WWE: 7 Non-WWE Wrestlers Who Could Get a Shot Because of CM Punk

CM Punk's renewed success in WWE has completely changed the atmosphere in the company.  

The focus of WWE seems to be back on the wrestling once again, as superstars who have made their names between the ropes as wrestlers, rather than sports entertainers, are now the featured talents in the top spots.  

Every championship is currently held by workers who are respected by fans for their ring work and the dedication they have shown to their craft.  

Yes, it is a new day in WWE.

The man leading the charge is of course the WWE Champion, the man who supposedly wanted to "facilitate change," CM Punk.

Punk's storyline mission to put the emphasis back on the sport of professional wrestling has more than succeeded, and for fans who love the technical aspect of the business, it is a great time to follow the company.

Punk's elevation in WWE, despite the company's controversial PG rating main-evented by John Cena, is quite the contradiction, and one that many fans are extremely happy with.

So, if Punk was able to rise above the stereotypical WWE Superstar mold, then who else could?  Who else could do what some said was impossible, and join in Vince McMahon's company returning to its wrestling roots?

Here are seven of my own choices.

7: Christopher Daniels

The Fallen Angel may not be physically big when compared to traditional WWE standards, but the days of the muscled-up wrestler are not as prevalent as they perhaps once were.

Daniels could actually have a real chance at achieving some level of success in the house that McMahon built.

He is a great worker, that much is certain.  He is also very good on the mic, and his character is all his own.  He is very comfortable in his own skin, and he has paid his dues over several years of working in the business.

He has all it takes to be a relevant WWE Superstar. All he needs is a chance.

The common belief among fans is that any talented TNA worker would not get a fair shake in WWE, as history has told us.

But, with the era of Punk upon us, I believe that anything is possible, and Christopher Daniels has as good a chance as any.

6: Eric Young

Eric Young is built for WWE.

He's good in the ring, he can talk, has a unique look and he has, above all else, a talent that makes him perfect for the WWE Universe.

He's a comedian.

The guy is hilarious. Every time he's on camera, he threatens to make any straight-faced worker in the room crack a smile at his antics.  

He is the definition of what sports entertainment is all about.  He seems to be on a constant WWE audition, as each week, no matter what ridiculous situation he finds himself in, he finds a way to make you laugh, and his spots are not easily forgotten.

The truth is, Eric is only doing what he does best. He has found his niche, and his routine is definitely working for him.

I believe it could also work in the biggest pro wrestling company in the world.

5: The Motor City Machine Guns

Tell the truth. 

Is there a fan on this planet who does not love the Motor City Machine Guns?  Even if you don't care for the TNA product, the fact is that once you see them, you just can't get enough of them.

They are the modern day Rock & Roll Express, with the Hardy Boyz flair. They have the CM Punk appeal, in that they're not very overboard and are not the kind of workers to be very loud about what they do.

They just get in the ring and get it done.

Their brand of tag team wrestling is exactly what's been missing from WWE for a lot of years now. A tag team main event between them and Air Boom could be just the thing that sparks that division back to life again.

Yes, I'm still hoping it will happen.

The MCMG's are definite crowd-pleasers, who give everything they have whenever they're in the ring. They want to tear the roof off at every opportunity, and do so more often than not.

4: Austin Aries

Just exactly how many online fans does Austin Aries have?  

With a little more time, and some work on his part, that number could very well rival Zack Ryder's fanbase, who put him on the map in WWE.

There's just something about Austin that fans love. He has a way about him that you just cannot help but watch. He is the one guy in the building that you will remember, and when you look into his eyes, you can see the one intangible that sets him apart from many others.

He gets it.

He knows what it means to get over—to really get over—and he also understands what it is to develop his character. He plays his role to its fullest, and it his flamboyance that has many fans comparing him to the classic old-school arrogant heel.

He is one part Jesse Ventura and one part Gorgeous George, and has all the ability in the world to put on a great match against anyone on any night.

Why not do it in a WWE ring?

3: The Briscoe Brothers

They're plain. They don't look the part.  They're just not WWE Superstar material.

Sound familiar?

If you are a fan of tag team wrestling and have never seen the work of Jay and Mark Briscoe, then shame on you. If you are a fan, you're likely asking the same question that I am.

Why are these guys not in WWE?

The obvious answer is that they're too edgy. They curse a streak and there's nothing polished about them. They know what they want to do in the ring, and the do it night in and night out. No flash, no pizzazz—they just work their hides off, all in the name of the business that they love.

The cursing could be toned down, their presentation could be worked with.  It's not impossible. While some fans could argue that this would change them too much, thus taking away what makes them stand out, I submit that real pros find a way to make it work.

Just because a guy has done it a certain way for so long does not mean that he cannot reinvent himself. The Briscoes would only need to watch the language a little.

Okay, a lot.

I am reminded of Mick Foley's Ring of Honor promo to Punk when he said that he felt that Punk's talents should be displayed on a worldwide stage.

For me, this also very much applies to the Briscoes.

2: Colt Cabana

Now's the time. Punk is the WWE Champion, he has some stroke backstage, and one of his best friends happens to be a pretty good worker who is ready to go anytime.

It's time for Colt to become a real WWE Superstar.

I say real because, let's face it, when Colt was in WWE the first time around, he was not exactly Ricky Steamboat.

Call it bad timing, call it lack of direction or inability to really get over with what he was given, call it what you will. That is the past and the future is now.

That future consists of CM Punk, the man who broke all the molds of what a WWE Superstar is supposed to be, and has become a very integral part of the company.

If anyone could vouch for Colt, giving him another, real shot with WWE, it's Punk.

This is not the clique of Triple H and Shawn Michaels handing out opportunities to friends. This is one talented worker who is getting a legitimate chance in the company that his good buddy is currently riding high in.

Colt has earned it. It's his time.

1: Samoa Joe

"Joe's going to kill you!"

Imagine that chant going around a sold-out arena as Dolph Ziggler or Cody Rhodes are on the mic. Joe then comes down to the ring and does things that a big man should not be able to do. 

Joe can work lights out, and considering the fact that he and Punk had a great run in ROH, his foot may already be in the door.

Then, there's the fact that one of WWE's top all-time draws wants to see the guy there.

When Stone Cold Steve Austin put in his two cents in about wanting Joe to sign with Vince McMahon, the wrestling world took notice.

Since then, the good and bad points about a possible Samoa Joe signing have been debated furiously among fans.

Would WWE bury Joe, treating him as nothing more than an Umaga part two?  A grunting Samoan savage who squashes one worker after the other, with a wild look in his eyes, who just cannot be taken seriously as a main event guy?

I believe that Joe could make even that work.  He needs a chance, and I think there's no better time than right now.

Fans' appreciation of real in-ring ability in WWE has never been higher, and Joe would be among some pretty good company in his new surroundings.  Samoa Joe is, much like Punk, the guy who has paid his dues, and deserves to reap the rewards of his hard work.