WWE Legacy: Comparing More Current Stars to Their Fathers

I began my Legacy articles with an article on five stars with legendary fathers to follow.

Now, it all comes full circle as I look at six additional stars that I overlooked before.

These stars are younger wrestlers on the rise who are still fighting their predecessors' shadows.

While not all of them had great and accomplished fathers, they still each had a lot to deal with.

No one wants to come into a business where they are directly compared to someone else. It forces them to fight right from the get-go to break assumptions.

Following are six stars that have been fighting that ever present shadow to become great themselves.

Rikishi

Rikishi was mostly known for his size.

He was a monster at 425 pounds and six foot one.

During his time, he did pile up a total of three tag team titles, all with different partners. He also held the IC Title for two weeks.

In total, he was a bad wrestler who slowly improved, though he was never given many serious chances to succeed.

He still ended up leaving a lasting impression, especially with tag team success, which is relavent to his sons.

The Usos

These two are most likely a tag team for life.

If one actually broke out in WWE, the other would have nothing to do and be released, but I simply don't see it happening.

Regardless, these two are the only true tag team left in WWE, and they should hopefully benefit from it soon. These guys have the potential to be an elite tag team.

In earlier years when tag teams actually were a full fledged division, this team would have been one to watch. Now, they should be leading the division instead of being forced to feud on NXT.

These two have all the talent to be huge tag team stars.

Look for them to trump their father's main legacy in the coming years.

Dr. Karonte

OK, I felt that this next star had to be addressed, but his father is not really much of a star.

Dr. Karonte was a wrestler. He never really found any noted success in Mexico.

His son, though, would adopt the Karonte name as his first moniker (Dr. Karonte Jr.).

The moment he stepped out of his father's shadow, however, was the moment he truly began to shine as few stars ever have.

Sin Cara

Known most for his work as Mistico, Sin Cara is a Mexican icon.

At only 28 years old, Sin Cara is considered to be one of the greatest Mexican wrestlers of all time.

In el Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, which is currently the world's oldest professional wrestling organization, Sin Cara won the CMLL World Welterweight Championship once along with the NWA World Middleweight Championship twice.

He is also a four-time CMLL Tag Team Champion, but his real legacy can be seen in other successes outside of gold. He won the the legendary Leyenda de Plata a record three times. No one has ever won the tournament more than once before or since him. He is also undefeated at 9-0 in the ever-important Lucha de Apuestas match, which is sacred in lucha libre wrestling.

Further, he was named the Box Office Draw of the Decade for 2000 to 2009 by Wrestling Observer while also being named Wrestler of the Year in 2006 by the newsletter.

He may have been the son of a humble and under-the-radar wrestler, but he became one of the greatest luchadors of all time.

If his success continues in WWE, he will exceed Rey Mysterio as a living Mexican legend.

Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka

Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka was one of the greatest high fliers before high fliers became a regularity. He has been credited as the man who brought high flying to the WWE (or WWF at the time).

He has won many titles most notably gaining two reigns as ECW Heavyweight Champion including being the first holder of that World Title.

His most important ability was his amazing work in the ring.

His match against Bob Backlund for the WWF Championship is legendary due to Snuka's amazing top of the cage splash. It was one of the first truly amazing top rope, daredevil moves in WWE history and would make the match Wrestling Observer's match of the year.

While he never won serious WWE gold, he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame thanks to his ability and influence.

He is a legend who will never be forgotten.

Tamina

Tamina is a good wrestler.

In fact, she is one of the few divas in WWE today who was signed for her ability and lineage (rather than looks) first.

The problem for her is simply that she does not get enough air time for audiences to care about her as a performer.

Tamina will never become a legend like her father, but she could certainly make a splash in WWE's Divas division given the opportunity.

Sadly, at 33 years old with very few opportunities coming her way, I simply do not see her getting more than one maybe two Divas Title reigns.

She has the ability just not the confidence of the WWE.

Carlos Colon

A legendary Puerto Rican wrestler, Carlos Colon Sr. won every major title possible in the World Wrestling Council which is one of the two real pro wrestling organizations in Puerto Rico.

He is even considered a one time NWA Champion by the company after beating Ric Flair, but NWA does not consider the reign official.

Colon's greatest accomplishment was his WWC Universal Heavyweight Title reigns. The title is considered the top title in the company and considered a professional wrestling world heavyweight title by many organizations especially since the title is unofficially a unified title with the NWA Heavyweight Title thanks to Colon.

During his time with the company, he would hold the title an amazing and untouchable 26 times and 4067 days which is over 11 years (and some people complain about how long Cena has the belt...).

He would also hold every other major title multiple times

He can be almost definitively called the most iconic Puerto Rican wrestler in history.

Primo

Poor Primo.

He has the ability of his father and brother in the ring, and he even has immensely underrated charisma.

Sadly, while he won many titles in WWC just like his father, he never found much of any success in WWE.

He has held the undisputed tag team titles once with his brother Carlito.

That is his only claim to fame as he simply fades away from the public eye.

In the end, Primo has great potential, but he will never match his father.

In fact, he will never even be allowed to match his brother.

Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart

One of the most overlooked members of the Hart Foundation, Jim Neidhart was one of the most legendary tag team wrestlers of all time.

Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart would hold the WWE World Tag Team Titles (not to be confused with the WWE Tag Team Titles which were instated much later) two times for an amazing 483 days, which gives them the third longest combined run with the tag titles in WWE history.

Both men were great tag team technical wrestlers that were amazing to watch.

Bret Hart would eventually venture away from the tag team and become a huge singles star.

Jim Neidhart was left behind. Even though he had the skill, he could never translate his tag team success into singles success.

Regardless, one day, he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as his partner was for his great tag team accomplishments and ability.

Natalya

Many people talk about Beth Phoenix as almost the salvation of the WWE Divas division, but I see Natalya as the true great Divas competitor.

Natalya is powerful and technically masterful in the ring.

She is simply the best Diva on the roster.

In fact, she has been so since she debuted.

Natalya has the potential with a good push and confidence from WWE to become the biggest star of the women's division since Trish retired.

Sure, Kelly Kelly is better looking, but Natalya has it all.

She has the look, the talent, and she simply is the best in the division.

While her father was a legend, I see Natalya becoming one of the first third generation stars to truly succeed her father's legacy though it will be no easy task.

For those who enjoyed this reading, remember to go back and check the other WWE Legacy articles I have released:

Five Current Stars

Five Former Stars

Six Future Stars

I am not sure yet if this will be the last article in this series or not.

If anyone has any thoughts on who else should be looked into, leave a comment.

Thanks for reading!

This is my very article I have published since becoming Featured Columnist, and I just want to thank everyone for their support. I really appreciate every read, comment, fan add and suggestion I have gotten from you guys. A special shout out to all the writers who I have gotten to know over this process and looked up to such as Chinmay, Jon Fisher, and Nathan Giese—just to name a few. Thanks, everyone!