ROH 2014 Top Prospect Winner Books Feud Against Bray Wyatt

During his time in the independent circuit, Todd Smith, better known as Handsome Johnny and Todd Hansen, was trying to find his niche. Even with his inability to break from the pack, his wrestling skills were undeniably impressive.

As a result of his hard work and talent, Smith was given an opportunity to wrestle for the WWE in 2005. After wrestling a series of dark matches, he made his television debut against Sylvester Terkay in 2006. Though he came out on the losing end, it gave him a taste and thrill of what to expect from working for the company.

It wasn't until a few years ago when Smith, already wrestling for over a decade, would find his niche. After a physical transformation and a resurrection from personal issues, Smith became a rugged, no-nonsense character by the name of Hanson.

Due to his impressive work at the ROH tryout camp, Hanson was a late entrant in the 2014 Ring of Honor Top Prospect  tournament. His efforts earned him victories over Cheeseburger, Andrew Everett and Raymond Rowe, becoming the winner of the entire tournament. This led to an ROH Television title opportunity against Tommaso Ciampa, in which he barely fell short.

However, the buzz of him winning the tournament did not die down. On the contrary, it actually made him a fan favorite among the ROH audience, forming a team with Top Prospect tournament runner-up Raymond Rowe. This team donned the name "War Machine" and is now one of the most talked-about teams in professional wrestling.

In talking with Hanson, I discussed a striking similarity to the members of the Wyatt Family and asked him how he we would book a feud with Bray.

He responded:

"

In the beginning of it I would clearly be one of his followers. Obviously over the course of a long period of time, some tension would build in the faction, come to a boiling point where I would defy things that he asks, which would of course lead to turmoil and matches here and there.

I think it would probably start with Bray sending out each member of the Wyatt Family for me to have to cut through to get to him, and it would culminate probably in a series of three matches, each one growing in physicality. I would think the last match would probably end up being some form of cage match or Hell in a Cell with the whole Wyatt Family at ringside.

"

Hanson also discussed whom he would wrestle at WrestleMania 31, how the match on Raw between 1-2-3 Kidd and Razor Ramon hooked him into endeavoring a career in pro wrestling and how his biggest wrestling inspiration was "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig.

The entire interview can be heard here.

 Chris Featherstone is a writer for WhatCulture.com, WrestlingInc.com. WeAreWrestling.com. Follow him on Twitter @cravewrestling and like the Crave Wrestling Facebook page.