better example of this than Daniel Bryan.

Much like Cesaro, Bryan was once applauded for his work in the ring but had no real connection to the crowd.  From the moment he entered WWE, Bryan was seen by fans who knew his work from Ring of Honor as being an accomplished independent star who had the potential to go a long way in the company.

But for the majority of the WWE faithful, Bryan was missing something.  He was bland, he was dull and he was boring.  And his impressive repertoire was not enough to convince many fans that he was even worth a second look.

credit: wwe.com

That was four years ago, and today Bryan is the hottest star in WWE.  All he needed was the right opportunities to showcase his talents and, of course, a way to gain popularity with the fans.  He was not the most charismatic at first, but he found a niche with his personality and the "yes" chants that have propelled him up the ladder.

Bryan succeeded despite any deficiencies in his character.  But it took him four years to reach this point.  Cesaro has been on WWE's main roster since 2012, so the possibility is there that he could perhaps break out this year or next to become a serious main event player.

In order for that to happen, his lack of charisma must be addressed.  He's already on the radar of the fans, all he needs is that little something extra to get him there.  Whether it's a catchphrase, a personality change or a face turn, Cesaro's character needs that one added dimension to make him memorable and connect him to the crowd.

Without it, Cesaro may find himself sitting at WWE's midcard level for much of his career.  And while that may be OK, it's perhaps not what the fans really want.