The WWE’s interest in independent stars has certainly increased since NXT became a developmental territory. With independent stars CM Punk and Bryan Danielson becoming WWE top superstars in their own right, Triple H became interested in bringing in more of the world’s greatest wrestlers to shine in WWE. Stars like El Generico, Prince Devitt and Kevin Steen all made the jump to the WWE and became stars themselves. However, a new wrestling promotion has been featuring new talent on the El Rey Network and giving them the chance at glory. Lucha Underground became the host to incredible television and great talent but which of these talents should WWE consider snapping up?
Recently, WWE had re-signed Alberto Del Rio who did appear on the Lucha Underground show. However, there’s a lot of younger talent that’s apparently on the company’s radar. It was reported a few weeks ago that WWE were interested in Prince Puma (aka Ricochet) and Angelico specifically. These two really stood out as I’ve been watching the first season of the series.
Prince Puma reigned as Lucha Underground Champion and was capable of pulling off incredible matches with a large variety of talent from the machine known as Cage to fellow high-flyers like Fenix and Drago. It would also be very easy for Puma/Ricochet to make the move to Florida as he already lives there as Apollo Crews’ room mate! It would also be exciting to see Puma go up against the likes of Finn Balor and Samoa Joe in NXT and many others of the main roster. The biggest issue with Puma is that he’s currently signed to a large multi-year contract with Lucha Underground. It might not be that difficult to get out of it though as Del Rio was able to get out of his Lucha Underground contract and he was the highest paid wrestler from last season. However, signing a contract like that would likely indicate where his heart lies!
Angelico is an interesting one. Angelico was born in South Africa and currently resides in Spain, two markets in the world that WWE would like to target. Angelico’s proven to be one of the most insane wrestlers in Lucha Underground when it comes to huge spots! He’s repeatedly performed unbelievable dives all around the temple to incredible reactions and has a very unique in-ring move set. There’s a lot of great partners he could be put with in WWE, with stars like Neville and the Lucha Dragons featuring similar traits to Angelico. However, that itself is a problem.
There’s a lot of small stars with the ability to dive and essentially be human highlight reels. Other than nationalities, what differs stars like Puma and Angelico from the likes of Sami Zayn, Neville and Kalisto? That’s not a knock on thw stars they have already as there is obviously a lot more to them than just high-flying. However, the issue is the different audiences. The WWE is built around big muscular stars and gimmicks as opposed to the lucha style of Lucha Underground. The WWE have a very difficult time in introducing lucha stars to an American audience. With the exception of Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio, not many lucha wrestlers have been able to become top main-event talents in WWE.
Now Puma and Angelico aren’t actually Mexican lucha libre superstars, but you get the point I’m trying to make. In NXT, I have no doubt that Puma and Angelico would fit right in. Those running NXT understand the strengths of these wrestlers and how to properly utilise them for their audience. Those running WWE don’t understand why these stars in NXT are getting these kind of reactions. Therefore when they come to RAW, those writing the shows don’t actually know how to utilise them to their fullest potential. That’s my biggest worry if Puma and Angelico were to get signed. They’d start off great in NXT, make their way to the main roster but float after a few months. You know someone like Puma and Angelico that’s already suffering from this problem? Neville.
When we’re looking at Lucha Underground stars that WWE should be signing up, we’re not REALLY looking for Lucha Underground stars. We’re looking for WWE superstars that would fit the image of those running it. With that being said, I think I’ve got three names off the bat which I think could actually become big stars in WWE if put right. The first man is from the five, five, nine. They call him… Cage.
Cage is everything the WWE could possibly want in a top star. He’s got the build of a true powerhouse. He’s got the body-building credentials that Vince McMahon craves. He’s got a great move set for someone his size and has the intensity to make for some compelling television. The only issue with getting Cage involved is Cage’s past endeavours in WWE.
Yes, Cage was actually a part of the WWE’s former developmental territory FCW. However, he was never really able to show his potential and the experience left a bad taste in his mouth. In an interview with Donald Wood, Cage explain why he thought he was never able to show off this potential while at WWE.
He said: “I’ll be straight and blunt with it, because they (WWE) are idiots. They want something to hang their hat on and if you are not their guy, they will let you go. Not going to pull any punches, but I would be totally open to going back to them. With many things permitting. I am not opposed to going back, but I don’t care if I ever go back. If I ever work for them cool, if I don’t my life is super happy and I am living the dream right now. I did love my time down there and things did go great.”
Although he never ruled out a return, second chances are hard to come by for developmental talent. However, he was released back in 2009 and WWE’s developmental system has changed a great deal since then. With potential dream matches with the likes of Apollo Crews, Cage might get his time to shine in WWE after all.
The second name that comes to mind is Mil Muertes. Due to the ending of the first season of Lucha Underground, right now it would be difficult for Mil to get out of the company due to his importance to the product. It’s not impossible as WWE were just able to sign the AAA Mega Champion with little difficulty. However, Mil’s currently got a good thing going at the promotion. Mil’s greatest attribute is his intensity and his ability to have you on the edge of your seat by just beating people up. It’s the same intensity that the likes of Brock Lesnar and Kevin Owens has brought to the WWE. Why can’t Mil be brought up to do the same? If Mil was put with the right manager, then who knows what he could accomplish?
He’s a powerhouse in his own right that is actually a terrifying figure to be around. In Lucha Underground, he’s especially been allowed to show this by tearing through a roster of much smaller wrestlers. He’s a nasty character that is capable of being just a badass heel that doesn’t need to hide and run.
However, characters like these aren’t new to WWE either. A lot of wrestlers like Rusev and Umaga have played this sort of character with their momentum soon smashed as soon as they got in the main event picture. However, Mil has been beaten in Lucha Underground before and Mil was somehow able to come out stronger after defeat. If WWE treat Mil and future big men like this, many stars could be made.
I could name dozens of Lucha Underground stars that I would like to see in WWE as it’s filled with so much talent. I could throw so many names around like Fenix, Pentagon Jr, Sexy Star or even Johnny Mundo (aka John Morrison) for a return to WWE. However, we’re looking for stars that WWE might be able to make a star with enough promotion. Which brings me to my third and final pick for now. If it were up to me, I’d hire as many stars as I could from the promotion. However, let’s just stick to three and allow me to introduce my final pick… Ivelisse.
Again, this one may be another shocker and a bit of a long shot. Ivelisse has also worked for WWE’s developmental territory in the past and was released just as the current incarnation of NXT was up and running. There’s also rumours of discomfort and backstage issues involving Ivelisse during her time in WWE. However, she’s an experienced wrestler that could help with the development of the women wrestlers in the company. Women’s wrestling has been great in WWE (at least in NXT) but she would have lot of value to the company and training their future talent. She was also be a treat to watch in the ring as she is in Lucha Underground. Due to the WWE’s family-friendly product, she wouldn’t be able to go around calling herself the “baddest bitch in the building!” However, she would be a feisty heel character in the women’s locker room that would not be just all about the looks. Not that she’s lacking in looks or anything, but there’s a lot more to this woman than meets the eye.
A lot of these names are just wishful thinking for me. However, neither Cage, Mil Muertes or Ivelisse are totally out of the question. If Del Rio can return after a reported altercation with a fellow WWE employee, then there’s hope of these three. With WWE being a lot more open-minded with the signing of independent wrestlers, there’s hope for a lot of the Lucha Underground stars to be snapped up. They’re part of a show that is spreading like wild-fire which is apparently grabbing WWE’s attention. If they’re watching the Lucha Underground product and signing their talent, then the potential of these stars could finally be realised.
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